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22:29
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05-05-2026 18:42
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13-10-2025 18:16
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10-10-2025 01:24
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06-10-2025 05:06
06-10-2025 00:13
02-10-2025 01:04
30-09-2025 22:02
+18
30-09-2025 21:27
30-09-2025 17:44
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raven
Gianetti also said: “And before taking on Riccò, I’d asked him to go to the UCI to be tested. The UCI then sent me a document stating that he did indeed have a naturally high haematocrit level of over 50% ". I understand Contador got such a confirmation for himself, too. I wonder how many riders in the current peloton hold that kind of attestation. We won't get any answers, of course, because it is private information.22:29
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raven
If doping created Lance, there would have been a lot more Lances. Nobody has super-secret syrup. Still, only Lance won 7 Tours.05-05-2026 18:42
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raven
I have the same feeling and I'm sorry for him. I don't think he can improve at Visma anymore, so a team change might have been the only option for him to take a further step in this direction. I thought his wife's rant at Visma before the Tour was a signal of his intention to switch environment, but it seems it was only meant to make his life more comfortable within the team.13-10-2025 18:16
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raven
And it's not only him. Del Toro has been riding for the whole season now (except June I think), most of it at the very top, and he's only 21. Yates brothers had pretty same calendar until Canada, where Simon DNF in both races, putting his season to an end, while Adam finished on 28 and 5, and he keeps riding since then with good results. Tim Wellens also impressed me a lot, I've always followed him, since he was at Lotto, and I believe he's got into the form of his life this season, although he's 34. So, I think it's more about the entire team, and not only one rider. It seems to me they are at least one step above others in terms of the aspects you mentioned in your comment. They set a new standard, and now it's up to the other teams to close the gap. I didn't mention Almedia, as I think he just peaked this season.10-10-2025 01:24
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raven
OK, calm down, be nice. It's not what I think he should do, but only an opinion/speculation on what might matter most to him, not only from a sportive perspective, but a financial one, too. He already said it is difficult to race LBL because it interferes with Tour preparation. I don't agree with that, I think it's only an excuse. In an online interview during the Giro this year, when asked why he didn't race LBL, he said his form was too low, so he woudn't even finish the race. I remember I said to myself he was joking: if you can't finish LBL, you won't win the Tour for sure. Also, his coach also said before this European Championships that it makes no sense "riding on 2 horses" for the moment, as he already tried one-day races in the past without success, and that he might turn his focus on them only after next season. I assume he won't race La Vuelta next year, so, maybe after Tour, he finds time and motivation to train properly, so we could see a competitive Vingegaard in Il Lombardia. Regardless of any financial aspect, it appears to me he is really not fond of one-day races, and he makes all kind of excuses to avoid them, despite claiming he dreams of riding them. Maybe it is just wishful thinking from him.06-10-2025 05:06
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raven
@Felix Serna. I really liked your post, especially the part about Belgium's tactics. Now, regarding the question about Vingegaard, I think one cause of his reluctance for one-day races might be connected to the performance bonuses specified in his contract. He probably feels his chances to podium (which would trigger compensation) one-day races are lower than stage races and Grand Tours.06-10-2025 00:13
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raven
His Amstel performance might have been influenced by his decision to participate in Paris-Roubaix a week before, which was a kind of last minute call that altered his original training program and, possibly, his form in Amstel, too.02-10-2025 01:04
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raven
I was only joking towards @captmike's comment.30-09-2025 22:02
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raven
I fully agree with comments in the article. Moreover, I find Pog's performance in Kigali as his best ever in one-day races, given the incredible level of attrition that parcour provided. Not only the Slovenian form is incredible high, but his consistency/durability is also mindblowing. After a demanding first part of the season (Spring Classics and the Tour finished visibly affected), he managed to peak third time this year without altitude training and with one week-off before Canada, due to illness. On the ITT in Kigali, he though put in a modest display, according to his own standards, most probably because of jetlag and lack of adjustment to altitude, humidity, heat and lower air quality. And then, after only 6 days, he smashed the road race. So, not only his top shape is sky-high, but his ability to recover and maintain his form throughout the entire season is just incredible. He is a freak of nature, the only one of his kind.30-09-2025 21:27
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raven
Yeah, everybody, except Lidl-Trek, knows Ayuso brings trouble, so it seems they got fooled so badly that they, reportedly, invested 25 mil. in him for the next 5 years.30-09-2025 17:44