UAE has 2/3rds of the podium at this point in the race.WTF is the Jumbo secret sauce?
UAE has 2/3rds of the podium at this point in the race.WTF is the Jumbo secret sauce?
It's brutally low tech, but red cells are red cells, and it's an aerobic sport dammit, so that's a good candidate to explain an immediate performance boost. IMHO Pog did his after stage 5 to remain competitive. Maybe he has another one in store.On the question of 'what it is'? Post rest day, blood bag full of altitude camp goodies has to be the most likely candidate.
Its the first year where they closely match and for that they spent a lot of money. Großschartner (2x top 10 at the Vuelta), Majka (podiumed the Vuelta, 6x top 10 in a GT), Yates (4th at the TdF). So ots by brute monetary force.UAE's doms have been doing the same so it's all very mind blowing.
Yeah, I think the "normal people" comment gave the game away.I dont believe everyone in jumbo in on the special souce, I think even Wout was shocked by the mutant performance
wva is also an absolute joke overdoing itI dont believe everyone in jumbo in on the special souce, I think even Wout was shocked by the mutant performance
But then again Wout who has been throwing energy all over the place, outperformed the climbers in this TT with 10kg extra.I dont believe everyone in jumbo in on the special souce, I think even Wout was shocked by the mutant performance
Electromagnetic wheels and hub engines, but that was already in play 7 years ago so its got way more juice now. Oh and also a fresh bbOn the question of 'what it is'? Post rest day, blood bag full of altitude camp goodies has to be the most likely candidate.
I actually think Jumbo haven't been as mutant this year, last year they (in particular WVA) took the absolute p*sss.But then again Wout who has been throwing energy all over the place, outperformed the climbers in this TT with 10kg extra.
Oh wait, minus the 500gr bowel thing.
My first suspicion was when Van Hooydonck was climbing way over his level in his first Jumbo year, he was known as a good time trialist but couldn’t handle a small bridge. Then Laporte went on Wout’s level in the classics and is now (as being a half sprinter for Cofidis) climbing over 1 category climbs with ease.
Van Baarle with a big engine also climbing impressive. Benoot was with the top 7-8 last mountain stage. Kuss being Kuss but consistent. And Wout outperforming climbers yesterday again.
And then yesterday happened.
They were better in the classics. Taking 5/5 in the beginning. And Wout is just himself again this year, just without the stage wins.I actually think Jumbo haven't been as mutant this year, last year they (in particular WVA) took the absolute p*sss.
Its just Skeletor, he made WVA and Pog look human, which in itself is hilarious 😂
I am not saying he is clean I just think they reserve the special stuff just for JonasBut then again Wout who has been throwing energy all over the place, outperformed the climbers in this TT with 10kg extra.
Oh wait, minus the 500gr bowel thing.
My first suspicion was when Van Hooydonck was climbing way over his level in his first Jumbo year, he was known as a good time trialist but couldn’t handle a small bridge. Then Laporte went on Wout’s level in the classics and is now (as being a half sprinter for Cofidis) climbing over 1 category climbs with ease.
Van Baarle with a big engine also climbing impressive. Benoot was with the top 7-8 last mountain stage. Kuss being Kuss but consistent. And Wout outperforming climbers yesterday again.
And then yesterday happened.
I am not saying he is clean I just think they reserve the special stuff just for Jonas
Making sure your leader gets the best treatment is logical if you want to keep them happy and limit the number of people in the loop. I'm not even sure there's any confirmed precedent of a team treating all their riders equally doping-wise? I mean, most of the time we don't have that info, but whenever we got a glimpse (back in the day when we still got such glimpses) it was always some sort of tiered system, even within the innermost circle of the most trustworthy domestiques. No one was to be outclassed by someone who was supposed to help them win.But what would be the rationale behind this, surely they must be confident enough not to get caught, otherwise you don't accidentally shatter the idea of what a TT can do in a modern GT.
Making sure your leader gets the best treatment is logical if you want to keep them happy and limit the number of people in the loop. I'm not even sure there's any confirmed precedent of a team treating all their riders equally doping-wise? I mean, most of the time we don't have that info, but whenever we got a glimpse (back in the day when we still got such glimpses) it was always some sort of tiered system, even within the innermost circle of the most trustworthy domestiques. No one was to be outclassed by someone who was supposed to help them win.
Can't wait to see what they'll do with Foss at Worlds ITT. Their "thing" seems to work the best in the ITTs.
Roglic Tokyo 2021 and Giro 2023, Foss Worlds 2022, Jonas Tour 2022 and Tour 2023.