Tour du Romandie: 27 April - 2 May 2010

[matthewn]

Team HTC Columbia - where are you?

So what happened to team HTC? Only Pinotti and Rogers finished? How could a team allow all but one support rider withdraw when they are holding th eyellow jersy on the last day. Okay, Valverde may still have won but it must have really sunk Rogers to have to begin the last stage, defending the yellow jersey with only one team member on his side. Pinotti and Rogers were valiant in there efforts but Valverde's team was all over it!

 

[wapocat3000]

Alejandro Valverde es Dios.
Destroy them without pity. It is a shame that did not have this condition of form at Lieja.

 

[Galic Ho]

It's the fault of the Spanish courts (and some national feds) that barely anyone has been sanctioned over Puerto. There's evidence that Piti doped, and it's not in the hands of biased Spanish authorities anymore. RFEC should've done something about all the other riders instead of leaving it to CONI to struggle and trick their way to getting someone's blood bag out of Spain.

Do remind me and everyone else here what piece of judicial legislation the Spanish Courts could have charged riders with in 2006. Don't struggle too hard with finding that info. There was no legislation. Doping was not criminal at the time. Head over the border and it is a different story. Spain has since changed, but that isn't enough. Some people would like a new law to be applied retrospectively. Are you one of those people? Foolish idea and concept. Lesson to learn is have all your ducks set up in a row and make sure all bases are covered in the event another OP occurs down the road. Have the UCI and WADA done this? I think you know the answer. There is still more work to be done.

As for Romandie. Good work by Valverde, Menchov and Spilak. Shame on Rogers team. HTC are disgraceful. One team mate to help. One. Bloody hell! The guy busts his **** off for other team members and that is the help he gets. Let me guess. Load the team with work horses for Cav. Arrogant prat. Good to see Anton back in sound form. He'll be a useful asset in France for Samu. Good form last week and also this week.

 

[Runitout]

Who is this "Ricco" guy you speak of?

I only know a "Riccò". You know, that guy who repeated over and over and over again that he only took EPO once for the Tour because he "hadn't trained enough so had to make up somehow", then proceeded to apologize and assure us it was just a one-time thing and he would never make that "mistake" again.

In short, everything you just praised him for not doing.

Hmm - I heard he dobbed in his suppliers, and did not hear about the 'one-time mistake' line of reasoning. Ah well, I am quite prepared to believe that he did as you say. You tend to be right about these things.

I still don't see how that makes him worse than Basso, or Zabel, or Sutherland, or Leipheimer, or any number of people who have been accepted into procycling post-confession/bust with open arms, by fans and riders alike. Apart from the fact that he is by all accounts a Class A ***.

edit - can't believe that wasn't censored!

 

[Galic Ho]

See, Sagan is the new Pantani

But realistically I do believe he was climbing a lot better now than in Paris-Nice.

Basso will probably end up being a helper for Pelizotti in the giro yet again

Basso being a helper in the Giro is old news. Pellizotti gets the Giro and Basso the Tour. The Tour team is stronger since they are sending those two older guns with the young guys to back them up, Kreuziger and Nibali. The younger guys then have the Vuelta to do their thing at. This has been news for months now.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

nibali

Basso being a helper in the Giro is old news. Pellizotti gets the Giro and Basso the Tour. The Tour team is stronger since they are sending those two older guns with the young guys to back them up, Kreuziger and Nibali. The younger guys then have the Vuelta to do their thing at. This has been news for months now.

Basso for the Tour???
Nibali showed his superior uphill agility last year - I'd give him a chance at the podium.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Basso being a helper in the Giro is old news. Pellizotti gets the Giro and Basso the Tour. The Tour team is stronger since they are sending those two older guns with the young guys to back them up, Kreuziger and Nibali. The younger guys then have the Vuelta to do their thing at. This has been news for months now.

Thank you Gallic, you have reassured me i am not going fully insane as i thought the same thing!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hmm - I heard he dobbed in his suppliers, and did not hear about the 'one-time mistake' line of reasoning. Ah well, I am quite prepared to believe that he did as you say. You tend to be right about these things.

