Team Sky has put the fear into its opposition, and they don’t seem to be losing their nerve. David Millar woke up in his hotel room on Monday morning, opened the curtains to reveal a shocking sight, which he shared with his Twitter followers:
“Swept opening my curtains to find beautiful blue sky, and… The Deathstar.”
Of course, it was Team Sky’s team bus, parked outside the Garmin-Sharp rider’s hotel room.
Tour de France Diary, Stage 15: Fedrigo makes it four for France at Tour 2012
“I’m still half asleep. Climb back into bed trying not to imagine them ripping us to pieces on every climb. All I wanted was blue skies.”
And so the winner of stage 12 summed up the feelings of many other riders and fans towards the most dominant team in this year’s Tour de France.
The black uniforms and shiny helmets, the impassive faces of the stormtroopers Eisel, Knees, Boasson Hagen, Rogers and Porte as they slowly choke the oxygen out of their rivals…without wanting to stretch the visual metaphor too far, I can see Millar’s point.
Even the team’s biggest problem only reinforces its dominance: having the top two riders in the race arguing over leadership is surely the most wonderful problem for any directeur sportif to have, although dinner at the team hotel might be awkward.
Frank Schleck virtually admitted as much to CyclingNews after stage 14:
“I think Froome and Wiggins are the strongest. I really believe that they are not beatable,”
In that case, I doubt Dave Brailsford will be too worried about a few awkward silences over the soup.
When riders of Frank Schleck’s talent are admitting defeat before the Pyrenees, and David Millar is jokingly comparing you to the Galactic Empire, you know you’ve put the fear into the peloton.
Any pre-Tour speculation about how Sky would cope with supporting the contradictory ambitions of Mark Cavendish and Wiggins has been melted away under the team’s laser focus on the GC, and then been squelched into the tarmac by the unrelenting tempo of its five super-domestiques.
The team is even belying its arch-villain status by demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and respect for its competitors, holding up the race to wait for an agitated Cadel Evans after “tack-gate”.
Chapeau to Wiggins for his stance, particularly when Pierre Rolland shot off the front chasing the title of ‘Least Popular Frenchman of the Year’, and Wiggins had to calm the worries of teams concerned they were losing time to Europcar’s villain (who really should be made to grow a twirly pantomime moustache as punishment).
It shows that Wiggins, as single-minded as he is in pursuit of overall victory, is not willing to sacrifice the respect of the peloton and the fans to get it. He doesn’t want to win dodgy. A positive message to send in a week where he has had to repeatedly defend his character in the press.
So it can be hard to know what to think of Sky. We want to back the underdog and anyone-but-Britain, but can’t help admiring the strength of this team, partially driven by Australians.
The urge to treat Sky as the enemy has overcome many, judging from Mick Rogers’ reports of being booed by Australian fans (if this is you, you’re a flaming galah).
One-sided dominance can often deaden the excitement of racing, and there has been a certain plodding sense of inevitability about this Tour since the first time trial, but we can’t blame that on the team doing its job too well. It’s the others that need to improve.
It looks like we need to get used to the idea that Sky will be riding into Paris victorious, even if we’re not quite sure yet who will be wearing yellow. If that happens, the British will be as happy as the Australians were in 2011.
Unless someone finds a tiny thermal exhaust port in that Death Star, quicksmart.
Bones506
Roar Guru
I don't buy the 1% as far as diet and equipment.
