Trickle-down doping a huge success
Trickle-down theory is a term used to describe the belief that high-income earners should be thrown a bucketload of dirty cash to benefit all…
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Lee is a professional cyclist with the UCI Continental CCN Cycling Team. Lee is quite possibly the world's oldest neo-pro ever - receiving a contract to ride for a UCI Continental team three years ago at 37 and has since raced around the world, from East Java to Korea, Oman to Qatar. Lee has even managed to get on a startline or three in the heartland of the sport - Belgium, where he was comprehensively and properly spanked. Lee loves the millions of lycra-clad folk around the world who head out each weekend to suffer and dream, to emulate their heroes on their local hills and descents, to become noble, dammit, even if only in their own minds. They are the true guardians of the sport. Communicating with them is what makes it all so worthwhile.
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Trickle-down theory is a term used to describe the belief that high-income earners should be thrown a bucketload of dirty cash to benefit all…
How refreshing would it be to hear a cyclist who gets busted for cheating hold up their hands and say "you know what? I…
Cadel Evans hoped when he set up the inaugural Great Ocean Road Race that it would become an integral part of an already impressive…
The 2016 Tour Down Under will be remembered for the outstanding performances of two riders from the same team. Namely by Simon Gerrans for…
There was a ruefulness about the look of Michael Matthews as he waited to accept his bouquet of flowers on the second step of…
Come September 27, millions of cycling fans around the world will be glued to TV sets for one of the most hotly anticipated men's…
When the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) came out with their report on the state of cycling not too long ago, Brian Cookson admitted…
Chris Froome has all but won the 2015 Tour de France but the rider sneaking the column inches away from him today is Nairo…
I wouldn't wish it on anyone really but, if pushed, I could think of several other candidates from the world of cycling better qualified…
This article was slated to be about Stage 17 of the 2015 Tour de France. Apologies to the editors and to those of you…
It's a bit cruel having a team time trial at any time other than on the first day. Especially when it's at the end…
I'm pretty sure I just watched Stage 7 of the Tour de France but I'm a little suspicious that it might have been some…
There seems to be no Tour de France or Giro of recent memory that hasn't been of the crash-bang-whallop variety straight from the off,…
'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is…
A couple of week’s ago Chris Froome had a Q&A session on his already very busy Twitter page. One of the tweets asked him…
Can you feel it? It's that time of year again, and I don't mean the Tour Down Under. It's the buzz of a new…
I read a cycling article last week that rather brilliantly had the word ‘bandits' in it, not something you see every day. “Darwin Atapuma…
Philippe Gilbert got the ball rolling by saying on Thursday that he's targeting Milan–San Remo, getting us on an early start for the annual…
I recognise the legacy I have inherited is an atmosphere of distrust around our sport. You should (and you will) judge me on my…
Bill Murray was brilliant in Groundhog Day, playing the cantankerous Phil, the weatherman who woke up every day in the same day, trapped in…
Well, thanks for laying out your opinion, that is appreciated! Froome and Brailsford have gone on record these past few days to say that Wiggins is NOT a Plan B and that they do not envisage him being that. And yes, Wiggo is strong (now) but he wouldn;t make Sky stronger as a team – which is the main point here. There’s no point having a team full of Maradonas, any manager worth even a pinch of salt knows that.
Also, lazy, I disagree on that also, there was only one other report in the media I could find on this, in The Guardian (as of yesterday morning), and I’d say I covered all the main points. Porte is the guy Froome needs, one who can help to a certain point, not one who turns up with an olive branch in one back pocket and a stick of dynamite in another.
If Wiggo misses the 2014 Tour he only has himself to blame
Thanks for the comments John, Hutch, much appreciated. Yes fascinating is the word, and same for me, the Bernard/Greg thing springs to mind instantly. Who doesn’t love an implosion?! We had LAnce/Alberto, Wiggo/Froome I, be great to see a repeat.And I can;t see Wiggins at Orica, that would just be wrong. The ‘whinging Pom’ stereotype doesn’t need reaffirming…
If Wiggo misses the 2014 Tour he only has himself to blame
It is interesting though that after that stage when Froome ‘left’ Wiggo, the fuss around it all actually led Wiggo to text Sean Yates that night and to say ‘Maybe it would be better if I just went home’ – which sounds like the reaction of a 14 year old, not a man in control of himself. I do agree that they deserve each other though, and all I can say is that after a few years racing bikes I’ve met more than a few of these types – pro sports and in particular cycling does seem to offer a home for borderline personalities…
If Wiggo misses the 2014 Tour he only has himself to blame
I hear where you’re coming from Tim but I’ve seen this first hand when I was racing UCI events, where the organisers screw up and the peloton ends up careening through jammed traffic, for example. The guys on the motos might be screaming and blowing on whistles but there’ll be 20 or 30% or more of the pack that still try to get an advantage.
