Contador in the Red in 2014
Holy fuckballs. I’ve never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I’ve missed them entirely – which is another kind of incompetence entirely – but I’m shocked at how quickly this week blew by me. I think I have whiplash.
Be that as it may, the Vuelta is on our doorstep, and before you panic, I’ll leave the picks open until Monday so we have enough time to screw up our picks despite knowing who crashes out in the first few days.
This is actually exciting stuff. We have some serious grudge-matching going on here for the Vuelta. Chris Froome is double-talking, Bardet is trash-talking, and Contador is exit-talking. This could be interesting.
On the subject of Bardet, he is my new Schleck. I love how he looks on the bike, and he’s got a fighting spirit. And he rides a white bike, which is the color bike I’m obsessed with. And I’m equally sure he will never win a major bike race, on account that I fancy him. (Roman, if you are reading this, I ask your forgiveness.)
Alright, I’ll stop faffing about. Check the start list, get your picks in, and let’s get this party started.
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@wiscot
Fortunately it has now closed otherwise there would be a few folk quickly ditching Contador!
Two exciting finishes so far. Can't believe Yves managed to hold them off. Nice ride!
Oh, and the dirtbags going wide to move up at the train crossing - I'd have given those lads a frame pump in the wheels.
@Teocalli
I think the Contador scenario now playing out emphasizes the wisdom of Hinault when he retired. Hinault, being one of the great GT riders of all time, did not want to suffer the indignity and humiliation currently being experienced by Contador. Hinualt was not happy unless he was a contender. Alas, Bertie may not make top 10 if today is an indication.
@wiscot
.......or a lack of Steak......
@Teocalli
You know, I've always thought Bertie got a bit of a bum deal on the clenbuterol test. There's no threshold amount for a positive test and the amount that showed was incredibly small. Other riders I'm sure have tested positive for far more effective drugs which were below the positive threshold.
I'm hoping he goes out in style, but it seems like that might not be the case. Here's to hoping he gets at least a stage win in grand style. I think he deserves that.
Looks like all the other main contenders have come ready to play. That was some fine racing today.
@wiscot
a) i excluded Bardet from my list based on his final TdF TT, but included Cotador out of sentimentality and well wishes. one good decision cancels a bad one. story of my life.
b) agree on Contador getting hosed on the clenbutrol flap. i have watched these last ten years of cycling with a jaundiced perspective, because it's the same sort of shit e have seen time and time again. the drugs are different, the individuals are different, yet the mechanisms of deceit remain the same. all i see, collectively, are the same riders, guilty of the same shit, scurrying back and forth from one conveniently held position to another. the only differences are, some have produced results, and some have NOT. the only two individuals i respect in the pantheon of whistleblowers are Lemond and Andreu, who both came forward when they still had something SIGNIFICANT to lose. in my eyes, the rest are doing nothing but recriminating and playing dumb, in a sisyphean effort to validate their percieved legacy.
c) has anybody here watched Icarus yet? if an organization can change urine samples to protect the guilty, another organization can surely do the same to implicate the innocent. why, at this point, should any of us believe ANY of the players in this story to hold some sort of moral high ground? every last agency invoved in this ongoing debacle has demonstrated corruption and incompetence. UCI, WADA, etc, straight down the line. gimme a break. may as well ask the IRS their opinion, too.
i should qualify that rant by saying that i really don't believe Lemond ever doped in the first place, so maybe "coming forward" isn't the best way to describe what he went though. truth lies in action. viewed thru the lens of history, Lemond's actions are those of an innocent man. and a righteous one.
@Cary
@Cary
I have always thought that the UCI, and WADA were complicit in widespread doping. Of course, I cannot prove anything so it is just my opinion. However, I seem to recall a certain Texan making large donations to the UCI that was used for blood testing equipment.
Surely that is just a coincidence.......
sure he did, it is a matter of record, now. yet, why was the Russian Federation allowed by the IOC to compete at the Rio Olympics, again? bullshit on top of bullshit! it's about money, and only money. once Lance's career crossed the threshold whereby more money could be made by taking him down, than by looking the other way, the endgame was a foregone conclusion. i am cynical for a reason. follow the money. you'll never be wrong, but reality spares no disillusion.
@Cary
...and I took Bardet out based on your comments. Who's the bigger fool? The fool, or the fool who follows the fool?