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

[Ripper]

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

Is nobody at more than an arm's length from anyone?

Drty industry.

And Paddy ... OMG.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Paddy's sister prints (or used to print) the official Tour Guide.

 

[Ripper]

Paddy's sister prints (or used to print) the official Tour Guide.

I'm beginning the better understand this nutjob's ego.

 

[thehog]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-sean-kelly-assesses-skys-performance-at-ax-3-domaines

Even Sean Kelly has given up.

Watch the video. His comments on Porte. Funny.

 

[burning]

He really rides like Riis

A donkey who found somehow 200 watts out of nowhere and doesnt know how to use that power

 

[bianchigirl]

He really rides like Riis

A donkey who found somehow 200 watts out of nowhere and doesnt know how to use that power

He's as graceless as Riis - and as obvious

 

[the sceptic]

Lets see

Froome will win the tour for the next 7 years
Porte will destroy everyone in the 2014 giro
Kennaugh will become the new Porte

 

[thehog]

Lets see

Froome will win the tour for the next 7 years
Porte will destroy everyone in the 2014 giro
Kennaugh will become the new Porte

Yes Kennaugh was a big surprise. It's his first Tour and he rides like that??

It wasn't just Porte and Froome. Everyone was cooked.

 

[BroDeal]

 

[icefire]

He's as graceless as Riis - and as obvious

He's also 4 years younger than Riis at his peak, so we'll enjoy him for longer unless Sky gets really serious about having a different winner every year: Porte, Kennaugh... who's next?

 

[bianchigirl]

He's also 4 years younger than Riis at his peak, so we'll enjoy him for longer unless Sky gets really serious about having a different winner every year: Porte, Kennaugh... who's next?

They make it unwatchable - unless you love farce (and I'm no clown)

 

[DirtyWorks]

He's also 4 years younger than Riis at his peak, so we'll enjoy him for longer unless Sky gets really serious about having a different winner every year: Porte, Kennaugh... who's next?

They might. The way they shuffled Wiggo off the stage was pretty surprising. Imagine if Wiggo was riding this TdF on cycle like Froome and Porte, they'd have swept the podium in the first week.

 

[William H]

To be fair, Kennaugh's been hyped as a talent for quite a while.

Actually, when Sky was being formed he was probably the smart bet for being their first serious British tour contender - before the '09 Tour I mean.

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

Lets see

Froome will win the tour for the next 7 years
Porte will destroy everyone in the 2014 giro
Kennaugh will become the new Porte

Perhaps today gave us a glimpse of next year.

2014 Giro winner Porte
2014 Tour winner Froome
2014 Vuelta winner Kennaugh

 

[Libertine Seguros]

To be fair, Kennaugh's been hyped as a talent for quite a while.

Actually, when Sky was being formed he was probably the smart bet for being their first serious British tour contender - before the '09 Tour I mean.

Yea, and after all that hype when coming in, he's promptly been handled absolutely with kid gloves, has done nothing of note for three years, then suddenly they want him to come through at the Tour, so he remembers the talent he was thought to be a few years ago, and does.

 

[The Hitch]

To be fair, Kennaugh's been hyped as a talent for quite a while.

Actually, when Sky was being formed he was probably the smart bet for being their first serious British tour contender - before the '09 Tour I mean.

kennaugh was hyped by the same machine that said last year the London cycle classic is the new Paris roubaix. Showed promise but actually contending for a tour was still a long way off and most people who showed that level never really made it.

 

[William H]

Yea, and after all that hype when coming in, he's promptly been handled absolutely with kid gloves, has done nothing of note for three years, then suddenly they want him to come through at the Tour, so he remembers the talent he was thought to be a few years ago, and does.

I don't entirely disagree, but I'd also say it's not really surprising if you vanish from sight for a bit when stepping up to pro ranks at 20, particularly if you're joining a strong team where you'll thus be relatively low down the totem pole. And he did pick up an Olympic Gold last year.

It looks dodgy in the context of Froome and Porte, on it's own it would just be talent coming through, and not all that late considering he's still a "young rider".