Colin N
Guest
"There is no list when it comes to whom to trust most. They’re either guilty or innocent based upon the results of the tests they take. Everything else is moot." Quite. I think that's the crucial point. I sense somewhat that these 'conspiracy theories' are are out of hope and dare I say it, jealousy. It also takes away from the enjoyment of the sport. The Anti-Doping Agency are there to do a job and seemingly because of the pressure from the public and press, the procedures have become much more vigorous. Most of the time with these things, it's that they find their peak. For example, people keep going on about Wiggins and Froome smashing Cancellara in the ITT. Last year, Evans, who the person admits above isn't the greatest TT rider, beat the Swiss by well over a minute and came second. Yet those same people, who haven't followed Wiggins' career like we have, claim it's suspicious that he beat Cancella in this year's tour. Also, this is a guy who is an excellent time-trialler and has an excellent record. Froome's not too shabby either.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I found an article about this guy, Christophe Bassons. Quite interesting and 'only' 6 month-old. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bassons-wont-judge-landis-and-armstrong
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I completely understand what you are saying Ds. Obviously i do feel that science or anti doping controls are (and have always been) one step behind, hence the difficulty to find the cheaters. So yes, you're right, my 'trust 'of who does what is mine and mine only and is only based of what i see, read and think of riders. Its a forum, we share opinions and by essence opinions are 100% subjective. I don't consider myself a cycling-mad but as I was born and spent 27 years of my life in the country where the TdF takes place, i have eaten, drank and breathed tour de france for 3 weeks during these 27 years, plus now in Oz. Year after year I watched the spectacle of Virenque, Ulrich, Riis, The whole Festina team etc, getting caught during or after the tour. It was relentless, in the media, the news, talk show etc. When one has been exposed to that, it's difficult to believe cyclists are clean although most probably are. Cycling is a new sport in the UK or Oz, hence the fact that most fans haven't been exposed to this, or not to the extent that French, Italiand, Belgians, Dutch or Spaniards have. Dunno about Wiggins really. When I look at Froome on the other hand, i see a rider who is very easy when he climbs while the others struggle to follow him. In the TT? He was 30sec faster than the TT master himself Cancellara over 41km. So yes, i have no proof he has taken anything banned but when i watch him ride his bike, he reminds me of guys (the one i mentioned earlier, US postal etc...) who got caught at some stage. Although i didnt read their books, i also remember french cyclist like Bassons or others saying that doping was endemic in this sport and that there was an 'omerta': if you talk, you're out and will never get a pro contract again. And i did believe those guys (was a decade ago if i remember well).
Dscaper
Guest
Upon what proven, reliable, scientific facts can you base your "trust" upon, that cannot be directly applied to any other rider within the TdF? Us folks over the pond have seen Wiggins for years too, and we've seen his good and bad days. But I'm certainly not going to point the dope-finger at Cadel until such time as an Anti-Doping Agency tells me that he is a proven dope cheat. I agree with you completely about teams being overall clean - there will always be riders who feel that they're getting left behind somewhat and that by doping they can safely keep their place on GT's. There is no list when it comes to whom to trust most. They're either guilty or innocent based upon the results of the tests they take. Everything else is moot.
sittingbison
Guest
yup, how ironic, especially as its a day after he launched proceedings against the team for non-payment of wages.
sittingbison
Guest
ho hum, don't you think they are all looking for the 1% ers in diet, training and equipment? The "we trained harder" catechism of USPS and Lance is a little tiresome.
sittingbison
Guest
ColinN its not a good idea to open the weight loss can of worms, given he has lost 12kg in short order from peak physical condition (4% body fat) without any loss (in fact an increase) in power
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
They (BMC) would be at the bottom of the list to be honest. For what it's worth (i know where you want me to go :), if there is one rider that I trust 99,9999999% it's Cadel Evans. We have seen him for years and he is just 'human': he has good days, bad ones, average ones etc. We know he isnt the best climber nor the best time-trialist (although very good) but he does extremely well with what he has. When the TDF is on, i follow this forum and french ones and 99% of the public, no matter where they come from, believe he is clean. Am not a fan of him as a rider (although he does attack more since he has been world champ) but i really like the man. he does sound like a real hard-working cyclist and he does have a brain. I think teams are overall clean but within teams you have cyclists who just do' the wrong thing' on their own, have their own "dr". Not all, but some. I often read that now ppl also doubts about Gilbert, who was unbeatable last year in all the classiques and struggles in 2012. Dunno what to think. Want to believe its just a bad one rather than that he has stopped doing anything silly.
sittingbison
Guest
BMC are not doping, just dopes %)
Tim Renowden
Expert
If BMC is doping you'd have to say it's not working very well.
