Jonas Vingegaard Is BACK & The Curious Doping Case Of Andrea Piccolo | GCN Racing News Show

[@gcnracing]

What shape will Jonas be at the tour? 🇫🇷

[@whatwelearned]

Not good enough to beat Pogacar I'd expect

[@davidbee8178]

@@whatwelearned Agree - I feel he might be okay in the first week but into the mountain . . . mmmm not too sure - I think Pogi will be okay barring any serious incidents and that his UAE teammates support him well as usual.

[@allisgood.6191]

Pogi will choke and blow up as usual in TDF

[@jaysparc]

I think it depends greatly on whatever medical enhancement he is receiving.

[@davidbee8178]

I hope Jonas will l be okay but I give Pogi a better chance in the second and third weeks barring any misfortune and rolling into Nice wearing the Yellow Jersey

[@davidleiper1]

Loving the fact that you have independence again. Let the good times roll!

[@jean-jacqueslavigne3109]

That’s a saga I want to read more about.

[@gcnracing]

We can't wait to keep moving forward 🙌

[@davidconsumerofmath]

What happened???

[@dannystaten5701]

I'll be shocked if Jonas wins. I know that pros are way different than us mortals, but I had a bad crash with similar injuries (though I needed two surgeries which hurt my recovery time for sure). That being said, it's felt insanely hard to get back into the swing of things. I wish him the best of luck, and am honestly amazed he's starting at all.

[@mracer8]

You are assuming he actually sustain those injury and not just faking it and been sandbagging?!!! only next year Netflix Unchained will we found out the truth!!

[@Shadowboost]

​@@mracer8if you watch the video of him going into concrete, it is easily plausible

[@Soli11]

@@mracer8 He's not faking it, come on. Look at how bad the crash was and how injured those around him also were. He was not in hospital for 12 days just to create a story.

[@gcnracing]

Ouch! We hope you're back up and running soon 👀 It's going to be tough that's for sure! Will he be able to last the full tour?

[@dannystaten5701]

@@gcnracing yeah, I've been riding since March. It's been harder to get back to full strength than I'd expected, but I'm mostly back now

[@oakdk4075]

If Jonas just get a stage win, it will be great :)

[@jackal6234]

Dude barely wins a stage in TdF

[@jonjust7796]

I don’t see him winning, but his participation is honourable

[@gcnracing]

Really! Never underestimate Jonas 👀

[@jannan_art]

@@gcnracing even Benoot is sceptical about JV…

[@mitcho53]

He isn't going to win without Seppy

[@JoseBravo-nu2he]

I agree with you 100%! It’s going to be the best TDF in years!

[@LeeLee-fi7mx]

Would have been so much better if 3 of the top 4 riders were not involved in that horrific crash earlier this year 😞

[@gcnracing]

We can't wait 🙌

[@ideabaux]

How? If we all know there is only one person who is healthy and good enough to win (Pogi), then it sounds like it will be pedantic. Unless, of course, you're just a Pogi lover and you only care that he wins and doesn't have to battle anyone for it (which seems boring).

[@miche_amico]

I'm a huge fan of Jonas and will be happy to see him start at the Tour but I wonder if he's pushing too hard by going. It's so hard to know what his shape will be. I thought he might skip the tour and go the Vuelta instead. Either way I wish him all the best.

[@claire2088]

visma have said he can't go to vuelta due to family circumstances, so it was le tour or nothing

[@zacandsarahp]

I saw Vingegaard training near Tignes last week (and got a photo with him 😊) - he was looking good.

[@jean-jacqueslavigne3109]

And next to me he would look awesome

[@gcnracing]

Did the camera struggle to focus 💨

[@AlessioPunzi]

Dan you look very healthy indeed. Keep up the great job

[@pattykake7195]

Would love to see Jonas take the hat trick…he will be a super man if he does..👍🏽

[@peterwagner9129]

Jonas can not be in the shape of his live but he has the balls to show up at the TDF, chapeau!

[@rderouck]

It's been three days since I heard the news of Anna VDB's comeback and I still can't believe it. Possibly the best news for women's cycling this year

[@Andy_ATB]

Why? It smacks of desperation from SDWorx.....

