Riis boots A Schleck and O'Grady from Vuelta
Andy and Stuey were withdrawn from the Vuelta by Riis for alchohol consumption after dinner. Seems classic falling out behavior. I understand the policy against drinking, but booting two people who could be very helpful to Frank's bid for a good GC position seems a bit harsh.
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Douglas Ansel
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He's just concerned that the liquor consumption might cause them to pop a Testosterone positive...
…you know…like what happened to Landis.
Yes, I will have an Ultra Liberal MoCo Latte please.
That's seems a bit summer campish to me
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Bjarne and others have always taught Andy that the Vuelta was not important.
The relations between those involved are clearly strained by the new team thing.
Cancellara has a strong chance to be the Vuelta Red Lantern, hopefully he made some of the late nights, too.
Andy Schleck did not taking the Vuelta seriously. Bjarne fumbles here, too by not accepting, if not himself participating in a nice party at the end of his first big creation.
I like the idea that they were not even afraid of riding without sleep. Maybe the true culprit here is the long rest-day nap, ensuring disco after dinner.
Might not be a matter of A. Schleck not taking the Vuelta seriously
More likely the guy just doesn’t have the physical & mental wherewithal to compete for the win in back to back grand tours. And pretty much everyone else, with the exception of surprising J Rod, has also similarly struggled in this Vuelta after going to so deep in July.
I think as the sport becomes cleaner the days of riders competing at a high level in multiple grand tours will come to an end, the competition and stress level is simply too high to sustain that type of performance over the course of 3 months.
Well, this is pure speculation about top rider endurance vs cleaner sport, multiple GT category. Maybe, but we don’t really know. Let’s remember who is the master at peaking for a GT, and really the bringer of the concept of peaking/tapering to the sport, and where he is now..
If Frank was out drinking during the TDF, it would have been a huge story..
by rubesANdbabes on Sep 7, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
What? It's just a drink after dinner?
Not that they went for a party.. And you clearly didn’t see Kreuziger’s Tweetpic from yesterday…
There were reports from Danish media
that they came home at about 5:30 in the morning, and quite drunk. I don’t think sources were named for this version of the story, though.
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
And Andy said it was 1:00 AM, 2 beers.
Maybe we should split the difference at 3:15?
The Muur is my bitch--Albertina
And Riis says 5AM
Does that mean we should say 3:00, or the mean of the 3 times (3:50)?
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Sep 7, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Good idea
Especially since the number of beers they drank is probably the next topic for discussion.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Sep 7, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
You haven't had enough beers then
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Sep 7, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats way too different a story
something about Riis’ situation makes me think he’s tried to make this a much bigger deal than it realistically should’ve been.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
by agl on Sep 7, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
fairly common on sports teams though
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
Teams believing their athletes are better sober than drunk?
outlandish!
"Until you shoot me off my bike I'll keep looking for a contract" - Jens!
Quitter's People United member # 42
indeed so!
shockingly even my non-sports employer has an opinion on the matter!
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
I'm willing to bet that your tolerance level is higher than Schleck's
Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.
by dees ees en drama on Sep 8, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Riis statement at CyclingNews.com
5:00 AM is when they rolled in. ( I guess they are slow drinkers.) He did what he had to do, now they need to man up.
slightly different version of the same quote in vn
"It doesn’t matter if it was one drink or 10, or if he was out until five in the morning and that’s between us anyway, rules are made to be kept," Riis told reporters after stage 10 of the Tour of Spain. "I’m not here to give any explanations or further details. What actually happened will stay between us."
I'm inclined to believe the VN version
Riis is professional like that: “Don’t mind the specifics, that is an internal matter.”
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
Indiscreet partying by athletes is nothing new...
but maybe Bjarne was thinking in terms of sending a message to next year’s new team members about what he considers acceptable.
by ManBicycleThing on Sep 7, 2010 2:01 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
if only they'd stopped off
for their chocolate con churros on the way home they’d have been all right
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
Touche.
"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"
by lieutenantmudd on Sep 7, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh
way to take the Vuelta seriously boys.
"Until you shoot me off my bike I'll keep looking for a contract" - Jens!
