Tirreno-Adriatico 2014, Stage 5 March 16 **contains unmasked spoilers**

dastardly00

Stage 5: Sunday 16th, Amatrice - Guardiagrele 192km

Live coverage on Eurosport2 NOW. Highlights on Sky Sports 4 at 10pm and Eurosport1 at 11.30pm.





Start:


Finish:


Passo Lanciano:


Final kilometres:

dastardly00

It's all action at the moment. Bertie attacked on the Passo Lanciano climb. Quintana followed. Both of them were caught. Bertie attacked again. No one could follow him. He's now on the descent. There is still the final climb to come.

Oh and Richie Porte didn't start today due to illness.

dastardly00

7km to go and Contador has a lead of 1'36" over a small group containing Quintana.
The rest (Kwiatkowski etc.) are further back.

Darkglasses

Didn't hear about Porte, pity for him. Can't wait to see Bertie going up the wall

Darkglasses

22.2% AVG! Holy ****balls.

detones

This climb looks horrible. Think this climb was dropped from the Giro in recent years.

Darkglasses

Great stuff from Contador, he looks great this year. I'd say Tinkoff is very glad he hung onto him.

dastardly00

Finger-Bang time again!

Darkglasses

Contador leads Quintana by 2 minutes. In the bag

Glass Prison 1214

Seriously impressive from Contador, I expect a close tour this year between him and Froome.

Inquitus

Sad day for cycling, Contador back to his old form.

letape

Part of me agrees with that and that is the frustration of watching cycling - but Im also glad to see someone who is prepared to race and hope that we get a decent Tour in July after your last two years.

He was aggressive in the Tour last year but didn't have the form to match.

Brian?

Inquitus wrote: »

Sad day for cycling, Contador back to his old form.

Sad day for cycling?

letape

Brian? wrote: »

Sad day for cycling?

Proven ex-doper back to his magnificent best after mediocre 2013

Brian?

letape wrote: »

Proven ex-doper back to his magnificent best after mediocre 2013

I didn't see today's stage because I was in work, was he really that good?

It's far too early in the season to know if he's back to his best in fairness. Maybe I'm naive, but I'll suspend my disbelief for now and enjoy his performances until I have a good reason not to.

letape

It was an incredible performance - worth watching if its on YouTube. The last time I saw something that impressive was his 2012 Vuelta stage where he attacked a 100k from the finish to win the race.

This is the risk following cycling at this level - it's hard to know who or what's genuine or not. Lets hope he is.

TheBlaaMan

letape wrote: »

Part of me agrees with that and that is the frustration of watching cycling - but Im also glad to see someone who is prepared to race and hope that we get a decent Tour in July after your last two years.

He was aggressive in the Tour last year but didn't have the form to match.

I want to disagree, ex-dopers who dont admit to their deeds are a blight on the sport.............and yet I cannot help but be enthralled by Contador in T/A, and Valverde so far this year. When on form there are none better to watch and are hugely exciting for a TV viewer. Today was fantastic, and in the last climb, Contador struggled like the others, so he was only just a little better. His gamble on the Lanciano was ballysy, and when Quintano refused to co-operate, Contador had the conviction to go for it from 40km out - his interview afterwards suggested that he actually wanted to go alone, so he still has huge flair for entertainment - can you imagine ANYONE from Sky or most other teams, taking that approach to their race? He never once looked for assistance from Hansen or any of the three he caught. It was very reminiscent of the 2012 Vuelta stage to Fuente De whihc won him the tour.

I wholeheartedly believe in redemption and being allowed back into the sport, albeit with extra scrutiny. Hopefully they are now choosing the right path.

letape

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

I want to disagree, ex-dopers who dont admit to their deeds are a blight on the sport.............and yet I cannot help but be enthralled by Contador in T/A, and Valverde so far this year. When on form there are none better to watch and are hugely exciting for a TV viewer. Today was fantastic, and in the last climb, Contador struggled like the others, so he was only just a little better. His gamble on the Lanciano was ballysy, and when Quintano refused to co-operate, Contador had the conviction to go for it from 40km out - his interview afterwards suggested that he actually wanted to go alone, so he still has huge flair for entertainment - can you imagine ANYONE from Sky or most other teams, taking that approach to their race? He never once looked for assistance from Hansen or any of the three he caught. It was very reminiscent of the 2012 Vuelta stage to Fuente De whihc won him the tour.

