Jim Leighton

Only An Excuse is like a trip to the lav the morning after a very hot curry. Knowing what's going to happen, uneasy anticipation. A full flow of shite is punctuated by moments of relief when things seem better, but not for long - it's back to the shite. There may be a bit of discomfort that won't pass until it's all over - til next time, when you'll do it all again!

Sky are now faced with the issue Brailsford himself highlighted in the past - the need to overlook certain people's past (he used the example of a 45 year old DS) in order to provide an experienced support staff to riders - where do they find them now?

Come on, Cav's unhappiness at Sky goes back months to when he was told there'd be no green jersey attempt at the Tour. And he's been linked with OPQ for not far off the same length of time, way back in July when OPQ director Brian Holm (who he worked with before Sky) stated: Cav's move to Sky has been a disaster for him and his sole aim just now is to beat Eddy Merckx's record of 34 Tour stage wins, and he's 11 off matching that. With Sky not having any interest in winning flat stages, or at least providing support to a sprinter in order to do so, Cav's chances of getting the 12 needed for the record would be slim.

A positive test requires to be positive for both the A and B sample. Yates' B sample proved negative and it was written off as a mix up of riders. Whether his was truly negative, who knows? Anyway, Brailsford was on 5Live on Thursday night and said the initial recruitment process was not to employ people with doping convictions. They've refined that to not wanting to employ anyone with a doping past, though DB did say they have to take people at their word. I don't see what else they can do. The British press would tear them to shreds if they did the Garmin approach of Hug A Doper, so at least by offering any other Barry's or Julich's in their midst contractual financial support until they've been re-employed, they can make a choice to come clean or continue to deny the past, knowing that if they're found out they'll be sacked on the spot with no support.

Then again, this week he's spoken of the Tour goal being a one-off, and again talked up his Giro aspirations. There'll be less media attention in the UK on the Giro and perhaps less GC competition. I think he will ride the Tour but it won't be as Sky's GC contender. I actually think he has a good chance at taking pink - if he puts the hours in for it. Wiggins does the Giro he will likely be the best TTer in contention for the overall and we saw at Romandie recent evidence of his uphill TTing over a similar distance with a Cat 1 climb included. He'll also have a classy squad to support him in the mountains, with Cataldo and Kiryenka added to what was there this season. The Colombians will also likely be there and I wonder if 'climbing sensation' Dombrowski will get given the chance to cut his teeth at a GT (though I doubt it). Anyway, Sky will be able to send a strong squad to support Wiggins and Froome in the first two GTs. So who will beat Brad in Italy? Purito if he goes for it perhaps though he will lose ground in the TT. Basso is past it. Scarponi might not be anywhere near cycling next season once the Ferrari case goes nuclear and again looks in decline. Nibbles? Again the TT will be a weakness. Who else? Hesjedal? Lightning doesn't strike twice IMO. Talansky? Pozzovivo or Gadret depending on who AG2R send? Costa perhaps? I still see BW.

It's Chris McLaughlin, whaddaya expect?

He's like a Bond villain caricature, Shytefinger.

What's wrong with Whyte's voice?

While I can listen to almost all of them, I really like some of the less popular ones: 1. All Time High- Rita Coolidge 2. For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton 3. Man With The Golden Gun - Lulu 4. Moonraker - Shirley Bassey 5. Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey

Yeah it did, the finish line was about 5 yards inside the ring and as each team came in they then flew out the other side. Rabobank's reaction to losing the stage to Movistar was highly amusing. I think when Sky came in a wee bit behind, they thought they'd done it. Nae luck!

The Team TT threw up a bit of a surprise with Movistar winning by 10 seconds, while Garmin had a disaster after a crash took out three of their riders. Main GC guys all within touching distance of each other, though Talansky's now well down.

Well I've found what Armageddon looks like. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19242506 A 30 minute roundup of the NI Premiership. And fuds like Watty and Speirs dare compare the SPL to it....

Back to racing, Lars Boom takes the Eneco Tour, Contador within a minute, looking good on the punchy climbs of Belgium.

Well after an increasing volume of dropped hints on Twitter, Jonathan Vaughters has finally stopped beating around the proverbial bush and has admitted being a doper with a piece today in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.c...-of-sports.html Vaughters of course being the current manager of Garmin-Sharp and former rider with US Postal. He doesn't say in the article above, but on Twitter last week he said that he stopped doping once he left Armstrong's USPS to sign for clean outfit Credit Agricole and quit halfway through a 4 year contract with the latter as he could not get results without doping and didn't want to let his manager down by losing. Faced with the choice of taking big money for losing or having to dope again to win and justify his contract, he quit. Andreu, Vaughters, Landis, Hamilton - 4 USPS riders to have confessed. A further four - Hincapie, Leipheimer, Vande Velde and Zabriskie - rumoured to have testified against the wonderboy. tick tock. And of course, Vaughters 'never tested positive'.

My god, just had the misfortune to listen to a few of the customers on Your Call - ok, this is a bit of a 'Titanic Sinks' observation but Sevco fans contain some of the thickest individuals to waste oxygen on our corner of the globe. 'Mal' in particular. Chunt.

Did he once go into the red in the Tour? The most knackered he's looked all season was coming down off Box Hill! Contador is certainly playing it cagey in the Eneco, he's barely been seen, though miles of flat aren't exactly his bag. The time trial today should be a good indicator of his condition ahead of next weekend, wonder if he'll be wearing the leader's jersey going into tomorrow's 'Flanders classic' stage, Muur et al.

She also wrote about this chap: A likely candidate to feature in this story before too long...

Contador is back - live on Eurosport 2 now.

And the worst of the worst is the likes of the aforementioned Provan, and Murdo McLeod who grew up blue noses and played for the other cheek. And 'Old Firm' Archie.

Journalist: Martin Hannan, who co-wrote Lennon's autobiography. You cannot get more 'succulent' than that.

Oops.

Taylor Phinney is a good bet for the podium today.

Was it not a load of old timers on £500+ a week?

Centre court the noo - Ibrox in January.

No shortage of mercenaries out there. Hopefully it won't take The Rangers 140 years to go the way of their disgraced ancestors.