Loana Lecomte Parts Ways with Massi
Massi has revealed that the 2021 overall XC World Cup winner Loana Lecomte will be leaving the team after four years.
After her incredibly successful and historic first full year racing in the Elite category, Loana Lecomte is parting ways with Massi for the 2022 season. At the end of 2020, Loana extended her contract with Massi for another year ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
 | Thank you, Lolo! We have made history winning the Elite World Cup with 4 consecutive races victories! We have enjoyed wonderful years full of challenges achieved. We wish you all the best in your future goals! |
We don't know where Loana Lecomte is going to end up just yet, but we will keep you updated when we know more.
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Most of the teams have already closed their budget for 2022 anyway and I'm pretty sure she and the team are looking for a contract until Paris 24 Olympics (at least). So I was more thinking about KMC/Orbea which has lost 2 top pilots recently
After PFP left Canyon, they stayed only with Emily Batty and Laurie Arsenault as their top female riders. And even if Emily is big on social media, it's been 2 or 3 years without the results a brand like Canyon wants, and I don't think it's likely she can go back to the level she had in 2018. So it makes a lot of sense.
No news of them dropping anyone either. Canyon would be my first guess.
It's all risk vs rewards. Every lap on the DH section on the technical courses that I've seen her race, she in on the hairy edge of disaster on the technical features. She is very capable but she could extend more time on her competitors on the descents or at least keep her big lead by dropping her post. While risking nothing.
I cannot remember the race but she did wipe out once or twice on a DH section where she would not have had an issue with a dropper.
I agree that the additional weight for someone of her size may affect her climbing, but it could be overcome.
It is not in my habit to indulge myself on the networks but I wanted to talk about it to show that we are not robots, that everyone has little slack and especially to warn future champions of what is happening. may be the hidden face of high performance sport.
During this period, before and even today, I was fortunate to be accompanied, from near or far, by exceptional people who supported me and gave me back this joy of living and rage to win. I was also touched and lucky to have partners who were able to support me and understand my choices. I write these words with a light heart, a head full of goals, determination and motivation to close this great season and start the 2022 season"
The most simple explanation is probably the correct one - she had tremendous form early in the year (compared with her peers) because everyone else had done a multi-year build for Tokyo, and was planning to peak there. She burned her mental and physical matches in the first half of the season.
No need to cast aspersions with zero evidence, nor reason. Loana was dominant as a U23, we’ve seen many such female riders come in to elite and do very well, and another is on the way next season.
This isn’t a commentary on Loana, but it’s reality.
I think that the press in certain countries are especially vicious and insensitive. Also could be the negativity of social media. I hope she rises above it and has another successful year. I wish her the best.
It's not like she disappeared though, she was top 5 of every race she entered except the Olympics. She doubled her win total from any previous season, and she was on the podium in 75% of the races she entered. There are riders who would kill for their form to be "that bad."
I still believe it's pathetically cynical to assume that any successful rider (especially one with a prior track record of success, like Loana, and Tom Pidcock as well, whom people here disparaged as a potential drug user, when he's been dominant from junior racing onward, and in multiple disciplines) is drugged up when they are dominant for a stretch then fall off a bit.
Heck, it would be far more suspicious if she didn't fall off a bit - no one can hold winning form for an entire season unless they are head-and-shoulders above their peers (see Nino in earlier years, and Absalon prior to him). Again, the obvious likely reason is just timing of peaks; she wasn't hyper-focused on Tokyo as an Olympic win for her is more realistic in 3 years, while the other top women were.
Heck, she's only 22! The first few WC races WERE like the Olympics for her. No wonder she had a comedown and needed a mental break - she had already sewn up the overall, and she went from minimal media attention and hype to the maximum in the course of a few months. In my opinion, she handled it beautifully.
Timing of a peak is a huge part of being an elite cyclist. This is why it's nearly impossible to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same season. It's why Tour de France champions are often off the back in stage races only a month later. It's why 2019 Kate Courtney and Jolanda crushed it for half a season and then fought for minor placings at the end. It's why Jolanda dominated the Olympics but nothing else last year. She timed her peak perfectly.
It's cycling. Just winning is enough to raise reasonable suspicion, unfortunately. It's the sandbox these riders play in.
All this talk of peaks and fitness is hilarious in the context of the history of doping in the sport. Even riders' surveys echo the suspicions.
As they say, beating the testing is an intelligence test, after all.
