[Alix23]

Cav was incredible, so glad he could get it

[Plato's Trousers]

(Original post by lonelykatana)
Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm fairly sure Blood doping has been made illegal in professional cycling, has it not?

Most certainly.

[Ajos]

Of course no one can match the top speed of Cavendish but his long-range sprints have been really exciting. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to maintain a high enough pace over that distance to hold off the challenge of the green jersey wearer, Sagan.

It just shows that he has more than one way to win, which can only be good for him in future races, hopefully including the Olympics.

[Plato's Trousers]

interesting piece on the radio about doping in cycling. They interviewed some sports physiologists who had studied power/weight ratios in TdF cyclists over time and also looked at times taken to ascend the Alp d'Huez year on year.

Power to weight ratios of the leading riders were much higher 10-15 years ago and fell outside of the "physiological" (ie what any clean athlete could expect to produce). Power to weight ratios in this year's tour were well within the "physiological"

Times taken to ascend Alp d'Huez 10 years ago were <38 mins, now they tend to be >41 mins.

None of which is proof that the sport has got cleaner, of course. But it is consistent with the idea that it has.

Let's hope so

[gozatron]

(Original post by Plato's Trousers)
interesting piece on the radio about doping in cycling. They interviewed some sports physiologists who had studied power/weight ratios in TdF cyclists over time and also looked at times taken to ascend the Alp d'Huez year on year.

Power to weight ratios of the leading riders were much higher 10-15 years ago and fell outside of the "physiological" (ie what any clean athlete could expect to produce). Power to weight ratios in this year's tour were well within the "physiological"

Times taken to ascend Alp d'Huez 10 years ago were <38 mins, now they tend to be >41 mins.

None of which is proof that the sport has got cleaner, of course. But it is consistent with the idea that it has.

Let's hope so

Interesting, what radio station was it on? I remember watching the likes of the late great Pantani and Armstrong destroying the climb in less than 40 minutes. They've both been accused with EPO doping since then. I think the most recent couple of winners on Alpe d'Huez were Rolland and Schleck and they didn't manage to get anywhere near the times set in the early 00's/late 90's, then again Pantani/Armstrong were two of the greatest riders ever seen so yeh interesting.

[Plato's Trousers]

(Original post by gozatron)
Interesting, what radio station was it on? I remember watching the likes of the late great Pantani and Armstrong destroying the climb in less than 40 minutes. They've both been accused with EPO doping since then. I think the most recent couple of winners on Alpe d'Huez were Rolland and Schleck and they didn't manage to get anywhere near the times set in the early 00's/late 90's, then again Pantani/Armstrong were two of the greatest riders ever seen so yeh interesting.

Radio 4

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kt7d3

[unprinted]

(Original post by unprinted)

Will (Cav) get stage wins / be a green jersey contender? Yes: the stages for him are not the ones where Wiggins could gain or lose large amounts of time and winning stages is what Sky are paying for. He's proved he can do it without Mark Renshaw in the Giro and elsewhere.

It'll be interesting to see if Wiggins can get a podium place. My bet would be no, unless it's via a disqualification or two for drugs use.

Ahem. It was fascinating to see how ruthless Sky were - no real help for Cavendish unless there was no way it would affect Wiggins.

And, with lots of help from the team, no-one not from Sky came close to him.

[white_haired_wizard]

Cavendish clearly has alot of freshness in his legs, bodes well for the Olympics really. Has to be his race to lose.

Watched a fair bit of the TDF on ITV4. Enjoyed the coverage, shame about all the ad breaks, but nevermind.

Wiggins is clearly currently superior to Froome in time trialling, be very interesting now to see what happens with Froome and Cavendish at Team Sky. I reckon both of them will be off, certainly Cavendish anyway, surely. Can't see Froome being too content with playing second fiddle to Wiggins in another TDF, not when he clearly has the credentials to win in the GC.

Went on a 25-30 mile bike ride on Saturday, played football yesterday evening and my legs were absolutely shot! Just wonder if cycling proves detrimental to the type of leg muscles I use when playing football?!

Big kudos to Team Sky, not just to Froome, Wiggins and Cavendish, but the other riders also. A true team effort. They also have significant funding to thank for all this. Without the finances, they wouldn't be where they are today. Fair play though, taking advantage of the position they are in to full effect.

As for Frank Schleck, I quickly wiki'd the substance found to have been in his body and struggled to understand the advantage of having this in his blood? Anyone understand it more than me?

[white_haired_wizard]

I also watched the Victoria Pendleton 1hr programme on the bbc last week. That girl is such a drama queen, such an ego to her! I do wonder how others in her cycling camp put up with her?!! Obviously very talented but a bit of an attention seeker really, mentally fragile to say the least.

