Strade Bianche tomorrow.....who ya got ?

[azrider]

I'm hoping Stybar gets the 'nod' for tomorrows 13th edition of Strade Bianche. Sunny weather is forecast so should be fairly fast race.

DQS has been so dominate this year with 14 wins already. Wow......

Also pulling for Wout.....kids got grit

https://youtu.be/3YA8caLN-9M?t=10

[GregL]

I really don't have a favorite for this race. Just want to see a good, tactical race with the strongest/smartest rider winning. If you look at the list of winners (e.g., Cancellara, Gilbert, Kwiatkowski, Stybar), they've all been accomplished racers.

Greg

[azrider]

I really don't have a favorite for this race. Just want to see a good, tactical race with the strongest/smartest rider winning. If you look at the list of winners (e.g., Cancellara, Gilbert, Kwiatkowski, Stybar), they've all been accomplished racers.

Greg

Yeah Cancellara is only guy to who've won it 3x (so far). Some of the articles I've read are calling it "the 6th monument"..........which I think is stretch.

apparently Sparticus does also :)

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/fabian-cancellara-dont-compare-strade-bianche-paris-roubaix-409932

[MattTuck]

Yeah Cancellara is only guy to who've won it 3x (so far). Some of the articles I've read are calling it "the 6th monument"..........which I think is stretch.

apparently Sparticus does also :)

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/fabian-cancellara-dont-compare-strade-bianche-paris-roubaix-409932

My podium

Wellens
GvA
Stybar


In terms of the route being a 'character', I'd put it ahead of Lombardia and LBL, but behind Roubaix, Flanders and pretty close to Milano-Sanremo.

[echappist]

My podium

Wellens
GvA
Stybar


In terms of the route being a 'character', I'd put it ahead of Lombardia and LBL, but behind Roubaix, Flanders and pretty close to Milano-Sanremo.

have some Brunello di Montalcino and tell me the route doesn't have character

Alaphilippe, GVA, Stybar

[azrider]

My podium
Wellens
GvA
Stybar


Alaphilippe, GVA, Stybar


GVA is not bad call at all.

[rain dogs]

In terms of the route being a 'character', I'd put it ahead of Lombardia and LBL, but behind Roubaix, Flanders and pretty close to Milano-Sanremo.

You rate Lombardia and LBL behind Milan San Remo???

Matt, Matt... Matt

[GregL]

Alaphilippe, GVA, Stybar
Agreed!

[nooneline]

This race seems made for Julian Alaphillipe, I'd love to see him perform well. Though I'm not sure I want to see DQS go 4 for 4 in Classics season so far. But he's my pick for sure.

Benoot looked strong last weekend is on the start list, looking for a second win. And Wellens is on-form, too.

Lutsenko has been flying this year, too, I could see him in the finale. Haven't seen much from Rajal Majka, but he's bringing a strong team with Bodnar, Scachmann, and Oss (who's ridden the front late into SB before).

Wout Van Aert, of course - would be great to see him consistently perform in this race. And I wouldn't mind seeing Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull can ride well.

[fignon's barber]

Podium:

Stybar
Lutsenko
Alaphilippe

[PaMtbRider]

I hope Wout Van Aert makes it to the podium. GVA and Allaphilippe to round out the podium

[jpritchet74]

I'm hoping that Kasia wins it this year.

[choke]

Top 3 (in no particular order) - van der Breggen, van Vleuten, Brand

Outsiders - Ensing, Langvad

Jolanda Neff was on the startlist for a while and I would have loved to have seen her there this year. This race just seems perfect for her.

I'm hoping that Kasia wins it this year.
I would like to see that too and given her history at this race I'm probably dumb for not putting her on my list. But I didn't think she looked all that good at Het Nieuwsblad.

[kramnnim]

Moscon :banana:

[mastaliu]

I was hoping to see Romain Bardet, but he doesn't appear to be on the AG2R list. I like climbers who can do some classics....

