Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Don't ride triples, win triples.

Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and disrespectful neo-pro, he’s blossomed into one of the most exciting and charismatic racers in the bunch. A sort of modern-day Mario Cipollini.

And, as much as I dislike seeing riders dominate and take the excitement out of the sport, I love watching Peter race and I expect that if he manages to pull off his third straight worlds title, it was be a spectacular feat. Besides, he looks great in his black bibs with the bands, and I’ve gotten quite used to seeing him in those colors, so I don’t want to have to adjust to seeing another rider in them.

And, everybody knows you don’t ride triples; win triples.

Check the start list and good luck!

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

RobSandy says:

Dec 13 2017 at 5:33 am

@Rick

@RobSandy

@Rick

Quelle suprise: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-froome-returns-adverse-analytical-finding-for-salbutamol/

0

I’m surprised. But also very disappointed. What a stupid thing to get wrong (assuming the Doc just got the dose wrong).

0

Given the history with Team Sky and asthma medications it is difficult to believe this is a coincidence. The doc gave me the wrong dose, I ate bad chicken, I had a twin who vanished are all suspect excuses.

Part of my wants to believe that this was a simple error by the doc or an elevated result from dehydration. However, I have become more realistic (cynical) over the past decade, particularly when Sky never seems to have a bad day.

As long as the rewards are sufficient the bad guys/cheaters will always be at least one step ahead of those trying to catch them. Asthma medication and Team Sky seem to be a trend and it is difficult to believe it is a coincidence.

0

Agree with all of that. It looks extremely bad if it was on purpose or accidental.
wiscot says:

Dec 13 2017 at 6:46 am

@Rick

@RobSandy

@Rick

Quelle suprise: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-froome-returns-adverse-analytical-finding-for-salbutamol/

0

I’m surprised. But also very disappointed. What a stupid thing to get wrong (assuming the Doc just got the dose wrong).

0

Given the history with Team Sky and asthma medications it is difficult to believe this is a coincidence. The doc gave me the wrong dose, I ate bad chicken, I had a twin who vanished are all suspect excuses.

Part of my wants to believe that this was a simple error by the doc or an elevated result from dehydration. However, I have become more realistic (cynical) over the past decade, particularly when Sky never seems to have a bad day.

As long as the rewards are sufficient the bad guys/cheaters will always be at least one step ahead of those trying to catch them. Asthma medication and Team Sky seem to be a trend and it is difficult to believe it is a coincidence.

0

Given Sky's budget and previous stances on drugs, I am amazed at the incompetence of their medical staff. The whole "jiffy bag" fiasco was something that should never have happened and Sky's handling (or mishandling) of the matter made it worse. Now this. I don't have asthmna, but apparently the dosage in each inhaler is easy to ascertain. As is the threshold that would trigger a positive test. I'm no mathematician, but it shouldn't be too hard to look at the numbers and figure out how many puffs a day from a regulated inhaler you can take. The whole thing stinks of marginal gains gone wrong.

I don't see how a ban can be avoided. This will tarnish Froome's reputation and likely hit him in the pocket - will he be eligible for the Giro and Tour, and if so, will they want him?

I'd like to hear the opinion of any Velominati who have asthma issues and what they have to say.
RobSandy says:

Dec 13 2017 at 6:48 am

@wiscot

@Rick

I’d like to hear the opinion of any Velominati who have asthma issues and what they have to say.

0

I have asthma and I usually have a quick puff of my blue inhaler before a race. But if I was the race leader and in contention for the overall win of a Grand Tour and be REALLY FUCKING CAREFUL about getting the dose absolutely right and err on the side of caution.

Lets see what comes out but it fucking stinks.
Teocalli says:

Dec 13 2017 at 7:51 am

@wiscot

As I understand it you get no benefit as such from "overdosing". By that I mean that if someone without Asthma uses an inhaler they do not get any benefit from further dilating the channels in your lungs. They only expand to the norm for that individual and that's it. What an Ashma sufferer will get is relief from swelling and narrowing of the lung channels.

I've known a couple of people with life threatening Asthma and a serious attack is not funny at all. Particularly for one guy I went to school with as he also had an adverse reaction to pure Oxygen.
wiscot says:

Dec 13 2017 at 8:46 am

@Teocalli

@wiscot

As I understand it you get no benefit as such from “overdosing”. By that I mean that if someone without Asthma uses an inhaler they do not get any benefit from further dilating the channels in your lungs. They only expand to the norm for that individual and that’s it. What an Ashma sufferer will get is relief from swelling and narrowing of the lung channels.

I’ve known a couple of people with life threatening Asthma and a serious attack is not funny at all. Particularly for one guy I went to school with as he also had an adverse reaction to pure Oxygen.

0

So, in short, to have such a high level of salbuterol in one's system would be hard to do while using the inhaler in a manner consistent with sound medical advice?

It stinks to high heaven for sure. You'd think given all the previous busts for salbuterol and the penalties handed out, that the team would be careful. But you know what, for all Sky's outwardly "clean" image and claims of "marginal gains" and top class organization with fancy buses and team cars, I think it's just a fucking sham. Geraint Thomas needs to get the fuck out of there asap.
MangoDave says:

Dec 13 2017 at 10:00 am
@Teocalli

@wiscot

As I understand it you get no benefit as such from “overdosing”. By that I mean that if someone without Asthma uses an inhaler they do not get any benefit from further dilating the channels in your lungs. They only expand to the norm for that individual and that’s it. What an Ashma sufferer will get is relief from swelling and narrowing of the lung channels.

I’ve known a couple of people with life threatening Asthma and a serious attack is not funny at all. Particularly for one guy I went to school with as he also had an adverse reaction to pure Oxygen.

0

From the cyclingnews link that explains some of the asthma rules:
- Asthma is typically treated with inhaled corticosteroids (eg. Fluticasone/Flovent - not prohibited in competition), and bronchodilators (inhaled beta 2-agonists such as salbutamol/albuterol).
- Oral or injected beta 2-agonists can have anabolic effects and are banned in and out of competition.
so it would appear that the route of administration of the medication can be a factor and it's possible to get a benefit beyond the dilation of the lungs.
Teocalli says:

Dec 13 2017 at 1:03 pm

@MangoDave

Who knows. The other part I read said that any effect would be limited to events like Sprinting (athletics) and Weightlifting but would be limited but any benefit would be limited to questionable.
chuckp says:

Dec 13 2017 at 3:35 pm
chuckp says:

Dec 13 2017 at 5:18 pm

@wiscot

Geraint Thomas needs to get the fuck out of there asap.

Agreed. He's given him some of his best years and all they've done is screw him.
Teocalli says:

Dec 14 2017 at 4:12 am

At least a balanced view with facts http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/42350159