[white_haired_wizard]

(Original post by Teofilo)
Savage stuff from Cav. Will he see will he stay with Sky next year I wonder. He has already been approached by Omega Quick-step and with next year's Tour almost certain to be geared to suit the climbers, is he even nailed on to be in the Sky team?

I've really enjoyed the Tour as always, though I was hoping Nibali could throw down a bit more of a challenge to be honest.

It has been kind financially as well, and I'm aiming for a big bang tomorrow with David Zibriskie. 80/1 with Boylesports, but they won't lay me any more cycling bets so I've taken the 50's each-way with Ladbrokes. I reckon he has been laid out for this and, whilst he is unlikely to win, a top 4 finish could be in the offing.

Speaking about betting, I heard the odds on Ernie Els in the Open yeserday, at some point, IIRC, were 500(ish)/1. Should have been worth a punt I reckon, as collapses like Scott's have happened in the past, and in the recent past with Mcllroy. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[NorwichtoBristol]

This year's Tour was difficult for Cavendish as he was involved in crashes once or twice adding to the fact that a few of the sprint stages required riders to climb just before the finish (which obviously dropped Cav) so he was generally not close to the sprint. The few times he has been involved, he's won so if there are flatter stages next year I think Cav will regain the green jersey.

[TheMagicRat]

(Original post by white_haired_wizard)
As for Frank Schleck, I quickly wiki'd the substance found to have been in his body and struggled to understand the advantage of having this in his blood? Anyone understand it more than me?

As it's diuretic it would help to get rid of any traces of other drugs in the system, if indeed there are any. It could, of course, also be used to help keep your weight down but it would be extremely unlikely that a cyclist would use it for that reason. That would mostly be for sports where a weight restriction applies.

Just found this Q&A article and it sums it up better than me and in more detail.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderre...-schleck-case/

[SimonM]

(Original post by TheMagicRat)
As it's diuretic it would help to get rid of any traces of other drugs in the system, if indeed there are any. It could, of course, also be used to help keep your weight down but it would be extremely unlikely that a cyclist would use it for that reason. That would mostly be for sports where a weight restriction applies.

I can see why climbers might want to keep their weight down, even if there is no restriction (although why use a diuretic is beyond me). (Although I agree that it's more likely used to rid drugs from the system).

[jj193]

Franks positive makes less sense then Contadors. The Schlecks have been consistently mediocre all year, so why risk doping for a mediocre place? Frank entered the tour with no ambitions and no one expected anything from him with all the time trialing. At least Contador was looking strong when he tested positive for Clenbuterol. Although, after the 'training plans' scandal it's hard to feel sorry for Frank.

[roh]

(Original post by gozatron)
From a neutral point of view, hopefully Froome moves to another team so we can see a five way duel for the GC. God can you imagine an inform Froome, Wiggins, Schleck, Contador and Evans/TJ battle? What a way to celebrate the 100th tour!

Would be brilliant, though if Contador brings the sort of form he showed in '09 I can't see anyone beating him as he could at the very least hang with Schleck and Froome to a summit and do the same with Wiggins in the TT.

However, we don't know whether his tainted beef story is true. If he was actually doping at the time then it should be really close Hopefully we'll have a better idea post Vuelta.

[anna-chipie 95]

The immense denseness of some people amazes me.
Some people commenting on a news website (and I don't think it was the Daily Fail for once) claimed that because Wiggins was born in Belgium, means he isn't British. WTF?? I quote- "A great win for Wiggins but let us not forget he is not English he was born in Belgium".
So does that mean my dad, born in Cyprus, isn't British? For the record, Granddad was working over there as a civil servant. Your nationality is not determined by where you were born, but by YOUR PARENTS' nationality. According to these people, I'd be half Greek-Cypriot. But I'm not.

[jj193]

(Original post by anna-chipie 95)
The immense denseness of some people amazes me.
Some people commenting on a news website (and I don't think it was the Daily Fail for once) claimed that because Wiggins was born in Belgium, means he isn't British. WTF?? I quote- "A great win for Wiggins but let us not forget he is not English he was born in Belgium".
So does that mean my dad, born in Cyprus, isn't British? For the record, Granddad was working over there as a civil servant. Your nationality is not determined by where you were born, but by YOUR PARENTS' nationality. According to these people, I'd be half Greek-Cypriot. But I'm not.

...his dad was australian..

of all the 'British' stage winners this year non were born in the UK and only one was born in the British isles.

[anna-chipie 95]

(Original post by jj193)
...his dad was australian..

of all the 'British' stage winners this year non were born in the UK and only one was born in the British isles.

but he's not belgian. thats the main issue. i have to agree with your point though...