“It’s just overwhelming” – Geraint Thomas on winning the Tour de France (+ video highlights)

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

I bet if a French rider signed for Sky as lead rider then they'd change their tune. Vive le Sky!

I’m sure there were rumours a couple of years ago of them trying to pick up Bardet for pretty much that reason.

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

So when riders do leave Sky, they often don't perform to the same level - Kennaugh & Porte as examples here.  Viviani is the exception to this rule and Cavendish to a lesser extent. What are they missing in other teams?  Do they get lazy?  Something else?  Certainly not the drive to win, that's for sure.

"Everybody wants to know what I'm on. What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?".

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

I not in a position to know for sure, but I would imagine that much of the training you undertake with a new team and coach(es) would be more inline with what they think is best for you and your position in the team, rather than what might be a habit of yours.

fukawitribe wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

I not in a position to know for sure, but I would imagine that much of the training you undertake with a new team and coach(es) would be more inline with what they think is best for you and your position in the team, rather than what might be a habit of yours.

That's probably correct, wasn't it Steve Jobs who said something on the lines of employing people because they are good at their job and letting them do it, and not telling them how to do the job? If it's commonplace to stifle talent in the wider workplace, I don't see sports coaches being any different. Hop into the world of football and you can see that Morino appears to be destroying Pogba, yet he had a storming World Cup.

Surely as a coach you'd want to know the secrets of an ex-Team SKY rider and try to apply that strategy, maybe they do, but can't.

don simon wrote:

Surely as a coach you'd want to know the secrets of an ex-Team SKY rider and try to apply that strategy, maybe they do, but can't.

Maybe, if you believed the rider had reached his peak due solely to the Sky training regime and that your own experience, skills and techniques were inferior. Or not. Meh.

don simon wrote:

fukawitribe wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

I not in a position to know for sure, but I would imagine that much of the training you undertake with a new team and coach(es) would be more inline with what they think is best for you and your position in the team, rather than what might be a habit of yours.

Surely as a coach you'd want to know the secrets of an ex-Team SKY rider and try to apply that strategy, maybe they do, but can't.

I do wonder if there's some sort of NDA in place upon departure.

Rapha Nadal wrote:

don simon wrote:

fukawitribe wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

I not in a position to know for sure, but I would imagine that much of the training you undertake with a new team and coach(es) would be more inline with what they think is best for you and your position in the team, rather than what might be a habit of yours.

Surely as a coach you'd want to know the secrets of an ex-Team SKY rider and try to apply that strategy, maybe they do, but can't.

I do wonder if there's some sort of NDA in place upon departure.

I wouldn't have thought so, why would they need that?

don simon wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

don simon wrote:

fukawitribe wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

I not in a position to know for sure, but I would imagine that much of the training you undertake with a new team and coach(es) would be more inline with what they think is best for you and your position in the team, rather than what might be a habit of yours.

Surely as a coach you'd want to know the secrets of an ex-Team SKY rider and try to apply that strategy, maybe they do, but can't.

I do wonder if there's some sort of NDA in place upon departure.

I wouldn't have thought so, why would they need that?

Because marginal gains is about more than not eating nutella and having a fancy pillow in your armoury. Don't disclose our secrets or we'll get ya!

Rapha Nadal wrote:

So when riders do leave Sky, they often don't perform to the same level - Kennaugh & Porte as examples here.  Viviani is the exception to this rule and Cavendish to a lesser extent. What are they missing in other teams?  Do they get lazy?  Something else?  Certainly not the drive to win, that's for sure.

The basic problem with this premise is that it assumes that a) cycling is not about the team and b) a great domestique will make a great team leader, that is only true in very select cases.  A good team leader with a great team is a much more formidable proposition than a great team leader with a poor team. Usually when riders leave Sky they go on to be team leaders with much poorer teams, it should surprise nobody that they are much less successful. 

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

So when riders do leave Sky, they often don't perform to the same level - Kennaugh & Porte as examples here.  Viviani is the exception to this rule and Cavendish to a lesser extent. What are they missing in other teams?  Do they get lazy?  Something else?  Certainly not the drive to win, that's for sure.

"Everybody wants to know what I'm on. What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?".

You really don't have a clue about how teams and as a part of that human beings work do you, you have no ability to grasp that when people leave one environment they are not going to perform in the same manner, for better or worse.

Invariably when you leave the most professional, rigorous, dedicated organisation, one that absolutely knows what it aims are, who does what and when leaving no stone unturned and then go to an organisation that doesn't match that then you are not going to be as good, this is why it's massively important to have great team managers/higher ups, it's all on them as to how the organisation works out. A poor leadership  throughout particularly at the top can ruin talent, you see this in business, in sport and importantly in schools all the time.

