“It’s just ridiculous”: Geraint Thomas says Tadej Pogačar’s 7.2 W/kg power for 20 minutes is “insane” – and admits he could only manage world champion’s “effortless” intensity for 7 minutes “at my very best”, sparking doping debate + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Licence to nick?
If there’s a better, more bonkers cycling-related story this week, then I’m yet to read it…
> Two men arrested for trying to steal bike from UK’s high-security spy base… while looking for beers
“Just lube the chain”: Your Bike Hates You, #763
Unfortunately, this latest, horrifying addition to the ‘Your Bike Hates You’ archive was only posted by mechanic Daniel Franc as an Instagram story, but I think you’ll get the gist from the photos:
Ah sure, it’s nothing some good thick 3-in-1 wouldn’t sort out…
Visma-Lease a Bike’s British star Matthew Brennan picks ultimate cycling dream team – and there’s no space for a certain world champion…
When he’s not busy mopping up win after win after during a staggering first season in the professional ranks, Matty Brennan has been busy working on his Pro Cycling Manager team, by the looks of things.
In a video posted by TNT Sports this morning, the British teenager was asked to compile his ultimate cycling dream team of riders past and present – and since he’s only 19, he didn’t go back that far.
The first pick – his climber – was arguably the toughest one. And while Geraint Thomas has been waxing lyrical about Tadej Pogačar’s “insane” current level, Brennan (probably on the advice of his team’s press officer) instead opted for his Visma-Lease a Bike leader Jonas Vingegaard in that GC spot. Smart move, Matty.
He then chose German powerhouse Marcel Kittel as his sprinter (the most ancient of Brennan’s picks, believe it or not) and former world champion Michał Kwiatkowski as his domestique.
Victor Campenaerts, meanwhile, was chosen for the time trial slot, with another one of Vinegegaard’s big grand tour rivals, Remco Evenepoel, missing out.
However, cobbles destroyer Mathieu van der Poel did get the nod for the classics berth, ahead of Brennan’s Visma teammate Wout van Aert, so the Darlington lad didn’t follow the PR line for every big choice.
Who would make your fantasy cycling team? Let us know in the comments, and I’ll think about my own squad of probably obscure misfits over lunch…
“Cyclists come in all shapes and sizes, and their equipment needs to reflect that diversity”
The backlash against the UCI’s plans to introduce a new minimum handlebar width continues, with a petition against the rule, launched by an online bike-fitting company, already attracting over 3,000 signatures.
David Lappartient must be hiding somewhere…
> “Cycling faces a crucial turning point”: Thousands sign petition urging UCI to rethink unpopular new 40cm bar rule
“Cycling is a cruel, cruel sport”: Canadian champion Michael Woods forced to abandon Tour de Suisse with lung infection – in first race back after collarbone break in March
Canadian champion Michael Woods has joined Geraint Thomas as the latest veteran rider at risk of missing out this year’s Tour de France, after the Israel-Premier Tech rider was forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse with a lung infection.
This week’s Tour de Suisse marked Woods’ first race back since breaking his collarbone in a crash at Milano-Torino in March. The 38-year-old was sitting in 22nd overall after Tuesday’s third stage, but was a DNF on yesterday’s mountainous stage to Piuro, won by João Almeida.
In an Instagram post published yesterday afternoon, Woods explained that a lung infection was responsible for the latest bump in what has been a turbulent year for the Tour de France stage winner.
“Cycling is a cruel, cruel sport,” he wrote. “For the second time this year I came off of a great altitude camp, in great form, only to abandon the first race post.
“This time it was due to a lung infection. It’s tough to be ending my time in the Canadian national champ jersey this way, but I have some big races on the horizon. Hopefully the bad luck stops here.”
Woods is expected to form part of Israel-Premier Tech’s team for the Tour de France next month, though it remains to be seen if he can recover in time for the Grand Départ in Lille on 5 July.
Transport for London issues Lime and Forest with hundreds of fines – worth over £33,000 – in latest crackdown on abandoned dockless e-bikes
In news that will no doubt warm the cockles of those opposed to the growth of dockless hire bike schemes, Transport for London has confirmed that hundreds of fines have been issued this year already to operators Lime and Forest, as part of TfL’s latest attempt to clamp down on abandoned e-bikes in the capital.
The Standard reports that, after a “grace period” during which only warning letters were sent, a total of 333 penalties, worth £100 each, were handed out to Lime and Forest by 15 May for bikes found to be obstructing the road or pavement.