Just winning isn't enough to raise "reasonable" suspicion, and it only raises suspicion in those who've never competed. The most suspicious thing about Lecomte's season was how dominant she was early on, maintaining that level of dominance would have been cause for further suspicion but that didn't happen did it, she faded just the way a clean rider would fade.
And before you talk about peaks and fitness, you might want to try training... because fitness peaks are an absolute fact, certainly more so than your presumptions of doping. Does doping happen, absolutely... is it happening at small, low budget teams like Massi where they've discovered some magical way to beat the system, no.
There's no case, reasonable or otherwise, to suggest that's true. Where doping is happening today is split among two areas; one, riders are doping and getting caught because they lack the resources to beat protocols and, two, where teams have such massive budgets and commitment to marginal gains that they can spend huge money on the support staff and systems needed to stay one step ahead. Lecomte's situation fits neither of those cases and represents a text book fitness peak for an endurance athlete her age.
@tommyrod74 What, you think the other top riders were able to "peak" at her prior levels but just chose not to?
Today, "the art" is microdosing around testing schedules to produce samples that skirt under the protocol minimums while providing a small but consistent boost throughout training that can carry over to competition throughout the year. What you're talking about is the old school, Bjarne Riis predicting his victory and then laughably stampeding away from the competition on the Hautacam in 1996 is a great example of a rider doping for a peak. That just doesn't happen today. Instead, we get very natural looking peaks with elevated output thanks to 'enhanced' training. It was once considered that anything over 6.2w/kg threshold values were assumed to be doped... now we regularly see top riders approaching 6.5w/kg and some even flirting with the 6.8-7w/kg Riis put out on that ascent.
There is literally ZERO evidence to support the assertion that Lecomte is doped...
And yes, other's could have peaked at the same time but had other targets or other issues. PFP, for example, was targeting the Olympics... Neff was recovering from a bad crash in the Pisgah over the winter... Kate Courtney was targeting a late season peak and then broke her arm at Nove Mesto. Saying they could have peaked "at her levels" just assumes that everyone else has her talent, which isn't a given. She's a legitimately generational talent, much like Tadej Pogacar, and she'll continue to put up these kinds of performances. As she ages and her endurance efficiency catches up to her raw power, she'll sustain longer peaks but, for a 22 year-old with a half dozen years of high level competition under her belt, we've seen steady progression and similar peaks her entire career.
Go on believing in the tooth fairy and enjoy your day.
Wait... you think people are still taking full dose EPO for seasonal peaks?
Bro, you just lost any credibility you thought you might have had in a modern discussion of doping. The early 90's called, they want their doping programs back. Full dose EPO hasn't been a thing for literally decades. Even in the Armstrong era, that was a dying technique that was almost entirely replaced by micro-dosing. Today, probably 20-50% of teams still employ doping but there are zero percent of them using full dose peak doping approaches.
If you're going to take the jaded approach and assuming that everyone successful is doping, at least educate yourself on how doping works in the modern world. Next up you're gonna tell us that they're still using old sodium salicylate suppositories to administer the EPO too, right?
And yes, of course I know when all these other women decided to peak as they literally f*cking announced it. Do you think Neff crashing in December was a big secret? She almost died and it was reported everywhere... do you think Prevot made it a secret that the Olympics were her goal? Nah, she was saying publicly as early as 2017 that her main goal looking ahead in her career was "about becoming an Olympic gold medalist" and setup her season accordingly.
My guy, you really need to try watching racing and getting some facts before you just start yammering away on topics you're obviously clueless about.
So now you're claiming all the other top riders just handed over the title to Loana because they couldn't be bothered to show up in top form for the season. Okay, have fun with that. Take care.
Waaaait... just so I'm clear, you think racers all just go into the season targeting top form all season long, or they all have like a meeting and say that they're all gonna try to peak for the first half of the season, or you're just trying to dodge the fact that you have literally no idea how elite level competition works or what exactly?
I suppose you think that everyone just got together and decided to give 2020 to Prevot? Or did she dope her way to winning 4 of 12 races, podiuming 10 of 12 races, and finishing top 5 in all 12 races? 2021 was an off year for her and she still managed top 5 in 16 of 22 races, podiums in 12 of 22 races, and wins in 3 of 22 races... must be dope right?
Yeah, you definitely ain't my guy bruh... if you were, you'd have a clue.
It's almost like you haven't ever competed at a high level, and don't pay attention.