[MattTuck]

You rate Lombardia and LBL behind Milan San Remo???

Matt, Matt... Matt

have some Brunello di Montalcino and tell me the route doesn't have character

Alaphilippe, GVA, Stybar

If you look at the profile of LBL, you get a race that barely lives up to it. The scenery is mediocre and no one makes big moves because the hills are so hard. It is like a blank canvas that the riders must practice their penmanship on.

Lombardia is better, I'll admit.

Milano Sanremo, according to its profile, should be a fairly mundane affair. But the route is iconic, it snakes along the Mediterranean coast in spectacular fashion and finishes with a series of climbs that should (on paper) be speed bumps but they become monumentally important.

I view Strade Bianche much the same way, it is a course that goes beyond the profile of the race, a canvas on which the racers can paint a masterpiece.

In terms of how it relates to monuments in terms of difficulty/prestige/tradition, I am not answering. Only saying that this subjective measure of "character" puts it above atleast 2 so called "Monuments" in my book.

[nooneline]

Milano Sanremo, according to its profile, should be a fairly mundane affair. But the route is iconic, it snakes along the Mediterranean coast in spectacular fashion and finishes with a series of climbs that should (on paper) be speed bumps but they become monumentally important.

MSR is so finely balanced, it's a miracle. Move the finish line 1km further and you'd never see a breakaway win; move it 1km closer and you'd have attackers winning more frequently. Shorten it? Sprinters. Lengthen it? Get real.

It is the ultimate test of an attacker, to hold off sprinters on such an outrageously undemanding course; it is the ultimate test of a sprinter, to make it nearly 300km and get over the Poggio in the big ring. It is the ultimate battle between the two of them, stunning, elegant, and complex in its simplicity.

[nooneline]

In terms of how it relates to monuments in terms of difficulty/prestige/tradition, I am not answering. Only saying that this subjective measure of "character" puts it above atleast 2 so called "Monuments" in my book.

It's been a number of years that people have been saying that SB is a "a classic in the making" but this is the only year that I've heard the slightly tongue-in-cheek murmuring about "a 6th monument." I think that nobody takes that all too seriously, and sometimes i wonder if there's just a well-run marketing campaign behind some of that...

but regardless, the riders and the fans love it and it's become perhaps the most prestigious race that hasn't been around for the better part of a century. In a remarkably short period of time, Strade Bianche has definitely worked its way to just underneath that top tier of races. Whatever people wanna call it - semi-classic, classic-in-the-making, whatever - our categories are vague and awful and that's okay.

[Chris]

Karpets

[dm0n3y]

With the dry weather I'm predicting the big 'W' is fought out between Alaphilippe and GVA. Also I think Wellens, WVA and Stybar will be in the mix.

Am I allowed a dark horse pick? If so I'm calling Valgren, though FWIW unlikely a target for him this spring.

[azrider]

http://www.steephill.tv/classics/strade-bianche/

[wallymann]

I'm going with benoot to repeat.

[pasadena]

Men:
favs:
- Stybar
- Fuglesang
-GVA
-Alafpolak

wildcard:
-Benoot (no rain, and he's injured).

I think Stybar and the wolfpack are heavy fav's.
So many good guys, just depends on how the race plays out.

Women:
favs:
- AVDB if she can solo, (hope not, makes for a boring race)
-Blaak
- Vos
- Bastianelli

outside shot:
-AshPasio
-Lucinda Brand
-I'm rooting for Kasia but Checcini is their leader, so Kasia will be the lotto card for Canyon.

