David Millar to mentor BC young cyclists

Which has gone down like a lead balloon with pros, ex-pros & members!

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20160211-gb-cyclingteam-news-Great-Britain-Cycling-Team-staffing-update-0

probably a lot of people just want to be seen making the right noises. Whilst not particularly a DM fan, I can’t really think of anyone better for the job.

I get that people want to protect the young riders from doping, but given all the dopers (current and past) were persuaded into it by ‘clean’ riders and managers, does anyone actually think he is worse than anyone else, especially given the focus on him. As I see it pretty much the entire argument against Miller is the fact people want to keep punishing him (which is fair enough).

That’s good of him, Working on a Voluntary basis until the end of the Month when he will then take on the role on a more permanent basis.

Jobs for the Boys,

I would trust someone who has been caught and turned their attitude around over the pious holier than though brigade (most of whom are just lucky enough to have kept their secrets hidden).

Jobs for the Boys

ex pro cyclist getting involved in coaching pro cyclists shocka!

I think it is a good idea. He seems to have an intelligent and realistic approach to things. I agree with the comment above that most people seem to just want to see him continually punished. He’ll have a good understanding of the pressures youngsters coming through the ranks face. I guess he will be able to offer more than telling them “drugs are bad, mmmkay”.

jonba, Do you think he dosn’t know any one there then? He’s done it alone.

And although it may seem unfair to continually punish some one for something they have done wrong it seems a bit unfair to me reward some one who has been caught doing things illegal.

And if you put yourself in the young Pro Athlete’s shoes instead of poor old David Millar, Where is the detterant?
Because i’d just look at it as getting away with it and getting a bunk up. But that’s just me.

As a Parent, and if my Son was going to another Country to train and aspire to be the best personally i would want a different kind of Mentor, Otherwise the previous 15 Years worrying about him would have “For Me” (as a parent) been a complete and utter waste of time.

Of course he has a wealth of experience, but i’m not interested in that because he’s a lying cheating bastard.

Especially as he only fessed up because he got caught!!!! Not because he came forward as the guilt was too much.

I don’t mind DM but I really don’t think he should be working with kids and mentoring younger riders. There are loads of other suitable people out there who would be better placed to advise.

Outside of the specific Miller case, all this has done is blow open the doors to the big murky box marked “ex dopers”. Basically, if you want a clean sport, it’ll be very very empty because EVERYONE who raced a bike, coached riders, managed a team etc at that level anytime from the 1950’s onwards has been exposed to doping in some way, shape or form. Even if they never touched it themselves, they knew it was happening.

That’s why it was so difficult for Dave B to staff Team Sky.
Riders move on into management, coaching etc (cos it’s the only thing they know how to do), the wheel rolls round again.

It doesn’t help that the public perception of dopers is very different from case to case.
Rios, Landis, Hamilton – mostly ignored, forgotten about.
Armstrong – pariah forever, death is too good blah blah
Pantani – flawed/tragic hero
Simpson – British cycling legend
JTL – unrepentant cheating **** or genuine case of “false positive”?
Miller – very much 50:50, some think he’s done good, suffered his punishment; some that he still deserve to burn in hell!

He’s a really nice bloke.

I really couldn’t think of anyone better placed for the job.

Afterall he’s been through and come out the other side, his life experiences and professional experiences all add up to a great role model for the young.

He certainly knows a thing or two..

Gets my Vote, if I had a vote.

Great bloke.

Probably one of the best people to do that, given his experience and understanding of the pressures on young riders I think it’s a great thing. I assume all those against would be against any kind of rehabilitation for people who have done wrong.

I’ve always given him the benefit of the doubt. Racing in the Dark doesn’t strike me as a work of fiction. I genuinely think he’s trying to make amends for his wrongs.

Nope, he’s dirty cheating scum and shouldn’t be allowed to be employed by any cycling team, race organizer or national body, or allowed into any race or training venue and if that means a huge clear out of all the others too, I’d say that’s the absolute minimum cycling should be doing if it wants any credibility.

I’m glad they sensible enough to ignore all the haters. Great bloke.

I’m not against rehabilitation for those who have done wrong, And maybe i should have looked at this thread through the eyes of a Cyclist instead of the eyes of a parent? But i didnt’t.

I’m sure that there was a time as crazy-legs suggests that almost everyone surrounding the sport knew someone who was, is or has been doping.