Timing the peaks! Love it. How quaint.
And if you actually believe Compton was doping, using 15 year old substances at that, then I've got some oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you, it's a great deal.
Timing a peak is one of the most basic ideas in training. Literally every top pro understands and uses this concept. Don’t believe me? Go to a pro race, visit a pit and ask them yourselves.
It's sort of pointless to discuss anything with someone (you) who insists on stupid projections.
Don't let me interrupt you though, please tell us more about how athletes don't have timed peaks and you the inside secrets that contradict the public statements of all these riders... this is really good stuff.
I've give you a hint lil buddy, it isn't limited to a single year. Feel free to read up.
www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/guidelines_abp_v8_final.pdf
You talk about all the top riders peaking for the Olympics and then leave out that usual top finishers didn't even podium save for one.
You talk about riders not trying to peak for the whole season cause that's not doable and then bring up PFP season of domination to prove your point (wait, what?)
It's unclear what you're trying to say, but take up @OnTheRivet 's offer and see how that goes.
1. Go ahead and quote where I said all the top riders peaked for the Olympics.
2. PFP's season of domination is very similar to Lecomte's dominant season... ergo, not a "season" of domination, but several dominant performances in a highly successful season. This is what the best riders do, in XCO they crush the field in a few races and secure top 5's and podiums in the rest of the races where they're not peaking. Kate Courtney's breakout season in 2019 was the same... 19 of 24 races in the top 5, 16 of 24 on the podium, 10 of 24 wins. The point that your remedial comprehension seems to be struggling with here is that there's nothing abnormal about Lecomte's breakout season. This isn't uncharted territory that gives reasonable suspicion about doping, it's exactly the type of breakout performance we expect from rising stars and the type of performance we expect from established superstars.
3. Come back and try again when you have some knowledge to work from.
In any case, this has become like wrestling in the mud with a pig, and as I’ve made my point in a coherent and defensible fashion, I’m done here.
2. Word salad to ignore the differences.
3. Knowledge that cyclists use pharmaceuticals? Knowledge of which ones they take? Keep typing.
You're the one putting out an unreasonable assertion that it's wrong to be suspicious of extraordinary performances in a sport known for cheating.
If you wanted to even approach this logically you would compare metrics of past performances!
You would take into account competition (number of competitors), margin of victories, fastest laps, conditions, etc. But you didn't even come close to making it to logic and reason via basic f'n numbers.
Instead you made fragmentary comparisons to another racer (in different conditions, among a different field, at a different point in her career), then claimed to be an expert and call me stupid.
Sorry that a dumb ass like me has to explain the failings of your logic.
You can go back to stroking your ego now.
There was nothing extraordinary about her performances, as evidenced by other notable riders putting on similar performances.
I also never claimed to be an expert on anything, only to be better informed than an idiot like you.
And a dumbass like you has yet to explain anything, to me or anyone else. All you've done is carry on crying about how you're sure she cheated despite the testing she underwent, just because you're an idiot who doesn't understand training or competing.
But kudos for yet another post where you deftly managed to avoid anything intelligent. Well done.
I explained to you how to use HER past metrics to prove if there are sudden jumps and or spikes in performance. And what do you do? You go bring up other riders again.
It's simple math, albeit a tedious process. You could prove her performances were or were not suspicious with that method.
No one claim she definitely cheated. But we are allowed to speculate on the topic without having you dancing about as the thought police. Honestly, you seem psychologically unwell.
1. No, actually you didn't say anything about her past performance... you went on a little sookfest about "extraordinary" performances and "metrics of past performances" but you're really on a win streak as far as saying stupid shit without any intelligence sneaking in!
2. Her past performances, while consistently excellent and supportive of current performances, aren't relevant since this was her first year at the elite level and all her past performances were as an under 23.
3. Good of you to let us know that you're as uneducated in psychology as you are in competitive cycling and doping, but not sure how that's relevant. You've thoroughly proven your elite idiot status and there's really no need to continue working so hard to demonstrate just how deficient your intellect is, but you do you lil buddy... Tell us more about who's doping just because their results are too impressive for no talent hack like you to comprehend.
2. Yes they are. You lose again.
3. Okay then, sorry you're having issues with being wrong. Get used to it. Adios.
Saying it doesn't make it so cupcake... Sorry you're bad at english and that your parents birthed an idiot, but I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who's dumb enough to believe you're smart, it just ain't me and it ain't today.
