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Thomas Dekker like you've never seen him before

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Spine Concept

Spine Concept

Apr 28, 2010
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Thomas Dekker (26) was, for many years, the biggest Dutch cycling promise. Even in his youth the young pro rider from North-Holland was already overloaded with success, money and attention. Unfortunately, it all came to a screeching halt when Thomas tesed positive for Erythropoietin, also known as Epo, and was subsequently banned for two years.

Yesterday his documentary titled ''Nobody knows me'' was released on national television. It is a very intriguing look into the inner workings of Thomas during the course of his suspension, how he coped with it and what he has been doing all this time. He talks about getting ''the call'' and just everything from that point on really. Basically a journalist and documentary maker by the name of Geertjan Lassche, moved in with Thomas and filmed him for the past one and a half years or so. Thus, we get to see the real Thomas Dekker; real emotions - outbursts and all - his family's reaction, how he kept up his training in an attempt to stay competitive on a pro level and convince Vaughters of his shape, and everything encompassing the life of a suspended pro cyclist due to doping. Unfortunately it is in Dutch, however there is an interview in English around 16:30 minutes into the documentary. Here is a preview, which can be seen on youtube.

The documentary can be seen directly by clicking on this link which will lead you to the ''missed broadcast'' section of the NOS broadcasting channels.
I am aware of the fact that it is probably geo-restricted, I have it on my computer and would be willing to share it anyway I can. I just need some advice on what the best way is to do it. Thanks.
 
goggalor

goggalor

Oct 16, 2009
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Interesting to see him reading VDB's bio at 50:47.

Just after that they show him with Cecchini. Hm.
 
blackcat

blackcat

Mar 13, 2009
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there is no difference with Ricco. These guys start doping in the jnrs, no credulous possibility Dekker was ever clean from the last year in the juniors.

Ricco plays a crucial role, that of the scapegoat character. His persona might be abrasive and rambunctious, but just how different is he to Cavendish? The only difference is Cav has not yet tested +

Prolly never will, cos he is a Brit. We know Brits dont dope. Anglophones are clean by definition. Only swarthy continental Euros dope, cos "they have a different mindset" *Michael Rogers' words
 
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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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goggalor said:
Interesting to see him reading VDB's bio at 50:47.

Just after that they show him with Cecchini. Hm.
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That's why it's too bad there's no subtitles: he says that Cecchini sees him as a son, that he hasn't been Dekker's trainer for a long time, and that he has nothing to do with the doping case.
 
Havetts

Havetts

Jan 27, 2011
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theyoungest said:
That's why it's too bad there's no subtitles: he says that Cecchini sees him as a son, that he hasn't been Dekker's trainer for a long time, and that he has nothing to do with the doping case.
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That is what Dekker stresses all the time, Cecchini had nothing to do with his doping case.
 
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Lanark

May 12, 2010
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Havetts said:
That is what Dekker stresses all the time, Cecchini had nothing to do with his doping case.
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He pretty much stated he got it from the Netherlands, or from a Dutch person.

I thought the most revealing statement was that it's frustrating that he has to sit out his full two years, instead of taking a deal and 'only' serving 18 months, but the people he protects by keeping his mouth shut don't lose a second of sleep over him. I still wouldn't be surprised if Rabobank bought him off in 2008 to keep his mouth shut about what happened during the Rasmussen/Vienna-days in the team.
 
Spine Concept

Spine Concept

Apr 28, 2010
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He also says that they never talk about anything related to doping or his case in particular. We'll have to take his word for it I guess. I can understand that the constant suspicions can get tedious after a while. Which is why he gets irritated when the journalist asks him about his reltionship with Cecchini.
 
Spine Concept

Spine Concept

Apr 28, 2010
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Lanark said:
He pretty much stated he got it from the Netherlands, or from a Dutch person.

I thought the most revealing statement was that it's frustrating that he has to sit out his full two years, instead of taking a deal and 'only' serving 18 months, but the people he protects by keeping his mouth shut don't lose a second of sleep over him. I still wouldn't be surprised if Rabobank bought him off in 2008 to keep his mouth shut about what happened during the Rasmussen/Vienna-days in the team.
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Albeit stressing on the fact that he has been more open than he might have thought before, I still think he remains very shady about the on-goings at that time.
 
Damiano Machiavelli

Damiano Machiavelli

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May 23, 2011
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There is something odd about Dekker's case. He is the only rider ever caught by retrospective testing. Why were his samples chosen to be tested?
 