I’m lead to believe that there was once a time at the BBC that you could openly practice the act of a sexual deviant, I wouldn’t want these people working with youngsters “although they were” but now we know are we OK to assume that everything is fine because they have gone through a period of rehab,

Maybe he can open doors into the Pro Teams, maybe his tactical awareness as a pro rider in the Peleton will be of benefit to these younger up and comming athletes but as i said, he got caught. And as a Mentor? i’d want my son to be Mentor’d by some one who has a clean wrap sheet as opposed to a dirty one,

And as a Mentor? i’d want my son to be Mentor’d by some one who has a clean wrap sheet as opposed to a dirty one,

Given that all sports have a drug problem I’d rather kids were told it straight by somebody who has paid his dues, served his time and become one of the strongest anti doping spokes people out there.

I’d sort of agree with Mike on this.

Not really a surprise either seeing as he’s good buddies with Brailsford.

Though reading Nicole Cooke’s biography at the moment… I suspect I can guess what her opinion on this would be!

Mike thats great, Good for you,

But if i was 17, i’d think hey, look at this OLD fart, he’s been there done it Got the T shirt, “Literally”
Cheated, Got caught and lived to tell the tale, AND he’s still involved in the sport at THE HIGHEST level.

Hell, If he can do that after he got caught, If i do it AND dont get caught, what’s in it for me.
And if everyone else is doing it? why cant i?

Two wrongs don’t make a right, And just because other sports are now tarnished with the drug problem i personally would like to see Cycling take two steps forward and move away from the tarnish instead of employing Disgraced Ex cyclists, Aaaaand i know he went on to great things after he got caught, that doesn’t change the fact that he did it.

Honestly, some of the attitudes on here. The keyboard righteous rule supreme. Yes Millar did wrong and he needs to move on.

At least give him that chance.

After reading his first book, its clear that while there was pressure for him to “prepare” properly, he had other choices… he kept with Cofidis despite knowing he would be expected to dope. I think he did this for the money and to satisfy his rather large ego.

Honestly, some of the attitudes on here. The keyboard righteous rule supreme. Yes Millar did wrong and he needs to move on.

At least give him that chance.

Sure, he’s a smart able bodied bloke, there are plenty of jobs out there that are nothing to do with cycling.

Given that all sports have a drug problem I’d rather kids were told it straight by somebody who has paid his dues, served his time and become one of the strongest anti doping spokes people out there.

This is my stance too. I can see the other side but don’t entirely agree with it.

Rumbledethumps, I think he’s had the chance, Dont you? he had the opportunity to conduct his professional Career and then move on to coaching Elite Athletes,

Maybe it’s something he’s always wanted to do and never factored “Getting Caught” into the equation.

I wonder if the Yanks will embrace Armstrong so kindly with open arms if he decides to Mentor their Nations next crop of young elite pro cyclists?

Now, where did i put rose my rose tinted specs,

I think he’ll be good. But more importantly is why is this a surprise he is mates with Brailsford so is his sister. He was the captain on the road for GB when Cav won the worlds, he’s been involved with BC for years. BC have worked with plenty of other folk with dodgy pasts without much concern.

What Nicole Cooke thinks I couldn’t care less about, she lives in some weird black and white universe that revolves around her massive ego.

But if i was 17, i’d think hey, look at this OLD fart, he’s been there done it Got the T shirt, “Literally” Cheated, Got caught and lived to tell the tale, AND he’s still involved at the sport at THE HIGHEST level.

Conversely; “Hey kids this is David Millar, he could have been the first Bradley Wiggins, a multi millionaire, first Brit to win the TDF and friend of Paul Weller, but he’s not, he took drugs and now he’s here babysiting you little s***s and dealing with your holier than thou parents who don’t think you’ve ever taken any drugs cycling related or otherwise”.

2 reasons why you need drugs cheats in the staff of teams, it gives the ex-cheats somewhere to go after confessing/getting caught/spilling the beans, without that why would they say anything and risk losing their livelyhood? “Poacher turned gamekeeper”, if Chris Carmichael is to be believed he really did think his training plans were behind Armstrongs success, at least Millar will have the sense to question any unusual results.

coming out and exposing drug cheats out of the blue / off your own back always works ….

look at paul kimage – he was basically fobbed off and hounded out of cycling over his book. They said he was just a bitter loser that was blaming it on drugs.

read the book again today – it has a whole different meaning now.

but back on point I cant think of anyone better for the mentoring roll.

Jobs for the Boys,

This appears to be how the whole world of pro-cycling operates so it’s a bit weird to object on that basis over DM alone.