That means the total “face value” of the fines amounted to £33,300, though the cost is reduced to £50 if the operators paid within two weeks.
In November last year, TfL introduced a new enforcement policy for dockless bikes parked or abandoned on London’s network of Red Routes, the main arterial routes through the capital.
As part of the new policy, the government body used CCTV to locate abandoned bikes belonging to the hire scheme operators, before sending them photos and urging the companies to remove them.
“Since January, we have been actively addressing the issue of e-bikes abandoned on the highway through Operation Clearway,” TfL commissioner Andy Lord said this week.
“Our officers have been stationed at key hotspots across London to identify and report such cases.”
One year in jail for hit-and-run driver who killed cyclist before trying to cover his tracks
Police also found videos on George Ivers’ phone of him driving at high speed and skidding his car…
Read more: > One year in jail for hit-and-run driver who killed cyclist before trying to cover his tracks
“Every journey matters – unless it’s in some sort of vehicle”: London mayor Sadiq Khan says “vast majority” of Londoners and businesses back “exciting” Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans – and the responses are exactly what you’d expect
Earlier this week, you may have heard that London mayor Sadiq Khan has promised to pedestrianise Oxford Street “as quickly as possible” – after two in three respondents to a public consultation backed plans to make a 0.7 mile stretch of the shopping street, between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, traffic-free.
The pedestrianisation initiative, aimed at creating a “beautiful public space”, forms part of Khan’s bid to transform and revitalise Oxford Street, which has been affected by both the Covid-19 pandemic and the shift to online shopping, so that it can “once again become the leading retail destination in the world”.
Over 6,600 businesses, individuals, and groups responded to the formal consultation on the plans, which the mayor’s office said received “overwhelming support”.
“Oxford Street has suffered over many years, so urgent action is needed to give our nation’s high street a new lease of life,” Khan said in a statement.
However, the mayor also took to Facebook – smart move – to announce the results of the consultation, writing: “The vast majority of Londoners, and major businesses, back our exciting plans to transform Oxford Street – so I’m pleased to confirm that we’ll be moving ahead as quickly as possible.”
And the comments underneath that statement? Well, they’re exactly as you’d expect.
“Did you ask all Londoners? As I didn’t get asked. So figures won’t be true then,” said Nicole Warren.
And Helena was also up in arms about the mayor failing to knock on her door, writing: “As a Londoner I have never been consulted. Nor have any residents or businesses that I know throughout all parts of London. So it would be interesting to drill down into the data to identify who the Mayor has actually asked.”
“15-minute cities, here we come…” wrote Louise Corden, who I imagine – judging by her comment – still hasn’t fully grasped the concept of a 15-minute city, even after all these years.
Neither has Thomas Hague, by the sounds of things, after he described the pedestrianisation plans as a “15-minute smart city gulag” (whatever that means).
These conspiracy theories never really die, do they?
> Why is the 15-minute city attracting so many conspiracy theories?
“Every journey matters – unless it’s in some sort of vehicle,” added Mufasa Malik.
Meanwhile, Minhaz Manji wrote: “Very sad as for cars, 75 per cent of the road is already restricted so now all public transport will be disallowed. Here go some of the British iconic black cabs and red buses, what a shame.”
However, at least a few Facebook users were in favour of the plans (because, at the end of the day, these kinds of things rely solely on the support of Facebook Karens, glued to their keyboards).
“At last! Been looking forward to this for a long time!” wrote Rachel, while Ashley thanked Khan for “listening and doing what Londoners want”.
I’m sure the mayor’s office were happy to see those comments…
Now that’s what I call a descent!
The Tour de Suisse, you absolute beauty:
Right, that’s it, I’m adding the Julier Pass to the list of must-do climbs. It’s right beside St Moritz – better check the bank account first…
Someone at the UCI’s been busy this month…
Junior gears at the ready:
> UCI to trial maximum gearing rule — but will it really make racing safer?
They’re really making their way through the tech rule bingo card over in Aigle at the moment, aren’t they?
70 bikes abandoned at Hull railway station fixed and reused by bike charity, diverting 800kg of waste from landfill
Around 70 bikes which have been left unwanted at Hull Paragon railway station over the past six months have been donated to a local cycling charity by train operator TransPennine Express (TPE).
The bikes were found in various states of disrepair around the station and within its cycle parking hub, and were handed to charity R-evolution’s Hull branch, which allows volunteers and trainees to develop skills by working under professionally trained bike mechanics.
R-evolution will fix up the bikes so they can be given back to the local community, instead of being disposed of as waste, diverting more than 800kg from landfill.
