cycling

[belgarion]

Cav wins stage 14 taking him to 30 career stage wins overall only 4 behind Eddie Merckx.

Froome finishes back in the peloton to retain his lead & the yellow jersey

[switchskier]

Quite a dull stage today, surprised to see TJ dropping off the back today. Looking forward to seeing what Yates can do later this week.

Thought that ITV4 got their coverage spot on again today. The tribute to Boardmans mum was nice.

[WaspInWales]

Little disappointed Quintana hasn't had a go yet. With Contador out of the equation, there isn't many threats left although it'll be interesting to see if Yates is still in the mix by the time they hit Paris. Unless something drastic happens, it's hard to picture anything other than a Froome win in GC. It's still possible that Quintana is saving something special for a mountain attack but I honestly don't think he has anything that Froome and Team Sky can't deal with. Mollema could have a go too. There's potential threats but it's all been a bit passive.

From a British perspective, it's great to see Froome dominating but a contest would be nice.

There have been some tidy finishes on stages, Cav's 4 were top notch and he could still get another 1 or 2, Sagan has been class too but I get the feeling this tour will be remembered for the flamme rouge and Ventoux controversies.

[switchskier]

Anyone watch the cycling today? That was a very boring 6 hours with one hell of a podium at the end of it. Dissapointed for cav as he could have won that but Sagan will always be a worthy champion. No idea what the Belgians were doing, another Etix failure when they had numbers.

[switchskier]

Team sizes down to 8 for the grand tours and monuments next season. Clearly a response to sky's dominance in the tour but not sure that it'll make that much difference ultimately. Bit of a half-way measure.

[canta_brian]

Is British cycling now a toxic brand? Nicola Cook with yet more criticism of the administration.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/38728410

[Mellsblue]

Is British cycling now a toxic brand? Nicola Cook with yet more criticism of the administration.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/38728410

If she won £60 million on the Euromillions she'd moan that it wasn't as much as the person who won £110 million.

She's had issues with British Cycling for years.

She perpetually moaned about selection procedures when she has been overlooked in the past but happily screwed over Dani King last year.

[Big D]

Is British cycling now a toxic brand? Nicola Cook with yet more criticism of the administration.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/38728410

If she won £60 million on the Euromillions she'd moan that it wasn't as much as the person who won £110 million.

She's had issues with British Cycling for years.

She perpetually moaned about selection procedures when she has been overlooked in the past but happily screwed over Dani King last year.

Seems a bit like the jilted ex looking for revenge tbh.

I have no doubt that every thing is not perfect in team GB / SKY but there is a bit of "psycho ex" about this.

[Big D]

She said she did not race again until "long after the performance-enhancing effects had worn off", and she added that Wiggins appeared to use the "same steroid before his main goals of the season".

So she didn't race but did she train? Steroids can still help quite a bit during training.

[Mellsblue]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

[switchskier]

Anyone watching today? Great stage in Italy just finish with Sagan somehow getting up a 20% wall to take the win and Contador has just lit up Paris-Nice by going for one of those long range efforts that only he seems to be able to make happen. Henao and Martin trying to bring him back but he's got 50 seconds.

[paddy no 11]

Bertie is a legend and thats from someone who hates dopers but he's redeemed himself in my eyes lights up these races and I believe is clean these days

Epic finish today, would have liked to see him win nice to have a paddy on the podium

[WaspInWales]

Unlikely to help the perception of Team Sky:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39293763

I think they're going to be in for a very tough Tour this year.

[Mellsblue]

Unlikely to help the perception of Team Sky:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39293763

I think they're going to be in for a very tough Tour this year.

If taken in isolation, is this that damning.

Taken on face value, he's done this all under his own steam, when busted the team have stopped him, disciplined him based on medical/psychological advice and given him support to recover. It seems the team supported him in his recovery for the rest of his contract and, as far as I'm aware, he no longer races for them.
It all seems above board, from Sky's end, and very sensibly and compassionately handled. Even more so when you think of all the accusations of bullying flying around British Cycling at the moment.
I suppose the key to it all is whether or not he did admit to injecting himself. I'm inclined to believe a renowned psychiatrist, who says he has notes/minutes to back himself up, over a bloke who had depression at the time.

[WaspInWales]

Unlikely to help the perception of Team Sky:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39293763

I think they're going to be in for a very tough Tour this year.

If taken in isolation, is this that damning.

Taken on face value, he's done this all under his own steam, when busted the team have stopped him, disciplined him based on medical/psychological advice and given him support to recover. It seems the team supported him in his recovery for the rest of his contract and, as far as I'm aware, he no longer races for them.
It all seems above board, from Sky's end, and very sensibly and compassionately handled. Even more so when you think of all the accusations of bullying flying around British Cycling at the moment.
I suppose the key to it all is whether or not he did admit to injecting himself. I'm inclined to believe a renowned psychiatrist, who says he has notes/minutes to back himself up, over a bloke who had depression at the time.

