Team Ineos (Formerly the Sky thread)

[Netserk]

I wouldn't put any rider into the first category, there is no way of knowing with absolute certainty who is doping now.

Did you see the title of the first category?

(Much) More likely to be dirty than clean:

 

[JRanton]

Thomas was a 6 on the suspicion index and he's always struck me as a ''win at all costs guy''. To say that you'd almost be willing to stake your life on him being clean is crazy.

 

[peloton]

As I said I think Sky have looked pretty human this season, outclassed in the classics, outgunned in the Giro, outclassed and outgunned in the Vuelta and really only a monumental individual performance won the Tour for them.

Yeah, they only won almost every stage race leading up the Tour...
http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTY3Mzc&LangId=1

 

[JimmyFingers]

Did you see the title of the first category?

I was going by the original 'Certain Dopers' category, soz

 

[JimmyFingers]

Yeah, they only won almost every stage race leading up the Tour...
http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTY3Mzc&LangId=1

Almost every stage race? Do you mind quantifying that throwaway statement?

 

[JimmyFingers]

Thomas was a 6 on the suspicion index and he's always struck me as a ''win at all costs guy''. To say that you'd almost be willing to stake your life on him being clean is crazy.

Come on, that suspicious index is daft. Wasn't Lance a 4 or something? Yet people still keep referring to it.

And I didn't say it was based on logic, just gut.

 

[JimmyFingers]

Yeah, they only won almost every stage race leading up the Tour...
http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTY3Mzc&LangId=1

Ok Stage races leading up to the Tour:

Quatar - Cav
Oman - Froome/Sky
Down Under - Slagter
Paris - Nice - Porte/Sky
Criterium International - Froome
Trentino - Nibali
Tirreno - Adriatico - Nibali
Catalunya - Martin
Romandie - Froome/Sky
Giro - Nibali
Dauphine - Froome/Sky
Suisse - Costa

Rough I know, please add any I've missed, but I wouldn't describe that as 'almost' all, it's less than half. Still impressive of course but Porte apart all one rider.

Little experiment: who's having the better season, Froome or Nibali?

 

[Netserk]

You're missing Quintana in Pais Vasco.

But Sky still had the strongest rider in Oman, P-N, T-A, (PV Richie was probably equal to Q), Romandie and Dauphine.

I don't really count Il Giro as a stage race "leading up to" the Tour.

 

[del1962]

Almost every stage race? Do you mind quantifying that throwaway statement?

I guess if you take 3 out of 9 world tour stage races as almost every then he has a point

Won by Sky, Paris-Nice, Romadie and Dauphenine

Not won by sky, Down Under, Catalunya, Pais Vasco, T-A, Giro, Swiss

 

[JimmyFingers]

You're missing Quintana in Pais Vasco.

But Sky still had the strongest rider in Oman, P-N, T-A, (PV Richie was probably equal to Q), Romandie and Dauphine.

I don't really count Il Giro as a stage race "leading up to" the Tour.

Oops, forgot Pais Vasco, was a great race. And the Giro is a 3 week stage race is it not? The accusation wasn't very specific, just stage races, almost all won by Sky.

 

[Parker]

Oops, forgot Pais Vasco, was a great race. And the Giro is a 3 week stage race is it not? The accusation wasn't very specific, just stage races, almost all won by Sky.

Sky also rode in Tour of Algarve (T.Martin), Tour of Norway (Boassen Hagen), Bayern Rundfahrt (Malori) and Route du Sud (Voeckler)

 

[BroDeal]

I don't think Wiggins is, for all the rest that is wrong with him.

LOL. It is normal for someone who won everything he raced last year to decide he cannot be bothered to train for anything of importance despite being paid millions to do so.

 

[Scott SoCal]

LOL. It is normal for someone who won everything he raced last year to decide he cannot be bothered to train for anything of importance despite being paid millions to do so.

Yup. Whatta difference a year makes.

Any truth to the rumor Wigans is seeing the same shrink as Thibaut Pinot?

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Yup. Whatta difference a year makes.

Any truth to the rumor Wigans is seeing the same shrink as Thibaut Pinot?

I hear he is off to America as that is the real test of one's talent.

 

[BroDeal]

I hear he is off to America as that is the real test of one's talent.

Froome failed totally there. We saw his real talent level in Colorado. It was none too impressive. I hope the marshals watched to make sure he did not hang onto any motorcycles.

 

[JimmyFingers]

LOL. It is normal for someone who won everything he raced last year to decide he cannot be bothered to train for anything of importance despite being paid millions to do so.

LOL. Yes, Wiggins clearly has done very little training this year. Almost none I reckon.

 

[MatParker117]

Yup. Whatta difference a year makes.

Any truth to the rumor Wigans is seeing the same shrink as Thibaut Pinot?

Be surprised as Steve Peters is Sky's medical director.

 

[Scott SoCal]

Froome failed totally there. We saw his real talent level in Colorado. It was none too impressive. I hope the marshals watched to make sure he did not hang onto any motorcycles.

Yep. Horner couldn't even win the lowly Tour of Utah.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Froome failed totally there. We saw his real talent level in Colorado. It was none too impressive. I hope the marshals watched to make sure he did not hang onto any motorcycles.

Yep, turned up. Got paid a lot of money. Left early. He must be pretty gutted.

 

[BroDeal]

Come on, that suspicious index is daft. Wasn't Lance a 4 or something? Yet people still keep referring to it.

Clueless as expected. A 4 meant the rider's passport had anomalies that indicated doping.

 

[the sceptic]

I almost thought this thread had died because noone believed anymore

 

[BroDeal]

LOL. Yes, Wiggins clearly has done very little training this year. Almost none I reckon.

It takes more than training to win races in the age of dope.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

It takes more than training to win races in the age of dope.

Experience and tactics, right. And that would only seem to come if you are a veteran.

 

[BroDeal]

I almost thought this thread had died because noone believed anymore

Just like jingoistic Armstrong fans, there is a hardcore group of jingoistic Sky deniers who will turn themselves into pretzels to keep the faith in the ridiculousness of Froome, Wiggins, and Porte. It is hilarious to watch. History does repeat itself.

 

[BroDeal]

Experience and tactics, right. And that would only seem to come if you are a veteran.

While that might explain Horner, it does not work for Sky, the most tactically inept team in the World Tour. I guess marginal gains don't work for race savvy.