They will be used ether as stock for Bike Library events in schools, to help people attend interviews or get to work, or sold at affordable prices to fund outreach work.
“We are really proud to support R-evolution in their work promoting active travel and social inclusion,” TPE’s environmental delivery lead Steve Gilder said in a statement.
“This initiative is a win-win – we’re improving our recycling efforts, keeping our station tidy and supporting people across the region with access to bikes to use them.”
A spokesperson for R-evolution added: “We take old or unused bikes donated by the public and organisations across the Humber region and use them as practical training tools for our growing group of volunteers and trainees working toward cycle mechanic qualifications.
“These opportunities support a wide range of outcomes, from improving employability and building confidence to boosting mental health and encouraging social connection.
“It’s a circular model – what starts as waste becomes a pathway to opportunity. We’re incredibly grateful to TransPennine Express for this generous donation, which will help us continue supporting communities across the region.”
I remember when…
I remember when all this was car-dominated hellscape… #Cambridge #cycling
— MJ Ray (@mjr.masto.bike.ap.brid.gy) June 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Can’t wait for one of those weird 1970s nostalgia Facebook groups to post a photo of the same road jammed with traffic, calling for a return to the ‘glory days of cars’…
Only the Onley! Oscar Onley pips João Almeida in uphill sprint to secure biggest win of his career, as Kévin Vauquelin rides into yellow
With a bit of hindsight, it was clearly coming.
On stage three of the Tour de Suisse on Tuesday, Oscar Onley, Picnic PostNL’s Scottish prospect, finished third. On stage four, he finished second, the best of the rest behind a rampant João Almeida.
And today, Onley completed the podium set, the 22-year-old pipping Almeida in an extremely close two-up sprint to the line in Santa Maria in Calanca to win the queen stage of this year’s Tour de Suisse, the biggest victory of his young career.
At the end of an enthralling, potentially decisive stage, Onley was an attacking presence on the second and final ascent of the steep Castaneda climb, bridging across, and then dropping, the impressively chirpy Julian Alaphilippe (who, despite ultimately ending the stage in seventh, seems to have rediscovered his climbing legs in time for the Tour de France).
By the summit, Almeida – deep in the process of chipping away at the three-minute deficit he suffered in appalling conditions on the opening day – eventually time trialled his way back up to Onley’s wheel.
The pair then stayed together over the top of the climb and throughout the last two mostly uphill kilometres to Santa Maria in Calanca, where the young Scot launched his sprint with 200 metres to go.
Like his performance on the climb, Almeida was initially slow to react but managed to claw his way back at the death, drawing alongside Onley in the final 25 metres.
However, the 22-year-old had more enough left to take the win, only the second of his fledgling career, and the biggest demonstration yet that he can match the sport’s biggest names on the toughest days.
About a minute behind the leading pair, Arkéa-B&B Hotels’ Kévin Vauquelin put in a storming ride to take the yellow jersey, after his compatriot Romain Grégoire was finally forced to relinquish the race lead after being distanced the first time up the Castaneda.
Today’s reshuffle means that Vauquelin now sits 29 seconds ahead of Alaphilippe, while Almeida now lurks ominously in third overall, 39 seconds, with a race-ending time trial to come on Sunday.
But that battle for yellow will come at the weekend – because today, the queen stage of the 2025 Tour de Suisse belonged only to Oscar Onley. And the way he’s riding this week, I reckon this victory will prove to be just the start for the flying Scotsman.
‘We’re not Belgium, we’re Northern Ireland – but it’s all the same to me!’ Adam Rafferty powers away solo to brilliant attacking win at Giro d’Italia Next Gen, sealing second straight victory for Northern Ireland at U23 race
Northern Ireland is going to be the next big cycling powerhouse – you heard it here first.
Alright, maybe I’m getting a little bit carried away, but the future is looking very bright for cycling in the north-east corner of Ireland, judging by this week’s performances at the Giro d’Italia Next Gen.
Yesterday, Armagh’s Seth Dunwoody blasted away from the breakaway to take stage four of the Italian race – one of the biggest U23 events in the world, and a shop window for pro teams hunting the next big thing – in Salsomaggiore Terme.
And this afternoon, it was Adam Rafferty’s turn to underline the potential he’s been showing for a while, the Co. Tyrone rider making his way into an attacking group containing a number of big GC favourites, which had opened up a two-minute gap on the rest during today’s tough 153km stage from Fiorenzuola d’Arda to Gavi.