Fair points, but my comment about a tough Tour for Sky still stand. Look at what happened when an ex-doper questioned Froome's ability in the mountains. Froome was verbally abused, spat at and even had urine thrown at him. The sporting public, particularly the partisan crowds on the tour need very little to single riders and teams out and what better target than Team Sky given the controversies over TUEs and mystery packages?

[switchskier]

Sky are going to have a tough tour regardless. what i find fascinating is the pressure that he felt to perform. Not sure how I'd react to it or how you can take it away from competitive sport.

Anyways Milan-San Remo on Sunday. Any predictions?

Gaviria looks good to me so will be my pick. Lots of contenders but I've backed bonifazio the last couple of years too and he's been there or thereabouts so he's my outsider.

[Banquo]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

Good article on Jo Rowsell-Shand yesterday, seemed a bit more balanced; she basically said those who got dropped are the ones grinding axes.

[Numbers]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

This seems a bit contradictory, so they need to be tough on them to make them the best but then one of them leaves and becomes better?

[Mellsblue]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

Good article on Jo Rowsell-Shand yesterday, seemed a bit more balanced; she basically said those who got dropped are the ones grinding axes.

Yep.

[Mellsblue]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

This seems a bit contradictory, so they need to be tough on them to make them the best but then one of them leaves and becomes better?

Bold the bit saying that you 'can't have a culture that suits everyone' and you'll have your answer.

Will Greenwodd at Leicester would be an example in rugby. Their training regime was too predicated on contact, he didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring the best out of him. So, he admitted this to himself and moved back to Quins. He didn't moan, he just admitted it didn't work for him and found something that did. Admittedly, the track cyclists have no choice but Manchester, but the results show it works and if a small number of people don't like it then tough on them. It's not primary school sports day, it's elite sport.
If you look at the way they looked after Pendleton and her sensibilities, and the way they bent the rules for the Kennys then as an organisation they can be flexible.......if you're good enough.

[switchskier]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

This seems a bit contradictory, so they need to be tough on them to make them the best but then one of them leaves and becomes better?

Bold the bit saying that you 'can't have a culture that suits everyone' and you'll have your answer.

Will Greenwodd at Leicester would be an example in rugby. Their training regime was too predicated on contact, he didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring the best out of him. So, he admitted this to himself and moved back to Quins. He didn't moan, he just admitted it didn't work for him and found something that did. Admittedly, the track cyclists have no choice but Manchester, but the results show it works and if a small number of people don't like it then tough on them. It's not primary school sports day, it's elite sport.
If you look at the way they looked after Pendleton and her sensibilities, and the way they bent the rules for the Kennys then as an organisation they can be flexible.......if you're good enough.

It'll be interesting to see what deignans new book says. After all it's pretty hard to argue that she's not good enough.

[Mellsblue]

This seems a bit contradictory, so they need to be tough on them to make them the best but then one of them leaves and becomes better?

Bold the bit saying that you 'can't have a culture that suits everyone' and you'll have your answer.

Will Greenwodd at Leicester would be an example in rugby. Their training regime was too predicated on contact, he didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring the best out of him. So, he admitted this to himself and moved back to Quins. He didn't moan, he just admitted it didn't work for him and found something that did. Admittedly, the track cyclists have no choice but Manchester, but the results show it works and if a small number of people don't like it then tough on them. It's not primary school sports day, it's elite sport.
If you look at the way they looked after Pendleton and her sensibilities, and the way they bent the rules for the Kennys then as an organisation they can be flexible.......if you're good enough.

It'll be interesting to see what deignans new book says. After all it's pretty hard to argue that she's not good enough.

It will be. My book is ordered.

All systems will make mistakes. To use another rugby example, Quins' academy is pretty highly lauded but they cut Launch. I do wonder who made that decision. Poor chap.

[Numbers]

Interesting point in The Times today.

Everyone laughs when told that Eddie Jones threw a bag of sweets at B Youngs and told him he's fat. Sutton tells varnish her arse is too big and it's sexist. Admittedly, telling her to go have a baby (I think this is still allegedly) wasn't the smartest.


As for my own thoughts. Cooke has moaned about the huge disparity between womens and men's road cycling for years. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that both are wholly reliant on sponsorship and TV rights for income. I see she's had another pop at Cookson for not bringing in the min wage for female cyclists. Who is meant to pay for staging the events and paying the cyclists if sponsors aren't interested? Interestingly, the winner of the last years woman's Tour of Yorkshire won more ££££ than the men's winner.

Another good point is that the GB Olympic medals are evenly spread between the men and women. Doesn't scream sexism to me.

