"The Secret Pro" on Katusha and doping

[JRanton]

I think it's Bernie Eisel.

The only slight doubt is that there seems to possibly be a Saxo Bank connection with the knowledge that one of their riders (Cantwell?) paid for a contract on the team last year. Although that's the type of thing that would be talked about amongst the peloton I would have thought.

 

[JRanton]

Thanks. That's what I was figuring would rule him out. He usually rides Down Under in January and the author said they weren't.

No, the author says he's riding the Tour Down Under but that it isn't a priority for him:

The Tour Down Under isn’t a priority of mine so I don’t need to be on form and be super lean. I’ll get around ok.

 

[rgmerk]

Probably not Koen de Kort

Koen de Kort (the Dutch Argos-Shimano rider mentioned earlier) has an Aussie girlfriend, spends his summers in Melbourne, and has announced that he will write a series of "Q&A" type posts for the same blog under his real name. I very much doubt that he is the Secret Pro, as his friendship with Wade Wallace is well known and he'd be far too obvious a candidate.

For what it's worth my guess is that it's not an Aussie, and it may well not be a native English speaker at all.

As to his sentiments on doping, while I disagree with him (the fact is that riders have been doping since bike racing was invented, so if they're not doping much now that would be historically unprecedented) I'd still like to hear what he really thinks rather than get the PR-filtered version.

 

[Galic Ho]

Hesjedal rode the Tour of Beijing in October, but the blogger (claims that they) took that month off.

Actually my guess Steve Cummings could be ruled out for the same reason.

Fun game though.

Could also be The Chicken if MTB is considered.

MTB could also be the more appropriate form of bike training in whatever Winter plagued country the author lives in. Lot safer to go to a dirt trail with snow than ride on the road with snow and ice.

If MTB is in, does that mean the author is almost not Dutch? Don't they just do Cyclo-Cross this time of year? By Dutch, I mean almost all Dutch riders? Don't the Scandinavians, particularly the Norwegians and Swedes do XC skiing? Guess we can almost rule them out to. Leaving a small pocket of bilingual European nations and a few teams with riders whose first language is English.

As for Katusha. Hitch and Parrulo are right. Kautsha is comprised almost entirely of Spanish and Russian riders. That is bashing the same guys again and again. Author takes the time to focus on 'clean cycling' now and how journalists have them all figured out the wrong way. The author also bashes the media unfairly. He should have been criticizing them for not speaking about doping in the past to a greater degree. Sounded like he was trying to guilt them into being quiet and not asking questions. That is a trend Anglo nations and teams have been doing. Gesink has also said similar things. and a few other none Anglo oriented riders/teams. Gesink has just found out Rabo were leaving cycling though, so some slack needs to be given. But they are a few others who have mouthed similar things. Millar is one. Also look at the riders praised in the article. Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and Fabian Cancellara. Guys with NO convictions or major doping talk attached to their name. Only implied implication. Completely refused to talk about Contador, Valvderde or Rodriguez or single them out for praise. Because let's face it, if you're knocking Katusha you are also knocking Saxo and Movistar because their big boys beat Rodriguez. Contrast with the three former guys...look clean but the later three don't. It's deliberate targetting of a subset in cycling once again and almost certainly guarantees the author is Anglo or if not, from a central European nation that isn't latino or slavic in origin.

Which is what most sports come down to. We're genetically better..nah nah nah nah. We're cleaner because we're from this part of the world. If you cannot call your own out, which MV doesn't ever do, then you're barking up the wrong tree. Nobody likes a blatant hypocrite, unless they stir national sentiment and patriotism in the masses. Then it's cool.

Does the author pick on a set nationality or subset within cycling? Yes and no. Doesn't go right out and state it, but it's there. They have an issue with the teams they perceive to be naughty and doping. The easy targets to flog. The ones we've heard about again and again. The Latinos. Not a single mention of anyone with whiter skin. Nothing more than tokenism and playing the same PR card. Don't focus on your own, deflect to someone else. All of a sudden that is Katusha.

 

[Galic Ho]

Koen de Kort (the Dutch Argos-Shimano rider mentioned earlier) has an Aussie girlfriend, spends his summers in Melbourne, and has announced that he will write a series of "Q&A" type posts for the same blog under his real name. I very much doubt that he is the Secret Pro, as his friendship with Wade Wallace is well known and he'd be far too obvious a candidate.

For what it's worth my guess is that it's not an Aussie, and it may well not be a native English speaker at all.

