Well in Mark Cavendish

[Bruce Wayne]

Landis was a kick in the balls for sure, as was Vino last year. The lure of the Tour for me is the incredible feats we witness each year, hence why Pantani was my hero. Watching him fly up Le Deux Alps in the rain destroying Ullrich in 1998 was one of the finest spectacles I've seen in any sport.

It's hard to correlate really, as riding my bike is one of the purest things I can possbly do, it's a truely wonderful thing and the distance and speed of the pros is awe inspiring indeed, but when they get found out it is a sickener.

I dunno about you guys but I watch sport for those moments. Moments like the Landis recovery or Usain Bolt's 100m or Lara taking on the Aussies single handedly in 1999 (the Bridgetown test in particular), moments of sheer splendour you can't help but admire them.

Anyway, I think Cavendish is clean. Armstrong I dunno, he falls into the above category of me wanting to believe, my heart says yes he can do it clean, my head questions whether he can given so many of his rivals have been caught.

 

[davek]

I agree with you there regarding the importance of 'the spectacle'. I'm not really bothered at the drug taking if truth be known, it's the hypocrisy that p1sses me off. These fellers have to be on drugs to do what they do. No question. If they dont take the stuff they dont get to be an elite rider. It's fantasy to think otherwise given the feats of endurance. The cant and humbug of the drug "scandal" kills cycling as a spectacle.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I wouldn't say it's impossible. The rides I do you regularly get people averaging 30+kmh for 100km+ rides. Put them in a peleton with protection from the wind, on a **** hot bike and with all the training and nutrition the pros get and you can probably add anywhere from 5-10kmh to that. Add in a bit of natural talent too and you can see how the pros do it. As with most sports though the margins at the top are thin.

 

[davek]

I wouldn't say it's impossible. The rides I do you regularly get people averaging 30+kmh for 100km+ rides. Put them in a peleton with protection from the wind, on a **** hot bike and with all the training and nutrition the pros get and you can probably add anywhere from 5-10kmh to that. Add in a bit of natural talent too and you can see how the pros do it. As with most sports though the margins at the top are thin.

Over three weeks on a grand tour like the Giro/Tour/Vuelta going up killer gradients half the race no human is going to do that in the times they are now recording for these events.

The industry's explanation of these times with all the stuff about white hot technology bikes and revolutionary diet and training is strictly for the birds.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Well yes, that is true, doing it every day for three weeks is a big ask. But then these guys are training for probably over 100,000 miles a year.

I used to swim competitively as a lad and doing 100m free in under 1min was a sign you were reasonable, yet the pros do 1,500m in easily under 1min splits for each hundred.

I'm sure there are a lot of dopers in high level sport but I also think there are an awful lot of serious athletes too.

Oh, and you'd be surprised at the difference a bike makes. I splashed out on a new bike last week and I reckon it's added a good few km/h to my speed.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Wouldn't mind having a go at the Etape next year, try out one of the Tour stages. Bit more training first though. Off to Italy in a months time so hopefully try out some of the bumps they go over in the Giro.

 

[Welton Toffee]

Cav is awesome, no messing.

Hear the news about Lance today? Broken his collar bone so is a doubt for the Tour, hope he makes it!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Said he'll be back technically before the Giro, just whether he's race fit for a grand tour. It'd lose the circus surrounding him and Contador anyway. You'd have to be pretty pissed off if you were Contador.

 

[davek]

Cav is awesome, no messing.

Hear the news about Lance today? Broken his collar bone so is a doubt for the Tour, hope he makes it!

There's his upcoming Tour dope test excuse right there: 'I was just taking this EPO to kill the pain from my collar bone injury'.

 

[Welton Toffee]

Said he'll be back technically before the Giro, just whether he's race fit for a grand tour. It'd lose the circus surrounding him and Contador anyway. You'd have to be pretty pissed off if you were Contador.

Yep, but am fairly sure he's going to win quite a few more Tours in his time, and let's face it he'll be favourite this year. It'd be class to see one last Lance win though

 

[Welton Toffee]

There's his upcoming Tour dope test excuse right there: 'I was just taking this EPO to kill the pain from my collar bone injury'.

No way!! The day Lance tests positive is the day I stop watching cycling forever. He's as clean as they come!!!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Hope you're right mate