[@rderouck]

@@Andy_ATB Anna was a jewel of cycling so I'm excited to see her back on the bike. A decision to return to one of the hardest professional sports on earth must have come from her own desire for competition

[@SF_Native]

Piccolo took 'unnamed substances from Columbia'? Sounds like he had a good time then mate! ❄

[@nicolaischartauandersen8796]

Visma more or less said it themselves: they are 'hoping he(Vingegaard) can be competitive'. In more honest jargon, this means: "He's not 100%, but we've had a shit season, we have sponsor issues, TdF is the biggest stage, and we're hoping to get something - anything, really - positive out of this Tour.' My prediction is that UAE will totally dominate and put 3 guys in the top 5. It will never get exciting; Roglic is past his prime, Jonas is just not there on form, and Remco will falter in the high mountains.

[@danielkaminske5048]

I think Jonas will surprise you.

[@jean-jacqueslavigne3109]

@@danielkaminske5048I kind of think so too.

[@jimwhite4270]

Jumbo kept their cards close. Think you’ll be eating UAE leather in 4 weeks

[@Bozza36]

@@danielkaminske5048 Agreed. Even in sub-optimal form, the man that put 7+ minutes into Pogacar can never be doubted. He is a different breed in the high mountains.

[@danielkaminske5048]

@@Bozza36 people forget how much fast he is when they complain that Pogacar is suspect at how fast he is.

[@rolopolo66]

Barring injury or illness, Pogi is likely to Waltz into yellow and keep it for the full three weeks

[@NullUnit2]

Nothing curious about Piccolo, he's been trafficking out of Columbia. The amount he had wasn't 'personal', he's bringing it in for a bunch of people and probably has been for a while (police have been on his case for a while). Question is who was he supplying?

[@emveeess839]

This..

[@Ireallylikeeggs]

He's supplying me. I'm now 8'2" and jacked as hell.

[@peterdobos1606]

The Belgian Men's National champs was likely the most stacked field so far this year.

[@kestralrider313]

I think we're all guessing at this point as to how Jonas will perform, but I'm sure there will be many posters with strong feelings one way or another. Only his teammates and those with access to his power data really know how close he is to last year's amazing form. I suspect that he will be "competitive", but returning to last year's form would be challenging and he's not facing the same Pogacar. Pogi seems to be at peak form and easily stands out as the favorite for the TDF this year, despite having the Giro miles and fatigue in his legs. Whatever happens, this should an exciting TDF given all four tour giants/favorites are in the same TDF. Will UAE dominate in the same fashion that Visma did in the 2022 tour? This year's Visma is still strong, but not was it was in past 2 years.

[@petersteen5378]

Team Visma Can let the other teams dp the hard work in the first week and concentrate on protecting Vingegaard. If Vingegaard do not lose to much time in the first week, Visma Can make week two and there extremely hard, and we know Vingegaard is a beast in the last week. I wouldn`t count him out

[@CrescentRollCarl]

I love that Jonas is back, but having had a very similar set of injuries myself, I would be very surprised if he's anywhere near 100%. Beyond the injury itself, which took a good 6 months to feel 100% from, there was a mental block with speed that took even longer. I'm no pro cyclist though.

[@petersteen5378]

Jonas was Quickly back in the sadle and he has been badly injured a couple of times before. He might not be 100%, but he is properly 97-98% - otherwise Visma would not have entrede the tour with a strong team to support his GC ambitions.

[@turtleneck369]

true but you did not probably get best doctors,nutrition and expert that watches you constantly and cheking up on you as Jumbo does and their team + docs specialist on him so for athletes like him its usually way faster in terms of recovery healing ,... still i will be shocked if he can compete for win or podium

[@wimdeclercq7144]

Sep Kuss dropping out is gonna be a big setback for Visma LAB

[@nathanschroepfer9483]

J.Vaulters has been around doping before if memory serves correct, L.A. might want to chime in on this one, HAHA

[@deanwaring6100]

Clean as mud, I know this, but I'll be watching 😊

[@halloweenjack2562]

By '...should be one of the best ever TdF's....' I hope you don't mean another ....one of the best ever races for SECOND place ever...!

[@michaelhoy4249]

Actually the GC field is so deep that positions 2-20 should be highly contested this year.

[@scottwilliammackay2564]

I think this could be a great tour too Dan. It just feels like stuff could happen, let’s hope so.

[@dhldt1021]

Not good to hear about Katie Archibald, hope she makes a speedy recovery. I don't think Jonas will have the fitness late in the Tour to compete for first place on the podium, but he well may take another spot though if he's feeling good.

[@JasonOFlaherty]

I wonder if they let Sepp and Wout have a longer leash to see what they can get into a good position for some accolades, then pivot to either of them

[@freddyjisp6452]

Sepp will choke

[@MitchBoyer]

I'm 1000000% here for the podium dog trend 🎉

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Hard to beat Adam Yates at that game though.