Quitter's People United member # 42
embarassing for Andy and Stuey
Having a few beers and coming in at midnight is one thing. Being out until 5am is quite another. Shows a lack of respect to their teammates, the Vuelta, and most importantly, to Frank.
"Thanks again, Floyd Landis, Yellow Jersey Wearer: Nuisance Category"
I don't think anybody actually said they did come in at 5am,
see Velonews quote above.
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
Saw that. Odd the different takes on the quote from CN and VN
"Thanks again, Floyd Landis, Yellow Jersey Wearer: Nuisance Category"
Rules are rules are rules...
I can’t believe how many church ladies are out there.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
I have no idea what you just said there
Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.
by dees ees en drama on Sep 8, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
He said many people are being a little 'holier than thou' ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Are you a closet church lady?
Don’t ask youself this question, just answer these questions.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Given the revelations out of certain closets
lately . . . the concept of “closet church lady” makes my head hurt.
My local pastor? Wtf. I'm from Norway, Here, we reintroduced the Norse
Gods like Odin and Thor years ago, man. It has done wonders for our crops both on land and on the sea-bed. (The “test” didn’t work btw. "Method not allowed.).
Let me just say that I really don’t care one way or the other about athletes drinking a couple (or 10) pints. Odin knows I have. Rules are broken every day, and quite often by me. Odin knows I don’t live by the book 24/7. This is not a question of moral superiority or a holier than thou attitude , and I can’t see that anybody has implied that it is.
Infact, this little story didn’t interest me at all at first. “Andy and Stuey sent home, you say? Ok, no biggie, it is not like they were doing something spectacular here in Spain. The rest might do them good, but I guess their team mates must be miffed.” This was my initial reaction. It was the rabid outcry against the old doper from Herning, Bjarne, that attracted my attention. Before the facts of the matter were even close to be clear Bjarne was tagged as a big bad wolf who had “overreacted”. Did we, or do we now know, the true nature of ASSOG’s transgression? Do we know what sanctions are stipulated in the internal rules of the team? Do we think a boss should let people who blatantly break the rules get off scot-free? Do we think the protagonists should argue their case through the press?
I do think that ASSOGs actions were stupid and disrespectful in the sense that they jeopardized their inclusion in the vuelta team and thereby put their vuelta team mates at risk (of losing valuable? support) . It is also disresptful to the riders (like Breschel like Jens mentioned) who wanted to ride but now have to follow the vuelta here at PdC. Odin knows I am occasionally stupid and frequently disrespectful. I couldnt care less if nobody noticed ASSOG’s transgressions, and they were free to ride the grupetto. Once they did get caught however, I think it is silly both of them and of their groupies to blame the enforcer.
Did it really sound like the baying of wolves?
It was the rabid outcry against the old doper from Herning, Bjarne
It was petulant and a little spiteful, but isn’t ‘rabid’ only for HWSNBN?
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Come now, S,
do you really expect me to know what every word I use actually means? I stole “rabid” from popuprolen, I think. I like most of his material. So I copied it like any cunning stand-up comedians would. If it will make you feel any better, we can strike “rabid” and write “ludicrously one-sided” instead. ;)
Norwegian you say
that excludes you from needing to take the test right there.
My take on this whole silly story is that it wouldn’t have been a story if Andy and Stuey weren’t leaving next year. But I also think Riis is professional and handled this matter in that way. I don’t support his decision to send them home, but I can’t say it’s wrong… just easy to see through.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Now if we had a nice cup of tea together after
service I could certainly see myself subscribing to what you just wrote.
If we had tea after service
you’d be out with my Mother’s clone of me.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Ha! Smalahovud, mead and Vikingfjord
by the hörgr it is then! Having a clone would be great though, I could have him perform all menial chores for me like going to school, entertaining my in-laws and brushing my teeth. I think I have a decent slogan for the local Clones r us outlet: “With a clone, you’re never really alone”.
I think you're on to it.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
I don't know
Is it available in Spain?
http://www.satanbeer.com/frame1e.html
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Sep 8, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
No personal experience
but can you even get decent service in Barcelona before midnight? I mean, this isn’t the Tour of Utah.
"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell
by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 7, 2010 3:33 PM EDT reply actions
One thing i've learned about Andy Schleck this cycling season
The young man has the most rabid fanbase in the cycling world. I’m convinced he could be caught with a rucksack full of EPO, pirated DVDs and enriched uranium, and his fanbase would somehow justify it.
