TdF Stage 14 - Rodez -> Mende **SPOILERS**
Comments
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I went there.. Couldn't help it.
It's mad place with a lot of twisted human beings. Don't go there.
There are some real neckbeards on there, they are whining about the BBC reporting that Porte said he was punched and Frome said he has urine thrown on him, because it is only their word and there is no proof....
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I don't condone punching or spitting or anything else of that nature but I struggle to see how you all are so surprised at anti-Sky sentiment. I have said for ages (and you keep telling me I'm wrong) that very, very few people like Sky or Froome. And it is not hard to understand why.
You have cycling that is in the blood of these Europeans, it's tied closely to their culture and people have been riding bikes in these countries before UK public even knew how to use them properly. The sport of professional cycling has been developed from scratch in these countries and they provide the infrastructure, race organization and beautiful landscape for these races to take place. The majority of people watching are from working class backgrounds. There is broadly a way of racing which they all race too.
Then you get Sky come along who try and boss this scene, who throw money at their team, who employ methods and approaches alien to the spirit of the sport, alien to the history of the sport and alien to the fans of the sport. You get a team who has and is changing the face of GT cycling, making it much less interesting, bland, corporate, lacking in respect for the history of the sport, eschewing traditions, and they are seemingly able to develop half a team worth of riders who are able to crush the best of the rest at will.
It really is not hard at all to understand why Sky are not liked.
Even by your standards that's utter codswallop0 -
Sorry Frenchie but most of that is rubbish, mixed with some condescension and disregard for the facts.I don't condone punching or spitting or anything else of that nature but I struggle to see how you all are so surprised at anti-Sky sentiment. I have said for ages (and you keep telling me I'm wrong) that very, very few people like Sky or Froome. And it is not hard to understand why.
You have cycling that is in the blood of these Europeans, it's tied closely to their culture and people have been riding bikes in these countries before UK public even knew how to use them properly. The sport of professional cycling has been developed from scratch in these countries and they provide the infrastructure, race organization and beautiful landscape for these races to take place. The majority of people watching are from working class backgrounds. There is broadly a way of racing which they all race too.
Then you get Sky come along who try and boss this scene, who throw money at their team, who employ methods and approaches alien to the spirit of the sport, alien to the history of the sport and alien to the fans of the sport. You get a team who has and is changing the face of GT cycling, making it much less interesting, bland, corporate, lacking in respect for the history of the sport, eschewing traditions, and they are seemingly able to develop half a team worth of riders who are able to crush the best of the rest at will.
It really is not hard at all to understand why Sky are not liked.
If people are throwing p*ss at Froome because they don't like how Sky ride for the GC, how do you explain Cav getting the same treatment in 2013 for something completely different? Even you can't deny Cav is a very popular rider. There's a very obvious link in both cases between the preceding "media" sh*t-stirring and the incidents shortly afterwards, and this is hardly surprising with human nature being what it is. You're always going to get some easily-influenced idiots who do stupid things as a result of these manufactured controversies.
As for nobody liking Sky, you should watch some of the videos showing pre- and post-stage footage, because I've never seen any evidence of it there. One of the OGE backstage pass videos recently showed Michael Matthews riding along next to Thomas congratulating him on a great ride the day before. Other riders have made it clear Froome and the rest are well-liked too. You make it sound like they're totally shunned by everyone else and it's simply not true.
I'm more than willing to believe the French fans aren't happy they've not had a TdF winner since Hinault, but maybe, just maybe, they should stop turning up their noses at the uncultured Anglos spoiling their party, recognise the old ways aren't the best anymore and start applying some of new ideas that are proven to work instead of whining about how unfair the world is. Who cares if they invented cycling? Football as we know it started off in the UK, but everyone seems to have accepted that other countries are better at it now!0 -
Then you get Sky come along who try and boss this scene, who throw money at their team, who employ methods and approaches alien to the spirit of the sport, alien to the history of the sport and alien to the fans of the sport.
So you're saying Sky are clean?
If you ask me with your other username then maybe I'll give you an answer. Obviously that username would need not to be on block like RobN and TT, to name the two just before your post.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Frenchie - In this case, the anti-Sky sentiment is because there is a frenzy being whipped up that they are doping, based on no evidence. It may be Sky and Froome now, but it could easily be Contador or Quintana.
My points are true today as they were true last year and the previous year. They are not just concocted today.
