A few thoughts (and I agree 100% with alathIN above):
Sagan doesn't win because he's the absolute fastest or strongest among the sprinters. He's not. And he loses sometimes to guys who are, Gaviria or Griepel to name two. He wins because he's cannier than other sprinters, he sees opportunities they don't, he handles the bike like it's part of his body, he times his moves (usually) impeccably, and when things go right, he puts in a very good burst of speed, and (just watched S13) throws his bike at the line better than anyone. What he *doesn't* do is crash, or miss the time cut, or pound his handlebars when he doesn't win. I don't see any way you can attribute his accomplishments to doping, and if so, then give me some of whatever he's taking.
Further: my wife and daughters love him. They don't count the butt-grab against him, it was rude and immature but a joke, not harassment. Wife watched a video of Sagan's exercise routine, said it was amazing: he is incredibly flexible. (I am just fine with her watching Sagan exercise; if she feels a bit frisky later on, so much the better, though insisting I grow my hair out and wear a Bora jersey to bed is pushing it a bit.)
I can't hate Froome, he seems like a decent guy and he has remarkable skills besides an evidently freakish body. And that inhaler thing was not right, especially the way it was publicized. He's just not fun to watch, nor is the whole Sky machine. I actually like G Thomas too (someone has to keep the Mod hair going), but Sky wins and dominates in a way that just seems to suck the enjoyment out of the sport. That whole grinding, mechanical style (and Froome spinning and watching his watt meter)...and of course the fact that Sky's budget allows them to buy up what would be GC contenders and turn them into domestiques. I was describing the Tour to a colleague on a long driving trip recently, got into why we watch it, why Sagan is makes it so enjoyable, why Dan Martin has so much heart though he'll never win the Tour, why Sky almost spoils it all, and she (a baseball fan) said, 'Oh, they're like the Yankees!' I think that pretty much sums it up.
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I never think I have hit hard, unless it rebounds.
- Dr Samuel Johnson
Last edited by Chicago Al; 07-24-18 at 09:16 PM.