Spanish Circle... aka La Vuelta + plus off topic bollox

pinno

1st proper stage and the sprinters blew it in the face of the Northern riders exploiting the crosswind.

What was it like for you SG? I mean the cross wind not the Chorizo fuelled wind.

Is it windy over there Gazza? They lied about the weather. It's been nice today (for cleaning laundry and puke).

pblakeney

Forced to go out for a family dinner with 25km to go. Got back after the ITV4 highlights.
Effectively watched 75km of boredom and missed the race. Boo!

sungod

Pinno wrote:

What was it like for you SG? I mean the cross wind not the Chorizo fuelled wind.

after a breezy few days seems to have eased, which is good, makes the higher twisty bits less terrifying

sloppyschleckonds

Are Team Sky going to bore everyone today? Asking for a friend

pinno

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Are Team Sky going to bore everyone today? Asking for a friend

Just like the Giro, this one's not as easy to control. Besides, the TdF route this years was officially classed as pants.

sloppyschleckonds

Pinno wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Are Team Sky going to bore everyone today? Asking for a friend

Just like the Giro, this one's not as easy to control.

Doping control? Don't win a stage and no need to piss in a bottle.

Garry H

Been a bit blowy, but eased off now.

Good win for Lampheid yesterday.

Matthewfalle

Is ITV 4 doing live coverage of this or is it highlights only? Need something to chill out in front of to keep my eyes open as am soooo tired.

mouth

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Pinno wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Are Team Sky going to bore everyone today? Asking for a friend

Just like the Giro, this one's not as easy to control.

Doping control? Don't win a stage and no need to wee-wee in a bottle.

Surely it's more random that that? How come nobodies in the past have been tested and caught? I'd imagine there's also a protocol for doping control for GC contenders as well as stage winners.

bobmcstuff

Mouth wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Pinno wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Are Team Sky going to bore everyone today? Asking for a friend

Just like the Giro, this one's not as easy to control.

Doping control? Don't win a stage and no need to wee-wee in a bottle.

Surely it's more random that that? How come nobodies in the past have been tested and caught? I'd imagine there's also a protocol for doping control for GC contenders as well as stage winners.

They always test the stage winner - but also the race leader so Froome would have been tested a load while he was in yellow regardless of stage wins.

Here is an example:



However, that was a theory that was advanced in the asylum for Froome not winning any stages.

Matthewfalle

So theoretically, you could nor win any stages then stay just out of yellow until the last few stages whilst riding doped up then as you become clean smash into yellow and win the whole thing without being tested at all?

bobmcstuff

Matthewfalle wrote:

So theoretically, you could nor win any stages then stay just out of yellow until the last few stages whilst riding doped up then as you become clean smash into yellow and win the whole thing without being tested at all?

Provided you managed to guarantee not getting on that list of six or seven other riders somehow, and I don't think the selection is random.

And provided whatever you were taking wore off enough that you weren't going to test positive in the last few days. And that it wasn't going to trip the bio passport. And that your performance didn't tail off as you stopped taking whatever it was.

It seems very possible to beat the testing but that doesn't sound like the best way...

qube

Matthewfalle wrote:

Is ITV 4 doing live coverage of this or is it highlights only? Need something to chill out in front of to keep my eyes open as am soooo tired.

Highlights only.

sloppyschleckonds

Well that was a dull stage, beautiful scenery though for a 3rd world country

I'm off to watch Icarus

Matthewfalle

Qube wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Is ITV 4 doing live coverage of this or is it highlights only? Need something to chill out in front of to keep my eyes open as am soooo tired.

Highlights only.

Thank you!

pblakeney

bobmcstuff wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

So theoretically, you could nor win any stages then stay just out of yellow until the last few stages whilst riding doped up then as you become clean smash into yellow and win the whole thing without being tested at all?

Provided you managed to guarantee not getting on that list of six or seven other riders somehow, and I don't think the selection is random.

And provided whatever you were taking wore off enough that you weren't going to test positive in the last few days. And that it wasn't going to trip the bio passport. And that your performance didn't tail off as you stopped taking whatever it was.

It seems very possible to beat the testing but that doesn't sound like the best way...

Best way is a hole in the wall.
Allegedly.

