Dubai Tour 2014 *SPOILERS*

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Comments

  • phil s
    phil s Posts: 1,128
    It was outside the statute of limitations so he can't be banned. Cynical on Garmin's part, I guess you could argue...
    -- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,573
    Crankbrother wrote:
    I agree with Frenchie ... Ryder needs to serve some kind of ban ...

    The Garmin crew can't just get away with what they like when others have to serve any real punishment ... It's not as if any of them are appealing their cases so racing while waiting on due process ... For Garmin to promote themselves as a team with a non-doping agenda but behave the way they do beggars belief ... As FF says, no shame ...

    Garmin's policy is well publicised, all their riders are bound by the terms of their contract to co-operate with anti-doping authorities if they are requested to do so. Whether you like it or not, Hesjedal acted in line with the policy of the Garmin team (and let's not forget that the incident occurred sometime before the team was founded).

    I can't see how this "beggar's belief". It's a more mature way to operate, giving individuals a chance to atone for their previous errors of judgement, than having a zero policy approach.
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    You guys are not f'cuking turning this into the same neverending circus as the 100 other threads. No. Not having it. This is a race thread.

    334.gif
  • MartinGT
    MartinGT Posts: 475
    Crankbrother wrote:
    I agree with Frenchie ... Ryder needs to serve some kind of ban ...

    The Garmin crew can't just get away with what they like when others have to serve any real punishment ... It's not as if any of them are appealing their cases so racing while waiting on due process ... For Garmin to promote themselves as a team with a non-doping agenda but behave the way they do beggars belief ... As FF says, no shame ...

    They could do what Sky did and just dump him ;)

    Back on topic.

    Far play top Cav for congratulating Kittel, but was it a case of poor positioning from Cav and OPQS? I havent seen it like so would be good if someone could give an update?
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    CTFD Thom Thumb ... Merely commenting on the race participants ...

    Goodness knows there's nowt else to discuss about this race so far ...
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    ThomThom wrote:
    You guys are not f'cuking turning this into the same neverending circus as the 100 other threads. No. Not having it. This is a race thread.

    334.gif


    :lol:
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Well said Thom Thom.

    And was Cav's poor show a case of his usual if he doesn't feel he can contest for the win he won't bother because coming last is better than coming 2nd?

    I wouldn't worry. He got pipped by Bernie in the first sprint* in Qatar last year :D

    If he goes into July without a win, then I'd worry (OK maybe I'd worry a bit before that) but you know what I mean.

    *Admittedly that was after the two/three/not very many man break had held on to scoop the big prize.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    TMR wrote:
    According to Cav's Twitter:


    Mark Cavendish ‏@MarkCavendish · 50s
    Congratulations to @marcelkittel yet again!! Another win for that dude!

    Mark Cavendish ‏@MarkCavendish · 1m
    Well, today's #Dubaitour stage didn't go as planned! Didn't contest the sprint after finding myself a long way back with 500m to go.

    End is nigh angst. Blame parenthood.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • MartinGT
    MartinGT Posts: 475
    Yeh, early days yet, but intesresting to see Cav, Dolph Lundgren & Sagan up against each other so early in the season.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    I would have been surprised if Cavendish had won. It was a long, wide, non-technical run-in - perfect for Kittel - and he also had the tried and trusted de Kort/Veelers combination (while I think it was the first time Renshaw & Petacchi have worked together)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Jeez, not this thread as well, ffs...

    I watched in my preferred afternoon slot.
    OPQS too long in the wind and washed away in the final couple of kms.
    Kittel's Giant boys seem to have perfect timing, these days.
    Phinney is going to be hard to shift.
    Worth watching for Paco Mancebo hunched over his bike and in the break.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    ampuqa.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • MartinGT
    MartinGT Posts: 475
    frenchfighter wrote:
    ampuqa.jpg

    Errr wrong race
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    MartinGT wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    ampuqa.jpg

    Errr wrong race
    And the wrong gender.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Ah yes...its over in Qatar not that you can tell the difference!
    Contador is the Greatest
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,708
    As someone else did last year, can I just remind everyone that the cyclocross season is still very much in full swing before they write Cav off for ever for not trying to sprint in the mighty mightly prestigeous Tour of Dubai please?

    Thanks
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    ddraver wrote:
    As someone else did last year, can I just remind everyone that the cyclocross season is still very much in full swing before they write Cav off for ever for not trying to sprint in the mighty mightly prestigeous Tour of Dubai please?
    Can I at least write off Cav's cyclocross season
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,452
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    ThomThom wrote:
    You guys are not f'cuking turning this into the same neverending circus as the 100 other threads. No. Not having it. This is a race thread.

    334.gif


    :lol:


    As this concerns Ryder should it out be

    OOT!
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    I still think he's owed some sort of sanction for those POC glasses last year
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    Sorry FF, but that was genius ... Wrong race, easily-ish done ... Wrong gender ... Ouch (literally, in most cases) ...
  • dolan_driver
    dolan_driver Posts: 831
    Marcel Kittel says; “I have no idea what happened to Cavendish. He was still there at 1.5km to go, but I don’t have eyes on the back of my head, so I don’t know what happened.”

    He will probably get a chance to give this quote again and again and again this year......... :lol:

    DD.
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    Dont be so sure.

    Way too premature to shout the King is dead, long live the King.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    Kittel, Cavendish and perhaps Greipel are more or less as fast as each other. Who prevails will be dictated by the teams more than the individuals.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    The only reason you still hear about Cavendish 'the fastest man on the planet' is the native English tongue ...

    I do like his p'd off (rather than petulant) comeback wins though ... 'True Champion' as the saying goes ...
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,452
    Crankbrother wrote:
    The only reason you still hear about Cavendish 'the fastest man on the planet' is the native English tongue ...


    You do post some pish from time to time.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,823
    I'm going to watch this when I get home form work.

    I'm safe to fast forward to 5k from the end then?
  • Loretta Damage
    Loretta Damage Posts: 270
    Good grief, that was a shockingly boring hour's tv. The best bit was the advert for guinness. A tale of two sprint trains I feel.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    TakeTheHighRoad wrote:
    I'm going to watch this when I get home form work.

    I'm safe to fast forward to 5k from the end then?
    That largely depends how much a fan you are of sand and construction sites.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    TailWindHome wrote:
    Crankbrother wrote:
    The only reason you still hear about Cavendish 'the fastest man on the planet' is the native English tongue ...


    You do post some pish from time to time.

    Not really ... He was, he's likely not any more ... He might be again ...

    English speaking rhetoric is not 'fact' ... Surely 1.163 posts in other threads have taught you that ...
  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    Pross wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    What's this team Haedo is riding for?
    They're a new Continental team from the UAE. Mancebo rides for them too.

    Yeah, just looked into it. How are they classed as a European conti team though if they are UAE registered? It's a massive drop for Haedo though, you would think he could get a pro conti ride.

    They're not a European continental team, they're Asian and the race is also on the Asian rather than European circuit. The rules of 2.1 races allow any Continental team to take part. From Europe there's the Portuguese team Banco BIC Carmim while from Asia there is the Japanese Vini Fantini Nippo (will be confusing if the unlikely eventuality arises of them competing against Yellow Fluo!), RTS Santic from Taiwan and Skydive Dubai.

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