"Thanks again, Floyd Landis, Yellow Jersey Wearer: Nuisance Category"
mmm
kool aid…
"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell
by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 7, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
How did pirated DVDs get in there
with EPO and enriched uranium?
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Just to add a Danish view
The story at Yehoo/Eurosport is the closest to what Riis said on Danish TV.
Danish people commentating the story (people who know Riis, like former DS’s and some of them not always friendly when commenting on him) says that he would not react in the way he did if it was only one beer around midnight, so they are sure it must be more than one beer and late in the night.
Diffecult for me to give this correct in English, hope you understand any way.
I think the Danish coverage makes a very good point
Two riders break team rules (by some way) and get expelled by the team from race is the bones of the story. Just looking at the offence and the punishment then it is totally fair.
Put different rider and DS names in the frame and it would cause little comment – and starting to excuse such behaviour because of the personalities involved is to igone the offence. At worst they would be over the limit to drive a vehicle on the road the next day and at best they would have raced hungover and tired.
With the benefit of hindsight – todays hard raced stage done in any sort of less than optimal state (ie hungover and tired) would have probably precluded them from making any useful contribution to the team effort for the next number of days.
Meanwhile teammates like Klemme have killed themselves to remain inside the time limit the last few days (for very little reason other than get in a break or be useful later on) only to see their “star” rider and road captain behave as they have.
It aint funny – its disrepectful, unprofessional, uncalled for and rightly dealt with by the team manager.
(And it is perhaps the biggest sign that Frank Schelck has no chance of making an impact this Vuelta, or surely his brother wouldn’t behave that way).
To an extent, but there are plenty of opportunities for this kind of thing when you don't have to work the following morning.
I’m not that much older than Andy, but I would never dream of staying out until 5am (if indeed they did) the night before I had to do something important at work, especially if it might impact on my colleagues. I live and experience life though, oh gosh yes, but when it’s more appropriate.
Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!
They didn't have to work the following morning--stage didn't start until 13:10.
Plus, it’s looking more and more like they didn’t stay out all night anyway. If they were in at 1 AM, that’s the equivalent of someone who has to be at work at 9 AM staying out until 9 PM the night before.
I've nothing against Zabriskie, but to be honest, I think I'm a little bit better looking--Filippo Pozzato
Well if that is the case then that's not so bad.
I did say “if indeed they did” when talking about them supposedly staying out until 5. I’m just challenging the contention that it’s ok to live and experience life whenever you feel like it, regardless of the consequences, just because you’re 25.
Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!
It really is ok to live.
Everyone can make a mistake now and then having fun. The true measure of control is to not have those nights every night.
It is most likely than many of the people here have stayed out too late a few nights in their life. Even when they had important items to do the next day.
Hell, I know I have. I just don’t do it anymore.
Exactly.
You cannot learn your limits without pushing them. Maybe next time Andy will come back 1 hour earlier.
"Oil Can" Boyd's lawyers
are gearing up to fight that at The Hague.
"We just nick them. God makes the beer." Inspector Lewis
Hawking rethinks the Universe."In the end..there is only one Force..Jens!"
by frans verbiage on Sep 8, 2010 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, and I have to. But age is no reason to excuse doing something which potentially harms your colleagues.
We’ve probably all done it but it doesn’t mean it’s right. I’m not passing judgement on this particular case as such, as we don’t really know what went on, but in general terms…
Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!
At the very least they weren't taking the race too seriously
and since Saxo had a guy like Breschel who was literally begging for a spot on the team it’s more than a little disrespectful to their teammates.
Do you know, when I read you suggesting they didn’t have the energy to go all out, the first thing I thought was you meant that Schleck and Stuey ddn’t have the energy to go all out on the bladder. And that this would suggest not a clean peloton but just that they’re wusses and need to get Wiggo to give em a few lessons.
Which then suggested a great tactic Wiggo could adopt. Ireland once beat the Windies in cricket by getting them hammered the night before the game. Why not Wiggo teach Schleck how to drink – during le Tour – like a real manly man?
