I agree. Maybe “professionalism” doesn’t have the right range, and bureaucratic or administrative would get a little deeper? (Counterintuitive as that might be.)
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If cycling can survive Armstrong it can survive anything. Lance Armstrong was the biggest star cycling has ever had, even people who had no interest in cycling knew who he was and his story. Let's be real, unless you are either Slovenian or a cycling fan, the chances are that people have never heard of Tadej Pogačar.Or simply cycling can't afford another major scandal and so market interests have taken over, amongst the federation and journos alike. The war on doping thus succombs to don't spit on the plate from which you eat. Taking access to professionalism as explaining the ridiculous feats of today, is only a means for them (the UCI and journalism) to justify not fighting against it.
It was mostly commercially driven and in this America excels. For the rest of the word at the time, outside cycling, most only knew of Armstrong through Nike publicity and it didn't increase the audience.If cycling can survive Armstrong it can survive anything. Lance Armstrong was the biggest star cycling has ever had, even people who had no interest in cycling knew who he was and his story. Let's be real, unless you are either Slovenian or a cycling fan, the chances are that people have never heard of Tadej Pogačar.
Armstrong was a big deal over here as well. My grandfather who wasn't even into cycling had his book at home and 8-year-old me was begging him to let me read it (he thought it wasn't appropriate for one as young as me, but I got him around after a couple of months). I still saw kids who weren't even into cycling wear Livestrong wristbands years later, and everybody knew who he was. Part of that's of course because Ullrich was huge at the time, so cycling got plenty of attention anyway, but Armstrong's story still had a big impact on its own (Remember, Ullrich didn't race in '99).It was mostly commercially driven and in this America excels. For the rest of the word at the time, outside cycling, most only knew of Armstrong through Nike publicity and it didn't increase the audience.
This post alone makes today, Wednesday the 8th of October, 2025, a horrendous day to have eyes
In Italy, as in much of Europe, Armstrong outside the cycling community was marginal at best.Armstrong was a big deal over here as well. My grandfather who wasn't even into cycling had his book at home and 8-year-old me was begging him to let me read it (he thought it wasn't appropriate for one as young as me, but I got him around after a couple of months). I still saw kids who weren't even into cycling wear Livestrong wristbands years later, and everybody knew who he was. Part of that's of course because Ullrich was huge at the time, so cycling got plenty of attention anyway, but Armstrong's story still had a big impact on its own (Remember, Ullrich didn't race in '99).
How doe we measure that, and how do we compare that to cyclists in general?In Italy, as in much of Europe, Armstrong outside the cycling community, was marginal at best.
Cycling globally is measureably less impactful than a host of sports, with Armstrong being noteworthy in relative stature.How doe we measure that, and how do we compare that to cyclists in general?
It's a Byzantine administrative bureauocracy that works to sustain itself. Fighting doping has never been their true goal, but image management.I agree. Maybe “professionalism” doesn’t have the right range, and bureaucratic or administrative would get a little deeper? (Counterintuitive as that might be.)
What if we don't?Tadej is just a phenomenal athlete and probably the GOAT of cycling .Just get that into your head and stop with these ridiculous doping accusations which are based on nothing .
If you bury your head in the sand much more you'll pop out of the ground somewhere in Australia. Why are you even here? I'm sure there is a Pogacar is the Goat circlejerk thread on the forums here somewhere, you'll feel right at home.Tadej is just a phenomenal athlete and probably the GOAT of cycling .Just get that into your head and stop with these ridiculous doping accusations which are based on nothing .
You must be fishing with this comment . Either that or very gullible.Tadej is just a phenomenal athlete and probably the GOAT of cycling .Just get that into your head and stop with these ridiculous doping accusations which are based on nothing .
The latter being the point that ashhutch made, right?Cycling globally is measureably less impactful than a host of sports, with Armstrong being noteworthy in relative stature.
He's just trolling to try and gaslight people, comes here most days, just ignore him.You must be fishing with this comment . Either that or very gullible.
If it is too late to take that emotional investment back, I wonder how much active damage control is going on now to ensure nothing is exposed and the impression is given that the UCI has everything under control? The whole strategy and communication about motors seems to fit this picture. Most likely there is nothing at all going on but the show, including the useless checks using tablets, seems to fit in a strategy were they want to paint a picture of a clean sport.Protected is maybe overstating it in my view, but they're definitely not trying all that hard to find anything.
I try to just assume people in cycling are neither especially corrupt or especially incorruptable, and just try to have a holistic view of how it would work if everyone is just self interested mostly.
Cycling has experienced that when it tries to do a better job policing itself, it only gets a worse reputation. In addition, 'demand' for antidoping and questions about doping are much more determined by whether the dominant champoins are well liked or not rather than if they're completely ridiculous or not.
Pogacar ticked so many boxes in his first years that made him very appealing for many casual fans so they bought in completely, and now that it's gotten ridiculous to the nth degree to the nth degree, it's too late to take that emotional investment back.
Everything makes so much more sense if all that *** is performative.If it is too late to take that emotional investment back, I wonder how much active damage control is going on now to ensure nothing is exposed and the impression is given that the UCI has everything under control? The whole strategy and communication about motors seems to fit this picture. Most likely there is nothing at all going on but the show, including the useless checks using tablets, seems to fit in a strategy were they want to paint a picture of a clean sport.
None of this lets Pogi, UAE or Gianetti off the hook but objectivity is important. Merckx was still more ridiculous and there were none of the "methods" and sophistication around back then that we suspect today. I think blood doping had been tried but I haven't read anywhere that Merckx was into that or that blood doping was responsible for his records.It's all fun and games until the viewership drops because people don't want to watch this absurdity any more. It's ridiculous. Merckx' 1969 season doesn't even come close.
Pogacar | |
2024 | 9959 km in 58 days | PCS points: 4588 | UCI points: 11655 |
2025 (7-Oct) | 8394 km in 49 days | PCS points: 4646 | UCI points: 10880 |
Merckx | |
1974 | 15958 km in 93 days | PCS points: 5564 |
1973 | 14655 km in 87 days | PCS points: 5707 |
1972 | 14385 km in 80 days | PCS points: 6275 |
1969 | 12145 km in 73 days | PCS points: 4734 |
Right, but now the focus is a recrudecence of "everbody was doped then," but cycling has "faught the war," so now everything is ***-dory. Nothing to see just trust us.The latter being the point that ashhutch made, right?
In those days training was equal to racing so Merckx raced 1.5x as much.None of this lets Pogi, UAE or Gianetti off the hook but objectivity is important. Merckx was still more ridiculous and there were none of the "methods" and sophistication around back then that we suspect today. I think blood doping had been tried but I haven't read anywhere that Merckx was into that or that blood doping was responsible for his records.
But I am glad there were no online cycling forums back then
Objectively Pogacar is still a long way short of Merckx best seasons. Below tables are from PCS. And according to a Google search 1969 wasn't Merckx best year - 1972 and 1974 were.
Also check how many racing kilometres and days Merckx was doing compared to what they are doing now (assuming Pog is typical for the top riders today):
Pogacar 20249959 km in 58 days | PCS points: 4588 | UCI points: 11655 2025 (7-Oct) 8394 km in 49 days | PCS points: 4646 | UCI points: 10880 Merckx 197415958 km in 93 days | PCS points: 5564 197314655 km in 87 days | PCS points: 5707 197214385 km in 80 days | PCS points: 6275 196912145 km in 73 days | PCS points: 4734