As the battle for the pink jersey was turned on its head by the move, the 19-year-old, the younger brother of EF pro Darren Rafferty, who finished second at the Baby Giro in 2023, tried a few speculative digs before winching himself clear with five kilometres to go.
Red Bull-Bora’s Luke Truckwell initially tried to go with Rafferty’s attack, but couldn’t hold his pace, though I’m sure the Australian rider will take solace from the fact he’s now in the overall lead, after former pink jersey and reigning Giro Next Gen champion Jarno Widnar missed what could ultimately prove the race-deciding move.
Up ahead, Hagens Berman Jayco’s Rafferty, the current U23 Irish time trial champion, showcased those TT skills, powering away eight seconds clear of the chasing group to take a stunning solo victory, his first ever international UCI-ranked win.
11 years on from the elite version of the Giro starting in Belfast and Northern Ireland’s crop of young, exciting talent, inspired by that Grande Partenza, are starting to flourish on the roads of Italy.
I said yesterday after Dunwoody’s win that these are exciting times for Northern Irish cycling. Well, it looks like the excitement levels have been taken up a notch now.
(Oh, and in case you’re wondering about this report’s headline, it’s an old football chant from Northern Ireland’s noughties golden era under Lawrie Sanchez, that I’ve repurposed for a cycling context. I told you I was getting carried away…)
Four lanes, Jeremy?! That’s insane
Actually, it turns out cutting a road down from four lanes to three, in favour of a protected two-way cycle lane, is the insane option, according to some very car-brained politicians in Brighton and Hove:
> Cutting road to three lanes for cycling route puts city “in danger of grinding to a halt”, claims politician — but cycling group says drivers should back plan as they’ll “no longer get caught behind cyclists”
“Try a cargo bike for free,” council urges residents – the same local authority that installed barriers at park exit forcing cargo bike users onto dangerous road with no cycle lane
You know Wandsworth Borough Council? The local authority on the receiving end of some backlash from cyclists earlier this week, after it installed “prohibitive, discriminatory” barriers on a steep ramp at the exit of a park, forcing families using cargo bikes onto a busy road with no cycling infrastructure?
Well, get this – last week, to mark National Cycling Week, they urged residents to “try out a cargo bike for free”.
There must be an irony deficiency in south London, surely?
Well, according to the council, Wandsworth residents and businesses can rent electric cargo bikes across the borough for just £5 per hour, thanks to their partnership with community bike share scheme OurBike – with a free first ride to help people give it a go.
“We want to make it easier and cheaper for people to get around in cleaner, healthier ways,” the council’s cabinet member for transport Jenny Yates said.
“This scheme is part of our wider work to make active travel more accessible to everyone, whether you’re popping to the shops, getting the kids to school or running a small business.
“Cargo bikes are incredibly versatile, and with a free first ride, we encourage more people to give them a try.”
Yep, give ‘em a try, make active travel more accessible – unless you have to push your cargo bike slalom style up a steep ramp in Wandsworth Park, while zig-zagging your way through three metal barriers designed to stop “speeding” cyclists, right Wandsworth Council?
So much for accessibility, eh?
“It’s just ridiculous”: Geraint Thomas says Tadej Pogačar’s “effortless” 7.2 W/kg for 20 minutes power is “insane” – and admits he could only manage world champion’s numbers for seven minutes “at my very best”, sparking doping debate in comments
If you needed any evidence of the dramatic, almost seismic jump in the level within professional cycling over the past decade, look no further than Geraint Thomas’ recent podcast comments.
The 2018 Tour de France winner, whose participation in this year’s race – his final Tour before retirement – is in doubt after he crashed out of the Tour de Suisse this week, was part of the all-conquering Team Sky squad that set the standard for the sport during the 2010s, dominating the grand tours.
But, speaking on this week’s edition of Watts Occurring, even Thomas was in awe of Tadej Pogačar’s recent performance at the Critérium du Dauphiné, when he blew away Tour rival Jonas Vinegegaard on the Côte de Domancy, putting out numbers the Ineos leader described as “insane”.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Thomas has twice finished on the podium of a grand tour alongside Pogačar, when the pair stood on the lower steps of the 2022 Tour won by Jonas Vingegaard, and when the 39-year-old finished third at last year’s Giro d’Italia, ten and a half minutes behind the rampant Slovenian.
But according to Thomas, the world champion’s 20-minute power on stage six of the Dauphiné would have blown away the Welshman even at his 2018 Tour-winning best.
“I don’t know how accurate the numbers are, but someone who’s in the sport messaged me saying he did 7.2 watts per kilo for 20 minutes,” Thomas said during the episode, reflecting on Pogačar’s win at Combloux.
