Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[Donegal Wolf]

Afternoon all. I am back from the naughty step and have been trying to keep up from the furnace otherwise known as the algarve. As I see it Sky are damn ed if they do and damn ed if they don't. Firstly, it can be pretty much taken as read that proving a negative is going to be virtually impossible. The nearest they could get would be to release all their information but that then gives all the stuff that they allege has made the difference to all the other teams. It would be like Mercedes giving all their engine and aerodynamic info to ferrari. Therefore there will always be doubts and insinuations.

I was thinking last night (I know, but the misses wouldnt go to bed so I couldnt put any porn on) what are these?

Brailsford comes out with this time after time and the British media repeat it parrot fashion. Now I get marginal gains Woodwards England, Wenger when he first came to Arsenal come to mind straight away and there history across various sports, no doubt when SKY came in first some of their innovations gave them an edge when establishing themselves, but history has shown that these gains are usually wiped out within 12-18 months as the opposition study what you are doing, people talk to each other and people move between teams. Woodward's England lasted longer then most as it was a national team. SKY have been head and shoulders above the rest since the Vuelta in 2011, 4 years.

They started the altitude training in Tenerife, well all the teams do that now (to be honest didnt take much investigation, they just had to watch the Wiggins show to see that), Roche in one of his daily columns (was a rest day so needed a space filler), explained how the day of a stage, sky send 2 people to thats night accommodation to strip the rooms put there own mattresses, dehumidifiers in etc, but then at the end he says he was used to that anyway because SAXO did it last year. They mention diet/nutrition etc, but all teams did that anyway, you can see from the lengths they went at cheating these teams had possibly the most sophisticated medical back-up teams anywhere in sport, yet Brailsford makes it sound as if they all gave their riders steak and chips before a stage (well in Contador's case they probably did) now when sky came along no doubt they had to up their game but they would be on a par with them. You can only do so much to a bike with gearing, cranks etc its not a formula one car. They all do similar aerodynamic testing.

Cycling is a small community, its not just riders who move teams, medical staff, massuers, mechanics, dietitians etc all move around the circle regularly and you can guarantee the first thing they are asked when they get to a new team is what were SKY doing different to us?

At face value it doesn't stack up that they are that far above the others.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Good post sir.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Froome off his bike for a second, Nibali breaks away, Froome eases back to Contador's group.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Froome held up in traffic as well couldnt get past them to chase. 30 seconds now between them.

Now or never for him.

Doubt it though, did you ever see the film Westworld? reminds me of that between these two at the moment, the relentless machine will eventually catch him!

Make that 50 seconds!

 

[thehistorymakers]

You just know it.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Me talking bollocks again, forgot he was over 7 mins behind (had in me head was only 3+ behind), no wonder Froome sat up.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

If Nibali knew Froome had a mechanical that is generally frowned upon

 

[thehistorymakers]

I can't see Rolland holding on till the end.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

The final climb is a tough one. I think Froome might be a little angry at Nibali and will try to grind him into the dust to make a point . And that is why Rolland is very unlikely to take the stage.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Quintana breaks, Valverde, Contador and Froome go with him. Froome finds the extra gear. I think Froome will catch Quintana and maybe Nibali.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Great win for Nibali and Quintana takes 30 seconds of Froome. Contador and Valverde left standing.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Just about keeps it interesting for the Alpe. As Thomas appears to have blown completely today I am not sure he will be there as a wingman. Might be life in this yet.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

Fantastic stuff today, maybe a little off from Nibali to attack at that moment but fuck it made for a great stage! Froome looked a little panicky trying to keep Nairo in touch at the end there. Definitely some interest still for tomorrow, especially as you say Paddy with Thomas probably not able to be up there I wonder who will be there for Froome tomorrow.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Poels and Porte will have to bury themselves.

 

[Knockout Ned]

Poels was awesome today, nice of Saxo to lend a hand too.

Movistar will need to split things up early tomorrow.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Such a shame this won't be the original stage with the Galibier.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Eurosport just showed the route as over the Galibier. Is it open ?

 

[Knockout Ned]

Yeah disappointing but no other way to link the Lautaret to AdH.

 

[Knockout Ned]

Not what they said earlier today Paddy, not sure what state the tunnel is in but thought I caught them saying something about the surface not being ready in time?

 

[thehistorymakers]

Froome had his bike taken away and checked for mechanical doping.