Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
+1, how is this verified? Anyone can write behind a pseudonym online. Anyone?
How clean was the Tour?
- Thread starter Hont
- Start date
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smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
The standard procedure for stuff like this IME is for a journo to interview the "columnist" over the phone, then turn the interview into something readable.
I believe it's legit though. If you look at the comments, the speculation is that it's Simon Gerrans or Simon Clarke, either of which I could well believe.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
"His identity is known to only three people: the Pro, the ghost writer, and myself. The writer and myself carry cyanide tablets in case there is a leak, and the pro will ride off into the sunset and will never be heard from again.
...
I can tell you a few things, but I won’t divulge any more. He is a Pro within the ranks of the top teams in world cycling. He has raced multiple Grand Tours, Classics and World Championships, and finished highly in some. We can also tell you that he will be frank and up-front with his opinions and views. He will tell it like it is, without fear or favour, because nobody will know who he is…"
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2012/12/the-secret-pro/
...
I can tell you a few things, but I won’t divulge any more. He is a Pro within the ranks of the top teams in world cycling. He has raced multiple Grand Tours, Classics and World Championships, and finished highly in some. We can also tell you that he will be frank and up-front with his opinions and views. He will tell it like it is, without fear or favour, because nobody will know who he is…"
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2012/12/the-secret-pro/
cheers smutchin - interesting....
As to who he means in Europcar, surely it's the performances of Rolland and Voeckler two years ago.
If he ever admits to being "rapt to win", it's Simon Gerranssorry forgot to add that guessing Gerrans or Clarke makes sense as cycling tips is an Australia sites, so logically as they're the only two aussies to ride the TDU, Amstel gold and the TDF, the same as the secret pro...who else can it be
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
From his 7th June column:
"Watching the posturing between the likes of Pierre Rolland and Thomas Voeckler has certainly been entertaining. You always know when the television broadcast begins because it’s the only time you’ll see them near the front."
Not a huge fan of either, it seems.
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
Totally legit. And essential reading.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
If he ever admits to being "rapt to win", it's Simon Gerrans
Whereas if he admits to being "rapt to come second" it's Matt Goss.
U
User169
Guest
Is it "wrapped" or "rapt"? Never been sure.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Rapt. Etymologically, it's the same as "enraptured".
neilb1906
Über Member
- Location
- Chelmsford, County Town of Ethics!
LA never claimed to be clean, he claimed never to have failed a drugs test. A difference, albeit slight.
He did - he claimed it under oath in the insurance scam enquiry and elsewhere.
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zad68VOxr8g
notably at 1 minute
oldroadman
Veteran
- Location
- Ubique
It's a good piece by the secret pro. Whoever it is I would say is spot on about what was happening in the past, and how some of the "greats" still around from earlier years now look very ordinary. But alos consider, there are no "ordinary" riders in that top peloton, every single rider is an exceptional athlete, or they would not be there. Simply filling yourself with chemicals will not turn a donkey into a thoroughbred.
Some riders spent their career working away for others, and riding clean within the rules, maybe knowing what their leaders were doing to get results, but still working away. Rather a clean worker than a dirty star anyady thanks, and I'll take the modest pay. That way I can look my family in the eye and sleep at night. Though bless them, they have never asked the question, unlike some others. I always answered honestly.
TSP, if it is a journalist, is well informed and possibly it's an amalgam of several people's comments. He's spot on about coming back to earth though, the grass cutting and little domestic taks are a great leveller. As are the comments about the crits, they can be pretty full on because although things are generally sorted out, always someone from the local "mafia" will want to see just how good you really are! Happy days...
Some riders spent their career working away for others, and riding clean within the rules, maybe knowing what their leaders were doing to get results, but still working away. Rather a clean worker than a dirty star anyady thanks, and I'll take the modest pay. That way I can look my family in the eye and sleep at night. Though bless them, they have never asked the question, unlike some others. I always answered honestly.
TSP, if it is a journalist, is well informed and possibly it's an amalgam of several people's comments. He's spot on about coming back to earth though, the grass cutting and little domestic taks are a great leveller. As are the comments about the crits, they can be pretty full on because although things are generally sorted out, always someone from the local "mafia" will want to see just how good you really are! Happy days...
