@PatrickGrehan and i were talking earlier this year , when MVP was getting all the plaudits , that we both were "worried" Wout would become a nearly man on the road 

This has been quite the year for CX guys in world tour, but my respect for WVA and MVdP has gone up as has my respect for the guys who struggle to stay with them in the CX races.

We knew WVA and MVdP were strong, but this season they both have OUTSPRINTED Julien Alanphilipe who is one of the winningest pros in the 2019 peloton. 

#respect

Cosmo Catalano of #HTRWW fame had a funny tweet earlier about how road training seemed to have ossified right around the time rampant EPO megadosing "oxygen consumption" was at it's peak.

Of course, Marianne Vos has been a poster child for the power of CX/MTN mixup for ages.

Wow this one is going to be wide open. In other news if Froome had won outright in 2011, he'd have been the first Britton to win a grand tour, probably been the protected rider at the 2012 tour and would very likely have been headed toward TdF victory 7+ at this point...

#timelines

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/vuelta-a-espana/juan-jose-cobo-stripped-2011-vuelta-espana-title-found-guilty-doping-427599

I don't know how it'll translate 4 to 5 weeks from now, but omg Bernal destroyed the Tour de Suisse today.

Hulk smashed it.

I'm sorry but anyone who's from Colombia and has ridden for Androni ... cough, suspect, cough.

I haven't seen moves like that since Cadel went full airborne over the speedbumps in the final TT of the 2011 TDF

https://twitter.com/BorrasNicolas/status/1142454532938579969

JohnMalcolmson said:

I'm sorry but anyone who's from Colombia and has ridden for Androni ... cough, suspect, cough.

John
stop spoiling everything for me 😩

eloy said:

I don't know how it'll translate 4 to 5 weeks from now, but omg Bernal destroyed the Tour de Suisse today.

He rode away from Rohan Denis 🤷‍♂️

I have a real problem with NBC hiring Chris Horner as a commentator for the Tour. While I suspect his commentary will be insightful, and he has a right to make a living, I have a problem with unrepentant dopers being given a pass. 

Given that Cobo’s Vuelta win was recently overturned, I am willing to bet that Horner’s turn will follow and NBC will be dropping him like a stone

@PatrickGrehan 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Also feel like there are so many others who could have provided equally great commentary without a hint of a sordid past (i.e. Matt Stephens)

I agree. Horner’s addition is a slap in the face to everyone who gave Phil Liggett a “he’s an old senile man” pass for his LA fandom, and his refusal to address filing or dopers in any way.

Highlights from yesterday's Tour de Suisse. Has no commentary from Horner or otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpewAGLTNkk

also of note, how cool these 100km stages can be, Cathy clearly could care less about blowing up, and then Bernal and Rohan sort same, once they went, it was full gas balls to the wall

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fuglsang-backed-by-strong-and-experienced-astana-team-at-tour-de-france/

He's high on everybody's favorites list ,Anybody thinking about putting him in their fantasy team , i just can't see it 

Mark Taylor said:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fuglsang-backed-by-strong-and-experienced-astana-team-at-tour-de-france/

He's high on everybody's favorites list ,Anybody thinking about putting him in their fantasy team , i just can't see it 

For a rider like him, it comes down to cost for me. That said, I'm not an Astana fan so its probalby unlikely.

BTW, I just took a real look at the route. Western France gets bupkis this year. Tour de France Est!

Don’t get your hopes up about a VeloGames fantasy TdF. Looks like we have to go without for a second year in a row. Damn ASO

https://twitter.com/velogames/status/1141066486200619010?s=21

we need a sadness button

PatrickGrehan said:

Don’t get your hopes up about a VeloGames fantasy TdF. Looks like we have to go without for a second year in a row. Damn ASO

https://twitter.com/velogames/status/1141066486200619010?s=21

This is Bullshit

jim_nelson said:

Mark Taylor said:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fuglsang-backed-by-strong-and-experienced-astana-team-at-tour-de-france/

He's high on everybody's favorites list ,Anybody thinking about putting him in their fantasy team , i just can't see it 

For a rider like him, it comes down to cost for me. That said, I'm not an Astana fan so its probalby unlikely.

Never thought I would say this, but I've come around to Astana this year. They're looking so strong this season and could give Ineos a run for their money. Despite his amazing spring Fuglsang historically has a bad day over three weeks. I agree it comes down to cost.

BTW ASO has a fantasy league again (with transfers after rest days). Do we cave into the overlords of cycling and join or boycott? 

https://www.letour.fr/en/news/2018/tour-de-france-launches-its-fantasy-game/1268629

Never thought I would say this, but I've come around to Astana this year. 

I love Fuglsang riding style and general attitude... but Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Alexandre Vinokourov. are they not the same asshole? what did I miss?

eloy said:

Never thought I would say this, but I've come around to Astana this year. 

I love Fuglsang riding style and general attitude... but Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Alexandre Vinokourov. are they not the same asshole? what did I miss?

@JohnMalcolmson , thoughts on Astana

Horner's insight for the tour !

"Then Froome crashed out, and all of a sudden we thought we don't even have a leadership battle at Ineos anymore. Then all of a sudden Egan Bernal is leading Tour de Suisse and looks really good ".

Really , all of a sudden !

Mark Taylor said:

eloy said:

Never thought I would say this, but I've come around to Astana this year. 

I love Fuglsang riding style and general attitude... but Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Alexandre Vinokourov. are they not the same asshole? what did I miss?

@JohnMalcolmson , thoughts on Astana

Vino’s blood doping defense is that the test took place after a crash the day prior, which “made all the blood rush to his legs”. Once his ban is up, he wins the Olympic road race.

JohnMalcolmson said:

Mark Taylor said:

eloy said:

Never thought I would say this, but I've come around to Astana this year. 

I love Fuglsang riding style and general attitude... but Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Alexandre Vinokourov. are they not the same asshole? what did I miss?

@JohnMalcolmson , thoughts on Astana

Vino’s blood doping defense is that the test took place after a crash the day prior, the which “made all the blood rush to his legs”. Once his ban is up, he wins the Olympic road race.

I'd completely forgotten that one. Gold, Jerry!

JohnMalcolmson said:

Mark Taylor said:

eloy said:

Never thought I would say this, but I've come around to Astana this year. 

I love Fuglsang riding style and general attitude... but Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel, Alexandre Vinokourov. are they not the same asshole? what did I miss?

@JohnMalcolmson , thoughts on Astana

Vino’s blood doping defense is that the test took place after a crash the day prior, the which “made all the blood rush to his legs”. Once his ban is up, he wins the Olympic road race.

Wasn't it rumoured he made a deal with Uran? for that also?

Makes me wonder if we're overdue for a top 10 list of absurd professional doping excuses.

Can anyone top the Chimeral Twin?

It's time...

https://youtu.be/h7wPa1Hl5ZA