[Ruimteaapje]

Van der Breggen and Blaak with some hopes for Brand

[Plum Hill]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M76u6sB0BJY

[azrider]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M76u6sB0BJY


Thank you sir ! :hello:

[spinarelli]

That’s a good quality stream.
Thanks for sharing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M76u6sB0BJY

[azrider]

WOW ........how did he bridge that gap so quickly

Even the commentators were shocked:eek:

[echappist]

the front two were putzing; that's how

given the type of finish (uphill), it's almost never a concern that a formerly dropped breakmate makes it back up. The dropped rider almost certainly expended a lot to latch back on (while the putzing riders are riding a fair ways below threshold). When they need to kick again, effort above threshold is req'd again, so the guy just bridging back gets dropped.

Note that this is different on a flat or downhill finish, as in the latter a) the element of surprise can get the bridger the initial gap needed, and b) it would take a bit for the putzers to get up to speed of the fly-by bridger. Here, on the uphill, whatever small gap the bridger may create initially can be easily covered by upping the tempo, and the speed difference is never going to be that high.

[azrider]

Classy riding by winner.

Quick Step continues to dominate

[rain dogs]

What did I say in the other thread... only hope for a young "competes to win in every event he enters"

Kid is the new Valverde. He has the ability to win just about everything, except perhaps the TdF. Got this one on his first try! Amazing.

[bcroslin]

Has anyone found a replay link yet? There’s one on YT but the playback is terrible.

[fa63]

Tiz Cycling has the full race (or just the last 20 km) up on their website.

[galgal]

What did I say in the other thread... only hope for a young "competes to win in every event he enters"

Kid is the new Valverde. He has the ability to win just about everything, except perhaps the TdF. Got this one on his first try! Amazing.

Interesting comparison with Valverde. AP did make that win look rather "easy" - yes, I know it's anything but. I can see him winning a bunch in the Ardennes, wonder how he'll fare in Roubaix or Flanders.

[GregL]

Interesting comparison with Valverde. AP did make that win look rather "easy" - yes, I know it's anything but. I can see him winning a bunch in the Ardennes, wonder how he'll fare in Roubaix or Flanders.
Not sure how Alaphilippe will do in stage races as compared to Valverde. Valverde has one grand tour and several one-week stage races to his credit. I see Alaphilippe more as the successor to Philippe Gilbert. He should shine in hilly classics and WC courses.

Greg

[Ruimteaapje]

https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/5c43883fca96e4d8a51cf52f66355b7f/5D0D8682/t51.2885-15/e35/52987460_141864516854819_2159892771827736542_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTk3NjAyNzUxOTg5NDIzOQ%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/4dbb15b0643a46cdbe4a6f0cf681a0eb/5D098DA8/t51.2885-15/e35/51689376_356389705216996_3646194504980991614_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=8&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTc3NzM1ODcwODM5MDY1OQ%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/114bd23dd1cb14eeb7d68eba5dfadddc/5D1471D8/t51.2885-15/e35/54447230_364643147458287_464529058543778537_n.jpg? _nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTg5MjYzODQzMjU2NjEzMw%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/ed597ec0b018e496bac7e3c4cf186841/5D23835D/t51.2885-15/e35/53250696_124841171913276_9043337233927666456_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTg4ODMzODQ4MTM0NTU1Nw%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/e5c48958eb981f02b623defa5a186c86/5D1DF03F/t51.2885-15/e35/52333489_123229175432856_7857618274644649564_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTg4ODMzODQ2NDQ3MDAwOA%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/e7d429e43e2077ba32f2f6637aa76f25/5D14D73C/t51.2885-15/e35/52587364_1544299962367402_5638119805217341022_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=8&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTIxMDE4OTQyNjY2MzE1NQ%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/fddbde495c4e5e52acd5326439f8004e/5D0870D9/t51.2885-15/e35/s1080x1080/53285790_368181777103224_8682129792761656353_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTkwOTQzNzc3NjIzMjg3Mw%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/d92975174145285ac8c6eb476a7445c5/5D0FCA33/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s750x750/52553778_125118918606118_3701536069097258931_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTk3MzY3ODcxNzgzMTAwMg%3D%3D.2htt ps://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c60fa69b7afb04f997cb0753dfc2d165/5D143326/t51.2885-15/e35/53806606_1160917414079252_1000742170711200432_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTgwODY5ODg0ODkzODAzNA%3D%3D.2
https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/ee77a8e9b1d34328c929919ee67d5800/5D0B2C57/t51.2885-15/e35/53727098_306259043423037_1463504536101313401_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&se=7&ig_cache_key=MTk5NTkxMDgxNzIzMjg1Njg5MQ%3D%3D.2