I wholeheartedly believe in redemption and being allowed back into the sport, albeit with extra scrutiny. Hopefully they are now choosing the right path.

I don't see what you are disagreeing with ??!!

Darkglasses

letape wrote: »

I don't see what you are disagreeing with ??!!

What you were agreeing with - Inquitus saying it's a sad day for cycling.

TheBlaaMan

letape wrote: »

I don't see what you are disagreeing with ??!!

I want to hate the ex-dopers, but find it impossible when they are so entertainineg,

so, no...................not disagreeing !

Brian?

letape wrote: »

It was an incredible performance - worth watching if its on YouTube. The last time I saw something that impressive was his 2012 Vuelta stage where he attacked a 100k from the finish to win the race.

Here's the thing, pre ban Contador didn't need to do attacks like that. He destroyed the field in the big mountains and TTs. That attack in the Vuelta was on a bumpy but not properly mountainous stage. It was last chance saloon for him and he gave it everything. Pre ban Contador didn't do things like that because he didn't need to, there was rarely a backs to the wall situation for him because he was so damn good.

This is the risk following cycling at this level - it's hard to know who or what's genuine or not. Lets hope he is.

I want to believe in him. He's so attack minded it's unreal. Even when he loses you know he's given it everything. He attacked Froome on descents and on the flat in the Tour, no one else would have done that. An on form Contador could light up the tour this year, win or lose he'll go down fighting.

dastardly00

Contador has trained a lot harder than the other big GC guys at this stage of the season and so he is better condition, and he is focused on winning more races this year (other than just the Tour). So there is logic as to why he's won two days in a row. Just saying!

letape

Brian? wrote: »

Here's the thing, pre ban Contador didn't need to do attacks like that. He destroyed the field in the big mountains and TTs. That attack in the Vuelta was on a bumpy but not properly mountainous stage. It was last chance saloon for him and he gave it everything. Pre ban Contador didn't do things like that because he didn't need to, there was rarely a backs to the wall situation for him because he was so damn good.



I want to believe in him. He's so attack minded it's unreal. Even when he loses you know he's given it everything. He attacked Froome on descents and on the flat in the Tour, no one else would have done that. An on form Contador could light up the tour this year, win or lose he'll go down fighting.

He always was an attacking rider even pre ban. I remember he was super aggressive in Paris Nice (in 2009?) - but blew up as he hadnt hydrated properly during the stage.

He hasn't always been the smartest though and this was the case in the tour last year - his attacking was still very good to watch but ultimately quite futile.

It will be very interesting to see how his time trailing is this year, starting tomorrow. I suspect he'll be very strong.

MPFG

I know Contador has trained very hard but not necessarily harder than Froome or Porte
I think Tinkoff/Saxo are training better and probably using SKY training methods. They are certainly having more training camps


Next week at Volta Catalunya we are in for a treat as Contador, Froome, Porte, J-Rod and defending champion Dan Martin all line out

Brian?

Watching the stage now on Sky+, Contador descending like a demon.

Brian?

I'd question whether that was Contador back to his best, Geshcke nearly caught him again, but he was seriously good today.

Briando

Inquitus wrote: »

Sad day for cycling, Contador back to his old form.

Surprised at how many people are cheering his performance today. Dirty cheat.

TheBlaaMan

Briando wrote: »

Surprised at how many people are cheering his performance today. Dirty cheat.

I know where you are coming from, and can empathise to some extent, but do you not believe that he has paid for his doping (although never admitted to it, far from it...) and is entitled to 'a second chance' ?

This is the basis of our own judicial system - do the crime, do the time, and then be reintegrated into society............or do you think someone who serves time in prison should be left to rot there for ever?

I'm comforted - somewhat - that testing appears to be pretty tight these days and a second positive is effectively career-ending.

Whatever you think about him, he is a shot in the arm (oops ) to what might be a fairly dull peloton.

drogdub

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

I know where you are coming from, and can empathise to some extent, but do you not believe that he has paid for his doping (although never admitted to it, far from it...) and is entitled to 'a second chance' ?