Those doping stories and accusations are developed by morons (largely English speaking) on twitter (who just want to have a response so they can feel liked and included; poor things) and certain media in France (as far as I can tell; as you know I don't read or listen to most 'journalists' as I hold most of them in contempt. My dad was a proper and pure journalist all his life so I have a very good basis for comparison).Contador is the Greatest0 -
The sad thing is that the scandal - it doesn't matter what scandal - has detracted from the feelgood story of the Tour.
A much liked rider gets his biggest win at the age of 34 for a debutant African team on Mandela Day. Wonderful.
+1...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.0 -
Why then do you lot think Sky are getting this treatment now ? Do you really believe that it is purely down to a couple of commentators ?
There is some truth to what French Fighter says - Sky appear to be a machine crushing all beneath their wheels.
Whether true or not the public perception they have contributed to is contributing to the abuse they are getting now.
- Sky have a fleet of vehicles, other teams have a bus.
- They have a staff of sports scientists and nutritionists, other teams have a chef.
- They leave no stone unturned in the search for marginal gains - other teams go out and ride their bikes.
- They have a minimalist black kit and a set of team rules pinned up that everyone has to abide by, they even likened themselves to ants each with a role to fulfill while other teams have brightly coloured kits and are team mates.
I could go on but true or not Sky have only themselves to blame for some of this - it may not be right and I don't condone it but they have been very naive if they expected to be popular.
Add in that they are now dominating (nobody likes a winner if they win too much) and that Froome's personality has not really struck a chord even with the British public in the way Wiggins' did and the result is what we are seeing.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
The sad thing is that the scandal - it doesn't matter what scandal - has detracted from the feelgood story of the Tour.
No one is detracting from it. Not sure who you are referring to.
Ps. lots of people I see claiming to like Cummings or know all about him; now. These same people who are Sky fanbois (and girls) and probably don't know that he won Tour of the Med last year (or that there was a race of that name).Contador is the Greatest0 -
If you lot keep telling yourself that Sky are liked, or reel off some anecdote about a couple of people you met enough times then I can see how you believe it.
Being a very pro Sky forum and very pro all things British, you have a skewed view of the majority of cycling fans. I don't want to upset anybody but you represent the minority.Why then do you lot think Sky are getting this treatment now ? Do you really believe that it is purely down to a couple of commentators ?
There is some truth to what French Fighter says - Sky appear to be a machine crushing all beneath their wheels.
Whether true or not the public perception they have contributed to is contributing to the abuse they are getting now.
- Sky have a fleet of vehicles, other teams have a bus.
- They have a staff of sports scientists and nutritionists, other teams have a chef.
- They leave no stone unturned in the search for marginal gains - other teams go out and ride their bikes.
- They have a minimalist black kit and a set of team rules pinned up that everyone has to abide by, they even likened themselves to ants each with a role to fulfill while other teams have brightly coloured kits and are team mates.
I could go on but true or not Sky have only themselves to blame for some of this - it may not be right and I don't condone it but they have been very naive if they expected to be popular.
Add in that they are now dominating (nobody likes a winner if they win too much) and that Froome's personality has not really struck a chord even with the British public in the way Wiggins' did and the result is what we are seeing.
+100
DeVlaeminck speaking sense as usual.Contador is the Greatest0 -
I went there.. Couldn't help it.
It's mad place with a lot of twisted human beings. Don't go there.
There are some real neckbeards on there, they are whining about the BBC reporting that Porte said he was punched and Frome said he has urine thrown on him, because it is only their word and there is no proof....
Absolute mess over there. Absolute mess.0 -
Just watching the highlights. Just before Bardet beats his bars in anger he actually does a face palm, which is something to behold. Think Bardet and Pinot will long rue not continuing to work together as they crested the climb.0
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Why then do you lot think Sky are getting this treatment now ? Do you really believe that it is purely down to a couple of commentators ?
There is some truth to what French Fighter says - Sky appear to be a machine crushing all beneath their wheels.
Whether true or not the public perception they have contributed to is contributing to the abuse they are getting now.
- Sky have a fleet of vehicles, other teams have a bus.
- They have a staff of sports scientists and nutritionists, other teams have a chef.
- They leave no stone unturned in the search for marginal gains - other teams go out and ride their bikes.