As to his sentiments on doping, while I disagree with him (the fact is that riders have been doping since bike racing was invented, so if they're not doping much now that would be historically unprecedented) I'd still like to hear what he really thinks rather than get the PR-filtered version.

That is another take on it. He's just buttering the truth for his employers. Just playing lip service.

Is Koen de Kort this guy on the same blog?

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/11/what-does-a-pro-eat-in-the-off-season-instagram/

If so, it's not him. BTW, if they're not an English speaker, they are bilingual. One or two basic grammar mistakes, where a word was left out more than once in a similar fashion. Thus leading me to believe they're well versed in English, but can make mistakes even if they revise their entire work.

 

[Galic Ho]

No, the author says he's riding the Tour Down Under but that it isn't a priority for him:

I see how you took that to mean he will get by. I took it the other way. He isn't riding in Australia and so doesn't need to be in form. You can take it either way I guess, but I am running with my interpretation. Team doctors insist on fitness and skin folds but because his priorities are not the TdU, he doesn't need to worry. I am assuming his priorities refer to a later starting period in the year and he therefore does not need to worry about riding super fit now.

But yes, I was paraphrasing and your interpretation could be correct. So we need to look out for average to below performances in the TdU as well. No biggie.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I see how you took that to mean he will get by. I took it the other way. He isn't riding in Australia and so doesn't need to be in form. You can take it either way I guess, but I am running with my interpretation. Team doctors insist on fitness and skin folds but because his priorities are not the TdU, he doesn't need to worry. I am assuming his priorities refer to a later starting period in the year and he therefore does not need to worry about riding super fit now.

But yes, I was paraphrasing and your interpretation could be correct. So we need to look out for average to below performances in the TdU as well. No biggie.

If he's not riding, what's he getting around ok? And why mention it if he's not doing it, when he's not mentioning a few other early year races either?

Just curious - this whole "understanding what someone has written" thing is a curiosity.

 

[airstream]

Omg, how much pain one should feel in case he wins a GT clean or just on some soft basic stuff like anabolycs if he is remorselessly accused of doping. I'm just wondering why one still follows the sport? In order to accuse any triumphants of grave sins? Based on what many of you say, Wiggins' example shows a big qualitative sport improvement is impossible without doping. But then why the hell you hate ones for doping and cover up others???

 

[rgmerk]

Is Koen de Kort this guy on the same blog?

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/11/what-does-a-pro-eat-in-the-off-season-instagram/

Yes, it is.

He's racing this crit tomorrow. Should be an entertaining afternoon.

 

[airstream]

I swear here in Britain doping is the first thing that comes up for contador

I swear you won't become more kind to brits if they beat Contador.

 

[johnsiviour]

That is another take on it. He's just buttering the truth for his employers. Just playing lip service.

Is Koen de Kort this guy on the same blog?

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/11/what-does-a-pro-eat-in-the-off-season-instagram/

If so, it's not him. BTW, if they're not an English speaker, they are bilingual. One or two basic grammar mistakes, where a word was left out more than once in a similar fashion. Thus leading me to believe they're well versed in English, but can make mistakes even if they revise their entire work.

CT notes that the "author" is providing info to a "ghost writer". Therefore the script does not give any direct evidence of the rider's nationality/language of birth.

As evidenced by this forum, being an English user from birth is no guarantee of even decent English grammar...

 

[PCutter]

Posters here or on another thread have suggested Adam Hansen because he's a team mate of VdB, I'd think this is very unlikely given Wade is part of the Melbourne scene and Adam is definately not - and spends his off seasons living in Europe (Czech). I'd rule out Porte for the same reason that he doesn't spend his off season in Melbourne or compete in the crit circuit where Wade sometimes pops up. I also love the poster who ruled out Matt Lloyd because the blog actually makes sense

And for those noting it must be an Australian because its an Australian blog, Wade is actually Canadian (which would be where I would be guessing the secret pro comes from were I to make a guess), however on the back of his blog Wade has made many, many connections with the pro peloton over recent years (he's now working for Rapha as the Australian connection off the back of his blog) and has a number of good, solid connections beyond the Australian peloton.

On the Katusha comments in the blog, this may not be necessarily linked to doping (but then again could be), Robbie McEwen has told anyone who would listen (and talked about in his autobiography) about how Katusha were dodgy on payments of salaries/bonuses etc

And as one poster noted, I would not be surprised if the writer throws in a few comments to throw people off his track (like which races/months he races)

 

[fasthill]

Who says so? Have you heard Aussies speak?

