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'Big Mig' has a lot to answer for. Better known as Miguel Indurain, the five time Tour de France winner is responsible for getting John hooked on cycling in the early 1990's when SBS first started their nightly TV coverage. Yes, the amazing French scenery helped, but so did a face-to-face interview John did in 1997 with Stuart O'Grady just after his debut Tour. Since then John has reported cycling for radio, print and online media. He has only missed one edition of the Tour Down Under (1999) and in 2014 went to the Tour de France for The Roar and ABC Radio. John also loves riding and in March is riding in the Three Peaks Challenge in the Victorian Snowfields.
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As Roar Expert Felix Lowe wrote in his Tour Down Under preview, “stability is a great thing, but stagnation is only just around the…
“I don't think I've got the legs I've had for the past two years.” Richie Porte was either playing the ultimate game of fox…
As I wrote yesterday, I felt Simon Gerrans victory over Corkscrew in Stage 3, would be enough for him to win this year's Santos…
It's only three seconds, but I reckon Simon Gerrans has as good as won the 2016 Tour Down Under. In a nutshell, today and…
Anyone who follows cycling closely or has visited the Tour Down Under would agree that this is an exceptionally well-organised race. Each race day,…
While the sad passing of yet another music legend, Glenn Frey, made headlines around the world yesterday, it was impossible not to make a…
Go riding on any Saturday or Sunday morning and you'll see hundreds, maybe thousands of like-minded people, enjoying one of the best sporting pursuits…
The idea to bring around 100 of the world's best cyclists to Adelaide for a bike race was doing laps around Mike Turtur's brain…
There'll be lots of reflective words written on the 102nd edition of the Tour de France, which for me is the best we've seen…
Could Stage 17 have gone any better for Chris Froome? Don't answer, because clearly, he had a dream day. Tejay van Garderen, the rider…
Rest days do funny things to riders' legs. It's a given that everyone will spend at least some of the day on their bikes.…
So the first chapter of climbing at this year's Tour de France has ended. While I'm sure no one is surprised that Chris Froome…
If, as numerous commentators say, the real Tour starts tonight, then I shudder to think at what's about to happen. Are we about to…
The phrase 'marginal gains' should be familiar to any cycling fan. Brought into the sport by Team Sky and its general manager Sir Dave…
As I tap out the first few keystrokes of this piece, the rain is starting to fall on Rohan Dennis and the other 197…
It didn't take long to realise that last night's Tour de France opener was going to be something special. As the first few riders…
According to the Oxford Dictionary definition, for something to be great, it needs to be “considerably above the average” and “important or the most…
Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur has one of the hardest jobs in Australian sport. Sure, he runs one of the best organised…
It's hard to imagine Cadel Evans raving about the parcours for the 2015 Grand Boucle. Likewise, Sir Bradley wouldn't be salivating at riding this…
The racing in this year's Tour Down Under has been as good as I can remember. As always race director Mike Turtur made only…
Abdu, you say a lot of things, like a lot of people tend to do on internet forums…some of them may be true, but some of them may not be. Luckily there are so many forums, the threat of lawsuits is somewhat diminished.I’m not saying what you allege is true or false, but would you say this on talkback radio?
We all have our theories on riders and their past and because of this, it’s way too easy to be suspicious of any results. This attitude now pervades cycling.
Neil Stephens remains under suspicion simply because of who he rode for, but until anyone has any proof that they are prepared to publish, what is there to say? Robbie may also have skeletons he is hiding, and he may not. I guess you choose to look at what you want to see. But once again, if the proof is out there, someone (ideally riders) has to come forward. The only clear way forward, and cycling needs to happen, so it can, is for there to be an amnesty.
Why did O'Grady suddenly retire?
Because it’s a mountain top finish, we will see some time gaps, but I’m not sure there’ll be as much action as you think.
It’s day one in the mountains so no one will want to go too deep so soon.’
Sky will try to control the race but I expect there will be some attacks in the final couple of k’s. Perhaps we will see Rodriguez, Contador or Qintana have a crack, but I’m not sure Cadel has the acceleration to cause damage today. As I said in my post, I reckon most riders will just be happy to stay with Sky tonight. Cadel MIGHT look to make up time on the final descent tomorrow which is something that he is better than Froome.