I still don't see how that makes him worse than Basso, or Zabel, or Sutherland, or Leipheimer, or any number of people who have been accepted into procycling post-confession/bust with open arms, by fans and riders alike. Apart from the fact that he is by all accounts a Class A ***.

edit - can't believe that wasn't censored!

Sella dobbed in his suppliers. Sella's information busted Priamo, opened up a trail. Riccò named some already-known doping docs. I don't know if that's because they legitimately were his suppliers or he was trying to lie his way into a shorter sentence. Sella only got one year, as you know, while Riccò got 2 years and had to appeal to get it reduced to 20 months because the authorities didn't believe his rattings-out. Basically, they felt Sella was honest with them, while Riccò was trying anything to get back on the road.

How does that make him any different from Alejandro Valverde, who is trying anything to keep on the road? Nah, Valverde's just become a pantomime villain for many cycling fans, a convenient hate figure while they can happily follow other known or suspected dopers because what you don't know (or what hasn't been confirmed) can't kill you.

My favourite story about reduced bans is Marta Bastianelli (2007 world champ) testing positive for a diet suppressant in 2008 and being given a year's ban. She then appealed this ban (the nerve!), so the UCI launched a counter-appeal to have it extended to two years; she'd already got herself her 2009 team lined up and everything, and then the case essentially consisted of her protesting 'you got my ban wrong!' and the UCI/CONI saying 'you're right, it isn't long enough'.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sella dobbed in his suppliers. Sella's information busted Priamo, opened up a trail. Riccò named some already-known doping docs. I don't know if that's because they legitimately were his suppliers or he was trying to lie his way into a shorter sentence. Sella only got one year, as you know, while Riccò got 2 years and had to appeal to get it reduced to 20 months because the authorities didn't believe his rattings-out. Basically, they felt Sella was honest with them, while Riccò was trying anything to get back on the road.

How does that make him any different from Alejandro Valverde, who is trying anything to keep on the road? Nah, Valverde's just become a pantomime villain for many cycling fans, a convenient hate figure while they can happily follow other known or suspected dopers because what you don't know (or what hasn't been confirmed) can't kill you.

My favourite story about reduced bans is Marta Bastianelli (2007 world champ) testing positive for a diet suppressant in 2008 and being given a year's ban. She then appealed this ban (the nerve!), so the UCI launched a counter-appeal to have it extended to two years; she'd already got herself her 2009 team lined up and everything, and then the case essentially consisted of her protesting 'you got my ban wrong!' and the UCI/CONI saying 'you're right, it isn't long enough'.

That final story is quite amusing. Whenever valverde does well doping will always come up.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That final story is quite amusing. Whenever valverde does well doping will always come up.

Of course. But then I don't have a problem with doping coming up when Valverde wins things. More with the hypocrisy of some people turning him into a pantomime villain because of doping whilst cheering on other known or suspected dopers. Nobody thought to go over to the Asturias thread and bitch about Constantino Zaballa winning things, but because it's Valverde, we will?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Of course. But then I don't have a problem with doping coming up when Valverde wins things. More with the hypocrisy of some people turning him into a pantomime villain because of doping whilst cheering on other known or suspected dopers. Nobody thought to go over to the Asturias thread and bitch about Constantino Zaballa winning things, but because it's Valverde, we will?

Or Contador. He is treated like god on this forum and is defended because he was "bullied" by La when he is the same as Valverde imo.

 

[Jonathan]

Or Contador. He is treated like god on this forum and is defended because he was "bullied" by La when he is the same as Valverde imo.

You know, maybe some people don't consider doping allegations to be the deciding factor in who they like or dislike.

 

[luckyboy]

Do remind me and everyone else here what piece of judicial legislation the Spanish Courts could have charged riders with in 2006. Don't struggle too hard with finding that info. There was no legislation. Doping was not criminal at the time. Head over the border and it is a different story. Spain has since changed, but that isn't enough.

What, no criminal legislation means that RFEC couldn't have banned them from cycling?

Some people would like a new law to be applied retrospectively. Are you one of those people?