I have. I live in Australia. Most people here write very poor English, including teachers, but it's still English. The Secret Pro's writing is of a non-English speaker, I'm certain of it. He makes mistakes most English speakers don't, and he makes a lot of them. He's most likely Dutch. Generally, they have a better command of English than Belgians. In my experience anyway.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I have. I live in Australia. Most people here write very poor English, including teachers, but it's still English. The Secret Pro's writing is of a non-English speaker, I'm certain of it. He makes mistakes most English speakers don't, and he makes a lot of them. He's most likely Dutch. Generally, they have a better command of English than Belgians. In my experience anyway.

It's a ghost writer.

And most people? Good grief.

 

[Galic Ho]

If he's not riding, what's he getting around ok? And why mention it if he's not doing it, when he's not mentioning a few other early year races either?

Just curious - this whole "understanding what someone has written" thing is a curiosity.

If he were riding the TdU I think his language would have been more direct. Getting around where though? He didn't state Adelaide. I thought he changed context. Then there is this ghost writer. That could also explain the loose language. Translating something into English. I thought 'getting around' referred to getting on with their own training. But as I said, it could mean the opposite and I have it wrong. I read two articles on that blog and checked the race lists, so I'm not super familiar with the whole blogs structure and language style over an extended period of time. As it stands I can't say for sure that the person is riding the TdU.

But I do know they are not in Australia right now. If they are riding the TdU that would limit the potential riders this Secret pro could be. Just look at mediocre guys at the TdU. That's probably the most select pool one will get. Can't fathom how that would be Eisel...he's riding. I imagine for EBH. My guess is EBH is going for the win. Eisel will lead him out. Could you imagine him suggesting he didn't need to be fit for that type of lineup? That he could hold off? Is he really that good? We all know the Aussies will be going for the wins. Sky aren't turning up to mess about. That's a serious lineup (check link below). Would explain the Katusha talk him being a Sky rider, but not why Cadel, Schleck and Cancellara are the ones applauded. Wouldn't you do that for Wiggins and Froome?

I checked the TdU start list earlier today. They had only teams. Now tonight they have a few teams with confirmed start lists. Here you go. Note Eisel is on the start list. Matthew Lloyd is also confirmed. I'd focus on the Blanco team list myself for reasons already mentioned. The talk about doping sounded similar in vein to Gesink's talk two months back and it'd explain why some riders were praised but others were frowned upon and yet others ignored. As I said, not mentioning the obvious ones to praise but singing the 'everything is clean' chant is telling. I doubt he's a Sky rider. But if so, Eisel is the obvious choice.

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/start-list.htm

 

[Dear Wiggo]

We're not going to be able to pick this rider based on his performance at TdU.

 

[Galic Ho]

Yes, it is.

He's racing this crit tomorrow. Should be an entertaining afternoon.

He deserves a win simply for the awesome facial hair.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He deserves a win simply for the awesome facial hair.

If that was a legitimate factor, Steve Cozza should have more career wins than Cipollini, Petacchi, McEwen and Cavendish put together.

 

[workingclasshero]

Thing is if some stuff is made up, they may as well make the whole thing up. It's not really a blog if it has been embellished. So either you take everything at face value or consider it entirely fictional.

Let's say the rider is John Smith, who doesn't like cereals. He could then put "I love cereals for breakfast", which will confuse people who are looking into whether John Smith is the secret pro or not. But it won't ruin the whole blog.

It's a ghost writer.

It's crazy how many people on this thread who haven't realised that despite the description screaming it at them. But even though they seemingly haven't bothered taking a glance at it, they don't mind putting forward their thoughts.

I will remember not to bother listening to them when they chip in on the doping threads.

 

[taiwan]

Much of the blog, though, is made up of trivia of that type. If some of it's made up then why bother? If he doesn't actually ride MTB or didn't take October off, what do we actually learn from the blog?

Best way to guess IMO: take everything to be true to begin with.

 

[zigmeister]

This is a great mystery writing method to garner attention, readership and gain much attention. Yet, we can neer verify and trust the authenticity that in fact there is even a scret pro and it is all made up.

Sadly, the media is driven by money, and not truth, like most. Thus, you cant trust the media today.

 

[taiwan]

True. I should apply my gargantuan brain to weightier matters and stuff.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

My guess......Adam Hansen

Jackpot, I guess.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Why do you think it is Adam?

Susan

ETA: There are about 30 Australians in the WorldTour (always assuming it is an Australian rider).

 

[JRanton]

Jackpot, I guess.

Which Grand Tour, Classic or World Championship has Hansen finished highly placed in?