Lee Rodgers's Roar Profile

Exactly right. If you listen to the radio broadcast the athlete taking part says the same thing. Also, re EPO, let’s look at training at altitude with regards to that: there has so far been (to my knowledge) only one study as to how training at altitude affects the body that has studied athletes beyond 16 weeks after their return to their normal altitude, [Buick, F.J., Gledhill, N., Froese, A.B., Spriet, L, & Meyers, E.C. (1980). Effect of induced erythrocythemia on aerobic work capacity. Journal of Applied Physiology, 48, 636-642.].

This study found that these athletes’ maximum oxygen intake remained ‘high’ after the 16 weeks – for how long after though, admittedly, there is no note. But it deserves further study. Looking at EPO, if EPO allows a rider an increase across the board at the commonly accepted percentage of 15 to 20, then the increased ability to train harder and longer will again affect the muscles and therefore mean a continued advantage long after the athlete has ceased to take the drug. Not sure how this does not make sense, Trent.

Dopers are cheating for life, so ban them for life

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We are waiting!

Lombardy, Astana's dirty duo, and women’s prize money (again)

CAS rejected his appeal to get the suspension dropped and denied him entry to the Vuelta and the UCI twice made highlighted what they considered ‘problems’ with his numbers from the 2011 and 2012 seasons (in 2013 and 2014), so they seem pretty confident that the numbers suggest something more than just natural variables. A national federation backing its rider in the face of strong suggestions of doping – if not outright proof – there have been precedents… Contador springs to mind as the most obvious. So, who’s to say for sure, but it doesn’t smell good.

Doping: Are the blinkers back on?

well you could say he didn’t do a great deal after he was busted though…!

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke and the art of cynicism

You guys are so cynical! 😉

Yep, my mistake, hands up!

The best Vuelta a Espana in years by default?

Sagan is so desirable to teams with GC riders because he can win Green alone. I don’t remember his lame Cannondale train delivering him to many points at this year’s Tour, or that many in previous Tours. Unless the rules are changed regarding Green, he’ll keep winning it. That’s why he’s am perfect fit for Saxo – or any other major team with the ability to pay him. I just wish there were more viable choices than the ‘bad guys’ at Tinkoff…

Peter says Sagan-ara to green jersey by joining Contador's team

But here’s the thing, without having cheated in the first place, JV would not be where he is. He was one of those riders who had to dope to even be average, never admitted it til he was forced to, misled the public re his ‘CleanTeam’ when he knew full they were anything but, and finally, took a clean rider’s spot in the peloton and then in management.

For every Vaughters there are ten clean guys who were forced out of the sport who would love a shot at management and won;t get the chance because people say they don;t have ‘experience’ – which, if you follow the logic, is experience gained through a career of cheating.

So, whether JV or anyone else has ‘good intentions’ now, years after they should have had in the first place, I don’t give a rat’s backside. When you pop the cover on the vial you should lose your seat on the bus. Go have your lovely intentions somewhere else, not in an environment where your presence confuses fans, young riders and sponsors alike.

It is in truth a difficult situation as some who doped did not get caught and yet most, in fact, we know about. But a start would be to make the ‘no dopers in management’ rule retroactive. Secondly, encourage sponsors to become aware of the histories of the men that run the teams they pay for. Money talks, whereas rules break down. Financial pressure is the key here. Start a coaching program such as there is in football, get in riders who are known to not have doped, and champion them, highlighting their past.

The culture of cycling is always heralded as being so rich and wonderful and it is, but it is also a culture that is infested with cheating. So let’s work on changing the bad part.

It's time to ban all the cheats from cycling

Vaughters’ arguments are self-serving and keep him in a job. http://crankpunk.com/2013/11/01/hesjedal-doping-revelation-the-tipping-point-for-jv/

My take on Vaughters: http://crankpunk.com/2013/11/01/hesjedal-doping-revelation-the-tipping-point-for-jv/

It was a watershed Tour. If you found it boring then you’re not up to speed with what’s been going on in the sport. It was just what we needed.

2014 Tour de France: Success or failure?

That’s a reasoned response there gb4au, looking at it that way it makes it not matter that those guys were doped up like junkies under a bridge. Thanks for that.

