La Vuelta 2013 (24 Aug - 15 Sept) **SPOILERS**

[rich p]

ISTR when I mentioned Santambrogio's form going into the Giro, you were very quick to point the finger at him...

Innocent until proven guilty my arse. As the legendary Roy Walker would have put it: Say what you see!

I pointed out that he was under investigation but I don't think we wildly point fingers with no evidence just because someone is winning.

 

[rich p]

So like i said - Guilty, until he is proven Guilty.

That's rubbish frankly. Most posters on here thought Nibali to be clean at the Giro and also Froome in the Tour. It was the cycling press and fans elsewhere who gave Froome, Brailsford and Sky a hard time.

 

[smutchin]

I pointed out that he was under investigation

Yes, and it's precisely this kind of reasonable comment that threatens to ruin the hard-won reputation cycling forums such as this have for rumour-mongering, mud-slinging and witch-hunting.

 

[smutchin]

"@cyclingweekly: Chris Horner is now the first American to win a Grand Tour since Greg Lemond's Tour de France victory in 1990"

LOL

(Corollary question: but for how long?)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

"@cyclingweekly: Chris Horner is now the first American to win a Grand Tour since Greg Lemond's Tour de France victory in 1990"

Makes you wonder what the yanks have been up to between times.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

That's rubbish frankly. Most posters on here thought Nibali to be clean at the Giro and also Froome in the Tour. It was the cycling press and fans elsewhere who gave Froome, Brailsford and Sky a hard time.

It was in reference to Horner.

 

[VamP]

almost 42 year's old

HELLO

Douglas Adams was not right when it comes to cycling.

Unusual results occur. One offs. Think Nicklaus winning the open at 46, Hereford beating Newcastle United in the FA Cup all those year's ago, Foinhavon winning the National.

They occur, just not in a 3 week feckin bike race. A one-off would be Horner winning a stage.

I was the first to say let's give Horner benefit of doubt after he won one stage. But this is ludicrous. I don't buy the freshness argument for one minute. There's a balance of training, racing and resting that is required for best performance. Just resting won't do it. Are we remembering that Horner missed a chunk of season due to injury? Most athletes never recover fitness in the same season as an injury lay off. Horner manages to achieve the best form of his life. By some margin.

Come on.

I enjoyed this Vuelta, but very much by pretending that Horner wasn't there. And I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I just wanted to get that off my chest. Done now.

 

[Noodley]

Could I also highlight that he is a complete dick just in case that fact is missed in the focus on his doping.

 

[RWright]

congrats Chris Horner !

 

[Noodley]

LOL

 

[themosquitoking]

Maybe Horner just fitted those rounder wheels.

 

[laurence]

Euskaltel Euskadi won the team prize!

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Alright lets assume 100% that Horner has doped. What has he taken that has made him go from old donkey to mountain goat and Tour victor??

Micro dosing won't come close so what's he on? It has to be some good stuff as no one here believes he is capable of more than a stage victory or two at best. Do we expect it to be revealed in the coming days?

If he doesn't test positive is he still a cheat?

I also believe the guy is a complete dick. I don't believe that disliking the guy makes him a doper either.

 

[400bhp]

No idea what PEDs he's (likely to be past tense) on, but it's good sh_it maan.

Suspect he will conveniently announce his retirement from pro racing shortly.

 

[themosquitoking]

In his interview on ITV4 just now he seemed to say he wanted to continue.