2011 Pro-cycling season thread

Bert on polo bike gearing it must be bad :(

He's got to be a bit careful about his nutrition this year, so isn't quite running on all cylinders.

Me too.
Not the aussie bit.

Are you sure? I heard he was going for KOM this year..

You misheard, hippy. He's going for the King of the Man Tan competition, previously won by Mickael Rasmussen.

(The bloke second left is letting the side down.)

All I see is dopers.

Shric shrac will be along shortly to describe how they all fail at fashion.

Swifty triumphs in Romandie! Beats Freire in a sprint! Get in!!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/stage-5/results

I am sure Ballan has a very reasonable explanation

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gazzetta-dello-sport-publishes-evidence-from-mantova-doping-investigation

On April 20, 2009, Ballan speaks to Nigrelli about taking EPO.

Nigrelli: “How many have you done?”
Ballan: “This is the fifth one.”
He then adds a little later: “This is how I’ve done EPO...”

On May 4, 2009, Nigrelli talks about Ballan to fellow rider Daniele Pietropolli. “Without chemicals Ballan would never have made it.”

Yeah, good luck explaining that conversation away..

Dirty dog. I really liked him.

Do not want

I am sure Ballan has a very reasonable explanation

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gazzetta-dello-sport-publishes-evidence-from-mantova-doping-investigation

Why is everyone picking on Ballan? There's 30-odd people implicated in this investigation so far, yet only one is being called out by the media.

Huh? There's a few riders mentioned in that article and the others.

Mauro Santambrogio
Mauro Da Dalto (Liquigas-Cannondale)
Marco Bandiera (Quick Step)
Marzio Bruseghin

There's also this lot..
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/italian-judge-set-to-decide-if-32-named-in-mantova-doping-investigation-should-go-on-trial
and this article:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruseghin-out-of-movistars-giro-ditalia-line-up

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-bmc-pull-ballan-and-santambrogio-from-racing

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pasquale-muto-tests-positive-for-epo

Why is everyone picking on Ballan? There's 30-odd people implicated in this investigation so far, yet only one is being called out by the media.

Well, he is a former world champion so, along with Cunego I suppose, is the highest profile rider involved. And there is the murky story of BMC's willingness to suspend him last year, when they wanted a ProTour license, and their unwillingness to suspend him this year when they wanted results.

Why is everyone picking on Ballan? There's 30-odd people implicated in this investigation so far, yet only one is being called out by the media.

“Without chemicals Ballan would never have made it.”

This?

The point I'm trying to make is that, once again, the English speaking media find a convenient scapegoat and go into a frenzy over him. Meanwhile another rider tests positive today, and unrepentant doper Davide Rebellin gets a contract yet that passes with barely a mention.

I find the lack of consistency annoying and somewhat hypocritical.

Do not want

This feel bit better?

  ![](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5686348334_e38acce8fc_z.jpg)

The point I'm trying to make is that, once again, the English speaking media find a convenient scapegoat and go into a frenzy over him. Meanwhile another rider tests positive today, and unrepentant doper Davide Rebellin gets a contract yet that passes with barely a mention.

I find the lack of consistency annoying and somewhat hypocritical.

+1

The fact that Rebellin is allowed join Pro-Continental team Miche Guerciotti on the very fucking day that one of it's other riders (Muto) is suspended for EPO use is just laughable. On top of that, he's joining that cheating Mekon Stefan Schumacher on the team!!
I mean, does 'Pro Continental' suddenly mean you are allowed a much laxer policy on drugs? That you are allowed to hire a whole bunch of fallen idols at a cut rate without anyone getting a bit suspicious?
It really sticks in my throat when I see the likes of Rebellin, Schumaker, Vino, Di Luca et al making the podium again after a doping ban. They've fucked up the results of many a race in the past and now they get to do it all over again.

It wouldn't be so bad if you could assume that they are now clean ... Sinkewitz (and there have probably been others) has re-focused the spotlight on the suspicion that they may not be.

It's just too hard to remember all the cases--there are so many, the 'legal' proceedings take ages, there are claims and counter-claims, each case being pursued individually takes away capacity from pursuing other cases, then you can't really keep track of when they return, etc.

As ever, the press simplify and focus on only a few. As a member of the public who isn't interested in the subject to the exclusion of everything else, I can't focus on more, either. I notice the news in passing but I'll still watch the races or look up the results no matter how many dopers are in the race. There's plenty you can get away with if you don't have the CIA looking for you and Navy Seals storming your house.

After watching the Paris - Roubaix race this year I've started to take a real interest in Pro
Cycling, the only problem is that I'm a complete newbie and I don't really know anything about it! I was wandering if anyone could provide me with any key information or point me in the right direction where I can possibly learn more about the sport?

xxx

Keep following races :
http://www.uci.ch/templates/UCI/UCI2/layout.asp?MenuId=MTUyMjQ&LangId=1
http://www.cyclingfans.com/

News :
http://www.cyclingnews.com/
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/

Blogs :
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/
http://inrng.com/
Twitter is a good source of cycling news too.

And this forum of course :)

I've just scanned through the start list for the Giro and I feel its such a shame that le tour is such a "be all and end all" cycle race, and that our GC contenders feel the need to miss out on such an epic cycle race. Full credit to those who are riding both this year.
That's all.

Good to see the UCI tackling the real issues at the top level of the sport!

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/524499/uci-ban-bont-crono-shoe.html

UCI = dicks.

If they applied the rules equally, everything riders wear would be banned and they'd be back to woolen jerseys and steak in their woolen shorts.

They've actually done something sensible today.