The only thing you've proven here is that you're an idiot and you have zero knowledge of doping, training, or competitive cycling. But keep telling yourself you're right, cause that's the only time you'll ever hear it.
You think using someone's performances during their 21/22 (age) season can't be logically compared to their 20/21 (age) season before that because they were even more under the age of 23?
It really is fascinating to step into the mind of people like yourself from time to time, but that's enough for me.
Her age 21/22 season was last season you f*cking idiot... she's still U23, she just stepped up to elites because she was already dominant in U23 and ready for a higher level of competition. But sure, you don't even know how old she is but you know she was doping.
Comparing her performances then to now and there's nothing aberrative... but comparing all the retarded shit you were sooking on about like lap times and margin of victory isn't relevant when the entire competitive field changes going from U23 to elites.
Just stop... you've already proven you lack the mental capacity to think your way out of a wet cardboard box, stop trying to pretend you've ever been right about anything in your life and go tell your parents they're trash for raising an idiot and then ask your teachers why they failed you.
Her defense, as presented by her coach and husband, was some whackadoo conspiracy theory.
Occam's razor and all.
You think she didn't want to end her career with a great placing in Arkansas?
But yeah, Occam's Razor and all... what's simpler, that a life long clean racing advocate sold out after two decades of racing and countless accolades and decided to risk everything for almost no return, or that she ate a steak that had been pumped up with testosterone, which is extremely common?
I wrote: You think using someone's performances during their 21/22 (age) season can't be logically compared to their 20/21 (age) season before that because they were even more under the age of 23?
Yet you then replied with: Her age 21/22 season was last season you f*cking idiot... she's still U23, she just stepped up to elites because she was already dominant in U23 and ready for a higher level of competition..
It's like you don't actually know what words mean and you're just typing disconnected noise.
Yes, I wrote she was under 23 last season and the season prior. Go read it. Again. Take more time until the consequence of that sinks in. No, can't figure it out? It means I am and was fully aware of her age, you impossibly stupid wankstain.
I gave you a method, which you're now using, to plot progress by metrics. My goal wasn't to prove she's innocent or guilty, just that your stupid position of "you can't cast aspersions on my imaginary girlfriend cause I said so," is complete horseshit.
Every post is just you unable to draw direct conclusions and creating another strawman.
Do you struggle with identity and? Is the world of mtb your "thing," and so you feel you need to defend anything and everyone involved in it? You should seek counseling. People like you are just a step or two away from becoming a rapist because you identify too strongly with your views and show signs you just get away with forcing your views on others. You probably target petite women as well.
I know words are hard but her being under the age of 23 and her racing in the U23 category are different things. Her age doesn't render the comparison pointless, the level of competition does. So yeah, she dominated even more as a U23 and that's not relevant... not because she was even more under the age of 23 there I Am Sam, but because she was racing U23's that aren't comparable to the comparison at the higher level so it makes sense that her form wasn't as good across the season as it had been in U23. Which goes right back to my original conclusion, she came out on top form and struggled to hold it all year against a higher level of competition... and that saying that's cause for suspicion only demonstrates a tremendous depth of ignorance about training and racing. I'm sure if you ask some of the teachers at your group home to help walk you through it, you'll get it eventually. Just keep trying.
But bonus points for all the self-projection at the end there about your identity and rape fantasies... not sure why you felt the need to add that but it definitely affirms all my assumptions about your mental issues. Good luck with all that.
Joining the dream team at Trek?
Just a guess.
I think you may be right but... Wow, that was such a bad joke that it went completely over my head lol.
Athletes are almost just regular people, they also read stuff and feel things.
When you've accomplished all that Kate has accomplished you're a champion for life, period.
You and me got zero insight into Kate's mental state of mind and that's exactly as it should be. Every athlete go's through ups and downs just like you and me. There's building years and there's year where the puzzle comes together.
For those out there who actually have mental struggles don't let comments like this stop you from talking about the challenges you face.
In short, we (fanboys) should just enjoy all the amazing sporting achievements all these athletes show us, but respect the persons behind it all without shouting all kinds of nasty things.
*End of rant
Let she prepare properly and we’ll see
Having an opinion is pretty similar to genitals: '' Almost everyone has one which is totally fine, but it's not always the right place or time to show it.''
I think (see how that’s helpful) that she’s mentally tough as nails and will come into this year or next year ready to contend with the strong field for podiums, the overall, and the World Champs.