Cycling

[TheKhakinator]

So is the general opinion then that Armstrong was doping? That's... pretty lame.

[T_M_C]

Yup.

TMC

[fog]

So is the general opinion then that Armstrong was doping? That's... pretty lame.

Well there will always be those that don't or don't want to believe that he's guilty.  Most people will though.

We an only assume that he thinks if it goes to court then he will definitely lose, so by not fighting it there is still a tiny lingering doubt that he's guilty.  Damage limitation.

Being so high profile he's damaged cycling's reputation probably more than all the other doping cases added together.....and by not admitting guilt or going to court to fight it he's just ensured the "witch-hunt" continues and the whole thing stays in the news for longer, doing further damage.

I've always thought that, based on those he was competing with and what they were using, he was also using something, but after Wiggos recent TDF win and GB's Olympic cycling performances the timing of the news is pretty terrible.


Meanwhile on the road it was another great Vuelta stage today.  The top 4 (including 2 drug users  ) all attacking each other on the final climb and remaining within 50 secs of each other.  Only one week in and it's already becoming a classic tour.

[fog]

Well the Vuelta continues to be fantastic.  The best tour in years for my money.  Contador, Rodriguez & Valverde constantly attacking each other has made for some classic stages.

It's just a shame Froome has done a lot more riding this year than the others and is looking tired.  Still a great effort though.

[T_M_C]

I've only watched a couple of stages so far.

Sounds great though.

Has Chris Froome still got a chance at the win ?

And the para-olympics don't interest me at all so i havn't been watching that either.

TMC

[fog]

Has Chris Froome still got a chance at the win ?

Not any more.  There have been a load of mountaintop finishes and he was regularly losing 20 secs on each one and then yesterday he completely blew up and lost a stack.  He's now about 5 mins back in 4th.

Some of the climbs have been viscous.  Even Contador and Rodriguez looked like they would be better off getting off their bikes and pushing yesterday. lol.

And the para-olympics don't interest me at all so i havn't been watching that either.

Me neither.  Although it's amazing what they can achieve, as a sporting event it seems a bit of a lottery what category you are put into.

[fog]

Wow yesterdays was probably the best flat stage I've seen.  Contador had tried to break Rodriguez on the limbs for a week with no luck so instead he attacked on a flat stage taking everyone by surprise and with 50km to go managed to build a gap.  Valverde almost caught him by the line, by leader Rodriguez lost a couple of minutes and slipped back to 3rd with Contador taking over the lead.

As the Eurosport commentators said, an amazing stage in the best grand tour in years if not in living memory.

[T_M_C]

Contador sounds as though he's really back on form after the Tour De France Disqualification.

Sounds like exciting racing. 

TMC

[fog]

Vuelta over and it was the best Tour I can remember.  Amazing stuff.


Tour of Britain started today and not a great start for Cav as he was in a big crash as the sprint was building for the finish.  Wiggo is racing too along with a strong team from Sky, it's just a shame there's only a few other riders in the whole race that I've heard of.

[T_M_C]

Thats cool.

I heard on the news that Cav is leaving team Sky.

Not sure when.

I'll have to check the Tour of Britain schedule to see if it comes anywhere near me.

Would be great to see them in person, even if it is only briefly.

TMC

[fog]

I heard on the news that Cav is leaving team Sky.

Not sure when.

I'm not surprised.  Team Sky have said they are going for all 3 major tours next year and that means picking a team and tactics that wont always suit Cav.

At HTC the whole team was set up to give him stage wins and should he leave Sky I can see plenty of other teams who would be willing to do the same again and pay him handsomely into the bargain.

[T_M_C]

The Tour Of Britain came to my neck of the woods today.  Devon.

The route was from Barnstaple to Dartmouth.  From North Devon to South.

Dartmouth is the next town over from me and it was great to see the race finish there, by the river.

I didn't manage to get there in person, although i've been to Dartmouth many times, but i did get to watch it on TV.

Lovely sunny day down here for a change and made for a somewhat surreal experience watching the cyclists ride on the same roads i've ridden on.  

Incientally Dartmouth holds a really cool Regatta week and the Red Arrows display team usualy put on a display right over the river Dart.

And a bit of history for you.

Apparently during World War 2, the German Airforce used to fly over from France to Dartmouth and fly up the river Dart on their way to Plymouth and other locations for Bombing runs.

TMC

[fog]

Looks like we're having a British winner too for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Hopefully they can build on the popularity of this years tour.  Some of the crowds have been pretty decent.

[T_M_C]

The Lance Armstrong saga continues.

Full article here.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/usada-to-release-file-on-lance-armstrong-and-us-postal-doping-35500/

A document of evidence against Lance Armstrong is to be released to the public shortly.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will release to the public its "reasoned decision" document today, detailing the evidence it has amassed against Lance Armstrong and his US Postal Service team associates who engaged in what USADA calls "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen".

But in a press release issued this morning, USADA states that its 1000 page dossier not only includes testimony from 26 individuals, including 15 riders "with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team (USPS Team) and its participants' doping activities", but also "direct documentary evidence including financial payments, emails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong".

TMC

[fog]

Arguably more interesting than Lance himself is why much of this evidence wasn't acted on at the time.  It sounds like a cover-up that could go all the way to the top of the sport.

I also read that, assuming the evidence stands up, he's guilty of perjury as he previously denied it in court and so could be facing some serious criminal charges as well as sporting ones.