[Duma]

good post stubbs. Will, people made very similar arguments re Armstrong back in the day. I do hope he's clean, and exceptional, but cyclings history over the last 20 years doesn't bode well.

[Will Hunt]

My knowledge of the sport is rudimentary at best so I will bow to your superior knowledge. I agree that it does look too good to be true but I'll leave it to the relevant authorities to suss out who's doped and who's not.

Or is that showing my ignorance again? How effective are the tour organisers at catching the bad guys?

[Falling Down]

Everyone was complicit to some extent.

[tomtom]

It'll be interesting to see what Asapha Powell and Tyson Gay got caught taking (if B samples are correct etc..) - A batch of them seem to have been tested positive together which indicates they may have a new/better/refined test for something...

[webbo]

The diffrence these days is that they look like they are trying really hard. In Lances day there was all that casually looking  round then flying off 5 mph faster.

[mrconners]

I will always watch cycling, i love it.


However I feel like I have heard so many lies that it's hard to keep believing.


As fans, if we still expect to see epic battles over 150 -250km stages in 35 degree heat for 3 weeks ridden flat out.








Loved the tour so far though. One of the best stages was Fridays flattie. Like a classics race. Brilliant.

[Stubbs]

I thought Friday's stage was amazing too, great to see what would have been written off as a transfer stage result in the challengers closing on the leader by a minute!

I really really hope Team Sky are clean, and that Froome is an exceptional athlete that can be the best climber but also come within seconds of the time trial world champion on a short flat TT.

[Lund]

Slightly  but

It'll be interesting to see what Asapha Powell and Tyson Gay got caught taking (if B samples are correct etc..) - A batch of them seem to have been tested positive together which indicates they may have a new/better/refined test for something...

Powell and the other sprinter both tested positive for oxilofrine according to the BBC - a stimulant that is not widely but still available in a variety of supplements.  I wonder about this - both at the same event... we'll see, but this is how hard it is for these people:

Look on here:

http://www.bodybuildingwarehouse.co.uk/alri-hyperdrive-4-0-60-caps?utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping

This supplement looks fine you might think.  Yes it has an appetite suppressant in it, but not one that's banned.

Now go to the manufacturers website, and you would see that it contains oxilofrine:

http://alrindustries.com/products/hyperdrive-3-0-hyperdrive-4-0

So... it's an easy trap to fall into.

Tyson Gay is interesting for other reasons.  He's pulled out of moscow.  Yet: he's still asked for the B-sample to be tested, and not admitted his guilt.  If he coughs to something then, then maybe he'll be worth the benefit of the doubt.  But so far he's added 2-3 months to his doping ban - for what?  He's going to contest whatever it is.

[Lund]

that Froome is an exceptional athlete that can be the best climber but also come within seconds of the time trial world champion on a short flat TT.

 

[tomtom]

that Froome is an exceptional athlete that can be the best climber but also come within seconds of the time trial world champion on a short flat TT.

 

This interests me.. Froome seems to race his own race up the climbs (not with the sudden accelerations and de-accelerations). Is this similar to a long but paced time trial?

[tomtom]

Ps - thanks for the Tyson Gay clarification Lund. Good post.

[Stubbs]

Tom he did at least two massive accelerations yesterday, once to drop Contador and that group (including Porte) and then nearer the end to distance Quintana who held his wheel for a bit then blew up.

[tomtom]

I no nuffin #punter

[Duma]

IIRC there was four - one to drop conti, two unsuccessful and a final successful one on quintana.

[Jaspersharpe]

Some interesting stuff about this here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2013/jul/14/chris-froome-tour-de-france?

And here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jul/15/sky-dave-brailsford-doping

[Stubbs]

Here's the press conference if you want to listen to Froome and Brailsford (obviously and understandably pissed off) in full

https://soundcloud.com/cycling-central/podcast-15-july-2013-team-sky

[mrconners]

Anyway, all this aside. who do you reckon will win it? It must be Froome at this stage bar some accident or horror mechanical, Sagan gets the green (he's a mutant) and not sure about the mountains at this stage.


Best stage so far? Fridays flattie for me. Total power madness. Watching Berties boys smash the pace as the groups split was awesome.


Still looking forward to the last week, its brilliant.

[Duma]

green and yellow are over (bar crashes/failed test). Agree fri was best yet. Sun in the Pyrenees was pretty awesome too.

Anyway, more importantly, thought I was cruising in the fantasy league, but suddenly Will, with a finely judged bonus stage, is snapping at my heels!

[tomtom]

nice explanation of Froomes uhill riding style - and training for the attacks.. really interesting stuff..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jul/15/team-sky-chris-froome-tour-de-france

[mrconners]

Good bit of info there.  This also explains wiggos tendancy to remain seated whilst all about are bouncing on the pedals. I much prefer to stand then sit then stand etc on climbs. I find that it is more comfortable. But then im shite and unfit.
Not writing bertie off yet. Still time for anything to happen

[Jaspersharpe]

Sky release Froome data to l'Equipe:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jul/18/team-sky-chris-froome-data

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Anyone looking for a job?
http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4674394/chief-executive-tour-de-france-2014-ltd/

[tomtom]

Well da kid done good.

The apparent ease with which Froome has won this year hides what a superb athlete he must be. I am gobsmacked by his physical and mental performance. Bravo!

[Will Hunt]

Good to see the right people on the podium at the end. Gutted for Cav but the fastest man on the course got a well deserved win. That pothole at the end looked nasty!

Re: the fantasy league. No racing on the last day for you, Duma?

[Duma]

damn you hunt! had saved my final transfer for paris, then went to the Gower for the weekend and climbed, got pissed and lay on the beach, forgetting all about it. Ah well, was going to sub Cav in so prob wouldn't have made the difference anyway.