Caution is needed but the proposition is that tiredness and fatigue have re-appeared in this year’s Tour, as has “believability”, if you like. Be careful, though, as the tactics have also changed – once we used to see star climbers go out alone or in small bunches on a long break, taking minutes out of the field and expecting to lose some of them later; then we got used to seeing the “time trial” method of dieseling up the mountains a la Indurain and Ullrich; and more recently a train of domestique climbers “launching” the star rider onto a climb; whereas now we are seeing a stranger – perhaps more “believable” – mixture of these techniques, making direct comparison less reliable.
Data Of Optimism? | Cyclingnews.com
When I read what their data indicates, I get hopeful that there has been a big effort to change the old habits of the past. This does not mean that the Tour is 100% clean but it does hint that things are possibly changing for the better.
I think that when you see levels of 5.8 or 5.9 watts per kilo for over 20 minutes, it is believable and falls into historical norms. It depends on the VO2 Max, of course, but I believe that a rider like Contador has a lot of talent and is therefore capable of that.
After reading their article, all I could think of was why doesn’t the sport embrace scientists like these two to help figure out a better way to control the doping that has destroyed the integrity of cycling? I am a big believer in science and in the end it is the science that will stand the test of time.
The sportsscientists.com guys were saying that in the 90s and early 2000s, most of the climbs were done at 6.2, 6.3 and even up to 6.7 watts per kilo; this is a sign of blood doping.
The Science of Sport
Of particular interest given the debate before the Tour, is that not a single longer climb hit the power outputs that we’ve become accustomed to seeing in ’90s and 2000s. Nor have they hit what we debated pre-Tour as the “suspect” power values of greater than 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 W/kg.
And while the 6.2 W/kg number got a lot of people riled, I really think it’s telling that the very best climbers, with the highest level of motivation (on the Tourmalet) failed to hit those power outputs.
Caution is needed but the proposition is that tiredness and fatigue have re-appeared in this year’s Tour, as has “believability”, if you like. Be careful, though, as the tactics have also changed – once we used to see star climbers go out alone or in small bunches on a long break, taking minutes out of the field and expecting to lose some of them later; then we got used to seeing the “time trial” method of dieseling up the mountains a la Indurain and Ullrich; and more recently a train of domestique climbers “launching” the star rider onto a climb; whereas now we are seeing a stranger – perhaps more “believable” – mixture of these techniques, making direct comparison less reliable.
Data Of Optimism? | Cyclingnews.com
When I read what their data indicates, I get hopeful that there has been a big effort to change the old habits of the past. This does not mean that the Tour is 100% clean but it does hint that things are possibly changing for the better.
I think that when you see levels of 5.8 or 5.9 watts per kilo for over 20 minutes, it is believable and falls into historical norms. It depends on the VO2 Max, of course, but I believe that a rider like Contador has a lot of talent and is therefore capable of that.
After reading their article, all I could think of was why doesn’t the sport embrace scientists like these two to help figure out a better way to control the doping that has destroyed the integrity of cycling? I am a big believer in science and in the end it is the science that will stand the test of time.
The sportsscientists.com guys were saying that in the 90s and early 2000s, most of the climbs were done at 6.2, 6.3 and even up to 6.7 watts per kilo; this is a sign of blood doping.
The Science of Sport
Of particular interest given the debate before the Tour, is that not a single longer climb hit the power outputs that we’ve become accustomed to seeing in ’90s and 2000s. Nor have they hit what we debated pre-Tour as the “suspect” power values of greater than 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 W/kg.
And while the 6.2 W/kg number got a lot of people riled, I really think it’s telling that the very best climbers, with the highest level of motivation (on the Tourmalet) failed to hit those power outputs.
Well believe what you will because no-one’s owning up yet – aside from Floyd Landis (if you can believe him, I mean).