- They have a minimalist black kit and a set of team rules pinned up that everyone has to abide by, they even likened themselves to ants each with a role to fulfill while other teams have brightly coloured kits and are team mates.
I could go on but true or not Sky have only themselves to blame for some of this - it may not be right and I don't condone it but they have been very naive if they expected to be popular.
Add in that they are now dominating (nobody likes a winner if they win too much) and that Froome's personality has not really struck a chord even with the British public in the way Wiggins' did and the result is what we are seeing.
That's right. And the correct response is for the press to wind everyone up to the point where they're assaulting Sky's riders. And Sky only have themselves to blame. How dare they be successful and drag the sport out of the 19th century.
Do me a favour.It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
If you lot keep telling yourself that Sky are liked, or reel off some anecdote about a couple of people you met enough times then I can see how you believe it.
Being a very pro Sky forum and very pro all things British, you have a skewed view of the majority of cycling fans. I don't want to upset anybody but you represent the minority.Why then do you lot think Sky are getting this treatment now ? Do you really believe that it is purely down to a couple of commentators ?
There is some truth to what French Fighter says - Sky appear to be a machine crushing all beneath their wheels.
Whether true or not the public perception they have contributed to is contributing to the abuse they are getting now.
- Sky have a fleet of vehicles, other teams have a bus.
- They have a staff of sports scientists and nutritionists, other teams have a chef.
- They leave no stone unturned in the search for marginal gains - other teams go out and ride their bikes.
- They have a minimalist black kit and a set of team rules pinned up that everyone has to abide by, they even likened themselves to ants each with a role to fulfill while other teams have brightly coloured kits and are team mates.
I could go on but true or not Sky have only themselves to blame for some of this - it may not be right and I don't condone it but they have been very naive if they expected to be popular.
Add in that they are now dominating (nobody likes a winner if they win too much) and that Froome's personality has not really struck a chord even with the British public in the way Wiggins' did and the result is what we are seeing.
+100
DeVlaeminck speaking sense as usual.
I'm not pro-Sky. In fact, I really don't like Sky. With the exception of perhaps one or two teams I'd say they're my least favourite team in the whole peloton. Can't stand them. And yet here I am telling you you're spouting as much shite as you usually spout.
In fact, the worst thing about the zoomer neckbeards on twitter is that I'm having to defend the team I like the least.Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy0 -
Nice interview with Porte in his typical style, with a comment that Australians are well behaved and that he was happy and English speaker smashed two French riders.
http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/sbs/?title=Richie+Porte+Post+Stage+14&dashboard=tour-de-france&id=486978115931&yr=2015Contador is the Greatest0 -
I seem to remember Nibali and his team crushing everyone last year, and Astana as a team bossing the Giro this year. Neither of those events seemed to invoke the journalistic hysteria we're seeing now.Eddy Merckx EMX-3
Dolan L'Etape
Cougar Zero Uno
Genesis Core 50
Planet X TOR0 -
Btw, as many of you Sky fans have no idea about the history of this sport, fans interfering in races and 'attacking' riders is not new. In fact it was a lot worse.Contador is the Greatest0
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Oh, that makes it all right then...Btw, as many of you Sky fans have no idea about the history of this sport, fans interfering in races and 'attacking' riders is not new. In fact it was a lot worse.0 -
Btw, as many of you Sky fans have no idea about the history of this sport, fans interfering in races and 'attacking' riders is not new. In fact it was a lot worse.
Yes, but it was shit then and it's shit now.It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
"Zoomer neckbeards" love it! I'll have to find a way of working that into the conversation on the clubrun tomorrow (social group, always in the social group).
Anyway back to the racing. Sky boys will join the rest of us in being delighted by Stevo's win. Cummings certainly has a clean reputation, Taylor P says he won't even take asprin if he has a headache.
Froome's a proper racer and I actually like him (not that I know him of course).0 -
Michelle Froome letting her emotions get the better of herself on twitter (surprise) then deleting the tweet.
Got to love how these people tweet then delete.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Btw, as many of you Sky fans have no idea about the history of this sport, fans interfering in races and 'attacking' riders is not new. In fact it was a lot worse.
Yes, but it was shit then and it's shit now.
Yup. Drunk Italians spitting wine over Roche in the 87 Giro. Working class sport innit...or it was.0 -
I don't condone punching or spitting or anything else of that nature but I struggle to see how you all are so surprised at anti-Sky sentiment. I have said for ages (and you keep telling me I'm wrong) that very, very few people like Sky or Froome. And it is not hard to understand why.
