Velominati Super Prestige: Giro D’Italia 2013

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• @LA Dave I suppose a proper 'gordie howe' hat trick in a GT would be to lose one from a crash, one to an illness and one to getting caught doping.

• @strathlubnaig

  For those who had Wiggins, Hesjedal and Gesink, congratulations on getting a hat trick.

  yup, good thing my other two are getting me some points!

• @unversio

  Vincenzo Vince!

  Seeing the effects of Wiggo/Sky throughout the peloton following their domination last year...

• @LA Dave

  @unversio

  @LA Dave

  Nibali's win in stage 18 is one which - based on his personal history - should rightfully be celebrated as a victory that cements his place in the top echelon of competitors in the peloton today. Should he maintain his current 4 plus minute lead all the way to Brescia he will sit squarely on the top shelf next to Froome, Contador, Wiggins, JRod, et al. as the creme de la creme of the current stage racing crop. Sadly though, in this day and age when you couple his dominating performance so far in this years Giro with his move to an Astana team still tainted by their dope filled recent past I simply cannot ward off the voices that well up in the back of my mind.

  As I watched this stage unfold I couldn't help but wish that he would not win it, that he would do enough to keep the maglia rosa, but to falter slightly and show that he was not that much stronger than the rest of the field, because we have more often then not seen what that means in modern road racing. It is a nagging feeling that gnaws at your perception of the beauty of this sport. That chips away at the veneer of passion and perfection that we who love cycling paint it with. I want so badly to believe that this peloton is clean, that these riders whom my son is learning to idolize as athletes have a conscience and a biological passport clean enough to warrant his adoration.

   

  I will grudgingly give Vincenzo the benefit of the doubt for now, but so long as he chooses to ride for teams and directors that refuse to acknowledge their connection to the stain that is doping I won't be able to go all in as a supporter. The sadness of suspicion is a true emotion understood by today's cycling fan, and we can only hope that those in position to affect change do everything they can to clean up what should be the most beautiful sport in the world.

  Victory never holds back "” and it never ceases.

  Very true indeed. Just to be clear - I did not want him to not ride to his fullest abilities, but rather, I wanted his abilities to be not too much better than the other riders -thereby reducing the amount of suspicion that will inevitably follow such a performance. Does that even make any sense?

  I still love watching these races, and will never stop, but the spectre is always there with teams such as Astana and consequently, those who wear their colors.

  I'm starting to get pissed because almost every comment section just starts flinging doping accusations.  God forbid someone actually wins a race, that is essentially the same as a positive test.

• @Nate The problem is so widespread, Vinikurov is Astana's DS FFS! The only way it will get better is if it becomes zero tolerance, 1 positive, lifetime ban from everything, no managing, no coaching, no bike cleaning, you had your chance nothing, just fuck off forever.

  This may seem harsh and some may become, what you 'muricans call collateral damage, but it would be worth it.

  @ DerHoggz until this happens how can we believe?

• Well, just fuck. You either enjoy the racing on offer at the time, or you doubt every result for eternity. I can't believe fans wanting Hinault or Merckx to be 'just' better than the peleton. Crushing the other riders is what brings legend.

  The only way forward for a fan is to love the result, leave the doubt at the door, as otherwise every stage of every race will leave a sour taste and question marks.

  Fans also can't pick and choose their teams if you want to lay suspicion. If Sky are all clean and dainty and place 2 on the podium at TdF, then you must believe other teams can do the same in the same clean fashion.

  What's not to say that Nibbles and Astana just targeted the Giro. FFS there has been the TOC, tour of Belgium and Giro all on at the same time, so the competing teams aren't at their absolute strongest.

  For me, it's innocent until proven guilty, even if it takes 20 years like Pharmy, and enjoying it as it goes, heart on my sleeve.

  It's been great so far, loving the pics of riding in the snow!

• @G'rilla

  @Ron

  Gosh, just when I was starting to believe those silly scientists about climate change, which predicts greater temperature extremes across the globe...this totally proves that's just some pussy liberal hoax.

  Fixed that for you.

  Thank you. Of course, I hope you know that I wasn't being serious. Just a mocking gesture at people who don't feel it might be in our collective interest to try and avoid continuing to fuck up the planet at an alarming rate.

• @Beers

  +1 for every remark.

• @Beers

  Well, just fuck. You either enjoy the racing on offer at the time, or you doubt every result for eternity. I can't believe fans wanting Hinault or Merckx to be 'just' better than the peleton. Crushing the other riders is what brings legend.

  For me, it's innocent until proven guilty, even if it takes 20 years like Pharmy, and enjoying it as it goes, heart on my sleeve.

  It's been great so far, loving the pics of riding in the snow!

  I envy you being able to keep your head in the sand and simply enjoy, I did the same for over 15 years... just haven't got it in me anymore I guess. I want to have my cake and eat it too (i.e. great and clean racing). So far so good in this Giro, we've had some amazing racing and as yet we haven't had one of the big names get popped for doping during it...oh wait....

  Anyway - apologies for all the bitching about wanting to be able to believe in my cycling heroes! I feel like Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything, bringin' all his friends down at the Gas-n-Sip on a Friday night - I'm wiggin'!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3fhKo6MCI4

  On a lighter note - I agree completely about the riding in the snow... wish we could have seen more today and hopefully we get one final day of it tomorrow. Vegni has already said they'll reach the Tre Cime di Lavaredo regardless of the weather conditions. Should be great - Steephill.tv @ 5 am anyone? Can't wait.

   

• @strathlubnaig

  @LA Dave I suppose a proper 'gordie howe' hat trick in a GT would be to lose one from a crash, one to an illness and one to getting caught doping.

  +1!