GC battle begins in earnest as Tour de France moves into Pyrenees
I like your thinking Tony. Betancur is one I didn’t mention. Partly because, yes, he is young, so maybe a smoky for the White jersey, IF he hasn’t been too smashed by the Giro. Re Uran, he may have to wait for both Froome and Porte to falter before getting chance. It’s hard to imagine both of them struggling though. As as for Fuglsang, he looks impressive and despite Nibali not riding, Astana could have a few cards to play. Thanks for contributing.
Froome's rivals falling apart
On ya Kristy. A very heartfelt read, but its great to see you can now see beyond Lance to enjoy what truly is a wonderful sport. Only a few people thought he was suss from the beginning so you weren’t alone. It’s worth re-reading Armstrong’s book with the knowledge of hindsight. You can still have compassion for his cancer fight which did sound truly brutal, but as for the rest, well I can’t decide whether its fiction or just comedy.
Can we believe in fairy tales post-Lance?
That’s it for the live blog from The Roar for Paris-Roubaix. Thanks for your company. What a race it was, even if it didn’t rain. Keep checking our site for all the latest news from the cycling world. See you next time.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
So Cancellara does the Flanders Roubaix double and collapses to the ground afterwards. He has to be helped to his feet. If Vanmarcke was just able to kick a little more he would have won but Spartacus was too strong. Terpstra claimed third, van Avermaet was fourth and well done to Sebastian Langeveld from Orica Green Edge who finished 7th.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Fabian comes from behind and over the top to win his third Paris-Roubaix . What a win!!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
1km to ride. what a shame someone has to lose.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
2km to race. Cancellara is giving a ride here. His opponent looks more tired but Vanmarcke isn’t letting go.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
3km to race. Vanmarcke keeps getting out of his saddle whereas Cancellara remains seated.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
3.5km to race. Vanmarcke is a better sprinter as Cancellara has probably sussed given he can’t shake him with these attacks.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
4km. The two leaders are side by side as Cancellara attacks again.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
5km to race. Only 300m of pave left to race which is just before the Velodrome. So this looks like it will come down to a race inside the historic velodome. Wow!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
6.5km to race. Cancellara looks like he is struggling to stay on Vanmarcke’s wheel, What a win this could be for Blanco…might even get them a sponsor.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
7.7km to race. Cancellara sitting in second position.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
8.2km, Sector 2 is here just 1.4km long.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
8.5km to race. Stybar is out of it at 47 secs so it’s a race in two.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Just 10k’s to race incliding 1700m of pave over two sectors. Again, Cancellara cannot shake Vanmarcke.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
11 km to race. Cancellara is into time trial mode but Vanmarcke is going nowhere and is in fact doing turns with Spartacus.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
13km to race and the lead duo has a lead of 19 secs.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
13.9km to race. Vanmarcke is sticking to Cancellara like glue. This wasn’t in Fabian’s plan.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
This issue is a dilemma and its only getting bigger.
Riders seem only willing to come forward when the weight of evidence is against them.
Cycling fans however, and genuine sports watchers, are not buying half truth admissions as genuine mea culpas.
Widespread opinion seems to be that riders are only sorry they got caught, and because of that they will only admit to as much as they think they can get away with.
This may or may not be the case with Stuart O’Grady, but without the facts at hand, how can we really know?
Sure the riders can tell us, but the personal risk to livelihood is too great, so they’ll keep quiet as long as they can.
For all O’Grady’s remorse in ‘fessing up, it still appears he only retired and then admitted to doping because he knew the game was up.
That said, given the tests could never actually reach court because they don’t meet standard drug testing protocols, then what would have happened if O’Grady said nothing. Could he have ridden through being named as having provided a suspicious test, and emerged at the other side to perhaps still ride the Tour de France in 2014?
A moot point, but a question worth considering.
Cleary he didn’t think he could but now the damage to his reputation is immense, probably bigger than I thought it would be–because let’s face it, even though this is bad, we’re not talking a Lance-like scenario here.
So once again, to stop this happening every week/month/year of however long it takes to clean up cycling, surely an amnesty is the only way forward.
Why did O'Grady suddenly retire?