After a rocky time trial, where he only managed fourth, 48 seconds down on Remco Evenepoel and 28 behind Vingegaard, Pogačar struck a huge psychological blow on the Dauphiné’s first big mountain stage, attacking early on the steep Côte de Domancy and quickly dropping everyone, including Vingegaard, who lost over a minute to his big rival for yellow by the finish.
ASO/Tony Esnault
“So I worked it out, and that was like around 490 [watts] for me, maybe a bit over. I could probably do that for six, seven minutes at my best – like my very best,” Thomas continued.
“It’s just ridiculous. Because when you’re watching it as well, it just looked effortless. And you’re watching it thinking, ‘he’s not really going that hard, why is everyone getting dropped?’
“It just looked a bit weird. Jonas mate, just try a bit harder, stay on the wheel. He’s not even going here. But he obviously was!
“Those types of numbers are just insane. His engine is just phenomenal, and he backs it up the next day.”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Of course, this is professional cycling, after all.
And the 2018 Tour winner’s claim that Pogačar is, power-wise, seemingly lightyears ahead of the Wiggins, Thomas, and Froome-led Team Sky of the 2010s – a squad that has been plagued by doping speculation and innuendo, amid accusations of ‘alien’ performances – has unsurprisingly sparked a debate on his podcast’s Instagram page.
Some took to the comments to raise concerns that the mind-boggling standards set by both Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard – who has also faced doping accusations following his two Tour wins – have made the sport “harder to believe in” (a natural consequence of years of incredible performances ultimately being revealed to be, well, incredible).
“I love cycling, I love Pogačar, but I feel a bit strange,” one fan wrote in the comments.
Others, however, pointed out that the world champion burst onto the scene as a teenager almost fully formed and brimming with “freakish” talent. And, of course, there’s no concrete evidence to suggest that he isn’t clean either.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Cycling’s seemingly endless doping debate aside, whether the 2025 version of Thomas will be able to live with Pogačar and Vingegaard for six or seven minutes at this year’s Tour is currently in doubt, after the Welshman abandoned the Tour de Suisse yesterday after a crash on Tuesday.
Thomas crashed heavily on a tight corner during the third stage and struggled to get back on his bike, sitting on the ground for over a minute before eventually continuing the descent.
The 39-year-old managed to regain contact with the peloton, but ultimately finished 133rd, alongside fellow British Tour-winning veteran Chris Froome, over 15 minutes down on winner Quinn Simmons.
“I just hit a lip on the side of the road, really,” Thomas told reporters at the finish.
“It was my fault, but then I just kind of got my foot caught behind me and I just twisted all my knee and my hamstring – it was just a dead leg.
“I struggled to bend it for the first minute or so, but then once I got on the bike and got rolling it freed up a bit. It’s just a bit sore – the muscles and stuff are a bit strained, but it’s all OK.”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
However, yesterday morning, the Ineos Grenadiers confirmed that Thomas had left the race, sparking concerns about the Welshman’s participation in next month’s Tour de France.
“Following a crash during stage three of the Tour de Suisse, Geraint Thomas will not take the start today as a precautionary measure,” the team said in a statement.
Or maybe he’s just trying to avoid desperately hanging onto Tadej Pogačar’s wheel next month?
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Latest Comments
ASO makes massive money during the TdF thanks to the pro peloton's performance, which is as good as the rest they get at their hotels. Yet ASO don't seem to pay minimum attention to teams' accommodations. In 2026, how can they possibly book hotels without functioning aircon units in each room, including mecs' and soigneurs'? Why do they book 2-star hotels with dodgy facilities? You bet ASO procurement manager books himself in a comfy and plushy suite every single night. C'mon ASO, up your game!
"If that is the case, it might be worth renaming their Cycle Team." They're called the Cycle Team or Bike Squad because they're on bikes. Unless they're proposing to change how they get around then there wouldn't seem to be any point in renaming them. However, I think it would good if there was a team of fully trained police officers on Sur-rons (fully registered for road use of course) so that they don't have any difficulty chasing after scrotes on similar machines. Trying to chase them in a van is utterly pointless.
@wtjs but it is "just one bad apple".
Re the Dublin Capel St barriers. Once again, we see the actions of selfish bastards spoil it for everyone else. Sooner the Gards really crack down on over-powered Illegal ebikes in the towns, the better. I even say this as the owner of one, but I'm out in the sticks and I don't ride like a twat.