Nah, the UCI and CAS seem to be trying to sort out a ban on their own.

More with the hypocrisy of some people turning him into a pantomime villain because of doping whilst cheering on other known or suspected dopers. Nobody thought to go over to the Asturias thread and bitch about Constantino Zaballa winning things, but because it's Valverde, we will?

I hope I'm not included in this.

 

[python]

can we get back to romandie as there are 3 threads on valverde doping in the clinic ?

for dutch speakers - interview with the rabo leader and the assessment of the team's performance.

http://www.rabosport.nl/wielrennen/(Giro) Menchov morele winnaar Koninginnenrit

 

[issoisso]

You know, maybe some people don't consider doping allegations to be the deciding factor in who they like or dislike.

Which is amusing when you consider Valverde is pretty much the nicest, friendliest guy in the peloton

Now that I think about it, it may be because english speaking people tend to not see his personality other than when he's refuting doping allegations, thus getting the idea he's another surly Vino/Riccò character.

 

[python]

once again can i request to take doping to the three threads about valverde in the clinic.

for dutch speakers - interview with the rabo leader and the assessment of the team's performance.

http://www.rabosport.nl/wielrennen/&...Koninginnenrit

 

[jaylew]

Sella dobbed in his suppliers. Sella's information busted Priamo, opened up a trail. Riccò named some already-known doping docs. I don't know if that's because they legitimately were his suppliers or he was trying to lie his way into a shorter sentence. Sella only got one year, as you know, while Riccò got 2 years and had to appeal to get it reduced to 20 months because the authorities didn't believe his rattings-out. Basically, they felt Sella was honest with them, while Riccò was trying anything to get back on the road.

How does that make him any different from Alejandro Valverde, who is trying anything to keep on the road? Nah, Valverde's just become a pantomime villain for many cycling fans, a convenient hate figure while they can happily follow other known or suspected dopers because what you don't know (or what hasn't been confirmed) can't kill you.

Agree completely

 

[sartoris]

Yeah, let's remind all the Valverde haters that there's an specific thread for them at the Clinic. Or you can take a look at this one (alternative) and check how much pride you still have to swallow.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/valverde-tops-uci-world-rankings

This is to comment on his performance at Romandie. He won like the champion he is: always vigilant and at the front and then a master stroke when needed. Congratulations Valverde on the name of many cyling fans like me, not blinded by past "evidence". Regards.

 

[Wattie]

Wattie - are you just as upset about Constantino Zaballa's win in the Vuelta a Asturias, or are you yet another of these who will cry and moan about Valverde whilst ignoring all of the others still out there? What is it about Valverde that makes him so much worse than everybody else who never had to face justice? At least Valverde has some kind of justice hanging over his head, even if it's poorly-applied.

If Zaballa has escaped justice then it is a bad thing for cycling. The point though is that Valverde is a high profile rider, far higher profile than Zaballa and he is garnering a great deal of publicity, far more than Zaballa ever would. That is what is damaging to the sport; that one of its highest profile figures should quite clearly be guilty of a violation and have gotten away with it. So yes I am upset (as you put it, though I wouldn't choose the word myself) about Zaballa, but less so than about Valverde in light of the far higher status and influence of the latter. I don't recall saying that anything about Valverde makes him worse than everyone else who has never faced justice, but since this is a thread about the Tour of Romandie and he won it, it would seem appropriate to talk about Valverde's dubious status in this thread

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yeah, let's remind all the Valverde haters that there's an specific thread for them at the Clinic. Or you can take a look at this one (alternative) and check how much pride you still have to swallow.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/valverde-tops-uci-world-rankings

This is to comment on his performance at Romandie. He won like the champion he is: always vigilant and at the front and then a master stroke when needed. Congratulations Valverde on the name of many cyling fans like me, not blinded by past "evidence". Regards.

We just should not ban them at all and make doping legal!

You know, maybe some people don't consider doping allegations to be the deciding factor in who they like or dislike.

I personally could not follow someone if that happened but each to his own. Their is some hypocrisy though that people treat AC like a god and then can valverde whenever he wins. You can't have it both ways.