[bcroslin]

Just FYI - Tiz Cycling popped under a window that is a software download full of malware AND popped under a cam girl site. I'd be really careful about using that site.

[echappist]

Not sure how Alaphilippe will do in stage races as compared to Valverde. Valverde has one grand tour and several one-week stage races to his credit. I see Alaphilippe more as the successor to Philippe Gilbert. He should shine in hilly classics and WC courses.

Greg

Alaphilippe is a literal light weight (actual racing prowess is immense though). Doubtful he can do that well in Roubaix and de Ronde. Kinda like Paolo Bettini.

So mark him down for MSR, Liege, and Lombardia. Maybe de Ronde. Roubaix may be a bit too much to ask.

[Plum Hill]

Just FYI - Tiz Cycling is popped under a window that is a software download full of malware AND popped under a cam girl site. I'd be really careful about using that site.

I couldn’t get that site to open this morning.

[GregL]

Alaphilippe is a literal light weight (actual racing prowess is immense though). Doubtful he can do that well in Roubaix and de Ronde. Kinda like Paolo Bettini.

So mark him down for MSR, Liege, and Lombardia. Maybe de Ronde. Roubaix may be a bit too much to ask.
Note that I said "hilly classics," not "cobbled classics." Fleche, Amstel, Liege, and Lombardy are his races.

Greg

[echappist]

and you also said you see him as successor to Gilbert, who, lest we forget, won Omloop Het Volk (2x), Paris Tours, and RvV

unless you see Alaphilippe winning those types of races, then he's not comparable to Gilbert. Granted, I also don't see Gilbert winning week-long UCI stage races

[Clean39T]

Me... Was only bianca for about 100M, but still. Apropos.

.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190310/6c987de915b6c6345e920c751f7897ac.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[bcroslin]

Just finished watching a YT link that of course is dead now but wow, just wow! The last 5 KM was a blast to watch and Van Aert is a beast.

[Clean39T]

Just finished watching a YT link that of course is dead now but wow, just wow! The last 5 KM was a blast to watch and Van Aert is a beast.

https://tiz-cycling.racing/categories/classics/

EDIT : sorry, didn't see your note above - I've never had an issue with them - must have the right ad-blockers on my phone and/or Chrome setup. Or maybe Russian hackers are eating caviar on my dime as we speak...



But yeah, was an exciting race. I've had dinner in that restaurant shown when they cross the line (they'd ride into the door if the crowd wasn't there and they didn't stop) - brings back memories every year.. And it's now been almost 20 years since I was there. Yikes! I need to go back.

[MattTuck]

The best hope the French have had for a while. In the next few years watch for the organizers to unveil a weird route meant to highlight his strengths and keep him in yellow for a few weeks, if not into paris.

[Ruimteaapje]

and you also said you see him as successor to Gilbert, who, lest we forget, won Omloop Het Volk (2x), Paris Tours, and RvV
Interestingly the doctor who supported Gilbert in his magic year at Lotto is also Alaphilippe's current team doctor (and was Ricco and Piepoli's doctor at Saunier Duval and Rumsas's doctor at Lampre).

[GregL]

Interestingly the doctor who supported Gilbert in his magic year at Lotto is also Alaphilippe's current team doctor (and was Ricco and Piepoli's doctor at Saunier Duval and Rumsas's doctor at Lampre).
Didn't know that. Correlation does not always equal causation, but that is one heck of a coincidence...