Finally, it's elite sport. It's effing tough. People need to be driven and if it needs to be dog eat dog then so be it. The successes have provided it works. If you don't like it then get out but don't moan about it. You can't have a culture that's suits everyone. There are many female athletes who put themselves in male dominated, macho environments as it helps drive them on. Lizzie Deignan didn't like it, got out and became a better cyclist.

This seems a bit contradictory, so they need to be tough on them to make them the best but then one of them leaves and becomes better?

Bold the bit saying that you 'can't have a culture that suits everyone' and you'll have your answer.

Will Greenwodd at Leicester would be an example in rugby. Their training regime was too predicated on contact, he didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring the best out of him. So, he admitted this to himself and moved back to Quins. He didn't moan, he just admitted it didn't work for him and found something that did. Admittedly, the track cyclists have no choice but Manchester, but the results show it works and if a small number of people don't like it then tough on them. It's not primary school sports day, it's elite sport.
If you look at the way they looked after Pendleton and her sensibilities, and the way they bent the rules for the Kennys then as an organisation they can be flexible.......if you're good enough.

Wasn't she involved with one of the coaches.

Apologies for missing that, I would contend that one size does fit all in pretty much most elite sports. The Will Greenwood bit is somewhat disingenuous, Rugby is a team game and you are talking about styles of play, that doesn't really translate to cycling.

They don't have this problem in most other disciplines, is this due to the undue pressure put on the performance coaches in the sports we are expected to excel at, or is it due to the cyclists being prima donnas, who can tell, perhaps a bit of both.

[Mellsblue]

This seems a bit contradictory, so they need to be tough on them to make them the best but then one of them leaves and becomes better?

Bold the bit saying that you 'can't have a culture that suits everyone' and you'll have your answer.

Will Greenwodd at Leicester would be an example in rugby. Their training regime was too predicated on contact, he didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring the best out of him. So, he admitted this to himself and moved back to Quins. He didn't moan, he just admitted it didn't work for him and found something that did. Admittedly, the track cyclists have no choice but Manchester, but the results show it works and if a small number of people don't like it then tough on them. It's not primary school sports day, it's elite sport.
If you look at the way they looked after Pendleton and her sensibilities, and the way they bent the rules for the Kennys then as an organisation they can be flexible.......if you're good enough.

Wasn't she involved with one of the coaches.

Apologies for missing that, I would contend that one size does fit all in pretty much most elite sports. The Will Greenwood bit is somewhat disingenuous, Rugby is a team game and you are talking about styles of play, that doesn't really translate to cycling.

They don't have this problem in most other disciplines, is this due to the undue pressure put on the performance coaches in the sports we are expected to excel at, or is it due to the cyclists being prima donnas, who can tell, perhaps a bit of both.

She was/is. I think they are now married. I think he was told to find another job if they were continue the relationship. She was not happy when Trott and Kenny were given to OK.

I'm not talking about style of play, re Greewood, I am talking about training regimes. Leicester's was pretty brutal and Greenwood didn't like it. For a period when he played for England the defence coach under Woodward (want to say Phil Larder but not sure) didn't want him in the team due to a lack of application in defence sessions but was overruled and Greenwood given leeway due to his obvious positives in attack.

[Numbers]

Bold the bit saying that you 'can't have a culture that suits everyone' and you'll have your answer.

Will Greenwodd at Leicester would be an example in rugby. Their training regime was too predicated on contact, he didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring the best out of him. So, he admitted this to himself and moved back to Quins. He didn't moan, he just admitted it didn't work for him and found something that did. Admittedly, the track cyclists have no choice but Manchester, but the results show it works and if a small number of people don't like it then tough on them. It's not primary school sports day, it's elite sport.
If you look at the way they looked after Pendleton and her sensibilities, and the way they bent the rules for the Kennys then as an organisation they can be flexible.......if you're good enough.

Wasn't she involved with one of the coaches.

Apologies for missing that, I would contend that one size does fit all in pretty much most elite sports. The Will Greenwood bit is somewhat disingenuous, Rugby is a team game and you are talking about styles of play, that doesn't really translate to cycling.

They don't have this problem in most other disciplines, is this due to the undue pressure put on the performance coaches in the sports we are expected to excel at, or is it due to the cyclists being prima donnas, who can tell, perhaps a bit of both.

She was/is. I think they are now married. I think he was told to find another job if they were continue the relationship. She was not happy when Trott and Kenny were given to OK.

I'm not talking about style of play, re Greewood, I am talking about training regimes. Leicester's was pretty brutal and Greenwood didn't like it. For a period when he played for England the defence coach under Woodward (want to say Phil Larder but not sure) didn't want him in the team due to a lack of application in defence sessions but was overruled and Greenwood given leeway due to his obvious positives in attack.

I suppose my point is training for cycling consists of pretty much the same exercises whatever, it won't vary much from coach to coach as the same core requirements are needed, same for track athletes.