In this situation you have two choices: stop riding and let them go, or chase. For sure it sucks and you want to cave in their craniums once you catch them, but these things do happen. It should never happen in a Grand Tour but, you know what – it just did! Everyone’s to blame here at least a little, but the organisers the most though…
Fearful organisers and precious riders have wrecked the 2014 Giro d'Italia
Great to see riders looking tired again for a change too 😉 Yeah Uran Uran looked knackered today, which was a surprise. Great stage too, good to see the break stay away…
Millar on Evans: Evidence that Cadel is still woefully underrated
Definitely not underestimated by the peloton, but on balance yes he is by the press. Millar’s article had a snideness to it that was unnecessary.
The point I was making but perhaps didn’t communicate effectively enough for you is that Millar is better placed than just about any other journalist to appreciate Evans’ talents and achievements, yet he just about failed to mention any.
Millar on Evans: Evidence that Cadel is still woefully underrated
Damo, cheers for the comment, I think the thing about the article was that is contained barely a word on Evans’ talents. It was a subtle pot shot, or several, from a guy who you might term taciturn at best, bitter at worst. That, and I’m tired of reading articles from journos criticising Evans who’ve never raced at anything approaching a decent level. Evans is one hell of a bike rider, and when the big dopers got pulled back he showed that. I think that deserves more respect than he gets, and whilst you are right, that the Millar article was not a blistering attack, it’s another ‘drip’ in the pool of articles that under appreciate Evans and his achievements.
Millar on Evans: Evidence that Cadel is still woefully underrated
‘Lee Rodgers’ is not a nom de pen for Tim Renowden, Clare – I do actually exist! I think he’s relaxed because he’s older, for one, and that he knows exactly what he can do on a bike these days, and with that combo comes a calm.
And Tim, yes I read it too! Unbelievable. Even the Eurosport commentators were hanging him out to dry with 3km to go, and then he comes third with a very respectable time.
I think that whether he can win the Giro or not is not the main point here, it’s the fact that any praise that goes his way is given so begrudgingly, and more often than not, it;s not praise that’s going his way in any case.
Millar on Evans: Evidence that Cadel is still woefully underrated
Ben, Rob, Maggie, much appreciated, thank you!
How the UCI butchered the prestige of the hour record
Hutchoman, I think you can guess what my opinions on those butcherings are! The pursuit was a thing of wonder in itself…
How the UCI butchered the prestige of the hour record
You’re right Matt, I checked my ‘memoryapedia’ and it obviously failed me, thanks for pointing that out!
Will Routley: A rider worthy of praise
Quite right Sean, quite right. He can write a bit too!
Will Routley: A rider worthy of praise
Yep, the Giro is romance on two wheels, absolutely!
The Giro needs help to attract more star power
Cheers Chris, we are out there, it just seems most end up as bloggers because they talk too much sense to get a decent gig…
Why do we bother with cycling?
Tony, that’s a very nice compliment, thank you. Much appreciated, and crank on!
Why do we bother with cycling?
Haha do you know these days the commentators spend almost as much time studying about French castles as they do about the peloton!
Why do we bother with cycling?
Cheers Nick! That was from my Tour of Langkawi diary from a few years back. Here’s the link: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/news/road/lee-rodgers-langkawi-diary-the-sacrifice_207860
Why do we bother with cycling?
Great comments guys, cheers! Andrew, quite right, LA set that precedent and it has created a bunch of technicians where there once were lions. They used to race a lot more, and with 153 days on the UCI calendar they could. Rocking up and winning one race a year, Tour or not, doesn’t make a legend.
The Giro needs help to attract more star power
Funny thing is though, they claim to know who said what until you say ‘um but hang on, you also said this.’ Of course ‘I honestly forget’ is a fair line of defence, but they so often claim to be sure. So yeah, we have to point out that there are contradictions.
An interview with George Hincapie
But they did buy the ‘how to wear Rapha and look uber-cool at all times’ book, obviously…!
Team Sky: Reaping what they've sown
Wiggins at the start of Scheldeprijs and Flanders was just so far removed from everything that it just made a pretty poor impression. He also made some comments about the Scheldeprijs trophy when he was being introduced to the crowd that were just plain rude. Then those comments about the French riders at P-R, really lacking in tact!
Team Sky: Reaping what they've sown
Yeah just read this too, I can imagine how gutted he must be. What a daft situation though!
\http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jun/06/bradley-wiggins-not-ride-tour-de-france-chris-froome-sky
If Wiggo misses the 2014 Tour he only has himself to blame