@Pub bike It's not just PC 706 Mike Duff that is protecting Marcus Wright, it's 3 other officers who he involved in the case by 'cc-ing' them on the email' when complaining that the police don't have time to deal with what he describes as 'alleged offences': they are Stuart Stevenson, Nick Barber and Elliot Jones. No reply from any of them either. If any of these no MOT, or Failed MOT But Still Driving Around Garstang vehicles was involved in a collision, they would just cover up that they had been told about the preceding offences. This is the world of the Bent Coppers. One of them is a Sgt. and another is an Inspector. Lancashire Constabulary regards the Real Enemy to be people who report offences, especially when they provide indisputable evidence and keep records of everything the police say- they really hate them.
Gone to bike thieves, every one. When will they ever learn?
I'd guess the thinking is that this change was motivated by convoy safety - ensuring that riders can see beyond the cars when moving up through them, and that doesn't really apply in the same way in time trials.
Oddly, time trials are excluded: There doesn't appear to be a separate height limit for time trial vehicles.
The article is a little confusing - it says "usually illegal" and "cyclists ignore road closure". So was the road closed in general or was it closed to allow cyclists to legally ride along it as part of this event?
@chrisonabike Given that pot holes a much greater danger to cyclists than they are to other road users, I wouldn't want to see a reduction in the amount of money spent repairing pot holes - unless it was due to a reduction in pot holes due to less motor traffic. One of the best things London has done for cycling is the 20mph speed limits, and they cost relatively little money.
35 thoughts on ““It’s just ridiculous”: Geraint Thomas says Tadej Pogačar’s 7.2 W/kg power for 20 minutes is “insane” – and admits he could only manage world champion’s “effortless” intensity for 7 minutes “at my very best”, sparking doping debate + more on the live blog”
Quote:
There’s no evidence of any sort to suggest that he isn’t clean. People on t’internet saying “he must be juiced, stands to reason innit?” does not constitute evidence.
Surely people don’t post
Surely people don’t post things on the web without conducting thorough, evidence-based research. This thing goes out world wide! Who would put their reputation at stake like that?
Wasnt it only a week ago his
Wasnt it only a week ago his time trial performance was criticised in some sections of the cycling press as being too slow, whilst his competitors who went faster weren’t accused of doping at all.
Quite possibly so; I’m not
Quite possibly so; I’m not really here for that. I come mainly for the giggles and the occasional outpouring of wisdom in which I am confident.
stonojnr wrote:
He can’t win though (well he can win, all the time, obviously, but…), after that TT I saw people on Facebook apparently quite seriously claiming that he deliberately threw the time trial because he knew he was so well (and presumably so undetectably) doped that he would take minutes in the mountains so he wanted to lose that stage so he could say if I am so doped up how come I sometimes lose.
Rendel Harris wrote:
There’s no evidence of any sort to suggest that he isn’t clean. People on t’internet saying “he must be juiced, stands to reason innit?” does not constitute evidence.
The thing is that professional cycling is a small world. The same small number of DSs, doctors, coaches, cooks, nutritionists, mechanics, soigneurs etc all circulate around the same few teams. The idea that one team has discovered an undetectable performance-enhancing agent and uses it on just one rider, that rider being the most drug tested rider in the entire peloton, with nobody else finding out about it, simply beggars belief.
Latest weird Kickstarter –
Latest weird Kickstarter – wÿnd helmet: hand-powered bike lights
Front and rear lights that you charge with a hand-cranked generator built into the helmet.
I can sort of see that this is useful in that it solves the problem of forgetting your lights or forgetting to charge them. But why not use a dynamo instead?
Because you risk catching the
Because you risk catching the helmet buckle in your spokes.
Hmm… reminds me of
Hmm… reminds me of something…?
Bonkers. Given its name I
Bonkers. Given its name I expected the lights to be driven by a micro turbine, which should be entirely possible in this day of low powered leds and high effeciency dynamo’s.
I do wonder when we will see
I do wonder when we will see self charging electronic gears.Even if its a mode that needs to be selected that would obviously increase resistance. If you could flick a switch on the deraillieur that allowed it to charge from normal cycling motion then the days of losing battery power would make cycling more maintenance free.
When? Two weeks ago…
When? Two weeks ago…
https://road.cc/content/tech-news/shimano-unveils-qauto-self-powered-di2-automatic-shifting-314175
Well it is a bit but mostly
Well it is a bit but mostly no its not!
There is no way that automatic gears will be allowed in racing, and I dont want auto gears, thats for commuter and granny bikes. I mean a deraillieur that charges a battery like found on a di2 or AXS derailliur. This is a battery FREE system . its mentions that quite a few times.