Open your eyes ffs instead of continually banging on with your narrow minded narrative!

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

"If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement" Of course it's hard work. It's blindingly obvious from your statement you don't believe it is and everything Sky have done is down to drugs. All the other teams use TUE,. It's only because Sky has won the TDF multiple times on successive years that the French press are trying to create a negative slant on their achievements.

If it was a true hard work ethic then this would be instilled from day one and formed into a habit.  A habit that would be hard to break if you left Sky & moved teams because it's part of daily life.  You'd definitley apply the same work ethic to training, no?

So when riders do leave Sky, they often don't perform to the same level - Kennaugh & Porte as examples here.  Viviani is the exception to this rule and Cavendish to a lesser extent. What are they missing in other teams?  Do they get lazy?  Something else?  Certainly not the drive to win, that's for sure.

"Everybody wants to know what I'm on. What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?".

You really don't have a clue about how teams and as a part of that human beings work do you, you have no ability to grasp that when people leave one environment they are not going to perform in the same manner, for better or worse.

Invariably when you leave the most professional, rigorous, dedicated organisation, one that absolutely knows what it aims are, who does what and when leaving no stone unturned and then go to an organisation that doesn't match that then you are not going to be as good, this is why it's massively important to have great team managers/higher ups, it's all on them as to how the organisation works out. A poor leadership  throughout particularly at the top can ruin talent, you see this in business, in sport and importantly in schools all the time.

Open your eyes ffs instead of continually banging on with your narrow minded narrative!

Yeah, I mean being a head of department for a large brokerage with some 50 staff under me does mean that I have no idea about team management, the inner workings of a business, people etc.  How silly of me.

Your second paragraph is just utter shite.  Do you really think that other teams lack ambition and drive?  Don't know what team & individual rider aims/targets are?  Are run by people with no prior experience?  Who haven't won races? 

And that last line?!  Oh, the fucking irony.

NorthEastJimmy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds & don simon should both probably be banned from commenting on this site; both childish, bring nothing positive, and use abusive foul language.

Grow up, the pair of you.

Hi, Im DinosaurJR and I approve of this post.

NorthEastJimmy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds & don simon should both probably be banned from commenting on this site; both childish, bring nothing positive, and use abusive foul language.

Grow up, the pair of you.

oh so you want to repress comment and criticism, particularly of those that attack cyclists simply for the fact they are part of a successful team, righty ho. I don't think so sonshine!

NorthEastJimmy wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds & don simon should both probably be banned from commenting on this site; both childish, bring nothing positive, and use abusive foul language.

Grow up, the pair of you.

oh so you want to repress comment and criticism, particularly of those that attack cyclists simply for the fact they are part of a successful team, righty ho. I don't think so sonshine!

darrenleroy wrote:

My concern was the phrase: 'an increasingly toxic presence'. How is dominant riding, obeying team orders, being more organised and more tactically aware (and having a bigger budget I'll grant you) in any way 'increasingly toxic'? It's a lazy assumption to make but I'd expect nothing less from a paper that seems to have it in for Sky. 

It's more the lack of transparency over the years when it comes ot certain matters (remember how Sky were all up for this until it came down to the crunch?), the crossing of ethical lines when it comes to TUE's, a Parlimentary report which states there's wrongdoing when it comes to said TUE's, having a bigger budget than even the sport's own governing body when it comes to tackling "adverse" dope tests, Dylan Van Barle's admission on Dutch radio to inhaler use despite not being asthmatic and so on.

If you're going to claim to be whiter than white then you could really do with walking the walk and talking the talk.

If the string of Tour victories are indeed as a result of hard work & organisation then great, it's a real acheivement.  However, Sky have created the cloud that hangs over their own head here.  The constant domination of a single race is very de ja vu like and we all know that this sport has a horrible history of simply repeating past mistakes.

don simon wrote:

You can't disagree that Team SKY hasn't polarised support of cycling in a way that I've never seen. Look at the bile hurled at people who dare to oppose the supremacy of the team or any of its riders.

Get over it, not everyone is a blind supporter of Dave Brailsfraud and Team SKY.. I'm chuffed to nuts for the Taff, he's worked hard for it and seems a decebt enough lad.

You can't disagree that so called supporters of cycling have polarised the view by attacking a racing cycling team/individual riders with bile, disgusting comments, lies and hatred simply because they have dared to dominate and do things in a very professional manner.

It's people like you that start the agressive hatred and negative comments that in fact polarise matters. YOU ARE THE FUCKING PROBLEM!!! 

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

don simon wrote:

You can't disagree that Team SKY hasn't polarised support of cycling in a way that I've never seen. Look at the bile hurled at people who dare to oppose the supremacy of the team or any of its riders.