Though Coppi did once sent Serse and a few of the gregari to do ths to Bartali only for them to be the ones ending up the worst for wear.
Clearly this needs to be done with care. But it could be just the path Wiggo needs to get on that Tour podium next year.
And clearly this is not what you were talking about. Ho hum.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on Sep 9, 2010 4:00 AM EDT up reply actions
But it's not about that.
It’s about there being a rule & some colleagues abiding by it & some not.
I doubt my performance at work would be much impaired by a swift half in the Trent at lunchtime, indeed I suspect it’d be much improved by it but we have a rule which says no drinking at lunchtime & I stick to it. & I expect my team to stick to it, too, be they 22 or 52.
"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK
Not everyone follows all the rules, all of the time.
Regardless of how they will try to make you think so.
Exactly
So when a knwon transgression has occurred you apply the appropriate sanction (as agreed mutually between you when you agree to work together) move on and say no more about it.
On the subject of say no more about it – Riis hasn’t really, Schleck and O’Grady on the other hand.
God, could you imagine if Wiggo was riding for Riis?
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on Sep 8, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Saxo has no rules about NOT drinking...although I'm sure drinking to excess is another matter...from O'Grady:
He added that team protocol did not include a ban on drinking alcohol during races. ’’No, not at all. Bjarne has taken us out to plenty of dinners. He is quite a fine wine connoisseur himself. He normally brings some nice wines."
From the Sydney Morning Herald today..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Remember at the Tour last year...
… we heard that after the Annecy TT, Tony stormed into the hotel bar, swearing in a variety of languages, and promptly downed a ‘calming’ beer?
¡Así, así, así gana el Madrid!
I not only remember it, I talked about it, but thanks for the link :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Well there you go.
The opinionator of that piece did clearly state that it was in the afternoon when Spartacus entered the hotel bar in a rage. The “rule” I keep hearing references to is drinks after dinner, not before and during so the rule wouldn’t apply in this case. More importantly were Tony’s words and why wasn’t this uncovered in the spring? You’ve been holding back.
Several "Vaffancullos!" later, Cancellara had just about calmed down. He then sank a cold beer and threatened to "buy a motorbike to do my next time trial on."
And now he's sharing his secrets... good man.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
No way!
Wait, is this Stuart “I can’t believe how much easier it is to ride the tour when you don’t have a couple of bottles of red every night” O’Grady?
Drinking by directors is a bigger problem in my opinion. I remember being told by one that he couldn’t remember anything that had happened that morning, this includes driving a car and so on, when you think of how dangerous this is…..wow. I watched him unbelievably drink 2 or 3 bottles of red the night before, he was drunk as a skunk the next morning and stunk of it. I think should they should start breathalysing the drivers before each stage!
I saw a mechanic so off his face once that he fell asleep with an allen key in his hand.
next time....don't forget the gravy!!
Stuey denies staying out all night.
I've nothing against Zabriskie, but to be honest, I think I'm a little bit better looking--Filippo Pozzato
The 'incident' happened after the TTT. From Stuey:
Mate, we stepped out of the team hotel at 10pm and stopped for a couple of beers at a bar in the local piazza," O’Grady said. "We had two beers, that’s all. …We had just ridden our guts out in the team time trial."
From The Australian..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It says further up that it happened in Tarragona...but perhaps the paper got confused!
Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!
I think Stuey was just commenting on the harshness of being sent home after what they'd done for the team at the Vuelta
not saying the incident happened after the TTT.
I've nothing against Zabriskie, but to be honest, I think I'm a little bit better looking--Filippo Pozzato
Poorly edited article then. Either way, I'm still miffed..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
not me...I read:
(Stuey) and Schleck were kicked off the Vuelta by Saxo Bank by owner Bjarne Riis for allegedly breaking a team curfew on the opening rest day of the three week grand tour at Tarragona.
So, were they kicked out for breaking a curfew on the actual rest day? Or was it the rest day when they were kicked out? Cause later the article says:
"We had just ridden our guts out in the team time trial. I don’t want to sound like I’m whinging, but the decision to pull us out of the race was harsh," the South Australian added.