This is the basis of our own judicial system - do the crime, do the time, and then be reintegrated into society............or do you think someone who serves time in prison should be left to rot there for ever?

I'm comforted - somewhat - that testing appears to be pretty tight these days and a second positive is effectively career-ending.

Whatever you think about him, he is a shot in the arm (oops ) to what might be a fairly dull peloton.

That's the thing about Contador, he's a proper racer and very exciting to watch. I watch sport for excitement and even though I do have my reservations about if he ever doped I do love watching him race. If I allowed my reservations about doping to stop me watching a sport then I wouldn't watch many top level sports, because most of them are full of it and some more than cycling.

Briando

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

I know where you are coming from, and can empathise to some extent, but do you not believe that he has paid for his doping (although never admitted to it, far from it...) and is entitled to 'a second chance' ?

This is the basis of our own judicial system - do the crime, do the time, and then be reintegrated into society............or do you think someone who serves time in prison should be left to rot there for ever?

I'm comforted - somewhat - that testing appears to be pretty tight these days and a second positive is effectively career-ending.

Whatever you think about him, he is a shot in the arm (oops ) to what might be a fairly dull peloton.

In sport I dont think people who cheat should get a second chance. They may just as well cheat then and take the chance they can reap the massive rewards. If you get caught then no problem, serve the little short ban, focus on training and come back again. Remember the sight of Contador crushing Tony Martin in the TT a few years ago? It was absurd. Last year without the dope Contador on dope Martin went past him like the TT machine he is. Contador should have been told to get lost and not be given another chance to taint cycling again, cheats shouldn't be taking squad spots from athletes who will race clean.

drogdub

Briando wrote: »

In sport I dont think people who cheat should get a second chance. They may just as well cheat then and take the chance they can reap the massive rewards. If you get caught then no problem, serve the little short ban, focus on training and come back again. Remember the sight of Contador crushing Tony Martin in the TT a few years ago? It was absurd. Last year without the dope Contador on dope Martin went past him like the TT machine he is. Contador should have been told to get lost and not be given another chance to taint cycling again, cheats shouldn't be taking squad spots from athletes who will race clean.

I think the four year ban is the more appropriate ban because you can come back from serving a two year ban and still have a career and do well clean (Millar and Basso?) But serve four years that'll kill your career

But getting back today no amount of drugs would help you descend the way he did.

MPFG

A four year ban will kill your career ??
If you support a 4 year ban then why not support a lifetime ban if a career is over any way..???

Valverde, Basso, Millar all served their ban and I for one am prepared to accept their current inclusion in the sport as I am prepared to enjoy tennis and horse racing and football which is in most probability riddled with PEDs because I believe

1.If you have served your ban then that is the punishment for THAT crime as set by UCI and I accept it ...
2. people make mistakes but can learn the errors of their ways and change
3. everyone deserves a second chance
4.rightly or wrongly most of the peloton are clean now
5. the lines in pro cyclign are blurred with known ex dopers riding and managing along side non dopers and in all high probability unknown ex dopers and unknown current dopers .....To get on a high horse about Contador and not the others like Ryder Hajedal, Tommy Danileson , Stuart o Grady , etc is more than a bit sanctimonious

lennymc

cheat or no, it was great TV. much better than man utd v liverpool.....

drogdub

MPFG wrote: »

A four year ban will kill your career ??
If you support a 4 year ban then why not support a lifetime ban if a career is over any way..???

Valverde, Basso, Millar all served their ban and I for one am prepared to accept their current inclusion in the sport as I am prepared to enjoy tennis and horse racing and football which is in most probability riddled with PEDs because I believe

1.If you have served your ban then that is the punishment for THAT crime as set by UCI and I accept it ...
2. people make mistakes but can learn the errors of their ways and change
3. everyone deserves a second chance
4.rightly or wrongly most of the peloton are clean now
5. the lines in pro cyclign are blurred with known ex dopers riding and managing along side non dopers and in all high probability unknown ex dopers and unknown current dopers .....To get on a high horse about Contador and not the others like Ryder Hajedal, Tommy Danileson , Stuart o Grady , etc is more than a bit sanctimonious

Ok kill your career probably a bit of an exaggeration, but I do thing 4 years would be a more appropriate punishment as it would be more of a deterrent. Absolutely they deserve second chance. I might have some reservations but I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt as I am with the others you mentioned, but contador was the rider being discussed

pprendeville

MPFG wrote: »

