TDF Stage 8 Castres --> Ax 3 Domaines

I said in an earlier post that I do not like Froome... I quite simply do not like the guy's demeanour, he comes across as being smarmy to me and I never really believe what he says..... Couple that with his NEAR disregard for team orders with Wiggo last year, and that is why I will never completely trust him...

Yesterday to put that much time into the worlds top climbers on the first lumpy day on the tour is a little suspicious in my opinion...If it was 10 or 20 secs fair enough but with that margin I shall remain a little sceptical....

However, my fingers are crossed that time proves my suspicions wrong....and to be totally hypocritical, he is now in my team....

Dave, he doesn't like me because i'm a Police officer and has to make sarcastic comments on virtually every comment i make.

I assume its a game to him, if not then he needs help

I notice you are still avoiding the real issue and think it's all about you, bit like the subjects of the topic it seems.

but what *are* your points?

i think it'd be naive to not approach a ride like that with some cynicism. it's equally naive to take one stage – and the first mountain stage even more so – as incontrovertible proof of doping.

as it is quite often, the most reasonable response is here: http://www.sportsscientists.com/2013/07/froomes-first-mountain-performan...

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Let's wait to analyze the entire Tour, the collection of climbs, and then compare to history's known dopers. The problem when you get too close in is a kind of "performance pixelation", so step back and see the whole screen. That will happen in time.

It's clear what I think of the performances, if i put it on here i'd only be getting myself and (maybe?) your website in trouble (which I don't want too obviously) - silly laws I know but there you go.

So I should stop watching because of one team? right.

The fact that stumpy is attacking me for disagreeing with him says a lot, why he think it's because he is a PO is bemusing.

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And what about Quintana? Is he doping too?/

Go and ask Movistar, why do you think I know? I just have my opinions like everyone else.

I hardly think that stumps is attacking you....

Ok, attacking is perhaps the wrong word but he is very defensive over team sky / chris froome for whatever reason.

He won't address the issue, just thinks it is all about himself it seems.

Froome's ride was very impressive but it hardly came out of the blue, he's been doing that for two to three years and Contador is nowhere near the rider he used to be.

Your comments of 'that was good wasn't it *nudge nudge wink wink*, are helpful without something to back it up. Doping is an issue in cycling and will always be an issue but at some point you have to accept what you see.

Either you accept that Sky are just ahead of the curve when it comes to coaching and legitimate race preparation (which I do, cycling was crazy previously with individual riders responsible for their training in a totally unstructured way) or you think that Sky are running a US Postal style doping system for their top riders because that's surely the only way Sky and Froome could be that good right?! (sarcasm)

For what its worth I don't like Froome. Wiggins was nowhere near the rider Froome is and that as why I liked him, he made the best of what he had whereas Froome is a bit like Contador, very very good to the point of it being unfair on the rest of the peloton.

After the race Froome could hardly speak from the effort and you have to look at the competition he faced as well:

Evans - to old
Schleck - completely lacking in everything
Valverde - poss to old
Contador - not the same rider after his drugs ban
TJ - nursing an injury
Quintana - burnt himself out on the earlier climb

Then look at todays stage, Sky lost all their team even Porte yet Movistar still have 3 in the top 10 so does the finger start pointing to them now

Froome suffered from a parasitic illness that was undiagnosed for a time. Explains his inconsistent results at that time.

Keep telling yourself that.

Logic - that's why we all love sport so much. FF bloody S.

This is a fantasy cycling forum and not the place to be having these kind of discussions.

Its clear what everyone's opinion is but at this stage that's all it is, opinion.

No one here can prove anything, we're all working off assumptions and guesses, we know nothing concrete. As such there's no real point continuing this discussion because nobody's opinion will be changed as there's no information out there that will change it.

Let's see how the 2nd best time trial rider flies up Ventoux on Sunday. He might be instructed to hold back for fear of ending-up with a ridiculous winning margin in Paris.

Anton is the Euskatel rider according to the commentators. Can't see his number. Another Euskatel rider in the group, don't know who it is. Hope it's Nieve.

Anton not making much headway.

Purito not that close to the front. Maybe still suffering from his crash, which is why I went for Valverde today, (even though he is an unrepentant cheat!)

Rui Costa 3
Ten Dam 2
Schleck 1

Regretting my choice of Mollema over Rolland

Quintana 15 points (good for my purists).
Rolland 12 points
Anton 10 points
Kennaugh 8
Porte 6
Froome 5
Valverde 4

I think from watching TV.

21 points so far for standard; 26 for purist.

Don't think Quintana will make it but what a ride. All in service of Valverde, who's hitching a free ride.