Greg LeMond said a few things that he clearly believes are true, things he has stated before. He has never come to terms with other, lesser riders suddenly out-riding him and simply believes they were juiced. Which is probably a well regarded and highly shared opinion, true or not. As well he distrusts Dr Ferrari and points to him as a bad influence. However Dr Ferrari replies that he was cleared in a court of law and refutes these allegations. If a rider wants to cheat they should go elsewhere, he says.
Plus, Bruyneel has made a comment about the accusation made by Landis that US Postal team bikes were sold for drug money. He admits they were sold but definitely not for dope. So that’s cleared that up then, eh?
Bravo To The New Generation | Cyclingnews.com
LeMond: When I made my now often repeated statement about Lance Armstrong and his long term relationship with Dr. Ferrari in 2001, I tried to keep it as short and to the point as possible. I was very disappointed to learn that he was a patient of Dr. Ferrari. Long before this relationship was revealed by David Walsh in 2001 I had made comments about the entrance of specialists like Dr. Ferrari and others into the sport of cycling. I was hearing stories back as early as 1993 about Dr. Ferrari and his client list of pro cyclists.
It was said that Dr. Ferrari was getting around 15-20% of a riders salary for preparing their doping programs. Because of this information we often joked that Dr. Ferrari was the best paid rider in the peloton.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
- I have never coached more than twenty professional cyclists at the same time. In recent years, less than half of that.
- It is not true that the athletes paid for my services with a percentage of their salary: it is a false legend, originated from the so-called “Dossier Donati”.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
It is probably from this dossier that Greg Lemond drew the “rumours” and quotes the numerous “it was saids” in his letter.
But what Greg does not know, or pretends not to know, is that one of such “confidants” actually clearly mentions his name and that of his doctor in relation to doping events.
- It is absolutely false that cyclists contacted me for doping programs: some came to me at first with such request, but never came back twice.
Bruyneel Acknowledges That Discovery Bikes Were Sold On EBay | Cyclingnews.com
Johan Bruyneel has confirmed that one of his past teams sold bikes, but said it was after Discovery Channel had ended its sponsorship in 2007, and that he had “no idea” where the money had gone.
Floyd Landis had claimed recently that the US Postal team sold bikes to help fund the team’s doping programme. He said that some 60 bikes were not accounted for, and that they had been sold for cash.
“What Floyd is saying is that 60 bikes were missing,” Bruyneel said to the AP. “I have absolutely no idea where he got that from.”
Well believe what you will because no-one’s owning up yet – aside from Floyd Landis (if you can believe him, I mean).
Greg LeMond said a few things that he clearly believes are true, things he has stated before. He has never come to terms with other, lesser riders suddenly out-riding him and simply believes they were juiced. Which is probably a well regarded and highly shared opinion, true or not. As well he distrusts Dr Ferrari and points to him as a bad influence. However Dr Ferrari replies that he was cleared in a court of law and refutes these allegations. If a rider wants to cheat they should go elsewhere, he says.
Plus, Bruyneel has made a comment about the accusation made by Landis that US Postal team bikes were sold for drug money. He admits they were sold but definitely not for dope. So that’s cleared that up then, eh?
Bravo To The New Generation | Cyclingnews.com
LeMond: When I made my now often repeated statement about Lance Armstrong and his long term relationship with Dr. Ferrari in 2001, I tried to keep it as short and to the point as possible. I was very disappointed to learn that he was a patient of Dr. Ferrari. Long before this relationship was revealed by David Walsh in 2001 I had made comments about the entrance of specialists like Dr. Ferrari and others into the sport of cycling. I was hearing stories back as early as 1993 about Dr. Ferrari and his client list of pro cyclists.
It was said that Dr. Ferrari was getting around 15-20% of a riders salary for preparing their doping programs. Because of this information we often joked that Dr. Ferrari was the best paid rider in the peloton.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
- I have never coached more than twenty professional cyclists at the same time. In recent years, less than half of that.