So, this makes it look like the incident occurred after the TTT (back in Sevilla). But, it takes Riis 9 more days to take action? So confusing for my simple mind to read…
It does appear they went out after the TTT, but if so, I’m not getting the 9 day gap? Especially, if as Riis says, “rules were broken”. If they were broken, send them home on day 2 or something. Why wait till the rest day to send someone home for something that took place a week and a half ago?
Makes no sense, but I’m over this. Stuey and the Schlecks + Saxo are over…more proof the love is gone.
Yes, I will have an Ultra Liberal MoCo Latte please.
Hmm, yes, the word 'just' in the TTT sentence is the confusing thing here. It does seem to imply that it happened after the TTT...
…all in all it’s a confusing article. Really, who knows?
PS. The ‘understood’ thing referred to Seahorse’s state of being miffed ;)
Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!
I've decided... because I've taken umbrage... that it happened after the TTT...
that makes Riis the bad guy. I obviously can’t blame Stuey.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I agree
I’ve been saying it all along, riis never fails to humiliate a rider out the door. When frank finish an avg. top ten, he’ll get a verbal lashing from Riis, in a particularly cowardly way i’m sure. I really am so glad they’re leaving, Riis is irrational sometimes.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
by agl on Sep 8, 2010 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I was mocking my bias towards O'Grady...
I don’t like what Riis did, but ‘cowardly’ is a bridge too far for me. I prefer ‘petulant’.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
i take it a step too far
but fear not, i understand your position, i just found it a convenient bridge to build my even more ridiculously biased thoughts. At least I’m a self-aware hothead.
"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"
Riis was not in Spain after the until just recently.
He might have wanted to wait until he was in Spain with the team and make sure he had the facts straight before he acted. Of course he is clever enough to know it was going to be a tough decision and he would look like crap if he applied the rules. It seems like a pretty simple rule to follow, and the guys blew it.
Suppose they happened to pick a bar where some prospective sponsors were gathering. If a couple of the star riders from a team that was asking you to invest several million euros were out drinking during the race you’d have to consider their actions as extremely stupid. There might be some legitimately good reasons to keep the riders on short leashes, to show the sponsors you are serious about your responsibilities for instance.
But Andy said they saw Riis on their way back to the hotel
Of course, hallucinations fits with the story.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Sep 8, 2010 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
or with Andy being a two-pot screamer
That’s the only thing anyone seems to agree upon
Well then maybe we don't have the facts yet.
But Bjarne and Spartacus still hadn’t met when all the talk about the 3 million euro’s started. None of this would be a problem today if Andy had just won the Tour like they paid him to.
Robbie Mac at least knows how this drinking thing is done :)
At the podium of GP Rik van Steenbergen (he didn’t even win!)
De Koninck "Bolleke"
Apparently they’re branching out. First there was the Bollekescross, that photo of Sven ‘Parsifal’ Nys was at Dernykoers Deurne (at least according to the caption) and now at the GP RvS. I guess they focus on races around Antwerp, where the brewery is.
"you folks are a little loopy" - P. Stetina
Ah yes, the Bollekescross is always good fun.
Good thing there’s no Saxo cross team, Riis’d go apeshit.
I know you didn't mean to say "that bad"
when referring to alcohol volume.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
I support Riis in this
My take – If O’Grady stayed out late for a few extra, it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal, but Andy is another thing entirely.
Because they were both together, Riss must treat both the same under this specific circumstance.
Oh, and by the way; both Schlecks can barely stay on a bike while sober, let alone hung over; or worse still with the sauce in the system.
I’d be pretty pissed about this if I were Riss also.
I think he dealt with it all very well too.
Thanks for the laugh Ryan..
Oh, and by the way; both Schlecks can barely stay on a bike while sober, let alone hung over; or worse still with the sauce in the system.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
That was the first thing that went through my head!
I could totally see the look on Riss’s face while he tries to think of a way to keep that kid on his bike and not on the ground.
Loved it...even though Riis is still the baddy for me..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Yes... see links in this thread.
Surprisingly, it’s in the Australian press. Have you read the thread?
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Well, no
I think OctaBech refers to this article or something similar, which came, I believe, after the article in The Australian. Obviously, OctaBech could have been much clearer on this, since not everyone reads the Danish press. Riis said that O’Grady was lying, that they wouldn’t have been sent home if it was just a beer.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Sep 10, 2010 3:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I've been ill ill, which meant no Internet and TV
So when there was something I knew I automatically thought everyone knew.
