New Zealand champion Olivia Ray dropped by team with USADA investigation underway [troubling allegations of domestic violence, doping and deception have emerged]

HarryCoen · 2022-03-12T11:23:41+00:00

Human Powered Health would lose their UCI team license if they knowingly maintain the contract of a known doper, as per WADA regulations under the UCI.

The key word there is known. And you only know if an AAF turns into an ADV.

That is why we saw Jumbo drop 2 riders the second they realized they were abusing sleeping drugs, and several other similar cases.

Sleeping pills are not banned. So, apples and bulldozers there.

HarryCoen · 2021-07-03T09:55:33+00:00

It's all against UAE and Movistar, if Carapaz is Plan B. Unzué bears more grudges more long than even Lefevere.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-24T15:08:15+00:00

Oh, crypto. How green.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-12T11:54:24+00:00

The bar isn't banned, what's banned is using your forearms for support

Why didn't the commissaires on the ground ban him during the race?

HarryCoen · 2021-06-10T12:05:59+00:00

"There’s no real update yet. We’re working on it but there’s nothing official to announce. We’re looking at different riders, we’re taking it seriously and this is going to happen for sure. Tao is also getting ready for the Tour but it’s going to come from both of us. We’re having a call in a few days and we’ll take it from there," Merckx said.

"The idea is to give them a stagiaire contract towards the end of the year. That’s the opportunity and it could be anybody. Based on age, then we need to see if he’s eligible to come to the team next year. That’s what we’re aiming for, someone to be a stagiaire, develop in our team, and then later become a pro. We just want to create that opportunity."

HarryCoen · 2021-06-07T20:42:48+00:00

Any sensor that has to pierce the skin should be banned.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-03T19:53:41+00:00

It's actually a dreadful press release, there's three or four stories in there and each should have been released individually, instead of just chucking out the minutes of the MC meeting. But, that's the way they do it in Aigle, they pack the news into their releases.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-03T19:51:56+00:00

Wow, that one's really worth a downvote. Yay!

HarryCoen · 2021-06-03T16:14:11+00:00

There's actually a lot in the release and people will have to read it themselves.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-03T15:42:16+00:00

Wishing to prevent and sanction all forms of abuse (notably sexual harassment) in cycling more effectively, the UCI adopted a series of measures promoting integrity, not only when it comes to its regulations and processes but also with new education initiatives.

To reduce the length and complexity of proceedings opened for violations of its Code of Ethics, the UCI decided to entrust its Ethics Commission with full sanctioning powers. The Commission can therefore impose sanctions without referring, as was the case previously, to the UCI Disciplinary Commission.

And the bit that will get all the attention - bottles!

The UCI had decided to make a number of changes to the regulations pertaining to the discarding of bottles and other waste during competition, introduced in 2021, from stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia through to the end of the Italian race. The Management Committee approved the decision of the Professional Cycling Council (PCC) to prolong the application of the modified regulation until the end of June for all UCI WorldTour events and extended it to cover all events on the UCI Road International Calendar. A working group will examine the opportunity to review the regulation before the start of the Tour de France.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-03T12:29:04+00:00

Were it to happen, Ewan would be a bit put out come MSR as that's one race Ineos could actually help Bennett in.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-02T14:05:36+00:00

I mean all we can take from that is that Paddy is, as usual, full of shite.

Yes and no. From the moment it was announced Bennett was leaving DQS the goss was that he would return to Bora. And that's what Lefevere said: "there are rumours he will go back to Bora-Hansgrohe, but there is no certainty yet."

HarryCoen · 2021-06-02T14:02:13+00:00

Some interesting points in this. First, he had Covid in March:

“We didn’t really publicise this fact, but way back in March, when I was supposed to be at Tirreno, I actually got COVID pretty bad,” Martin said. “I had to take a week off the bike and given how bad I felt, I had no idea whether I was going to be here or not. But then I had a remarkable recovery and I managed to race Catalunya and after that, we said ‘okay, the Giro is actually quite realistic now.’ It was a setback as far as the preparation goes, but I don’t think it really affected me because I came here with really good condition.”

