The twilight zone called Portugal.

[carolina]

Netflix is doing a documentary about the wrong race. Grandissima seems much more fun

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Wait what? I thought the raids leaked just before the start was a Tour de France thing.

But since we got August in July, does that mean we're getting July in August?!

I mean, we've always known that the Volta a Portugal was a race taking place in the 90s but taking place today, but now it seems like they're having the Festina Affair in 2022 too?!

 

[carolina]

Daniel Freitas (RP-Boavista) is also involved and won't start the Volta.

Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista afasta Daniel Freitas da Volta a Portugal

O diretor da Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista confirmou o afastamento de Daniel Freitas da 83.ª Volta a Portugal, depois de a casa do ciclista "axadrezado" ter sido alvo de buscas de manhã, equacionando ainda a rescisão do contrato.

www.rtp.pt

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Daniel Freitas (RP-Boavista) is also involved and won't start the Volta.

Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista afasta Daniel Freitas da Volta a Portugal

O diretor da Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista confirmou o afastamento de Daniel Freitas da 83.ª Volta a Portugal, depois de a casa do ciclista "axadrezado" ter sido alvo de buscas de manhã, equacionando ainda a rescisão do contrato.

www.rtp.pt

Freitas was also at W52, from 2016 to 2018, the Balarcón era.

 

[PhiLiz]

Freitas was also at W52, from 2016 to 2018, the Balarcón era.

Same for Francisco Campos who left last year. Let's see if that's the pattern being followed here. If it is, and since Glassdrive was also searched, Reis and Carvalho could be next. I doubt it tho.

Btw, Campos has confessed "not following the internal regulations" and has been fired already.

 

[carolina]

We have to appreciate José Azevedo talking about a zero tolerance policy in his team.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I hope everyone played it save and is already fully loaded up for the Volta, would be a shame to loose out on the spectacle because of police raids.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Same for Francisco Campos who left last year. Let's see if that's the pattern being followed here. If it is, and since Glassdrive was also searched, Reis and Carvalho could be next. I doubt it tho.

Btw, Campos has confessed "not following the internal regulations" and has been fired already.

Reis was actually pretty normal and tame at W52. Funny, I always espected him to become the next Volta gc monster and then Moreira stole his thunder...

 

[PhiLiz]

Reis was actually pretty normal and tame at W52. Funny, I always espected him to become the next Volta gc monster and then Moreira stole his thunder...

If, and like I said I'm not convinced of this theory, the cops are indeed going for former Porco riders due to someone speaking in the questionings they'll follow connections, not performance logic. So, former riders will be the next in line which is reasonable.

However, during the last few hours Glassdrive said no one from their team was accused. Which is ironic and hilarious, but also, for now, looks like it's not just about ex former Porco riders.

I think we're just in the beginning and the investigation is way wider than just a team and a few riders. In the end, I'd say everyone's going to be touched.

Balarcon, the whistleblower, INTENSIFIES.

 

[baojoao]

Luis Mendonça and João Benta also out of Volta a Portugal. I suppose related to doping investigation, but not sure.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Luis Mendonça and João Benta also out of Volta a Portugal. I suppose related to doping investigation, but not sure.

Meh, even more of a Q8 Glassdrive show then. Let's hope that Marque and some of the others will at least put up a fight.
I kinda hope for Balarcon level wattages as a sign of defiance.

 

[PhiLiz]

Benta, a chronic dopper, what a shock. Mendonça had also been flying this year. I'm curious to see the connections now that riders with no links do W52-Porco have been involved as well. Probably a doctor or some kind of company dealing with "preparation".

Arrests during Volta are clearly on the table.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

João Benta? Say it ain't so!!!

Next you'll be telling me Rahim Emami's record on Wuling Pass wasn't legit.

 

[carolina]

Mendonça and Benta say the police raided their homes, but nothing was found and they are not accused of anything. However, the Volta organization and the portuguese federation don't want them to compete.

 

[Mayomaniac]

João Benta? Say it ain't so!!!

Next you'll be telling me Rahim Emami's record on Wuling Pass wasn't legit.

The 2nd is nothing but American propaganda against the nation of Iran.

Oh well, at least we have trustworthy clean cyclists like Marque and de Mateos competing in the Volta...

 

[PhiLiz]

Cancellara Reis crushing everyone, Moreira second putting 15s into Marque and 27s(!) into Délio Fernandez. So, everything according with the plan.

However, aside from the old predictable jokes: Henrique Casimiro (36 years old) and Tiago Antunes from Ace's Efapel are now really good in Prologues! 62kg and 55kg respectively but lost just a few seconds to the motorbike Mauricio Moreira.

 

[Tim Cahill]

It's the Tour 2006 when all the stacked teams got thrown out before the race, anti doping officials celebrating a job well done not realising they forgot one...

 

[Mayomaniac]

Cancellara Reis crushing everyone, Moreira second putting 15s into Marque and 27s(!) into Délio Fernandez. So, everything according with the plan.

However, aside from the old predictable jokes: Henrique Casimiro (36 years old) and Tiago Antunes from Ace's Efapel are now really good in Prologues! 62kg and 55kg respectively but lost just a few seconds to the motorbike Mauricio Moreira.

The fact that Moreira is apparently 4kg heavier than Reis is even more ridiciulous. Makes his climbing even crazier...

 

[PhiLiz]

The fact that Moreira is apparently 4kg heavier than Reis is even more ridiciulous. Makes his climbing even crazier...

Yeah. Guessing a big part of the weight steams from him being very tall, 1. 89m. Reis was dwarfed in the side by side interview they've done today with the two of them.

He should really be at Jumbo. He would be gaining a cm for the 1.90m rule with no problem...

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yeah. Guessing a big part of the weight steams from him being very tall, 1. 89m. Reis was dwarfed in the side by side interview they've done today with the two of them.

He should really be at Jumbo. He would be gaining a cm for the 1.90m rule with no problem...

Do they still have weigh-ins for stage winners at the Volta? I remember seeing Alarcon being 71kg.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That was measuring his hematocrit, not his weight.

 

[Mayomaniac]

That was measuring his hematocrit, not his weight.

That would make the whole thing even more awesome!

 

[PhiLiz]

Delmino Pereira admite regresso da W52-FC Porto: "Queremos sempre boas equipas"

In the middle of the storm, Delmino Pereira, President of the Portuguese Cycling Federation wouldn't mind a comeback from Porco with a new team...

The Tour gave Grandíssima a run for their money this year, but at the end of the day, Volta a Portugal still reigns supreme. Deal with it.

 

[Ricco']

Has Mr. Delmino said anything about his federation taking only 1 out of 6 possible male elite riders to the 2022 European championships? Or 1 female out of the 2 allowed?

Or why there isn't been a single elite rider in MTB world championships? Or no national presence in cyclo cross at the international level?

The guy should be more focused on improving his shitty management of the national federation, instead of defending shady teams.

 

[PhiLiz]

Mauricio Moreira showing that he can still sprint. Quim Silva also knows how to sprint now on top of learning how to time trial now. Massive improvement brought to you by the duo Ace and Dr. Benjamim Carvalho.

I'm glad my prediction came to pass: they don't give a single fvck, even while cyclists are being detained.