The Sky-Con-O-Meter. Predictions on how much more ridiculous they can get

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well JTL seems to have no gains from marginal gains. He's going backwards faster than Robert Gesinks career

 

[BroDeal]

Well JTL seems to have no gains from marginal gains. He's going backwards faster than Robert Gesinks career

That is how the Sky marginal gains work. Some riders have unimaginable performance jumps. Others barely tread water or sink. It is almost as though some get white lunch bags and others don't.

 

[Miburo]

That is how the Sky marginal gains work. Some riders have unimaginable performance jumps. Others barely tread water or sink. It is almost as though some get white lunch bags and others don't.

you can't make it too obvious, this way they've the argument "not everyone is performing so well"

I bet that their classics fail is all part of the plan.

 

[maltiv]

Well JTL seems to have no gains from marginal gains. He's going backwards faster than Robert Gesinks career

When it comes to JTL I'm starting to suspect that he was on more than "marginal gains" last year...

 

[hrotha]

That is how the Sky marginal gains work. Some riders have unimaginable performance jumps. Others barely tread water or sink. It is almost as though some get white lunch bags and others don't.

Some riders are marginalized and don't get the bags. That's where the name comes from.

 

[vrusimov]

The first Bio tests taken at altitude are removed from the profile. With the limited amount of Bio tests and anything in Ternieifre discounted along with the odd blood disease thrown in - beating the Bio is rather simple.

Doping favours the wealthy. If you can monitor your levels and train at altitude you have a free pass.

Sky's power levels are insane. Off the charts. Chris Froome will mess it all up. He is sloppy.

Right...Vayer touches on the high altitude camps in NN...specifically with regards to Froome...with his blood disease, I would also agree that manipulation is possible...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

When it comes to JTL I'm starting to suspect that he was on more than "marginal gains" last year...

yes, he was likely on a program last year. Got a solid contract at Sky and the agent picked up a nice fee.

Now the program is scaled back most likely.

Only thing left is the money trail. Do we know who the agent is?

 

[the sceptic]

yes, he was likely on a program last year. Got a solid contract at Sky and the agent picked up a nice fee.

Now the program is scaled back most likely.

Only thing left is the money trail. Do we know who the agent is?

It was a perfect plan. But somehow Bryunelsford didnt want him as his next GT winner.

 

[JimmyFingers]

There were veiled accusations at JTL last year, and suspicion he was able to do it because he wasn't getting the BP testing. High expectations for his first year at pro-tour level but he was never going to jump in at top spot, so he has toiled at domestique. Looked decent at that.

 

[hrotha]

Jonathan Tiernan-Pecharromán.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

There were veiled accusations at JTL last year, and suspicion he was able to do it because he wasn't getting the BP testing. High expectations for his first year at pro-tour level but he was never going to jump in at top spot, so he has toiled at domestique. Looked decent at that.

There were also concerns about lack of actual dope testing at some of the events he won last year iirc. It reminds me of ToC in '11 where UCI decided against testing. Result Horner and Leipheimer ended up 1-2 in GC. A critical year for the team which needed sponsor money moving forward. All coincidental? Of course.

It often amazes fans how "poor" dopers are when the juice is taken away.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Jonathan Tiernan-Pecharromán.

I think maybe more of a Murilo Fischer, he can carve out a good niche as a WT hand yet.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Jonathan Tiernan-Pecharromán.

LOL Props for the Pecharroman reference.

 

[Alpechraxler]

JTL was the guinea pig. It all begun with some weight loss. Damn need to sheed 10 pounds too.

 

[Ripper]

Jonathan Tiernan-Pecharromán.

Now that is funny

 

[DirtyWorks]

There were veiled accusations at JTL last year, and suspicion he was able to do it because he wasn't getting the BP testing. High expectations for his first year at pro-tour level but he was never going to jump in at top spot, so he has toiled at domestique. Looked decent at that.

To the bolded, we already have evidence of riders who got BP testing where the results were at best, bending over backwards to assume the UCI is a fair player, somehow not processed.

Just because there is testing and positive results does not mean there will be an AAF. That's assuming WADA would recommend a positive if they ever got assigned the file.

 

[Tinman]

yes, he was likely on a program last year. Got a solid contract at Sky and the agent picked up a nice fee.

Now the program is scaled back most likely.

Only thing left is the money trail. Do we know who the agent is?

There is definitely a group of riders that "perform" when it matters, ie when the contract is up for renewal, and then mysteriously we see little/no performance for years with citations of viruses allergies etc. Rogers is one, Gilbert, Hushovd, and I am sure many that others can fill in. JTL seems to fit this group.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Do we know who the agent is?

Yes, no surprises there:
http://www.trinitysportsmanagement.com/athletes/

The one and only Andrew.

 

[Ferminal]

JTL will win in Firenze, just you wait.

 

[Benotti69]

So, if so many are convinced Sky are doping, what exactly does their program consist of?

I would say micro-dosing would not produce such quality "marginal gains" as we've seen from Wiggins and Froome. Even so, somewhere along the line they would be bound to get pinched given the current climate.

It must be either...

1) Some seriously powerful new drug/s that the general cycling public hasn't heard about...

2) A similar program as run by other teams in the past but much more carefully monitored by team medical staff or...

3) a combination of both.

I'm not a fan of rampant speculation without there being at least some sort of details we can contemplate.

If they are cheating, they have found a way to get around the Bio Passport, so my guess is their medical program is heavy on the monitoring side. I also think Wiggo and Froome could possibly be the proud recipients of that weight loss drug that's in whatever stage of human testing.

I've never seen riders that thin with such power output levels. This leads me to think whatever it is they're doing would make Johan Bruyneel and Dr. Ferrari blush.

It is possible that Sky have a similar program to USPS, The 'UCI look the other way' program

 

[maltiv]

There is definitely a group of riders that "perform" when it matters, ie when the contract is up for renewal, and then mysteriously we see little/no performance for years with citations of viruses allergies etc. Rogers is one, Gilbert, Hushovd, and I am sure many that others can fill in. JTL seems to fit this group.

Hushovd doesn't fit in there at all, he was a very consistent performer until he got old...

 

[Lanark]

Hushovd doesn't fit in there at all, he was a very consistent performer until he got old...

Neither does Gilbert really. He had a pretty linear progression untill 2011, it's only after that when he started sucking (with a short exception last fall). Not really the type that only performs when his contract is up. He seems to fall more in the 'hit and run' type, gradually increase the risks untill you hit jackpot, after that you can cash out for a couple of years.

 

[S2Sturges]

It is possible that Sky have a similar program to USPS, The 'UCI look the other way' program

But Sky are with out doubt, on a program that when the tests finally catch up to the cheats in two years, will prove.. But there is so much innuendo and smoke around Sky, it won't take much to start a bonfire .. but yes, I wonder if there is a segment of the £35 million pound annual Sky budget put aside for the UCI glee club...

 

[Ripper]

Yes, no surprises there:
http://www.trinitysportsmanagement.com/athletes/

The one and only Andrew.

Well this just gets more and more interesting.

Nice little business everyone's got goin' on.

 

[thehog]

Well this just gets more and more interesting.

Nice little business everyone's got goin' on.

Gulp. As long as everyone gets paid then everyone's happy.

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