Greg

[spinarelli]

Buyer beware kind of place.

All these "free" streaming sites make their money from shady pop-ups and unsafe links. I would not go anywhere near this kind of site without a few adblock and pop up blockers. In chrome enabling adblock and adblock plus is a must.
Who ever found the youtube link, thanks. On youtube you can run chrome extensions that remove all ads and pop ups. Even the ads at the start of videos. That is the safest way to watch youtube.


Just FYI - Tiz Cycling popped under a window that is a software download full of malware AND popped under a cam girl site. I'd be really careful about using that site.

[Joxster]

The best hope the French have had for a while. In the next few years watch for the organizers to unveil a weird route meant to highlight his strengths and keep him in yellow for a few weeks, if not into paris.

The French have a vast amout of young talent in the pipe line, I think Jeremy Cabot will be the next to come through the ranks. They is an immense pressure on them to be the next Hinault or Fignon and that's what is stopping them.

[Ruimteaapje]

Didn't know that. Correlation does not always equal causation, but that is one heck of a coincidence...

Greg
Google: Jose Ibarguren Taus. In 2019 currently still with Quickstep aka "the Wolfpack" together with doctor Van Mol, Lefevre's oldest and closest doctor who's been with the team ever since the EPO years at Mapei

https://wielrennen.startpagina.nl/forum/topic/1848065/de-carriere-van-dr-jose-ibarguren-taus/
It was in ‘99 that Dr. Ibarguren first came to public attention. A year after the Festina scandal, where Willy Voet was stopped by the police in a Festina car found to contain various doping products, including erythropoietin, amphetamines, and growth hormone. Amongst the fallout were allegations from Voet that Taus was doping his riders on the Lotto team. Voet appeared on Belgium TV and said, “Once I needed EPO and so I asked the masseuse at Lotto. He spoke to the Spanish medical team and within 24 hours I had .” Taus responded, “Voet is a liar. He is desperate, trying to say that everything is equal and dropping people in it.”

His car was searched at Midi Libre, but again he was equally defensive: “Even products for diarrhea or sore throat… I keep receipts for.” He claims that not every doctor in the sport is ethical, ”In every herd there is a black sheep, but it is wrong to judge everyone with the same brush. Many drugs are dangerous for the liver when taken orally and yet alarm bells ring when a needle is seen. A diabetic who himself arranged to inject is still not an addict? Each team has their own measuring devices along for blood tests and when you see blood outside certain parameters you investigate. No, it is not easy work, but you take that away from you because you are so dearly love this sport.”

The Tour of that year was a tense affair following the previous year’s scandal. On the day of the prologue, 180 riders had their hematocrit tested. Ten days later before stage 10 in Sestrière, another 51 riders from ten teams (Mapei, Banesto, ONCE, Vita Licio, Casino, Cofidis, Credit Agricole, Festina, Cantina Tollo, and Mercatone Uno) were tested. Reassuringly, as expected all riders tested below their hematocrit levels for the prologue and all below the 50 level. Taus, though, queried the UCI testing. “When I saw the results of the checks in Le Puy du Fou got hold of, I did not know what I saw. Almost all of my riders had a higher hematocrit than those in the preceding days had myself measured.”

I tested my riders three times, on the day of the nationals and the Thursday and Friday before the Tour and all the results came back the same, yet then I got word from the UCI of higher levels. A rider with me a week before the Tour had 43%, two days before the prologue 45%, yet the UCI are telling me it is 49%. The UCI say that I use a (testing) device less effective than theirs.”

Three other teams questioned the UCI testing that year. Vita Licio Seguros, US Postal, and Cofidis said they, too, saw abnormalities. Cofidis, of course, would go on to be rocked by doping scandals of their own, US Postal were torn apart by the 2012 USADA report, and Vita Licio Seguros had their own doping problems in 2000 when Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano and Jan Hruska both tested positive for steroids.

