why do so many people have it in for team sky ?

Anyone supporting a "team" where the only involvement they can have is paying to watch them or buying the kit, regardless of the sport, needs a good long look at themselves.

Which is why I said favourite, not support.

Surely people like a rider, bike, etc or even the DS.

What is the point in watching sport if you couldn't care less what happens?

I wasn't responding directly to your suggestion. As an aside though, watching sport without an interest in the outcome happens for most of the Olympics.

I could have been a bit clearer anyway. I certainly do have riders, people involved, etc that I do like for whatever reason, wether it's because of the way they ride, their charisma, whatever it may be so I get your point totally.

I just meant that the team is just a business structure and anyone supporting - or in line with this thread, hating - one is just odd. My local football team may be Arsenal, but they don't represent me in anyway so I don't feel any allegiance to them. I have a cycle club I'm a member of though, and a lot of club mates race. I support them, I ride with them, they're people I know who bring respect to the club who's colours wear.

As much as I like watching Sagan or Voight, I can't feel the same way.

PR bullsh!t, lies, total focus on one race, disrespecting World Champs jersey, disrespecting the best sprinter in the world, disrespecting the TdF Champion, giving 2 fingers to the sport's traditions, boring racing.

I know other teams are guilty of some of these (especially lies) - but then other teams don't spout a load of PR guff about running a zero tolerance team whilst employing a notoriously dodgy doctor (not to mention other staff members and riders with ties to doping).

Not trolling BTW, just answering the question as to why I don't like Team Sky.

Maybe it's because Team Sky are backed by one of the world's largest media companies and therefore their riders have to do PR appearances on cheesy daytime tv shows...

http://www.myfoxla.com/story/25402774/bradley-wiggins

Any interesting poll would be which is your favourite team I guess.

Eurosport is not free on Sky, because you have to have the News package, which, when added to the standard package is £1 extra month

I always thought he was the least likeable of the A Team too.

I don't mind the riders even have man-love for Wiggins but the reason is one word

Murdoch*

*sings The Internationale with Scouse accent

Cycling is funny - I mean, do you get behind teams or riders? OGE seem to be genuinely a 'Team', were the rest all seem to be very centred around their best riders; Cannondale being a perfect example of this.

Sky - not a huge fan, but I really like riders like Ian Stannard (who was on for big things on the cobbles this year), Geraint Thomas, Pete Kennaugh, Richie Porte & Bradley Wiggins - guys who are open with the public about their performances and are very human.

For my tuppenceworth, I think the Tour will be much more open this year - noone from Sky has looked close to the same level as last year, and Contador & Valverde have been hugely impressive. It may show a more human side to their riding, but then again, the detractors will just point at failure...

Does anyone really support trade teams anyway?

It's not like football or even F1.

I have no opinion on sky whatsoever, other than, after investing sponsorship in cycling.....why the hell don't they cover it!

People don't like them because they stood up and told the establishment what they were going to do, the old guard laugh and gently shake their heads....But dam they only did it...twice. Egg on face for some. People don't like change, things evolve and sky have done that and it works..for GC. It will catch them up, it is inevitable, as riders move on they tell their teams what they did, the teams will train that way too, Contador said after last years TdF, 'I know what I have to do now, train like sky' that says it all, and doesn't Bertie look good this year.
I can't stand Alex Ferguson, but I respect him awesome coach his record speaks for itself. The same as for sky love them or hate them, you have to respect them, if you don't then your not a cycling fan and can't see past the jersey.

The sky fans sure are getting worked up over apparently nothing...

1. With all their cash they tend to hold a few top riders of other nations we would liek to see home I.E. PORTE.
2.The Main reason, cause the way they dominated the peleton made the GT's or any tour they contest boring, Cause they would win TT, then proceed to kill the peleton with WATTAGE power at front. I.E. Porte and Froome for Wiggo.

Thats my guess.
Oh and
3.I am Australian they are BRITISH:) Even if Wiggo is Half Aussie.lol.

I think the evidence on this forum is that actually people don't all have it in for team Sky - at least, people are prepared to stick up from

But ironically, setting themselves up as a clean cycling team with very high standards attracts closer scrutiny & criticism than others get, so the minute they reveal themselves as fallible, they get more criticism.

I'm glad they have this approach. The sport needs it.

I also don't believe they are secretive - not any more than other teams.. Yes there are topics they are sensitive about, but I feel they've taken reasonable steps to be open - the endless media briefings, release of detailed performance data, even embedding a skeptical Sunday Times journalist for a season.

Perhaps some don't like them as a 'Johnny-come-lately' team, applying science with possibly a boring approach to quash the opposition, (although you could hardly accuse Froome as being a boring rider). Perhaps those people long for the good old days of shoddy testing, cover-ups, Omertas and suspiscious and incredible displays of speed each and every mountain stage!

' I just don't like the way Sky came in and decided everything and everyone should do things their way or not at all.'

They didn't. HTH.

Is it because they didn't give you any free stuff?

I have no idea how trolls work, do they normally hang about one place, putting in the effort to help out with a site, running a game for the site and also being the person who trys to help others and as a result, ends up with the largest post count?

I'm not a troll, I just don't like the way Sky came in and decided everything and everyone should do things their way or not at all.

It also has nothing to do with Rapha, I have separate issues with them

Quote:

I don't get to know the inner workings of anything, but I do get my queries half answered now and again.

And you then mould those half answered queries into your own fully formed opinion which you then present as fact on an internet forum. Wow, well done you.