The Secret Pro

[King Boonen]

Re:

How hard can it be to identify the guy (if he is indeed a pro)? Personally I can't be bothered to dig through all his drivel, but from that last article I gather it's a rider who finished the Giro on a team with an American sponsor and who will probably start the Tour. That already narrows it down a lot. Unless of course he's lying about riding the Giro to throw us off... in which case, why are his blog posts of any interest? It's not like he provides any interesting perspectives on the scene. I mean, we all know Anglos don't dope, Astana is taking the piss, bla bla bla.

He said that America would be a good market, not that the Sponsor was American. So that's BMC, Cannondale-Garmin, Giant-Alpecin, Trek Factory Racing, IAM cycling, Lampre-Merida, Etixx-Quickstep, AG2R-La Mondiale, Lotto-Soudal, Tinkoff-Saxo.

Now not all of them are obvious (and some do and others may already have a piece of the American market) but they all have at least one title sponsor that might want a piece of the Worlds biggest economy (EU not counted).

 

[Archibald]

was thinking it was a british sky rider...
juniors with wigans,
defender of froome and praising sky,
the only team that's going to be whinning about LRP's wheel-change penalty - sky,
good for US market? - that's the sticking point as they don't promote Fox even though part of the Rupert Empire... Unless he's an ex-sky rider...

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

I think it is multiple views stitched together with lots of fake references thrown in for good measure. The tone seems Aussie to me, but i think that's the ghost writing.

The whole history of TSP has been very Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!. I find it unreadable for that reason - as Nick C. pointed out it makes it seem like they're pushing an agenda, which makes them easier to dismiss as biased and detracts from those good points they make.

Don't forget, that for all of it's reach and influence CyclingTips is still an Australian site. It's audience is still largely Australian as well.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if TSP is an amalgamation of opinions and stories (as mentioned earlier) from a small variety of Aussie pros compiled by Wade Wallace. Even though he was never a pro himself, Wade has ridden at NRS level and is friendly with most of the Melbourne based pros - Gerrans, Clarke, De Kort, Watson, Henderson, Cantwell etc.

 

[Stingray34]

With regards to the Anglo/Aussie-centric nature of TSP, Mick Rogers was interviewed on this site stating this Giro was the hardest GT he'd ever done.

I'm also leaning towards an amalgam of predominantly Anglo voices as TSP.

 

[Stingray34]

Blowing smoke up Hansen's arse like he's Don Draper, berating Astana, but not Roger's team Saxo who had the inhuman winner in the end.

TSP is a Hansen-Rogers love child, fo sho.

I really hope they become an acoustic duo and move into an apartment together.

 

[blackcat]

plus the token dutch australian koen de kort.

hey koen, how did you win GP Eddy Merckx with Thommy Dekker? ask him that next summer you catch up with him downunder wade

 

[gazr99]

Agree with many, think it's Hesjedal, right age, team fits the bill, doing both GT's, would notice when riders produce extra watts to leave him, tried to break away a lot, etc.

However am I only person who is very concerned about his comments about racing in the past:

"Quick question: who remembers the good old days of the 1990s and 2000s, a time of fast racing when guys were achieving superhuman feats? Sure it was spectacular to watch but imagine being in that peloton and looking at guys you knew you couldn’t touch because they were, well, superhuman. Do you think we could ever return to those times again?"

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Agree with many, think it's Hesjedal, right age, team fits the bill, doing both GT's, would notice when riders produce extra watts to leave him, tried to break away a lot, etc.

However am I only person who is very concerned about his comments about racing in the past:

"Quick question: who remembers the good old days of the 1990s and 2000s, a time of fast racing when guys were achieving superhuman feats? Sure it was spectacular to watch but imagine being in that peloton and looking at guys you knew you couldn’t touch because they were, well, superhuman. Do you think we could ever return to those times again?"

Return? When did we leave?

 

[classicomano]

Havent we already figured out that it cant be just 1 rider?

 

[gazr99]

Re:

Havent we already figured out that it cant be just 1 rider?

Why can't it?

 

[I Love To Dope]

Why does it matter who it is specifically

 

[gazr99]

Re:

Why does it matter who it is specifically

Everyone has curiosity, its why tabloids and gossip magazines are so successful, everyone wants to know everything

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Why does it matter who it is specifically

Because their history as a rider could give some insight to the thoughts being written by the secret pro.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Re:

Why does it matter who it is specifically

It doesn't. But people like puzzles and trying to solve them.

 

[classicomano]

Re: Re:

Havent we already figured out that it cant be just 1 rider?

Why can't it?

Because if you add up all the clues he drops about where he raced etc. it could never have been just 1 rider.

 

[wendybnt]

I wouldn't assume 'the secret pro' is a pro rider.

It's great click bait

 

[blackcat]

Re:

I wouldn't assume 'the secret pro' is a pro rider.

It's great click bait

good click bait. not great. motor doping is great click bait.

u just assume it is multiple riders. Jez Hunt and Koen de Kort two fo' shur