2000 – 2001 Banesto

For 2000 Taus moved to the Spanish Banesto team. The Spanish team were in the news following the testimony of Thomas Davy, who rode on the team for two years from 1995. “In Banesto, there was a system of doping with medical supervision.” And when asked if everyone did it, “Yes. I think so,” he replied. Among the riders he appeared to accuse was multiple Tour de France Winner Miguel Indurain. Banesto responded “Without proof, no-one may touch Miguel Indurain, he undertook a hundred doping controls throughout his career that showed him to be clean.”

As far back as 1982 the team had problems with doping, Ángel Arroyo becoming the first winner of the Vuelta España to be disqualified in 1982 for failing a doping test.

The controversy of the Davy statement quickly died down, but in early 2001 it all blew up again. At the Giro police launched late-night raids on team hotels. Seven riders on the team, along with doctors and staff, were initially named by police, and in total 51 people would be named by authorities for a wide range of doping offences, including Jesus Hoyas (Team Doctor), Zurbano Galilea (DS), Vicente Iza (Masseur), and riders José Luis Arrieta, Marzio Bruseghin, Pablo Lastras, David Latasa, Jon Odriozola, Unai Osa, and Cesar Solaun. The investigation appeared to vanish. In 2002 CONI received the paperwork from the investigators.. What happened next? (Eventually in 2005 Twelve people were charged with offenses related to the San Remo raids, six of the accused were handed suspended prison sentaces, while six went free as it as adjudged that the offenses they committed did not exist at the time.)

Several of the Banesto team during that time went on to be surrounded by controversy. Francisco Mancebo was linked to the Operación Puerto doping case as were Unai Osa Eizaguirre, Dariusz Baranowski, Adolfo Garcia Quesada, Koldo Gil, Eladio Jiménez, David Latasa, Aitor Osa, Rubén Plaza, and Javier Pascual Rodriguez. Alex Zulle, who had already confessed to taking EPO while at Festina, Leonardo Piepoli who would later join Taus at Saunier Duval, and Eladio Jiménez would test positive for EPO in 2009.

2002 – 2004 Lampre

Raimondas Rumsas struggles with his “I did it clean” face on the 2002 Tour de France Podium

July 28th, and just outside of Lyon, a Lampre-branded camper van is stopped by the police. In it they find suitcases allegedly belonging to Dr. Ibarguren containing corticoids, syringes, and other suspicious products. The French police invited Ibarguren to collect the suitcases and answer some questions, an invitation he declined. When asked, the doctor stated that “no form of doping had been administered at the Lampre team.”

Just a few days previously, Lampre rider Raimondas Rumsas had finished 3rd in the Tour de France. On the final day of the Tour, a car driven by Rumsas’ wife was stopped by police; in it they found corticoids, erythropoietin, testosterone, growth hormones, and anabolic steroids. His wife was jailed for several months, but claimed throughout that the medications were for her mother in law.

In May the following year, still riding for Lampre, Rumsas finished 6th in the Giro d’Italia, but tested positive for EPO and was banned for a year. And in 2006, now retired, both he and his wife received suspended prison sentences for importation of drugs, while Krzysztof Ficek, a Polish doctor at Lampre during 2002 received a one year suspended sentence.

The team suffered two further doping suspensions over those two years. Sergio Barbero was suspended for six months in the April of 2002 following a positive test for EPO the previous year at the Tour of Romandie. And in 2003 Gianluca Bortolami tested positive for cortisone during the Three days of de Panne and was suspended for six months

The stories didn’t stop there. Krzysztof Ficek, a soigneur on the team in 2002, was later given a one year suspended jail sentence for supplying drugs to Rumsas. Alberto Loddo tested positive in 2003 during the Tour of the Algarve for caffeine stimulants. Guido Nigrelli, a doctor on the team, is named in the Maldano investigation; the Ferrara investigation in 2004 concluded that Pavel Tonkov had doped while on the team but no charges were made. Bortalami had just had a positive test at Saunier Duval, but joined the team and was adjudged by the Ferrara report to have doped.