I know Contador has trained very hard but not necessarily harder than Froome or Porte
I think Tinkoff/Saxo are training better and probably using SKY training methods. They are certainly having more training camps


Next week at Volta Catalunya we are in for a treat as Contador, Froome, Porte, J-Rod and defending champion Dan Martin all line out

Agree with this. I think ever professional cyclist trains hard and at a fairly similar level of intensity. It's the more minor details like training smart, recovery, diet, stress etc that make the difference. Contador said himself this year he didn't have all the crap of travelling doing press conferences and other stuff that sidetracked him last year. If you look/listen to Nibali, his winter has been sidetracked a lot due to his obligations after all his success last year. Travelling a lot to functions in Astana apparently. Granted he's probably building slowly for the tour.

Philippe Gilbert echoed these sentiments saying after he became world champ he was obliged to do so many more interviews. All that adds up. This year he has had a quiet winter in terms of media duties and I think he'll be in good form for Ardennes week (it's Aredenne he's doing, not Flanders, isn't it?).

pprendeville

Briando wrote: »

In sport I dont think people who cheat should get a second chance. They may just as well cheat then and take the chance they can reap the massive rewards. If you get caught then no problem, serve the little short ban, focus on training and come back again. Remember the sight of Contador crushing Tony Martin in the TT a few years ago? It was absurd. Last year without the dope Contador on dope Martin went past him like the TT machine he is. Contador should have been told to get lost and not be given another chance to taint cycling again, cheats shouldn't be taking squad spots from athletes who will race clean.

It's such a hard one to call for me. He was done for clenbuterol and weren't the amounts tiny? It could have been that the whole steak thing was actually true. I like to believe it was. In the case of let's say Mr. Armstrong there had been murmurings for so long about his doping and even though I wanted to believe in him there was too much evidence not to especially with the likes of the Andreu's saying what they were saying and Lances bully tactics on several riders in the peloton. Contador doesn't come across like that to me. He really seems to ride for the thrill of it. Have there been reports about him Being linked to any doping scandals or other riders coming out with suspicious statements about him. If there are, I'd like to read about it so I can inform my opinion. If not, I believe in Contador and the testing he will be getting now will show whether or not he is clean.

Going off topic a little but I recently posted up about Stuart O'Gradys book and would people buy it? In this case I think he's profiting from it (cheating - and I find it hard to believe he only doped once given the success he had) yet only a few weeks/months before releasing the book the whole doping story had been left out. He got 6 months I think but by that stage was retired and well gone. Contador has done his time and deserves a second chance. He's really lighting up the peloton. Let's just hope it's all down to the small gains. Roll on Catalunya.

letape

There are many riders that you could say ride for the thrill of it - Virenque, Pantani and Vino would fit that description.

Contador pre ban will always be questioned due to his time on discovery under Bruyneel and then being on Astana with him. Do you really think that Bruyneel would have had a clean Tour team leader in 2007 and 2008 after the testimony we have read about and from his ex riders.

Then of course we had him beating Cancellera and Martin in Tour time trials and ultimately being done for doping.

Brian?

letape wrote: »

There are many riders that you could say ride for the thrill of it - Virenque, Pantani and Vino would fit that description.

Contador pre ban will always be questioned due to his time on discovery under Bruyneel and then being on Astana with him. Do you really think that Bruyneel would have had a clean Tour team leader in 2007 and 2008 after the testimony we have read about and from his ex riders.

Then of course we had him beating Cancellera and Martin in Tour time trials and ultimately being done for doping.

Operation Puerto as well.

pprendeville

letape wrote: »

There are many riders that you could say ride for the thrill of it - Virenque, Pantani and Vino would fit that description.

Contador pre ban will always be questioned due to his time on discovery under Bruyneel and then being on Astana with him. Do you really think that Bruyneel would have had a clean Tour team leader in 2007 and 2008 after the testimony we have read about and from his ex riders.

Then of course we had him beating Cancellera and Martin in Tour time trials and ultimately being done for doping.

Ya that's true. Has there been any murmurings of it though. I had forgotten that USADA only have jurisdiction over American Athletes. It would be interesting to find out if they have evidence on European riders.