- It is not true that the athletes paid for my services with a percentage of their salary: it is a false legend, originated from the so-called “Dossier Donati”.
Open Letter From Dr. Michele Ferrari | Cyclingnews.com
It is probably from this dossier that Greg Lemond drew the “rumours” and quotes the numerous “it was saids” in his letter.
But what Greg does not know, or pretends not to know, is that one of such “confidants” actually clearly mentions his name and that of his doctor in relation to doping events.
- It is absolutely false that cyclists contacted me for doping programs: some came to me at first with such request, but never came back twice.
Bruyneel Acknowledges That Discovery Bikes Were Sold On EBay | Cyclingnews.com
Johan Bruyneel has confirmed that one of his past teams sold bikes, but said it was after Discovery Channel had ended its sponsorship in 2007, and that he had “no idea” where the money had gone.
Floyd Landis had claimed recently that the US Postal team sold bikes to help fund the team’s doping programme. He said that some 60 bikes were not accounted for, and that they had been sold for cash.
“What Floyd is saying is that 60 bikes were missing,” Bruyneel said to the AP. “I have absolutely no idea where he got that from.”
What a way to go. One brief moment of glory, supported by a few doses of illicit drugs. Kill your career, and your team’s. Disappoint sponsors and supporters. Drag everyone down. On the bright side, we are still catching the cheats.
Team Gerolsteiner’s Bernhard Kohl has confirmed that he tested positive for CERA during the Tour de France to team manager Hans-Michael Holczer. “I had a call from Bernhard Kohl and he confirmed to me that he had been told of the positive test,” Holczer said. “The substance is EPO CERA.”
This isn’t really working, is it? Should we legalise everything and monitor only for safety? Or perhaps Greg LeMond’s sealed SRM power-output monitoring idea is the way to go, rather than play constant catch-up with new variations on a theme? Make more than an incremental gain in power, you get a please explain. Too big a jump, or into the realms of fantasy, you are out.
What a way to go. One brief moment of glory, supported by a few doses of illicit drugs. Kill your career, and your team’s. Disappoint sponsors and supporters. Drag everyone down. On the bright side, we are still catching the cheats.
Team Gerolsteiner’s Bernhard Kohl has confirmed that he tested positive for CERA during the Tour de France to team manager Hans-Michael Holczer. “I had a call from Bernhard Kohl and he confirmed to me that he had been told of the positive test,” Holczer said. “The substance is EPO CERA.”
This isn’t really working, is it? Should we legalise everything and monitor only for safety? Or perhaps Greg LeMond’s sealed SRM power-output monitoring idea is the way to go, rather than play constant catch-up with new variations on a theme? Make more than an incremental gain in power, you get a please explain. Too big a jump, or into the realms of fantasy, you are out.
Filed under Armstrong, LeMond by Rob.
Filed under Armstrong, LeMond by Rob.
It’s hard to pick what to read… or make of it all. Robert Foster (Gerolsteiner) won today’s stage of the Giro. That’s the good, sporting side of cycling. But Greg LeMond somehow got drawn into the Landis drug hearings… sigh. It’s looking very, very sad. Come clean, Floyd, is what LeMond has apparently said. But Floyd stands firm. It’s the alleged nasty little phoned threats that make it seem just a bit more… ummm… apparent… that there’s a story here that Floyd’s “friends” may not want to be told. Will the truth step forward, please?
It’s hard to pick what to read… or make of it all. Robert Foster (Gerolsteiner) won today’s stage of the Giro. That’s the good, sporting side of cycling. But Greg LeMond somehow got drawn into the Landis drug hearings… sigh. It’s looking very, very sad. Come clean, Floyd, is what LeMond has apparently said. But Floyd stands firm. It’s the alleged nasty little phoned threats that make it seem just a bit more… ummm… apparent… that there’s a story here that Floyd’s “friends” may not want to be told. Will the truth step forward, please?
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