After reading his first book, its clear that while there was pressure for him to “prepare” properly, he had other choices… he kept with Cofidis despite knowing he would be expected to dope. I think he did this for the money and to satisfy his rather large ego.

Agree strongly. I liked him before I read his book, but then thought he was an irritating narcissist.

Should BC have a zero tolerance approach like Team Sky? I’m not convinced but I do think a history of cheating should count as a strong negative (no pun intended) in the employment process.

I do think a history of cheating should count as a strong negative (no pun intended) in the employment process.

Expect it does. I guess like a lot of things it’s how you cope with the negatives and what you’ve done wrong. You could be a great mentor by having strong values and credibility that people look up to or by having seen both sides of the line and developing a valuable perspective on it all – probably depends on the individual more than the simple facts.

Thisisnotaspoon.
I agree with both sides of the argument, BUT i’m still in the “Look what you could have won” Camp as oposed to the win at all costs regime.

Poacher turned gamekeeper, Looking for unusual spikes in training is fine working with the likes of Cav etc, i know he works well and is commited to righting the wrongs but i’m just against him working with the youngsters, i mean be honest, who actually listened when the local copper who came into school and told you that if you didn’t behave you would end up with a criminal record?

You cant tell a 17 year old who think’s he’s invincible that something bad is gonna happen, especially when the person telling you is living proof that even when you do get caught, And i just asked my son who Paul Weller is, he said did he playy for England in the 1966 World Cup.
There’s no hope!!!!!!!

In the stw moral maze there is nothing but right and wrong. I’m. Assuming not many in here have been a pro on the tour scene, being surrounded by 100% clean guys pushing drugs a day basically telling you it’s this or your out. As in there is no way to keep your job clean after all every one is doing it. The fact he came out the way he did is a credit to character. I remember when at school they brought in reformed drug dealers to talk to you. Some of them left lasting impressions about how their decisions had screwed their lives. If you are on surrounded by the good people or those still pretending then you won’t be equipped to deal with the ones who want to corrupt you.

At least he’ll know what substances to avoid. I don’t particularly like him for his deception but he has experience of the pro peleton in spades so why not use it

In the stw moral maze there is nothing but right and wrong.

Not sure we’re reading the same thread here, I’m seeing some very perceptive opinions on the subject.

Sorry I was referring to the kill him burn him lot

i mean be honest, who actually listened when the local copper who came into school and told you that if you didn’t behave you would end up with a criminal record?

Those that didn’t may have listened more to the guy who’d done time and told you how messed up his life became until he turned it around by whatever means.

As we can see, when it comes to DM, for some no amount of rehabilitation and repentance will ever be enough. They would have you believe he sketched it all out on an envelope as a career plan:

Get Pro Contract
Fight conscience, teammates and predominant cycling culture of the time and accept Professionalism and dope
Get caught
Start fake repentance plan
Show contrition
Become anti-doping campaigner
Get new pro contract
Ride clean
Write book
Get Media gigs
Retire
Get more media gigs
Get coaching gig

I have never met DM, but I do not think he is that cynical or hypocritical.
He could have had an easy life as a DS on Astana or Tinkoff for instance, but readily admits he is an ex-doper when so many others cannot, so I can see why BC believe there is a value he can bring to youth development.

be honest, who actually listened when the local copper who came into school and told you that if you didn’t behave you would end up with a criminal record?

You cant tell a 17 year old who think’s he’s invincible that something bad is gonna happen, especially when the person telling you is living proof that even when you do get caught,

Agreed, but that’s not we’re not talking the local beat bobby are we (that would be UCI/WADA/UKAD), this is more “local celebrity who took drugs and is now doing this”. And he didn’t get away with it did he, he never became the Wiggins or Froome esque superstar he might have done otherwise.

And i just asked my son who Paul Weller is, he said did he playy for England in the 1966 World Cup.
There’s no hope!!!!!!!

I blame the drugs, how are kids these days supposed to appreciate music when all they have to do it with are beats by dre headphones and re-packaged pant food.

if Chris Carmichael is to be believed

😆 😆

From the guy who was involved in blood transfusions at the LA olympic games, pull the other one. And LA says he told him about his use of PED’s in 1995.

😆

There was an implicit “well at least Millar isn’t Carmichael” :-p

As an aside, do we think Millar has been as honest as possible about his doping?

I remember getting a bit of an itchy chin when I read his book.

And the fallout beings…

http://road.cc/content/news/178485-vin-cox-resigns-british-cycling-over-david-millar-role