Millar's pot shot at Basso
Comments
-
Don't over-analyse it all. We're talking about athletes, not saints nor calculating politicians who measure and plan every move. So it can be hard to say "X or Y doped, which means this and that". It's not so black and white.
Millar's generally done the right approach, he can come across as sanctimonious, but give me Millar anytime over the usual zipped-mouth "what doping" talk from many pros or the bold excuses employed by those who get caught.
I'm comfortable with ex-dopers on Slipstream. Maybe there's no point lifting up old stones, we know everyone was at it and so the future likes with Slipstream and riders who want to race clean, protect the health and offer a scandal-free basis to their sponsors. They're just saying they want to move on. The only point in dragging over the past I think is to help catch the DSs, the soigneurs, the team doctors who ran the system, not to pursue the victims.0 -
When Millar won the world TT champs,he had the full suport of the British cycling team (& no,they didn't know he doped),the best TT bike in the world & he DESTROYED the rest of the field.
Since hitting the big time,Millar has always been fragile,phsycologically,& my feelings are that he used the drugs as a prop,mentally,as much as for the improvements they may have given him.
It's back to the old saying about drugs,that yes,they help,but they won't turn a donkey into a racehorse,& It's highly probable Millar would have won that TT without drugs,which must be doubly hard for him to take.so many cols,so little time!0 -
TheHog wrote:
Cheers. Makes you wonder how the Italians managed it and no-one else did. Saw the results of the Vuelta a Colombia prologue today... Botero, Sevilla and Hamilton all in the top 4. Cycling needs more people like Torri.0 -
Botero, Sevilla and Hamilton are mighty good riders, despite their obvious misdeeds. I have no doubt they can dominate the prologue of the Vuelta a Columbia clean. What I find interesting with that team is that the boss looks like the kind of guy who'd want his riders on a solid program, while his "star" riders have no incentive at all to dope, having been burned already and being on the last legs of their career. Must make for interesting team meetings.
As for Millar, don't be too harsh on the guy. Anytime anything having to do with doping happens now, someone is shoving a mic in his face within the next hour. And we get to sit back and analyze it for 2 weeks. He could keep his mouth shut, but what'll he tell the reporter asking the question?0 -
Whatever the rights and wrongs of Millar and Basso, I'd be a bit worried for Millar after having said what he has about Basso - in Italy, during the Giro. Remember the hassle that Roche and (Robert) Millar had in Italy and even Merckx was 'framed' (allegedely) with a spurious dope test. I do appreciate his willingness to speak out but don't think this was really the time or place. What price a 'positive' in Team Slipstream in the next few weeks ??0
-
I wonder if Michael Ball is getting his riders on his Botox programme?? His face is super tight!
As for Millar. I just don't like the guy. Was dismayed to find the new Cycle Sport has a big article on him.0 -
I think the days of this type of offical or unofficial interference in Grand Tours have gone. While you may have routes selected to favour particular riders, I doubt that you'll see Italian riders getting blown along by choppers anymore or the route changed mid-race.
If Slipstream have a positive, it won't be Zomegan's doing'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0 -
sorry, what did Millar say about Basso?0
-
'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0
-
claudb wrote:Remember the hassle that Roche and (Robert) Millar had in Italy and even Merckx was 'framed' (allegedely) with a spurious dope test.
It was only Merckx who claimed it was spurious, IIRC. As far as I recall, there was no evidence, apart from Merckx's protestations, that there was anything suspisiouc in the dope test. To be fair, in his time, doping was a lot more common, and seen as less serious as it is now.
Mind you, that is ancient history.
Cars don\'t kill people.
Motorists do.0