Havetts

Havetts

Jan 27, 2011
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Suspect blood samples probably. But yea, he is upholding the Omerta but it was from a Dutch person who if he'd meet him he'd confront him with it. But yes, he said he wont tell it cause it only saves him 6 months but ruins people their lives.
 
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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Lanark said:
He pretty much stated he got it from the Netherlands, or from a Dutch person.

I thought the most revealing statement was that it's frustrating that he has to sit out his full two years, instead of taking a deal and 'only' serving 18 months, but the people he protects by keeping his mouth shut don't lose a second of sleep over him. I still wouldn't be surprised if Rabobank bought him off in 2008 to keep his mouth shut about what happened during the Rasmussen/Vienna-days in the team.
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And he certainly feels f**ked by someone, he almost threatens this particular person at some point. And of course, indeed he was f**ked, being the only person caught by retroactive testing. But who is this person? Who could have benefited from this? At first I thought: maybe someone within Rabo, but they didn't really gain anything from it, the contrary really.

There certainly was some kind of deal between Rabo and Dekker when they parted ways, both parties wouldn't say anything about the nature of the conflict, so that's no surprise.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Havetts said:
Very very nice documentary. Shame there are no possibilities for subtitles.
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maybe one of the dutch speakers could subtitle them for us.
 
Spine Concept

Spine Concept

Apr 28, 2010
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theyoungest said:
And he certainly feels f**ked by someone, he almost threatens this particular person at some point. And of course, indeed he was f**ked, being the only person caught by retroactive testing. But who is this person? Who could have benefited from this? At first I thought: maybe someone within Rabo, but they didn't really gain anything from it, the contrary really.

There certainly was some kind of deal between Rabo and Dekker when they parted ways, both parties wouldn't say anything about the nature of the conflict, so that's no surprise.
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The undisclosed amount they had to buy him off for must have been pretty hefty seeing the Porsche he drives in and the houses he owns in Belgium, Italy, and Holland. :p
 
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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Spine Concept said:
The undisclosed amount they had to buy him off for must have been pretty hefty seeing the Porsche he drives in and the houses he owns in Belgium, Italy, and Holland. :p
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It's not like he didn't earn anything in his years as a cyclist... as Dekker_T pointed out, he already made 500,000 euros as a neo pro.
 
Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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The thing that strikes me as peculiar is that he is uncertain in the whole documentary.

And also he clearly feels much guilt towards his family / environment, he doesn't want to disappoint them again and especially after the physical tests, which didn't went so well, you see him doubting. Especially after the last one where Berkhout (Martijn) confronts him and tells him he should not care so much about others think but focus on himself, focus on getting stronger.

It's now also clear why Thomas Dekker doesn't go to Garmin directly, it's too risky for JV with these tests, he needs competition first, and there is the Chipotle team for... Hope he can straighten himself up, find the joy back in cycling and stop doubting himself every second.
Without success I think he could easily go in the way of VDB, Pantani and Jimenez
 
O

on3m@n@rmy

Jun 17, 2010
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Lanark said:
He pretty much stated he got it from the Netherlands, or from a Dutch person.

I thought the most revealing statement was that it's frustrating that he has to sit out his full two years, instead of taking a deal and 'only' serving 18 months, but the people he protects by keeping his mouth shut don't lose a second of sleep over him. I still wouldn't be surprised if Rabobank bought him off in 2008 to keep his mouth shut about what happened during the Rasmussen/Vienna-days in the team.
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That's a consistent theme isn't it. The part about not wanting to say much about the past, not wanting to hurt those friends associated with his past. Hamilton was the same in the beginning, and maybe still is to some extent. But the difference with Dekker is he's young and wants to return to the sport, whereas Tyler's too old to race well and so has nothing to lose by opening up. We've had other guys return after a two year hiatus, like Virenque and Millar. Like them, Dekker has served his penalty. I think he deserves another chance. Now's the time for Thomas to show he can do it right the second time, and hope he does.
 
O

on3m@n@rmy

Jun 17, 2010
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Dekker_Tifosi said:
The thing that strikes me as peculiar is that he is uncertain in the whole documentary.

... Hope he can straighten himself up, find the joy back in cycling and stop doubting himself every second.
Without success I think he could easily go in the way of VDB, Pantani and Jimenez
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Well I hope not thata way! Other guys have made successful comebacks and let's hope he goes that way.
 
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