Team Sky pulling a PDM?

[BroDeal]

The change in diet did them in. After a steady diet of pickled everything, their stomachs could not handle the switch to good food.

 

[Orinda8]

This sounds like Norovirus,a very contagious cause of vomiting and/or diarrhea;others in the peleton are also ill. However as I mentioned two days ago some of it could be heat exhaustion, a problem that causes the CDC to put out warnings every summer: (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5932a1.htm?s_cid=mm5932a1_w );the low body mass of cyclists protects them compared to football players but no one is immune.

 

[NashbarShorts]

does not reflect well on their "aggregation of marginal gains"...

Yeah what arrogant pricklys. They were all talk in the off-season about how "aggregation of marginal gains" was going to win them the Tour, etc. Please. Sounds about as reasonable as "sharks w/ fricking laserbeams on their foreheads".

Hey, if the "heatstroke/virus" isn't plausible enough, no worries. Phil Liggett will just tell us it was a case of bad fish at dinner (PDM)

 

[Chuffy]

Yeah what arrogant pricklys. They were all talk in the off-season about how "aggregation of marginal gains" was going to win them the Tour, etc. Please. Sounds about as reasonable as "sharks w/ fricking laserbeams on their foreheads".

Three words for you. Beijing. Olympics. Gold.

'Aggregation of marginal gains' works but as they are finding out the hard way, there are waaaaay more variables in road racing than on the track. Winning the Tour is a long term aim and I wouldn't put a very large sum on them not achieving it or at least hitting the podium. Or would you prefer a new team to come in quietly and mutter polite nothings about just being privileged to take part?

I'm not a Sky fan but some of the hate on here really is stupid.

 

[NashbarShorts]

I'm not a Sky fan but some of the hate on here really is stupid.

No hate at all, I like Sky. But the "marginal gains" talk that Brailsford was spewing last off-season IMPLIES that there is a lot of low-haning fruit at the professional level. Problem is, there isn't. All that stuff has already been tried. (Thus, guys resort to doping to get their edge).

Anyhoo, yes Brailsford can fwd the rider's travel itinerary straight to their Blackberrys. Woo hoo. That ain't gonna win a Tour. You don't win a Tour based on business efficiency. It tends to be rather....genetically-based.

 

[Chuffy]

No hate at all, I like Sky. But the "marginal gains" talk that Brailsford was spewing last off-season IMPLIES that there is a lot of low-haning fruit at the professional level. Problem is, there isn't. All that stuff has already been tried. (Thus, guys resort to doping to get their edge).

Anyhoo, yes Brailsford can fwd the rider's travel itinerary straight to their Blackberrys. Woo hoo. That ain't gonna win a Tour. You don't win a Tour based on business efficiency. It tends to be rather....genetically-based.

Fair enough. As I said, they are learning the hard way. That said, the BC track program didn't work miracles overnight either and I'm sure that Brailsford et al have done their homework so I wouldn't bet against them making significant improvements next season.

 

[simoni]

Ipods actually!

Anyway, to refer to the OP, if it is something more sinister then they're not doing a very good job of it!

 

[alpine_chav]

several of the sky staff and mechanics are ill as well. They dope the mechanics? Its also not food poisoning.

Blimey..

Recent reports hint that Team Sky's mechanics can now change a gear cable 15% faster than previously.... it's all very suspicious!

 

[Mambo95]

Recent reports hint that Team Sky's mechanics can now change a gear cable 15% faster than previously.... it's all very suspicious!

The mechanics have have finally worked out that British bikes are right-hand drive. That's why

 

[Anonymous]

Flecha now the lastest one on the sick list. DS's also been ill. Im sure the DS's dont dope.

 

[Willy_Voet]

Hitting other teams, too.

Crap (literally) like this happens all the time in big races. Put 200 athletes coming from 5 continents together in a stressful, immune-suppressing environment and what do you expect? The riders and team staff pass through multiple airports and can pick up anything and everything.

I work at a big school with a large international population. The first few weeks after summer break and winter holidays are the worst for illnesses as folks bring back this and that from their mom, cousins, etc back home.

 

[oldcrank]

Eisel sharing blood-bags and needles with Team Sky shocker!

 

[theswordsman]

Maybe someone on the staff in a coma will address the OP?

Greg Henderson twitter

@Greghenderson1

Keep fighting team carer Txema. He is in a very critical coma condition in Sevilla hospital. All related to @teamsky virus that swept team. 12 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone

All of the riders and team staff are human beings susceptible to the same ailments as the general population, and have family members and friends who care about them.

Feel free to joke about a person in a coma.

 

[hrotha]

Maybe someone on the staff in a coma will address the OP?

Greg Henderson twitter



All of the riders and team staff are human beings susceptible to the same ailments as the general population, and have family members and friends who care about them.

Feel free to joke about a person in a coma.

The Spanish commentators of the Vuelta reported some 15 minutes ago that Txema has died.

 

[roundabout]

That seems more than your average virus. Hopefully it won't be so serious for the rest of the people affected.

 

[BroDeal]

That seems more than your average virus. Hopefully it won't be so serious for the rest of the people affected.

I hope Garmin has one of those bubble boy setups for Tommy D.

Moops!!!

 

[theswordsman]

Txema Gonzalez dies, masseur Sky

Txema González, conocido masajista del pelotón profesional y en la actualidad en el Team Sky, ha fallecido en el hospital en Sevilla. Txema Gonzalez, known masseur professional peloton and now the Sky Team, died in hospital in Seville.

Txema, que anteriormente había desarrollado su labor antes en Euskaltle-Euskadi y Saunier Duval, estaba ingresado como consecuencia del proceso vírico que sufre el Sky desde el inicio de la Vuelta a España, pero su estado se ha agravado en las últimas horas y la noticia de su muerte ha conmocionado a todo el pelotón. Txema, previously carried on its work before Euskaltle-Euskadi and Saunier Duval, was admitted as a result of viral illness suffered by the Sky since the start of the Tour of Spain, but his condition has worsened in the last hours and the news his death has shaken the whole platoon.

Descanse en paz. Rest in peace.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=30084

 

[Race Radio]

This is really horrible. So sad

 

[Nick C.]

whoooah. that is awful news. obviously this was more seroius than just a virus which I at least would equate with a cold or flu.

 

[peloton]

terrible news.

 

[Anonymous]

Going to be missed by a lot of people. Genuinly nice guy.

Lets hope the rest of the riders and staff are ok.

 

[pedaling squares]

I had no idea this virus was so serious. How awful for his family and the whole Sky team. Sincere condolences.



Maybe out of respect the thread title should be changed to Team Sky's illnesses or anything but a reference to cheating. Not dumping on the OP, it's now obvious that this is a far more serious situation that he thought at the time.

 

[Mambo95]

Sky have said that Txema was suffering from an illness unconnected to the rest of them. Although the virus can't have helped.

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,19634_6356153,00.html

 

[eleven]

I had no idea this virus was so serious. How awful for his family and the whole Sky team. Sincere condolences.



Maybe out of respect the thread title should be changed to Team Sky's illnesses or anything but a reference to cheating. Not dumping on the OP, it's now obvious that this is a far more serious situation that he thought at the time.

Indeed, I think that's a very good idea. I was about to respond to a very early post with some snide remark before I realized that the guy had passed. Would have looked pretty damn bad in light of recent news.

Best wishes to his family, friends and team. What a tragic loss at such a young age.

 

[Anonymous]

Dr. Maserati started a proper thread in the proper forum for Txema.

maybe only small condolences, but it his family could take some heart by it... much better to respond there than here...