You have cycling that is in the blood of these Europeans, it's tied closely to their culture and people have been riding bikes in these countries before UK public even knew how to use them properly. The sport of professional cycling has been developed from scratch in these countries and they provide the infrastructure, race organization and beautiful landscape for these races to take place. The majority of people watching are from working class backgrounds. There is broadly a way of racing which they all race too.
Then you get Sky come along who try and boss this scene, who throw money at their team, who employ methods and approaches alien to the spirit of the sport, alien to the history of the sport and alien to the fans of the sport. You get a team who has and is changing the face of GT cycling, making it much less interesting, bland, corporate, lacking in respect for the history of the sport, eschewing traditions, and they are seemingly able to develop half a team worth of riders who are able to crush the best of the rest at will.
It really is not hard at all to understand why Sky are not liked.
Have you been drinking?Eddy Merckx EMX-3
Dolan L'Etape
Cougar Zero Uno
Genesis Core 50
Planet X TOR0 -
Michelle Froome letting her emotions get the better of herself on twitter (surprise) then deleting the tweet.
Got to love how these people tweet then delete.
Her husband and his colleagues have been assaulted at work, how do you think she should have reacted?0 -
Michelle Froome letting her emotions get the better of herself on twitter (surprise) then deleting the tweet.
Got to love how these people tweet then delete.
What did she say?It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
Maybe your parents didn't teach you all when you were younger but if you don't like something don't read it.
You seemingly can't stand whatever these whomevers say yet constantly rattle your cages in anger about it thereby providing them the juice on which they thrive.
I don't want to read that sh*t so don't. I literally could not name one of those English speaking morons on twitter. But then I care more about the racing and prefer to post about that or post some good photos or something interesting that other forum members may enjoy.
How about talking less about these people and start posting something interesting.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Have you been drinking?
Oh, always. But never drugs, nasty things.Contador is the Greatest0 -
More than a couple. From what I've seen large parts of the French media appear less than convinced Froome is for real, which probably isn't helping matters when it comes to the behaviour of the local fans. This also is not something that's started just this year, it's the culmination of the last several years of Sky doing their best to win the TdF.Why then do you lot think Sky are getting this treatment now ? Do you really believe that it is purely down to a couple of commentators ?
I think the abuse directed at the team is coming from a number of sources, obviously including the doping brigade but also the people like FF who seem to feel there's something unspeakably horrible about the way they like to ride (ignoring the fact the other teams usually do very little to disrupt them, or ride any differently themselves given the chance), plus the French fans who are upset at a British team doing so well in "their" race with a team composed mostly of English speakers. I'm pretty sure that if you put together a French team with a French leader (even one with a mostly English-speaking squad) and it performed like Sky are doing right now, you wouldn't have these fans giving them roadside abuse for it, and it almost certainly would not attract anything like the same amount of doping accusations.
In general, any team which manages to get itself into a dominant position in a sport tends to attract abuse - I remember Barcelona and the Spanish national team both being frequently branded as "boring" during their extremely successful years not long ago. What people seem to forget is that it's usually impossible to maintain that sort of dominance for more than a handful of years before things change and a new balance of power is created. Sky are going to try and stay up there as long as they can, the onus is on the rest of the peloton to do something about it.
Would you please stop being so condescending?frenchfighter wrote:Btw, as many of you Sky fans have no idea about the history of this sport, fans interfering in races and 'attacking' riders is not new. In fact it was a lot worse.0 -
But what is wrong with this. This all seems to be standard fare for a highly functioning sports team.Whether true or not the public perception they have contributed to is contributing to the abuse they are getting now.
- Sky have a fleet of vehicles, other teams have a bus.
- They have a staff of sports scientists and nutritionists, other teams have a chef.
- They leave no stone unturned in the search for marginal gains - other teams go out and ride their bikes.
- They have a minimalist black kit and a set of team rules pinned up that everyone has to abide by, they even likened themselves to ants each with a role to fulfill while other teams have brightly coloured kits and are team mates.
If you want to go back to the days when cycling was about plucky farm boys giving their best under the advisement of their local club coach and Belgian soigneur/pill dispenser then buy a DeLorean.Twitter: @RichN950