They mention the battery
They mention the battery which they call a “Li-ion capacitor”, which seems strange as Li-ion is normally a battery rather than capacitor technology, but regardless, it stores a charge for “up to a year”. I think the battery and dynamo related circuitry is in the hub.
I want a system of manual
. I want a system of manual gears that I can charge as I ride. Not an automatic system. This isn’t at the pinnacle of the groupsets. When a dura ace groupset (or red or SR) comes along with a self charging battery that never dies or you can charge in the fly I will be satisfied
With regard to Pogacar’s 7.2W
With regard to Pogacar’s 7.2W/kg.
If Pogacar has a lactic threshold or aerobic capacity only slightly higher than Geraint Thomas, that would allow him to maintain 7.2 W/kg for quite a while longer, because he would not be exceeding his lactate threshold. The fact that Thomas could attain that power for 7 minutes, several years ago, indicates that Pogacar’s performance is perfectly feasible, especially given improved training methods and nutrition.(This duration would have an aerobic / anaerobic power ratio of around 80/20 and would not be distorted by peak power. It is almost certain that Thomas could have extended the 7 minutes with focussed training.)
I also think that expressing W/kg is a slight over simplification. The make up of the Kg needs to be considered eg longer leg bones, more powerful leg and core muscles. Perhaps a larger percentage of Pogacar’s weight is useful for generating cycling power.
As cycling has gained popularity, a larger number of people are being tested for recruitment, allowing discovery of riders with previously unseen physiologies.
Something that was pointed
Something that was pointed out to me by a friend who hs worked in pro athlete performace / coaching was, that riders like Thomas, Froome, Cavendish, and other last gen superstars like Sagan all rode with when the biological passport was first introduced to combat doping. But riders like Pogacar and Vingegaard came about after the rule was introduced.
If a rider was to suddenly take something ‘performance enhancing’ there would be a very detectable change in the bio passports metrics showing a sudden increase somewhere that would need explaining. But if the abnormailty was always there from the beginning, how do you detect it? EPO was undetectable and the only reason LA was caught was not through the labs but by people and other circumstantial evidence pointing to him until he folded. Who is to say what other PEDs aren’t washing around cycling and with a better method of concealing it and the ability to hide it in plain site with the Bio passport.
There is nothing to suggest anyone is doping. But there is strong indication that to do so would be easier now, which still leaves a dark shadow over the sport. There is also the acknowledged fact that another doping scandal would finish the sport. Possibly for ever.The UCI has gotten a little FIFAesque in recent years with a sense they are overstepping their mark. Keeping hush and turnign a blind eye while the money roles in? its not something new to sport.
Interestingly it appears that
Interestingly it appears that WADA has had a potential method to detect even EPO microdosing for a while but it looks like it hasnt any plans to actually develop and use it.
https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/scientific-research/epo-signal-peptides-and-detection-recombinant-epo
All cyclists face potential
All cyclists face potential retrospective testing of stored samples.
Having all your titles removed and sponsors filing damages claims for false earnings at some point in the future, when a new test is developed must be a pretty powerful deterrent.
Well there isstill doping so
Well there is still doping so obviously not
Last time I looked, Lance wasnt poor so even with all the lawsuiteshes still got cash so the risk is worth the reward in a sport where if your not first youre nobody
But LA has lost his titles
But LA has lost his titles and all respect that he had from the cycling community. Things that money can’t buy. Such a threat would deter me. But perhaps not you?
And I believe that the incidence of doping is a fraction of what it once was. There will always be some who cheat.
He might argue – and this
He might argue – and this goes for all riders and athletes that do dope. Where the margins are so tight, the difference between being a superstar and just an also ran are so close that they will take that risk.
Lance Armstrong was seen as a one day rider. Not a Grand Tour challenger. Had he stayed clean you probably wouldn’t even know the name less from his charity. For many the risk is worth it cos to be just another rider in the peloton means you barely scratch a living together. Donestiques at many world tour teams earn a pittance all to work hard for the team leader who earns the big money. The risk of being caught is balanced in their heads and they mostly know that to stay clean means they probably won’t make anywhere near the money they can if they win things clean otherwise.
He might argue etc etc….
He might argue etc etc…. But I believe plenty wouldn’t and want to be able to look at themselves in the mirror. As well as avoiding the constant stress of being caught and sacked / suspended.
And lesser riders can earn
And lesser riders can earn bloody good money for being good domestiques, lead out men, etc.
