La Vuelta a Espana 22/8 - 13/9 2015 (here be spoilers)

[rich p]

Bouhanni says he's keen to bounce back, but I think that's part of his problem

 

[Strathlubnaig]

I suppose the issue is can we tell if someone is micro dosing. Riders have had off days in all 3 GT's , paid for exertions the next day, all look knackered in this final race ,especially if they did the Tour. Aru should be right on form but as has been stated ,riding into the race. My point is can we tell who is micro dosing , because the idiots who juice up like its the 2003 are being caught easily .
That said all the racing this year looks credible ,I cant see people climbing and looking like they are on a trip to the shops.

Yes, have not seen any one race up hills while chatting on the radio easily and giving the 'get on my wheel if you can' signal to the guys they just blew past.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I have no reason to believe that Dumoulin is on the sauce, but he seemed a bit taken aback by Matt Rendell's questioning after the stage (on the ITV4 highlights) which doesn't help as far as the cynics are concerned. The question came across perhaps more accusatory than it was intended (basically compared Chavez and Dumoulin in terms of size, and i.e. how can you as a big guy beat a small guy up a hill), and he flapped a bit in answering it ("erm well, more power, erm I've lost some weight in the last few weeks but apparently not any power"; not because he has anything to hide, I just think he was a bit bemused by the tone of the question).

I think we're all a bit too cynical, but when someone says they are managing to generate more power for less weight, some people will roll their eyes. Weird, because that's what every cyclist who races can and does achieve week in, week out.

When he went on to add that he'd just lost some weight but not power, he did so with a surprised tone of voice. I reckon he's as surprised by his form as anybody else, and happy about his good fortune. Sincerely hope he's clean because he could be a great rider, he looks great on a bike, and I find the guy very likeable.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Bouhanni says he's keen to bounce back, but I think that's part of his problem

Candidate for the classic quotes thread! (Why don't we have one?)

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Ewan out? Typical I picked him in the pro pundits thread.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Candidate for the classic quotes thread! (Why don't we have one?)

Nacer (I cant spell Bouhanni) should put springs instead of pads in his shorts

 

[mjr]

Sky riders love little lies down on the tarmac today?

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Update on Kris Boeckmans: doctors attempted to bring him out of his induced coma today but found he was unable to breathe independently due to his lung injuries, so re-induced him where he expects to stay for another week

http://www.biciciclismo.com/es/boeckmans-no-puede-escapar-del-coma-inducido-01-09-2015

 

[themosquitoking]

Update on Kris Boeckmans: doctors attempted to bring him out of his induced coma today but found he was unable to breathe independently due to his lung injuries, so re-induced him where he expects to stay for another week

http://www.biciciclismo.com/es/boeckmans-no-puede-escapar-del-coma-inducido-01-09-2015

I'm liking the fact you care enough about him to check up on his status. I hope he GWS and it just seems horrific to me that he's had to undergo being put into a coma for crashing a bike. They should all just slow down.

 

[timbono5]

Good luck to the guy. Thoughts are with his family at this time. Being a pro athlete gives him the best chance of a good recovery.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

I'm liking the fact you care enough about him to check up on his status. I hope he GWS and it just seems horrific to me that he's had to undergo being put into a coma for crashing a bike. They should all just slow down.

A Spanish cycling website tweeted that link, so I can't take any credit for seeking it out, but I'm happy (wrong word, but, you know...) to share it.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm liking the fact you care enough about him to check up on his status. I hope he GWS and it just seems horrific to me that he's had to undergo being put into a coma for crashing a bike. They should all just slow down.

I agree that it is horrific and I hope he makes a full recovery, but it wouldn't be much of a race if everyone agreed to slow down, i.e, NOT race!

 

[themosquitoking]

I agree that it is horrific and I hope he makes a full recovery, but it wouldn't be much of a race if everyone agreed to slow down, i.e, NOT race!

I know but as you get older you worry more for these fragile young things that still think they're all invincible.

 

[ColinJ]

I know but as you get older you worry more for these fragile young things that still think they're all invincible.

When you see them with their helmets and sunglasses on it is easy to think that they are older than they are but they do look awfully young when you see them without!

 

[themosquitoking]

When you see them with their helmets and sunglasses on it is easy to think that they are older than they are but they do look awfully young when you see them without!

My missus has developed an awful crush on Chaves over the last week.