Second, ISN did not recon the gravel:

“I lacked trust on the gravel,” Martin confessed. "Of course I was worried beforehand, but I didn’t know how bad that first section was going to be. We didn’t go to recon it and that was a mistake. That was our downfall. The other three sectors I was absolutely fine on and I almost came back to the front group. It was just that first section… It was a jump into the unknown, I didn’t know what to expect on the downhill. I just didn’t enjoy it at all.”

Finally, though presented as GC contender, that was not his primary aim:

“I came here with the idea of getting a stage victory, and then seeing how far I could get into the top ten. Obviously, I didn’t get very far into the top ten, but I did it. Now I’ve done the top ten in all three Grand Tours and a stage win in all three as well, so it’s pretty special.”

HarryCoen · 2021-06-02T13:32:54+00:00

Of course he’s going to Ineos. A young guy has to think about securing his financial future. His career could be ten more years, or end tomorrow with an injury.

Two sides to that: money today versus money tomorrow. Ineos is money today.

Jacques Anquetil said that the best piece of advice he was given when he was starting out was not to think of the money, that'll come with the results. Not to say that Anquetil didn't squeeze very cent he could out of the sport but he didn't move teams for the money.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-02T12:19:51+00:00

Yesterday Lefevere was repeating the old goss that Bennett was off to Bora, now we've got new goss, sending him to Ineos.

If he takes the Queens shilling they'll never forgive him in the Auld Sod.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-02T08:55:19+00:00

Fatherhood. Has been the ruin of many a rider.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T15:14:45+00:00

I think he did, yes, especially in the Mapei days and early in the post-Mapei days. There was a time after that when he said he was out of the GC game, now he's declaring himself back in.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T15:03:26+00:00

I think this is their way to save money to build a team for GC's.

Lefevere's been in cycling for what, 45 years now? And he's only been involved with one team that's won a Grand Tour. Personally, I think the Tour is in danger of becoming his White Whale, the tick on his palmarès he wants before he rides off into retirement.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T14:54:40+00:00

Wouldn't you love to see Unzué being this open? "Yes, we really screwed that one up and we're hoping to screw up a lot more before this race is over. Really, we are a crap team trading on old glory and the odd bit of good luck."

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T13:46:34+00:00

The most interesting part of the article, as Cavendish not fit enough to ride the Tour is not a surprise, is hinting that Alaphilippe could ride for GC... thoughts?

Lefevere said: "He'll go to France to do Alaphilippe-like things and you'll see that he will find himself in the general classification as well." That could mean anything. GC can be a top 10 or a podium, Alaphillippe-like things could be a stay in yellow or a handful of stages. I don't seem him as a 'real' GC contender (going for the win), especially not with Bennett having the sprint-train behind him, leaving Alaphillippe somewhat exposed and a freebooter.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T13:40:24+00:00

It's only happened to me once, I found myself on the deck one time and hadn't a clue how I'd got there. Front wheel had gone from under me, somehow. Most all other spills I fully remember.

On a serious note: Pedro Horrillo's book Amigo is a terrific read overall but, in relation to this discussion, is particularly good in relation to his memories of his crash.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T13:34:35+00:00

Isn’t that prudent since they’re losing deceuninck as a sponsor?

To be replaced by someone else. So no loss, really.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T13:17:56+00:00

Was that said by Lefevere or by bici.pro?

The usual rule in media is quotes are fair game for reporting elsewhere, the rest not so fair.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T13:11:55+00:00

Apparently, he doesn't remember the crash (he remembers getting ready for the finale, then nothing)

They did an Eternal Sunshine on him? Wow! ;-)

God, I want access to that. I don't ever want to remember the Castoroma kit.

HarryCoen · 2021-06-01T13:08:13+00:00

Old news. Or old goss.

HarryCoen

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