Gen Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 What a great sporting day it was.. Beefie Bert lights up the stage and takes Pink, Sagan wins in lala land and Juve are in the CL final..
tombeej Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Chippo has made a lot of waves with his insinuation that Contador's bike change yesterday wasn't kosher. Ex-sprinter Mario Cipollini made waves Wednesday when he suggested during the post-stage RAI TV broadcast that riders shouldn’t change their bikes mid-stage ahead of key mountaintop finales. Why? Cipollini suggested that it’s “bad for the image of cycling, because people think there’s a motor in it.” Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) just laughed off that line, especially since he was the target of Cipollini’s barb. With about 35km to go, Contador eased off the roadway for a planned bike change ahead of the Giro’s first major mountaintop finish. “There are a lot of reasons to change a bike. Like tubulars, which [may] not be able to be raced for 200km, but they can last for 30km or 40km,” said Contador, before joking. “My bikes don’t have one motor. They have five. And this talk of motors? That’s a joke, that’s something from science fiction.” Rumors of motors hidden inside frames might be considered a joke by some, but the UCI is taking them very seriously. The cycling governing body has already checked bikes during this Giro, a move that comes on the heels of checking dozens of bikes for illicit motors during Milano-Sanremo.
tombeej Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 But this is not a new story. In the 2011 Giro there was also a lot of controversy about Contador changing bikes mid-stage. At the time, former top directeur sportif Cyrille Guimard made insinuations about rumoured motors in his bike: “I ask lots of questions about Contador. First, even before the [subject of] doping, I heard that during the Giro he changed his bike several times in the mountain stages where he was very strong. I don’t make an accusation,” he said, but added, “it would be interesting if someone dissects the images, the causes of these changes of bicycles and the effects. It's true, do not you find it weird to change bikes so many times? I do not know what to think. [Point of fact: Guimard was the DS for Castorama from 1990 to 1995 and their top rider, Laurent Brochard, was one of the worst dopers at the time, along with Virenque. Both of these riders were the big boys in the filthy Festina team when it was bust at the 1998 TDF. And Guimard was DS at Festina too (the year before), so he should talk]
ScottCM Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 After stage 5 top three are as follows: 1 (1) http://www.scorito.com/images/img-first.pnghttp://www.scorito.com/images/img-rating.pngJay_B 10582 (2) http://www.scorito.com/images/img-second.pnghttp://www.scorito.com/images/img-rating.pngjcza 10023 (4) http://www.scorito.com/images/img-third.pnghttp://www.scorito.com/images/rating-up.pngtombeej 968
'Dale Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 http://images.cyclingtips.com.au/content/uploads/2015/05/CORVOS_00024998-0491.jpg
tombeej Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 To be honest, I don't know what to make of Contadors bike change yesterday. It makes no sense to me (but then, what do I know). The final climb was very straightforward - not hard at all. Probably the easiest / fastest mountain top finish you're likely to find in a Giro (they would even have been in the big ring for the last 5 km). It was not the Motirolo, so what did he need to change his bike for?? I understand bike changes during a hilly TT (changing from climbing road bike to TT bike), or if they finish at the top of a monster like the Motirolo / Zoncolan. But I don't get yesterdays bike change, especially since (as I thought) the team wasn't planning for AC to attack yesterday. And Contador and the team management have confirmed they don't want the jersey so early and don't intend defending it. So what was the point?? Contador: “My attack wasn’t planned. I was there, I looked around at the other riders, and although I wasn’t feeling absolutely at 100%, sometimes I get restless in the peloton.” “I didn’t think I’d have the pink jersey so early in the race, as the main objective is to wear it in Milan at the final stage of the Giro.” “I took the decision to attack on the final climb to test my rivals. I didn’t feel super, but the result and outcome was positive….” Mick Rogers: “It certainly wasn’t planned, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing…. You never know which way the wind’s going to blow with Alberto and that’s what's so good about him. He’s so passionate about it, and when he’s feeling good, he attacks.”
Gen Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Bike changes aren't new and not only Bertie that does it. We've seen it over and iver the last couple of seasons.
'Dale Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 To be honest, I don't know what to make of Contadors bike change yesterday. It makes no sense to me (but then, what do I know). The final climb was very straightforward - not hard at all. Probably the easiest / fastest mountain top finish you're likely to find in a Giro (they would even have been in the big ring for the last 5 km). It was not the Motirolo, so what did he need to change his bike for?? I understand bike changes during a hilly TT (changing from climbing road bike to TT bike), or if they finish at the top of a monster like the Motirolo / Zoncolan. But I don't get yesterdays bike change, especially since (as I thought) the team wasn't planning for AC to attack yesterday. And Contador and the team management have confirmed they don't want the jersey so early and don't intend defending it. So what was the point?? Contador: “My attack wasn’t planned. I was there, I looked around at the other riders, and although I wasn’t feeling absolutely at 100%, sometimes I get restless in the peloton.” “I didn’t think I’d have the pink jersey so early in the race, as the main objective is to wear it in Milan at the final stage of the Giro.” “I took the decision to attack on the final climb to test my rivals. I didn’t feel super, but the result and outcome was positive….” Mick Rogers: “It certainly wasn’t planned, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing…. You never know which way the wind’s going to blow with Alberto and that’s what's so good about him. He’s so passionate about it, and when he’s feeling good, he attacks.” Yip, he's not a SkyborgHe races with passion (and a bit of ADHD hehehehe)
tombeej Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Bike changes aren't new and not only Bertie that does it. We've seen it over and iver the last couple of seasons. I know that. But my question still stands: what was the purpose of yesterday's bike change?
Gen Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 I know that. But my question still stands: what was the purpose of yesterday's bike change?Eerm... he felt like it[emoji13]
Jaco-fiets Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 He changed his bike, so what! Maybe he was not happy about some mechanical setup. Amazing how there is always something people start complaining about anything no matter the insignifi
Gen Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 No actually yoy quoted something earlier with the Contador interview about some things being good for 30-40km and then no longer.. but who knows and they won't tell us.. Tinkoff has the whole peleton worrying about his bike change instead if how to beat him..
Gen Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 OK then. Good bye.[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] My reply was just a tease as who knows why they do half the things they do.. [emoji111]
Patchelicious Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 I know that. But my question still stands: what was the purpose of yesterday's bike change?I think this is a valid question to ask.
Gen Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 I think this is a valid question to ask.Perhaps the other bike had lighter wheels. . It's like F1 pit change. . I don't think they will ever really tell anyone cause it's part of their tactics. Could probably be a number of reasons.
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