Why the 2014 Tour de France is so good

That is called micro-dosing and if that isn’t happening with some guys then the world isn’t round. You have to remember that in the LA years the better paid riders got the better dope. If “lesser” riders are on something new and improved you can be sure that those inclined to juice amongst the ‘bigger’ riders would already have a fridge full.

What was the real cause – and it is looking more like it might have been a clash with a Belkin bike on the roof – would have been easier for people to take had Specialized’s marketing department not gone into frenzied overdrive in an attempt to say anything but a splintering bike beneath AC had caused the crash. One bike cracking if it had indeed hit something is also not such a terrible thing. Happens all the time with product, most temas just get the chance to stick it in a car and chuck it away.

Re Menchov: a few years ago D. Brailsford mentioned that he’d been approached by the agent of a top Russian rider – not many of those about – and that he’d laughed when he saw the riders Bio Passport. Menchov? Probably. He was always such an erratic rider, which is another sign of a major doper. No doubt he’ll; be back as a DS in a year or two, welcome to sip his espresso at the stat before picking up a 1 millon euro paycheck at the end of the year.

Funny how that works out eh…

The 2014 edition should be known as The Tour de Devious

MAglia thanks for the comment and indeed technically you are correct, Froome was not on the cobbles when he crashed but they were a major factor in his crash. In all the crashes that day, in fact, because of the tension in the pack. The rain compounded that tension.

Agreed Sam. And thanks. Nibali is looking good and his team suddenly seem to have found themselves. Contador hasn’t got too many amigos in the peloton, he’s going to have to do this on his own…

Froome nobbled by the cobbles: A self-fulfilling prophesy?

Thanks for the comment. I didn’t exactly compare him to Tyson nor to Maradonna, but the point I was making was that a to be a champion you need to be great at your sport, but to be a great champion you need more than technical skill. There’s the measure of the man or woman to be considered also. Crashing folk again and again (and he uses his head often) cannot be negated by a few nice comments now and then. I’ve seen Cavendish sprawled out on the floor after a crash he caused and riders like Hushovd shaking their heads as they ride past him.

Then there’s the video of him telling a reporter to ‘f*ck off’ because he asked a question about doping.

Not to mention the fawning over Lance, the fact that he still considers his ‘wins’ to be valid, and the repeated demands for fans and media to forget the past. From his autobiography:

“Like everyone else, I was well aware of the doping rumours that had swirled around Lance, but never dwelled on them: firstly because I hadn’t been competing against him between 1999 and 2005; and, secondly, I had gathered from riders who had competed in that era that doping had been widespread if not endemic.”

Great sprinter? Yes. Great champion and ‘fine role model’? No.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/mark-cavendish/10428756/Mark-Cavendish-Lance-Armstrong-was-mesmeric-he-had-me-under-his-spell.html

Cavendish – the architect of his own downfall

Hi guys, thanks for the comments, nice to know it’s appreciated!

Tales from the Tour

Thanks for the comments Ben, much appreciated! I agree about the smaller events, build ti culture, Asia needs the base first, then build – or at least, some attention to the grassroots rather than nothing else than the bling of the WorldTour.

Cheng Ji’s inclusion in Tour de France masks neglect of Asian cycling

You’re welcome Clare!

The Froome TUE palava: Every side letting the fans down

My question is, how did it take this long to get them on the bikes?!

On-bike cameras should stick around for the Tour

Having raced in stage races with time bonuses I’d say that when you are going well they are great, not so when your suffering like a dog though. Personally I think they’re not fair really, though in these big races they seldom play a major role.

Time travel and the Dauphine: Five lessons learnt

I agree Sam, every time I race i have one moment when I think ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’, and wonder why I didn’t take up surfing… then it passes and do it all again the next weekend 😉

Nice guys finish last: What does it take to be a pro cyclist?

Thanks for the comment, no I don’t think Conty is on a par with his pre-ban self. Shame that though as yes, Froome does need competition and also because that Contador looked on his way to becoming a proper legend.

Froome and Contador battle to headline Le Tour

So… you were saying? 😉 Sorry, couldn’t resist! Madness though, really, to be leaving him at home when on paper who wouldn’t want 2 TdF winners on the same team? Absolutely has to leave the team now, this is actually quite embarassing, but he has previous, he left Garmin under a cloud, annoying the heck out of Vaughters when he jumped ship for Sky. The ma n’s getting a reputation – though Froome did play his part too…

If Wiggo misses the 2014 Tour he only has himself to blame

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