Dscaper
Guest
Do the "other teams" include BMC?
Dscaper
Guest
Personally, with what has happened, the people I feel really bad for right now are Horner and Jensie. Both of them are absolute legends, and they're going to be getting it in the eye from the media right through 'tll Paris and beyond. Just hope they're ok.
Dscaper
Guest
Apologies if the argument of ignorance came over as high-handed. It's more the fact that if someone such as Cadel had been leading, would the words "police raid" ever have come to light here? Personally, I find Cadel a good character with a big heart and a fire inside - and I don't believe for one moment that the gap between folks like Cadel and Wiggins is huge enough to be explain away by doping. Personally, I enjoy the TdF as a race first, then if at a later date I find myself being let down by a rider having doped, then so be it. If I take the view that everyone I is doping, and that raids (such as Mr Schleck today) are put before the enjoyment of the race, then I may as well watch the rest-days and turn the TV off until Paris. I don't think it's exactly fair that the burden of proof always be placed on the riders. The press and the UCI have a huge part to play in improving the image of cycling, and I for one actually think that the approach that Team Sky, OGE and a couple of other teams is a huge step forward. Someone on Twitter made a very interesting point earlier, just after Schleck left the tour. Cancellara was tested at least 70 times during the season so far, whereas Barcelona players were tested a grand total of 10 times during the whole of last season.
Tim Renowden
Expert
He's removed himself from the race "voluntarily". Stretching the definition of voluntary a bit.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
no worries. My initial comment yesterday that "French police often targets rest-days to arrest people so we might have a surprise today!!" was more a general rant/joke than anything targetted towards Sky but it didnt come across like that online, apologies! Anyway, cycling is still imo the toughest sport of all. I sometimes feel we should even stop looking for things(banned substances) as it's hard (impossible?) to control everything and everyone. It's just so confusing/ frustrating to have guys caught years after they have won a race. Still think the 2 pyrenean stages should be good to watch. I remember riders saying they are tougher than the Alps as the asphalt is pretty average on some roads.
Tim Renowden
Expert
It's a "big call" to suggest the cops would raid Sky, not to have your suspicions. I can understand why you'd be sceptical about their performance, given cycling's past. You were right aout rest days often resulting in positives, too, unfortunately.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Why is it a big call to have 'doubts'' on sky?? Am not saying they are "for sure" guilty. Am just saying i do have doubts on the way they get these performances. I also have doubts about other riders too. Re-ignorance, I actually think the ones who are ignorant and/or naive are the ones who believe all riders are only training and drinkink water and orange juice to achieve these results. I have grown up in a country where we hear a lot about doping particularly in cycling so maybe i am more/less biased than others but i just can't help but have doubts about many riders as i have been deceived many many times in the past. But am happy for you to keep thinking everyone is clean if it works for you.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
This is categorised as a "specified substance" by WADA. Funny to wake up and see that, yes, there has been another 'story' on the Tour on a rest-day. True its not Sky. Does it mean that all they do is legit? Absolutely not. As Tim says, yes they are very smart these days, very very smart. Do i still have doubts on Sky and other teams? Yep "A specified substance is a substance which allows, under defined conditions, for a greater reduction of a two-year sanction when an athlete tests positive for that particular substance. The purpose is to recognize that it is possible for a substance to enter an athlete’s body inadvertently, and therefore allow a tribunal more flexibility when making a sanctioning decision. Specified substances are not necessarily less serious agents for the purpose of doping than other prohibited substances, and nor do they relieve athletes of the strict liability rule that makes them responsible for all substances that enter his or her body. However, there is a greater likelihood that these substances could be susceptible to a credible non-doping explanation, as outlined in section 10.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code. This greater likelihood is simply not credible for certain substances – such as steroids and human growth hormone – and this is why these are not classified as specified."
Dscaper
Guest
Aye - masking agent Xipamide. What a pity for the Tour that we're going to have a huge cloud hanging over 2 possibly great stage. Wonder what the hell Andy must be thinking right now...