Matthewfalle

PBlakeney wrote:

bobmcstuff wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

So theoretically, you could nor win any stages then stay just out of yellow until the last few stages whilst riding doped up then as you become clean smash into yellow and win the whole thing without being tested at all?

Provided you managed to guarantee not getting on that list of six or seven other riders somehow, and I don't think the selection is random.

And provided whatever you were taking wore off enough that you weren't going to test positive in the last few days. And that it wasn't going to trip the bio passport. And that your performance didn't tail off as you stopped taking whatever it was.

It seems very possible to beat the testing but that doesn't sound like the best way...

Best way is a hole in the wall.
Allegedly.

So literally a glory hole then?

Garry H

Bertie should pack his bags. Embarrassing.

pblakeney

Matthewfalle wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

bobmcstuff wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

So theoretically, you could nor win any stages then stay just out of yellow until the last few stages whilst riding doped up then as you become clean smash into yellow and win the whole thing without being tested at all?

Provided you managed to guarantee not getting on that list of six or seven other riders somehow, and I don't think the selection is random.

And provided whatever you were taking wore off enough that you weren't going to test positive in the last few days. And that it wasn't going to trip the bio passport. And that your performance didn't tail off as you stopped taking whatever it was.

It seems very possible to beat the testing but that doesn't sound like the best way...

Best way is a hole in the wall.
Allegedly.

So literally a glory hole then?

Worked for the Russians according to Icarus. Allegedly.
They got glory. I assume that is what you meant.

pblakeney

Top tip - I have had problems with my Eurosport account and the upshot is that I cancelled and cannot renew. The important bit, it still works on my Amazon Firestick. Just FYI as you may be able to get free Eurosport.

sloppyschleckonds

Garry H wrote:

Bertie should pack his bags. Embarrassing.

Make you wonder what gear all the new kids are on

mrfpb

Tonights ITV4 highlights at 10:00pm. That and the broom cupboard studio chat makes me think they are less committed to this than they are to the TdF.

mrfpb

I've been recording the highlights anyway to get through the ad breaks. Only take 30 mins (approx) to watch!

mrfpb

From the 'official' thread:

underlayunderlay wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Unrelated but Gesink was at the race today.

Still in his corset/split thing after his accident on stage 9 in the Tour.

Gesink needs to get a corset designed for a non-lactating geezer

I was instantly reminded of something I saw a while ago, where someone imagined what male superheroes would look like if they were drawn (and costumed) in the same way as female ones...

Garry H

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Garry H wrote:

Bertie should pack his bags. Embarrassing.

Make you wonder what gear all the new kids are on

Get with the programme, only Lance EVER doped.

Stevo_666

Garry H wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Garry H wrote:

Bertie should pack his bags. Embarrassing.

Make you wonder what gear all the new kids are on

Get with the programme, only Lance EVER doped.

I heard that a few of the downhill racers might have smoked some weed.

bobmcstuff

mrfpb wrote:

Tonights ITV4 highlights at 10:00pm. That and the broom cupboard studio chat makes me think they are less committed to this than they are to the TdF.

Women's rugby world cup. The regular slot is 7pm.

pblakeney

Sprinters stage.
Didn't miss much.

sloppyschleckonds

Defined as a hilly stage today, a bit like hill repeats on Box Hill I guess

Blacktemplar

PBlakeney wrote:

Top tip - I have had problems with my Eurosport account and the upshot is that I cancelled and cannot renew. The important bit, it still works on my Amazon Firestick. Just FYI as you may be able to get free Eurosport.

But then you have to listen to the sparkling wit and droll commentary of Sean Kelly. A man who surpasses even the legendary Brian "Frankie Boyle" Smith for a monotone drone that can induce a coma and make even the most exciting of stage action sound like a presentation at a paint drying convention.......

pblakeney

Blacktemplar wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Top tip - I have had problems with my Eurosport account and the upshot is that I cancelled and cannot renew. The important bit, it still works on my Amazon Firestick. Just FYI as you may be able to get free Eurosport.

But then you have to listen to the sparkling wit and droll commentary of Sean Kelly. A man who surpasses even the legendary Brian "Frankie Boyle" Smith for a monotone drone that can induce a coma and make even the most exciting of stage action sound like a presentation at a paint drying convention.......

True.
But it still beats paying extra for it as well.