That’s doesn’t mean they all
That’s doesn’t mean they all do. That’s lost on you. Hence why the risk vs reward for those that do dope is worth it. Each rider will make a decision. For everyone that makes it big, dozens don’t. If the difference between obscurity and fame is risking taking a banned substance. Some will. That’s fact.
It’s not fact. It’s your
It’s not fact. It’s your opinion. And thanks for explaining that all cyclists don’t become euro millionaires.
Our opinions differ. I believe that the vast majority of cyclists don’t resort to drugs. It is much easier for them to take this stance than it would have been 20 years ago. And I really don’t believe that someone with Pogacar’s talent and profile would have taken drugs, which is where we started the discussion.
Smoggysteve wrote:
As I understand it the biological passport does not only record variations in an athlete’s levels of various performance indicators against their own baseline but also against the normal parameters for a human being, e.g., if you have a haematocrit level over the accepted baseline (I think it’s 55% but don’t quote me on that) it will still be investigated even if it’s been a consistent level for the individual since they entered the programme. An athlete can’t just say that’s what I’ve always been like and get away with it, they would have to undergo intensive medical testing to prove that it is their natural state and not an enhanced one.
The thing is some types of
The thing is some types of doping do different things. there will be waysof staying ahead of it. It isnt an infallible system . You mention only one parameter, its much more complicated than that, and staying under a parameter just enough to no arrouse suspicion but also do the same in enough area too in a game of doping marginal gains.
Lets not forget the UCI, WADA and other doping anti-doping agencies are not exaclty whiter than white here. They have been found to hjave made mistakes or ignored evidence in the past. Money talks but it could just be down to a advanced masking. AsI said from the beginning, there is no evidence anyone is actively doping, but these things still cast a shadow over the sport. It will never be percieved as 100% clean
As part of my medication, I
As part of my medication, I have to inject myself with EPO every week – it has made zero difference to my athletic performance; I can only ride my bike at the speed of an elderly tortoise.
Chapeau Oscar, superb win.
Chapeau Oscar, superb win.
Excellent to see that Nigel’s
Excellent to see that Nigel’s latest incarnation has seemingly been given his marching orders with all of his comments removed. Thanks for listening, mods!
Hmm… they’d returned to
Hmm… they’d returned to their standard methods, but I’m not sure all the comments should be binned this time. Unless they’d finally dropped the “courtesy and politeness” shtick and brought back the nasty personal attacks, the -isms or particular conspiracist misinformation? (I hadn’t seen that … yet).
OTOH break the rules and you should be out – this isn’t a democracy or even a club. It’s someone’s site for them to run how they like!
Plus it’s wearing. But … then we all do end up giving them the attention they crave / react like they’re hoping.
And road.cc themselves are happy to serve up the anti- cycling arguments to us…
Perhaps there could be a “view from the man in the Clapham omnibus” page curating the best of the counter- arguments (that the Nigels, socrati / Martin and the other one with the Christian bent that parodied your usernames – if not all the same individual – delivered / parodied) – and responses which are better than “you’re wrong, you idiot”? Some of the arguments in response this time were excellent…
Or should this place just be limited to more bikeshedding-type arguments? After all almost *other* media will remind us that *most* other people simply aren’t on-board with any “less resources for motoring / more for active travel / better road policing” ideas we may find self-evident?
To be fair to road.cc, they
To be fair to road.cc, they have a pretty small staff and neither the time, resources nor, I should imagine, the inclination to read through hundreds of comments and weigh up which ones were genuine and which ones were obviously vexatious trolling, saving the latter and deleting the former. If somebody is clearly not interested in good faith debate but simply making comments that they know will antagonise the readers of this website in order to provoke a reaction then they’re trolling, with or without the personal attacks (and even in this “polite” incarnation there were quite a number), and so it’s good to see them gone.
Indeed, easiest to just pull
Indeed, easiest to just pull the plug, and they were the usual sealion… but in doing so they made the effort to dig out (or rediscover) many of the points reminding us that this isn’t an argument that is “won”. That then lead to some thoughtful discussion in response.
*That* part is (sometimes) useful – for those (few) situations where discussing with people genuinely interested in doing something different than our default.
But again perhaps changing minds (and then policies) is almost never about the argument but rather people’s personal experiences (Chris Boardman losing his mother, Mr. Briggs losing his wife). Or their relationships (discovering cycling through a friend)?
I saw the headline for
I saw the headline for “Cycling club cleared of liability over time trial collision” and thought that was going to be full of their opinions… Was pleasantly surprised.