[@summarity]

Yes, more of Yates' cloud please

[@kevjr_kev7218]

I hope the whole of Visma squad do amazing.. Rooting for Visma..

[@gerardmcnamara9997]

Good stuff bring the Tour, Gerry Clare Ireland.

[@kyle_c936]

0:58 You get a prize if you can tell me why the Dutch cyclocross and road racer Annemarie Worst has a _teckel_ - dachshund - dog, same as Pidders' two. The answer's quite subtle but obvious if you have even a smattering of Dutch (that's a clue)... (It's not the only reason she has him, of course - his name's Hugo and she loves him to bits - or even the main reason, but it might not have happened otherwise.)

[@davidfrye7713]

Worst is sausage in English, or wurst in German 😀I have a little male sausage dog named Johannes and a female Belgium Malinois named Chyna.

[@mathewkirk1748]

If Wout for example, is prepared to play the bulldozer in the first week and drag Jonas’ ass to anywhere near close to Pogi, then I think Jonas could ride himself into form throughout the middle stages and make the last week interesting with Kuss and co pulling strongly. This obviously depends on the team members putting any personal ambitions aside and burning every match available for Jonas’ cause. That is the only way I see it happening. Conversely, Visma may be perfectly fine with a solid podium for Jonas and a few stage wins for the lads - there would be no shame in that either.

[@martinhoppe9511]

Hope a good and fair battle 😊 for my Favorites😊😊

[@brucegelman5582]

No way Vingo is in Tour winning shape so soon.Its his American team mate thats green lit.Go Matteo!!!!!

[@tomblackwell4924]

The surest sign that you won't do well is bragging before you start. Jonas said a "just happy to be here" press statement. Glad for his personal and press smarts.

[@edhill8568]

Vingegaard was in the hospital for 12 days which should have been mentioned especially when hospital stays are typically so short.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Its going to be fascinating. Pogacar is obviously in fine form if he has recovered from the Giro but I bet he has. I suspect there will be fireworks from the off. I hope Vin has recovered.

[@loucasa]

Obviously this came out before the announcement that Kuss is out. How does this affect your evaluation?

[@gilescudmore7325]

no mention of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national champion? he is called Zefal Bailey, which is amazing, to me anyway.

[@matthewschreiner2039]

Why is the doping case curious? I'm surprised GCN is reporting about it. Especially, since it concerns one of its guest pundits on Discovery+.

[@johnwestwell2241]

It's curious because the team wanted to terminate his contract when he was found to have taken the sleeping pills, but couldn't - as the video makes clear. And he then almost immediately was arrested for trafficking illegal drugs, which is - to put it mildly - evidence of stupidity. Here's the report from Cycling Weekly: 'In a statement released to the public on Friday, EF Pro Cycling announced it has terminated its contract with Italian rider Andrea Piccolo, effective immediately, following the 23-year-old's second run-in with risky substances this year. The team revealed that Piccolo was internally suspended in March for taking a sleeping aid that, while not illegal, was not approved by the team. The team says it also reported the usage of the substance to the UCI at that time. The team indicates that it couldn't terminate Piccolo's contract then due to "legal reasons surrounding UCI standard rider contract."' GCN is reporting on this story as it's racing news. They report on all racing news, as far as I'm aware, without prejudice. But you knew that.

[@JF12702]

Can’t wait!!!!!

[@DaemonGeek]

IMO, Jonas has a slim chance to win the TdF this year. Even completely healthy, it would have been difficult, as Pogi has been in top form and has not had any setbacks with respect to injury. Also, given that Visma-LaB has lost Roglic to Bora, Jonas is no longer on a superteam. Pogi only has to contend with Jonas as a GC threat. Wout Van Aert does not represent a real threat for GC, nor does Sepp Kuss. I think the 2024 TdF is Pogi's to lose.

[@estelja]

Was Pidcock on MTB wheels with fabric spokes, like Pi Rope? They looked off-white in color.

[@astewart6793]

So does this mean GCN+ will come back?

[@marvklikunas5831]

I doubt that Jonas could possibly be on form to compete with Tadej, at least in the first week. I think back to when Tadej fell at the TdF and Jonas waited for him. Wouldn't it be great if Tadej repaid the favor now and didn't attack him hard in the the first few days and, in effect, gave Jonas a chance to catch back up.