What’s interesting is that in his two years at Lampre, the teams recorded their lowest ranking performances (based on cq rank) in 12 years.

2005 – Euskaltel

For the 2005 season Taus returns to Euskaltel on a three-year contract. Ironically, he replaced Jesus Losa, who was dismissed following his involvement in the doping controversy surround David Millar and the Cofidis team.

At the ripe old age of 28, Inigo Landaluze suddenly wins the Dauphiné after doing nothing throughout his entire career. He tested positive for testosterone, and was suspended, before eventually being cleared later that season. He did nothing else for the rest of his career and was eventually banned in 2009 for CERA.

Aitor Gonzalez tested positive at the Tour of Spain for steroids. Gonzalez blamed it on a contaminated food substance (not steak, it must be pointed out), and the Spanish Federation acquitted him. The UCI then took it to CAS and he was eventually banned from 2005 to 2007.

Interestingly, as with Lampre, the year he spent at Euskaltel proved to be their worst ranking position of the last ten years.

Taus was released from the team at the end of 2005 with two years still remaining on his contract.

2006 – 2009 Saunier Duval

Silliness from Ricco and Piepoli at stage 15 of the 2007 Giro d’Italia to Tre Cime Di Laveredo

You don’t really need to be reminded what went on at Saunier Duval, home of one of the most blatant cases of organised cheating ever seen in the sport. In 2007, youngster Riccardo Ricco won two stages of the Tirreno Adriatico, as well as the points jersey. Ninth in Amstel gold, sixth in Flèche Wallone (in his first ever Ardennes rides). Won a stage of the Giro ahead of teammate Piepoli, and finished sixth overall. And finished second In Lombardia. All at the age of 23. By 2008 Ricco had won another two stages of the Giro, second overall, and the young riders jersey. He then went on to win two stages of the Tour de France before finally testing positive for CERA on 17th July. Ricco originally had tried to dodge doping controls, and as a result the testers decided to test him daily. Ricco, by 2011, had been carted off to hospital after allegedly admitting to botching a home transfusion, an admission he later denied, and in April 2012 was banned for twelve years, putting him out of the sport until he is forty.

Leonardo Piepoli and Cobo on Hautecam in 2008

Meanwhile, teammate Piepoli (who had been on Banesto with Taus back in 2001), was also having a remarkably good couple of years. Eleventh overall in the Giro in 2006, he then followed up with a stage win, three second places, and the mountains jersey in the 2007 edition. In 2008 he won a stage in the Tour, helping Riccardo Ricco win two stages, before finally confessing to EPO usage. Two of his samples from that Tour were later found to be positive for CERA.

And of course Iban Mayo. He, too, won a stage in the 2007 Giro d’Italia. (The team total for that Giro was three stages, three second places, sixth overall and the mountains classification.) He then went to the Tour de France of that year, where he finished 16th before it being announced that he had failed a test for EPO and was subsequently banned.

Note: It would appear that following the 2008 Tour, team manager Giannetti attempted to put a stop to doping on the team. He was losing sponsors and the team was under threat. Recorded conversations (see the Gazzetta transcript later on this page) suggest that Dr. Ibarguren doped the riders for the 2008 Vuelta but kept the products at his home as “Giannetti did not want them.” A year later the relationship between Giannetti and Taus ended.

In 2009 the team was renamed Fuji Servetto, but still controversy continued. Ricardo Serrano was suspended in July of that year after testing positive for CERA, at the same time it was announced that Euskaltel rider Inigo Landaluze had also been found positive for the same drug. Interestingly, also on that team in 2009 was the now-retired Daniel Nardello. Nardello famously being one of the trio – including Armstrong and Pozzato – that allegedly threw abuse at Filippo Simeoni.