Honestly I didn’t expect the foreign(including the Australian) press to overlook this version story, especially when it brings very harsh accusations.
It would be nice to know if O’Grady had responded to the picture the accusation paints of him or if he really is that kind of person who tells lies without blinking.
Who, Riis?
It’s a no win octabech. I believe o’Grady for instance, you don’t. The reality is that the people involved are all held in high regard by many. Until the barman talks, I’ll just go with the ‘home team’.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Who said there was anything to win? :s
Lately I’ve only been disappointed by the members of my favorite team and now it would seem that I have to add O’Grady to the list if he really is that thickheaded(one thing is being drunk, but being able to lie without blinking that really hurts).
I asked in the hope that O’Grady had refuted the accusation, because the reaction from Fränk doesn’t support O’Grady nor Andy(which should be a big surprise to everyone).
From the Department of Dude, Stay Out of It:
If Andy came to the Vuelta to help his brother Fränk, this was not the best way to do it. When you’re in a race, whatever race, you have to stay focused on that. Riis is not afraid to call the shots as a director. I would imagine it was not easy to make such an important decision, but his choice is logical.
I've seen more and more riders shaving their arms these days. I don't know why, really, I'm not tempted--the legs are already too much. It seems to come from Australia. All the Australians have shaved arms.--Matti Breschel, Oct. Cycle Sport
yeah, definitely stay out of it material
i can see where he might want to stick up for his new boss, but this isn’t the way to do it. although it might provide a little polemica to next year’s tour. people were complaining andy and bert were too friendly with each other. this might put an end to that.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
What did he say? Really?
he said you should focus on the race on are in and support your GC guy and Riis made the right move. Once again people are going to try to crap out polemica out of nowhere.
"Until you shoot me off my bike I'll keep looking for a contract" - Jens!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Danish riders are not shy to comment on the subject
Lars Bak said today on TV that the Vuelta is a race and not a “disco dasco” and that what they had done was disrespectfull.
Matti Breschel is very bitter that they treat the race that he would very much like to bee in with so little respect, he does not like what they have done.
Both are very clear in that you do not go out drinking in the middle of a big stage race.
And Andy himself have been on Danish TV and in his best sunday school manner said he was sorry, and will be back for the Italian races to redeam himself and prove to Riis that he really is sorry and have learned from the experience
by LittleOldLady on Sep 9, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
We would say stuff like this when siblings got into trouble as kids.
But then Barbie dolls were mutilated and cockroaches wound up in peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. We eventually learned to refrain from comment…or at least hide the Barbies first.
Barbie dolls were WHAT?
Monsters!
I've seen more and more riders shaving their arms these days. I don't know why, really, I'm not tempted--the legs are already too much. It seems to come from Australia. All the Australians have shaved arms.--Matti Breschel, Oct. Cycle Sport
From cycling historian Benjo Maso
Pire: ça a été une bêtise. Pour un coureur comme les autres, comme Riis, il faut un cadre disciplinaire très stricte. Mais un coureur surdoué (comme notre ami Andy) peut se surpasser après une nuit plein d’alcool et très peu de sommeil. On pense à Bartali (Milan-Sanremo 1947) ou Anquetil (Clermont-Ferrand, etc.). Je n’aurais été surpris si Andy avait gagné l’étape.
Source: http://groups.google.com/group/fr.rec.sport.cyclisme/msg/6449de6221c6a3e5
Worse: it was a mistake. For a mediocre rider like Riis, a strict disciplinary framework is required. But a gifted rider (like our friend Andy) may outperform himself after a night full of alcohol and very little sleep. One thinks of Bartali (Milan-Sanremo 1947) or Anquetil (Clermont-Ferrand, etc..). I wouldn’t have been surprised if Andy had won the stage.
"you folks are a little loopy" - P. Stetina
I can't believe this thread is going two days later
"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"
Burp! I just got in from tying one on....did someone say, beer?
Yes, I will have an Ultra Liberal MoCo Latte please.
by JustJoshinYa on Sep 10, 2010 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions
My favourite take on the situation at
http://racejunkie.blogspot.com/
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
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