Get over it, not everyone is a blind supporter of Dave Brailsfraud and Team SKY.. I'm chuffed to nuts for the Taff, he's worked hard for it and seems a decebt enough lad.

You can't disagree that so called supporters of cycling have polarised the view by attacking a racing cycling team/individual riders with bile, disgusting comments, lies and hatred simply because they have dared to dominate and do things in a very professional manner.

It's people like you that start the agressive hatred and negative comments that in fact polarise matters. YOU ARE THE FUCKING PROBLEM!!! 

NO I AM FUCKING NOT YOU FUCKING MUPPET! YOUR INABILITY TO HAVE A RATIONAL CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE WHO SAYS ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT TEAM FUCKING SKY IS A PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF THE THICK, FROTHING FROOME SUCKERS WHO ARE DIVIDING SUPPORT OF THE SPORT! FUCKING NEWBIES! TAKE YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM SHIRT WEARING TRIBALISM AND SHOVE IT!!!

don simon wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

don simon wrote:

You can't disagree that Team SKY hasn't polarised support of cycling in a way that I've never seen. Look at the bile hurled at people who dare to oppose the supremacy of the team or any of its riders.

Get over it, not everyone is a blind supporter of Dave Brailsfraud and Team SKY.. I'm chuffed to nuts for the Taff, he's worked hard for it and seems a decebt enough lad.

You can't disagree that so called supporters of cycling have polarised the view by attacking a racing cycling team/individual riders with bile, disgusting comments, lies and hatred simply because they have dared to dominate and do things in a very professional manner.

It's people like you that start the agressive hatred and negative comments that in fact polarise matters. YOU ARE THE FUCKING PROBLEM!!! 

NO I AM FUCKING NOT YOU FUCKING MUPPET! YOUR INABILITY TO HAVE A RATIONAL CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE WHO SAYS ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT TEAM FUCKING SKY IS A PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF THE THICK, FROTHING FROOME SUCKERS WHO ARE DIVIDING SUPPORT OF THE SPORT! FUCKING NEWBIES! TAKE YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM SHIRT WEARING TRIBALISM AND SHOVE IT!!!

That's rich coming from an entitled cunt like you who cries like a baby if anybody challenges your needless vitriol you spout whenever Team Sky's success is mentioned.....(crack)pot meet kettle. 

Your inability to have a rational conversation with anyone who mentions Team Sky or challneges your vitriol is the perfect illustration of your mental masturbatory obsession with Froome, not the other way round.

JF69 wrote:

don simon wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

don simon wrote:

You can't disagree that Team SKY hasn't polarised support of cycling in a way that I've never seen. Look at the bile hurled at people who dare to oppose the supremacy of the team or any of its riders.

Get over it, not everyone is a blind supporter of Dave Brailsfraud and Team SKY.. I'm chuffed to nuts for the Taff, he's worked hard for it and seems a decebt enough lad.

You can't disagree that so called supporters of cycling have polarised the view by attacking a racing cycling team/individual riders with bile, disgusting comments, lies and hatred simply because they have dared to dominate and do things in a very professional manner.

It's people like you that start the agressive hatred and negative comments that in fact polarise matters. YOU ARE THE FUCKING PROBLEM!!! 

NO I AM FUCKING NOT YOU FUCKING MUPPET! YOUR INABILITY TO HAVE A RATIONAL CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE WHO SAYS ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT TEAM FUCKING SKY IS A PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF THE THICK, FROTHING FROOME SUCKERS WHO ARE DIVIDING SUPPORT OF THE SPORT! FUCKING NEWBIES! TAKE YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM SHIRT WEARING TRIBALISM AND SHOVE IT!!!

That's rich coming from an entitled cunt like you who cries like a baby if anybody challenges your needless vitriol you spout whenever Team Sky's success is mentioned.....(crack)pot meet kettle. 

Your inability to have a rational conversation with anyone who mentions Team Sky or challneges your vitriol is the perfect illustration of your mental masturbatory obsession with Froome, not the other way round.

Learn to read, dickhead, then learn to understand what you're reading. Then come back and comment. And if you still don't understand, the I suggest you don't comment, especially if you take umbrage to being called a dickhead.

don simon wrote:

TAKE YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM SHIRT WEARING TRIBALISM AND SHOVE IT!!!

I particularly like that attempt at putting someone down from a chap whose picture shows someone wearing a team shirt. 

Welsh boy wrote:

don simon wrote:

TAKE YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM SHIRT WEARING TRIBALISM AND SHOVE IT!!!

I particularly like that attempt at putting someone down from a chap whose picture shows someone wearing a team shirt. 

Good, but I am surprised that it's lost on you (probably not though). He's gay too, not sure what that says about anything either.