 

[cycladianpirate]

This is all utter nonsense. You have to understand that, in today's world of global business and the importance of maintaining a positive PR profile, there is no way that an august sponsor like Sky would allow any sort of chicanery to defile their immaculate brand image.

Hang on...I have to go, my phone is making strange noises again....

 

[Tonton]

Well, here we are. The bad ol' days of US Postal/Discovery came back to bite the fans in the derriere. I wanted to believe, I just can't. I just watched Lance Froome, Ritchie Hincapie, and the rest of the crew insult what's left of our intelligence. And let's not forget Alejandro Valnokourov, completing the podium of hypocrisy. I want to puke. Only bright sights, in a certain way: Alberto seems to have taken steak out of his menu, and Cadel, once again appears to be clean. Not all is lost, but it may (and it surely will) take years to expose this travesty. Today had the smell, the taste of that dish we have been served many times in the past (at least) 20 years. Of course I will keep watching and cheering: but now I have that nasty bitter knot in my stomach that I want so bad not to experience again.

 

[oldcrank]

It's only us realists who are gonna come through
'cause there is only one Power higher than that of Truth
and that's the burning SKY.
(Paul Weller/Burning Sky/1979)

 

[No_Balls]

Well, here we are. The bad ol' days of US Postal/Discovery came back to bite the fans in the derriere. I wanted to believe, I just can't. I just watched Lance Froome, Ritchie Hincapie, and the rest of the crew insult what's left of our intelligence. And let's not forget Alejandro Valnokourov, completing the podium of hypocrisy. I want to puke. Only bright sights, in a certain way: Alberto seems to have taken steak out of his menu, and Cadel, once again appears to be clean. Not all is lost, but it may (and it surely will) take years to expose this travesty. Today had the smell, the taste of that dish we have been served many times in the past (at least) 20 years. Of course I will keep watching and cheering: but now I have that nasty bitter knot in my stomach that I want so bad not to experience again.

Whats so funny with this given what environment they all competed in? Sky just takes what already was established years and years before to another ridiculous level.

It can be argued that this level of dominance, and the old dopers with their arms twisted, is simply inspiring to another doping Era. Why shouldnt they dope with a team who has the blessing from higher powers just like before? One could simply hear what the sponsors was thinking this day.

Pray for cycling instead because this aint gonna turn out well.

 

[Tonton]

Whats so funny with this given what environment they all competed in? Sky just takes what already was established years and years before to another ridiculous level.

It can be argued that this level of dominance, and the old dopers with their arms twisted, is simply inspiring to another doping Era. Why shouldnt they dope with a team who has the blessing from higher powers just like before? One could simply hear what the sponsors was thinking this day.

Pray for cycling instead because this aint gonna turn out well.

Not funny indeed. And as I read your post, I agree. It's all about sponsors, money, new markets, TV ratings, even if it means selling the sport's soul to the devil. Most in this business don't care, as long as they make a living today. It sucks.

 

[martinvickers]

Here we are again, Bro'. Just you an' me.
Same kinda moon, same kinda jungle...

 

[Alphabet]

One of the upshots about Froome is that he, most likely, won't sit back and defend now. He'll attack and try and make the gap larger on every mountain stage. We could end up with something ridiculous- he could put 10, 15 minutes on third place by Paris.

 

[Setarkos]

Well, here we are. The bad ol' days of US Postal/Discovery came back to bite the fans in the derriere. I wanted to believe, I just can't. I just watched Lance Froome, Ritchie Hincapie, and the rest of the crew insult what's left of our intelligence. And let's not forget Alejandro Valnokourov, completing the podium of hypocrisy. I want to puke. Only bright sights, in a certain way: Alberto seems to have taken steak out of his menu, and Cadel, once again appears to be clean. Not all is lost, but it may (and it surely will) take years to expose this travesty. Today had the smell, the taste of that dish we have been served many times in the past (at least) 20 years. Of course I will keep watching and cheering: but now I have that nasty bitter knot in my stomach that I want so bad not to experience again.

Evans is a former Ferrari client... You seem to be quite the expert.