Doping megathread - I can't even think of a witty tagline

I have a bridge for sale.

What pojacar did yesterday in the world cycling road race ( going completely solo from 100k out) and all the out of this world super human dominant wins this season has to be filed under the Suspension of disbelief. Suspension of disbelief is the avoidance—often described as willing—of critical thinking and logic in understanding something that is unreal or impossible in reality

He wasn't completely solo for 100km. After his attack, he rode solo for ~ 6km before being collected by Tratnik. He then rode with the break, followed by riding with an increasingly bollixed Sivakov until ~ 72? km before riding the rest of it solo.

It helped that he was chased by an extremely dysfunctional group - any time they got their **** together they started closing.

An alternative take on the sceptics viewpoint (ignore the headline)…

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/01/tadej-pogacar-has-delivered-an-alternative-reality-for-the-true-believers

😂… is that a bad thing? What have I done?!? Am I going to be excommunicated from the cycling forum 😱

Ah… got ya! "too Guardian" 😄

His broader point is a fair one though. As is what he doesn't say, which is - as you DO say - the lack of forensic analysis of performance in other sports such as football.

I'm someone who's pretty uncomfortable with the team management and team history of UAE (enough I can't get fully aboard the Pog Love Train), but he lost me at "Ketones".

That's this Jean-Rene Bernaudeau, yeah?

Pog... any good theories involving his biology or 'assistance', as to how he does it?

Top British tennis player banned for doping this week. Women’s marathon world record holder banned for doping, also this week I think. Very little chat about it. The tests are there, and no sport is as scrutinised as cycling. To me it’s just as incredible that UAE are doping in a way that no other team is copying, right under everyone’s noses, without trying to disguise Pog’s superiority and without getting caught, as it is incredible that Pogbis just a generational talent.

I’m not naive, but I’m not immediately cynical either. Not sure I’d be bothered following pro sports if I was.

It's tough seeing those guys still involved in varying capacities. But then (again trying to take off my cynical hat), there's a difference between what an individual will do as a rider in one era against as a DS etc. in another era. And you'd wonder whether any team is clear of those kind of guys… even looking at Ben's EF team with Vaughters at the very top. But yeah, I do share your discomfort while those fellas are still on the scene.

Gianetti was Team Manager and Matxin was DS of Saunier Duval - over Riccardo Ricco, Piepoli, Cobo et al. Not just when Gianetti was a rider himself.

Dont forget the 2 Wimbledon winners this year, mens and women's, both have doping convictions hanging over them as well.

Its rife in so many sports now.

As a rule of thumb if they are on your TV they are more likely than not to be doping in some capacity. Exceptions will apply but they are more likely to be the minority than the majority. Doping is rife everywhere now, it’s in every local gym and every amateur sport too. It doesn’t stop me enjoying watching it.