[@taxi9554]

Jonas and Team were riding hard from the start when Pogi entered the tour after his injury. They were putting him under pressure so he was not able to recover day by day. I guess same will happen to jonas this year….he will have a weak day sooner or later and blow up. And of course no one will wait

[@cereal1862]

No way Jonas has a chance of winning, but just glad he made it back so soon. After the announcement of his injuries I expected a much much long recovery.

[@whitehorsebricks2670]

There should be time bonuses for podium pets.

[@blakevk]

Can’t stand UAE but Pogi will be hard to beat this year! Hoping we”ll see some young guns win a few stages!

[@trinerd]

Tough one for EF, maybe by March they realized the kid was trouble. But at the same time, they are paying the guy a salary and need to get some return of investment. Perhaps he got a warning and agreed to do better, so they decided to race him at the Giro. Hindsight is 20/20, but we are all guilty of giving bad employees a second chance.

[@stephenmagee3766]

Right "a bad employee" only when you get caught. Seriously you think EF and all other teams are racing clean? Now who is the "bad employee"?

[@trinerd]

@@stephenmagee3766 you are all over the place, let me try to help organize your thoughts: -I don't know what EF does or doesn't do, neither do you. Whatever the kid took back in March, was not in their program, hence why he got in trouble. -Do you really think going to Colombia and coming back with drugs is something any smart team would do as part of their supplement program?

[@AllenStauffer]

4:06 Sadly, no Kuss from what I’ve read. 😢 Poor recovery from COVID if what I saw is accurate.

[@marktucker6749]

GCN is not independent when it comes to doping journalism. Doping didn’t end with LA in the Tour.

[@ismegood8969]

congrats on the independence!

[@AlexWatson-t1f]

How do they do it? How do they ride as fast as Armstrong et al?

[@kennykaniff]

If Jonas comes back as the Jonas we've always known it will be VERY sus!! His performances are already sus in the eyes of many so if he comes back and smashes on everyone like he always does it will be the final bit of proof for many 🤘🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@konradmarais7726]

@GCNracing Dan, if they brought back Valverde and Dumoulin, and that was the only battle in the upcoming TdF, you would still feel it in your bones! 😂 #excitement

[@phillippitts6294]

Piccolo was the sacrificial lamb. This way they can say we’re catching the dopers , all the while letting the big boys get away with it. Maybe we should just let them take anything they want to race .🤷🏼‍♂️

[@quabumsel4734]

I hoped it was Jan Ulrich for Ineos

[@kublaios]

It's a shame that all three major competitors of Pogacar are coming from an injury. Maybe Kuss can try to hold onto him and Jonas goes after Vuelta this time. Nonetheless, looking forward!

[@Jackisaboss1208]

I love Sepp but I don’t think he’s that guy

[@thisstuschannel]

And unfortunately we won't even know now...

[@gideonmthembu8693]

Its too much to ask for JV to win this tour. We know its interesting to have him there, but the injuries he had in April were too much. Give it to Pogy 5o double

[@chrisscott8362]

BACK!!🎉

[@hroosthuizen]

I think the fun/intrigue will be watching positions 2-10. But cant see how Tadej cant win barring an accident.

[@robertgiguere875]

It’s going to be a race for second. Pogacar and his team are too strong

[@richardharris8538]

For emojis, how about ones illustrating, for example: bonking, winning, crashing, free-wheeling? I think these, and others, might augment some of our written comments.

[@whatwelearned]

Sure he won the Giro but if Pogacar can't win the tour with that squad and a broken JV then you'd have to say it would be a failure.

[@123oner2]

No Sepp....

[@Normally_aspirated]

It's Wout Van Aert's year!!

[@larshansen4557]

Jonas might be there to prep for the vuelta , as a dane i dont think he is a contender, then again , until the crash he had won al he did , but still iys poggi

[@lpeters2777]

Enjoy these videos, thank you for putting them together. However, what happened to your website? There was lots of great content, what happened? GCN had become my go-to for info after being so disappointed by other popular cycling news sites.

[@johnwestwell2241]

It was closed after the buy-back from Warner Brothers to save costs.

[@gerrysecure5874]

Doesn't matter what they say. Its all tactics and deception. It may be true he has the power initially, but I doubt he has the stamina for 3 weeks. But then, what do I know whats actually hip on the latest juice front.

[@davefisher7177]

UAE will go all out at the beginning to test JV. They have the strength of teal that Jumbo did last year and I cant see them being beaten this year.

[@andreemurray7039]

I thought Dan was going turn pro again!!!!