In October of 2009, Fernandez De La Puebla became fifth rider on the team to fail a test when he tested positive for EPO after being targeted for having abnormal biological passport readings. Others investigated include Koldo Gil (Formerly at Banesto – Puerto), Manuele Mori (Mantova), Francisco Ventoso (tested positive in 2008 after leaving Saunier Duval), Carlos Zarate (Puerto), and Ruben Lobato Elvira (Bio Passport Irregularities in 2010). Sometime during 2009 (date uncertain) Taus left the team.

Something changed at Saunier Duval. At his previous teams they under-performed, and in fact had their worst years in recent history. And yet at Saunier Duval we saw a sharp rise, before the incredible decline in 2008 and 2009, as their riders tested positive.

2010 – 2012 Omega Pharma Lotto/Omega Pharma Quickstep

And so to the present day. And in 2011 we saw him at Lotto, where they recorded their best year in recent history by a dramatic amount. Phillipe Gilbert dominated all year, winning Stages in the Algarve, Tirreno Adriatico, Eneco Tour, and the Tour de France, and won Strade Bianche, Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallone, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour of Belgium, Ster ZLM Toer, Belgian road and time trial championships, San Sebastian, GP Quebec, and GP de Wallonie (before his form somehow vanished in 2012). Jelle Vanendert wore the polka dot jersey in the Tour and climbed like a mountain goat, before forgetting how to climb in 2012.

And then to 2012, where at Quickstep we see them dominate the spring races totally. Winning overall in San Luis, Qatar, Oman, 3 days of West Flanders, and 3 Days of De Panne, before making the Northern Classics look easy with wins in Nokere Koerse (Chichhi), Handzame Classic (Chicchi), Dwars door Vlaandered (Terpstra), E3 Prisj, Gent Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix (Boonen). Nine national championships followed in the summer, before their season finally slowed down.

“by hiring the services of the Spaniard, Boonen and his team have set the cat among the pigeons”

Arguments raged on Twitter about this. Is this a direct accusation of doping at Quickstep? No, the jury is honestly out, but by hiring a doctor who has such a history, there is always going to be suspicion. Ouest France reported today “by hiring the services of the Spaniard, Boonen and his team have set the cat among the pigeons. Speciality of the house” while earlier in April LavoixdesSport simply said “More than a return, a resurrection!”

Big questions have to be raised about the wisdom of hiring Dr. Jose Ibarguren Taus.

Is this a doctor that is, as he has claimed all along, not doping his riders? Is he right when he says there was no doping at Lampre, or at Lotto? Was the Banesto team of Mancebo, Piepoli, and Zuelle clean? Did he have nothing to do with the doping at Saunier Duval? Was the performance of Lotto in 2011 just down to hard work? And if he is truthful, how is it that an experienced doctor, who by his own admission tested his riders regularly, who had advanced blood-testing equipment, was unable to detect that Rumsas, Barbero, Bortolami, Landaluze, Gonzalez, Ricco, Piepoli, Mayo, and Serrano were all doping? A doctor who by his own admission keeps receipts of all medicines he buys and religiously ensures that he only gives riders what they are allowed, has been stopped by police on multiple occasions and doping products found in his possession…

Maybe he’s telling the truth and he’s just been in the wrong place in the wrong time, on the wrong team too many times.

Or there’s the other side. A doctor who in the late nineties started distributing EPO and growth hormones but saw limited success. In fact, in the early days the teams he was on actually performed worse and he was fired after just one year of a three year contract at Euskaltel. But with the creation of the biological passport, a doctor such as him with a background in Haematology was able to get significantly better results. With the focus on Michele Ferrari, and in 2006 Eufemiano Fuentes, did that suddenly move him up the food chain and grant him access to the new drug of choice – the at-the-time-undetectable CERA? And does he now have one of the new generation of undetectable performance enhancing drugs?

[echappist]

unfortunately, still a lot of unsavory characters around...