State of the Peloton 2025

[Ilmaestro99]

Seeing rumours about biopassport for lakzano

Resisted speculation so far on the chance that the absence is mental health related but Denk's outright refusal to comment or say it's health related has invited it;

The latest we know about him is from today, at the end of the second week of the Vuelta a España, with Patxi Vila, the Red Bull director, denying any information to Marca: "I can't comment on anything due to team directives."

Lazkano popped?

Correct, as it turns out.

Lazkano provisional suspended for biopassport irregularities over 3 years (2022-24)

UCI Statement on Oier Lazkano Lopez

www.uci.org

Reminds me of Jaime roson a bit, 25yo Spaniard with biopassport issues, he got 4 years and it ended his career.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It was pretty obvious that something clinic-related was up when it became clear nobody wanted to comment on his absence.

Also, biopassport irregularities starting in early 2022 only leading to a provisional suspension at the end of 2025 is bizarre.

 

[Tim Cahill]

"The abnormal values purport to the ears 2022, 2023 and 2024"

I have a little knowledge of the passport but could be wrong on this if someone wants to correct. Could it be that the values remained reasonably consistent throughout these years ergo didn't appear to raise any abnormal/inexplicable readings, the when he went to RB he no longer had access to whatever it was he was doing and the values returned to normal, thus allowing them to properly contextualise the values either side of his Movistar stay?

My understanding is that the passport is more geared towards noticing naturally inexplicable fluctuations So if the baseline values are of a doped rider, and they aren't pushing the gear too far, then it would only be noticeable once they stop doping rather than when they started. So as long as you are on something when the first tests are done, then as long as you stay doped throughout the year then you are hard to catch using this method?

Where’s Rob Stannards legal guy get him back here.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Thank god they finally nailed the guy who once finished in the top 80 in a GT.

Well at least it means RB BORA have fewer riders who will fight for leadership next year.

 

[houtdffan]

I could see the UCI press conference going like this

UCI: "These suspensions show that we will catch and punish you, no matter who you are. Even if you finish 95th in a GT, you are not a sacred cow and will be caught"

Reporter: "What about the aliens who smash all climbing records from the peak EPO era?

UCI: "NEXT QUESTION!"

 

[Tim Cahill]

UCI intern finally getting round to sorting through a stack of old papers

UCI statement on António Carvalho Ferreira

www.uci.org

Unexplained abnormalities in... 2018

 

[Ilmaestro99]

UCI intern finally getting round to sorting through a stack of old papers

UCI statement on António Carvalho Ferreira

www.uci.org

Unexplained abnormalities in... 2018

He was *** in 2018 aswell, uci dealing with the pressing issues as usual

 

[Rob5091]

Sounds like WADA have come up with something new if guys are getting busted for stuff in 2018.
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...eloton-with-another-doping-related-suspension

 

[Rob5091]

After the big bust in the USA of basketball players & the mob, Velo wonders if pro-cycling can go down that route ...
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/cycling-gambling-scandal/
(Stop laughing at the back!!)

 

[KoopaCycling]

Before 2023 i think the sport was in a good place. Not a perfect place by all means, but better than what came before. Now though, these performances have me thinking we'll see another Festina affaire, Armstrong debacle, ... sooner than later. That the peloton has regressed. The modern goat looks incredible iffy to me. When i see remco trying to close the gap, i'm just hoping against my better judgement he's on the right side of the fence.

It kinda feel surreal. On the one hand I want remco to be as competitive as possible. On the other hand i rather see him fall short then follow in what I believe the modern goat is doing.

 

[AmRacer]

Before 2023 i think the sport was in a good place. Not a perfect place by all means, but better than what came before. Now though, these performances have me thinking we'll see another Festina affaire, Armstrong debacle, ... sooner than later. That the peloton has regressed. The modern goat looks incredible iffy to me. When i see remco trying to close the gap, i'm just hoping against my better judgement he's on the right side of the fence.

It kinda feel surreal. On the one hand I want remco to be as competitive as possible. On the other hand i rather see him fall short then follow in what I believe the modern goat is doing.

If Pogi wasn't there, Remcos autumn would have been unheard of.

 

[Rob5091]

I suppose in a way this just about sums up 2025. What the heck was he thinking?
https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/uci-statement-concerning-artyom-proskuryakov/6mjwEZJ9PkWepQWzZvnz0u

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that Azerbaijani rider Artyom Proskuryakov has been notified of an Adverse Analytical Finding for Methamfetamine (D-) and its metabolites* in two samples collected – as a result of intelligence-led-testing – during the 2025 UCI Road World Championships (Men Junior road race) on 23 September 2025.

"intelligence-led-testing" is an interesting phrase. Someone tipped them off then?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

An interesting read on weight reduction obsession in the sport and medical consequences, much discussed here after the Tour Femmes.

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/reds-cycling

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Look, I'm not saying it's okay, but I have to say that choosing meth as performance enhancement would enliven the peloton, for sure. https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cyc...ethamphetamine-at-rwanda-world-championships/

 

[aphronesis]

Look, I'm not saying it's okay, but I have to say that choosing meth as performance enhancement would enliven the peloton, for sure. https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cyc...ethamphetamine-at-rwanda-world-championships/

You want a more hyped up, on edge peloton?