[@roadracer1584]

I want Jonas to three-peat but his injuries were too serious, he didn't have not enough recovery time, and he did not have enough race preparation. Pogacar is on fire and will likely win this year's TdF.

[@taylorlayton4508]

No Sepp Kuss anymore :( Sad.

[@alikabok-es4sx]

Jonas, has done zero racing since his injury. While Pogacar has been winning right and left. Unless the Fates intervened, this year, is Pogacar's year.

[@nockee]

I have punctured lungs and broke collarbone. It’s not easy to come back from that fast let alone beat the best in the world. Will be surprised if he is at the top of his game.

[@peterdobos1606]

Dan - please do us a favour and teach Marty how to pronounce "Marjerus" ;P

[@lookinforanick]

If I didn't live in Germany I would call Anna Hessmanns case "insanity". But I do, and know how silly rules and their application can be. Tho in fairness each country has its own idiosyncrasies here or there. Sure, it's the responsibility of each athlete to also double down as a chemist and have a lab to test each pill they take for vestigial impurities. Bloody hell

[@timgreenhalgh2016]

It would be a miracle if Jonas can defend his title successfully. Definitely agree, the best Tour in years is on the cards. Good luck with the new set-up at GCN.

[@njd2579]

not sure I would call it the best tour in years since there is undoubtedly a clear favourite to take the win, altough I do hope vingegaard can put up a fight.

[@georgehugh3455]

12:56 That photo of German cyclist Michel Hessman looks suspiciously like GCN's Conor Dunne...and given that Conor will eat anything - and often - one can understand how he could have ingested a banned substance.

[@calvin1148]

Obviously Tom Pitcock or Ineos priority for him isn’t the Tour, why do such a small race when he could be road training? Bizarre

[@kurtg3891]

glad to know the pros are still using drugs to go so fast, i would hate to think the Giro just set a new record speed this yr just because the current generation of cyclists were all simply trying to pedal harder !

[@jannan_art]

Donˋt expect the podium. Remeber Froome… 😔

[@songofyesterday]

Jonas surely had some muscle atrophied or with the lung puncture, now has scar tissue in there. Reducing aerobic performance from what it used to be. I hope he can give Pogacar some good competition, but not expecting any stage wins.

[@robertrice1689]

I’m afraid the lack of training and racing will make it very difficult for Jonas to win this year.

[@80y3r9]

It's not a blow to ef, they caught him n dealt with it

[@sunshinecycling]

Last I checked, sleep aids do not aid in performance...other than getting a full night of sleep. lol. The better question is why Andrea has a GoPro on his bike in a race (5:11).

[@darkiee69]

Still not on the approved medication list, hence it's illegal.

[@alexmites]

I do not think you know about doping substances enough to make such statement without sounding gullible

[@johnwestwell2241]

@@darkiee69 It was only EF that didn't allow those sleeping pills - they weren't banned by WADA or the UCI.

[@troycollett8540]

He was caught using it and the team gave him a warning as it’s not illegal

[@esrepu]

If Jonas wins everyone: but pogi rode the giro. If Jonas looses: pogi is just better.

[@ivanstrle346]

Jonas will be TdF2024 champion. Tadej and Matteo will be second and third.

[@christosandreev6392]

Let's hope Vingegaard is going to be in a good shape. Otherwise, it will be a boring TDF

[@SergioCristancho]

70% jonas agains 110% pog ... jumbo best agains UAE best ... teams since we can recall ... I take Pog by seconds

[@seanmccuen6970]

vingegaard is simply a rider trying to come back from serious injury. the fact he won it last year can't touch that.

[@gr8whenyrstr8]

I want pogacar to win, sep would be a better team captain than vinegar to make it a better competition UAE are flying so it’s a no brainer.

[@terry2833]

Jonas to win 2024 TDF 100%

[@altafari]

Dan my have buried the headline. If you know then you know the kind of merciless beating Tadej is about lay down on everyone in the tour. It going to look like the Giro maybe even more.

[@IverKnackerov]

Podium dogs ?….. no, no, no

[@BradNichols-e1d]

I couldn't keep track of all these titles. Maybe go a bit slower....

[@GOLTEB]

Dog wearing rainbow jersey as well! Lol

[@will44bott]

Vaughters being a knob, shock

[@porky1027]

I like Jonas but Pogacar has been at optimal level.. I think if Jonas can't make a challenge this would be a one sided tour with no challengers..after the first week its safe to watch something else

[@krzysztofbodzianowski6858]

Maybe because his is after crash and he has no high expectations Jonas will be much much dangerous to others GC riders😏😏