2013 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 5: Grésy-sur-Aix Valmorel (139 km)

[TANK91]

Doesn't that just say your expectations are a bit out of whack with reality? I mean for starters his competition level at the Dauphine is just a little bit tougher than at CI, & the Dauphine is a slightly more important race in the scheme of things.

The idea that Froome should be absolutely destroying a field including Valverde, Rodriguez & Contador among others just seems a bit unrealistic to me. Expecting him to beat them I can see, he's looked very strong in 2013, but total domination on a stage like today against that calibre of field would be unexpected based on past results.


Yes, the early start was a real drag. I had errands to run this morning & only got back after they'd crossed the line. So that was a bit of an annoyance.

I agree some people expect too much, Froome only responded to an atack wit about a 1km left how is taking 4 seconds on flat section not impressive. I can understand if Froome and Contador attacked 6kms from the end and Froome only took 4 seconds then you could say Contador has scope to improve(he still does bye the way)and Froome did not impress, but Froome only responded then spriinted he was super impressive he had such a big buffer that i dont think he would of attacked, he only responded, if he wanted to show who is the boss he would of attacked early but thats just silly when he virtually has GC sown up. Also people saying 10 secconds ahead of Moreno is not impressive, 10 seconds in less than a km is good enough.

 

[airstream]

It isnt. Its better. But I doubt Contador will be able to reach his former 100% level.

Way or another, we won't be able rate it because in Froome's case even 100% would have looked absolutely differently compared to Schleck (09), Nibali and Scarponi (11).

 

[Cimber]

Way or another, we won't be able rate it because in Froome's case even 100% would have looked absolutely differently compared to Schleck (09), Nibali and Scarponi (11).

Well would have been nice if we would have been able to rate it in this Tour

 

[TANK91]

Just a kind advice. You really need to structure your posts better.

Wow im so sorry my grammar is not up to scratch, i hate when people say kind bit of advice, bla bla bla. Im sure you understood exactly what i said my friend sorry if my punctuation skills aint great.

 

[Cimber]

Wow im so sorry my grammar is not up to scratch, i hate when people say kind bit of advice, bla bla bla. Im sure you understood exactly what i said my friend sorry if my punctuation skills aint great.

It didnt really mean grammar. I am not a native English speaker, so I make a lot of mistakes my self. I meant using more paragraphs etc. to make it easier for the eye to read instead of a wall of text.

 

[airstream]

Wow im so sorry my grammar is not up to scratch, i hate when people say kind bit of advice, bla bla bla. Im sure you understood exactly what i said my friend sorry if my punctuation skills aint great.

You are too emotional and simply should take how jealosily CN regulars handle Contador. First I used to make this mistake too.

 

[spalco]

Wow im so sorry my grammar is not up to scratch, i hate when people say kind bit of advice, bla bla bla. Im sure you understood exactly what i said my friend sorry if my punctuation skills aint great.

He's not talking about punctuation, but about using paragraphs occasionally. Blocks of text are a bit annoying.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Watching froome on a bike is just plain horrible. When he's in a group that's fine but single image on camera too much.

 

[Leadbelly]

Decent enough stage today, but I don't think the final climb lent itself to exciting racing - just a long, even drag. Difficult to do much on that terrain, though Movistar, to their credit, did try something.

Let's hope we get some more interesting racing on Saturday.

 

[JimPanzen]

I love how everybody thinks the Tour is a done deal already. Even mentioning precise time gaps for the TTs I'm glad I'm not a clairvoyant and will have some anticipation and excitement left.

Anyway, Bertie better than expected, Froome as strong as exptected I would say. Even if Conti lost 4s today, that constellation makes me a little more confident regarding the Tour. Looks like It'll be a great battle. JRod...well, we'll see.

 

[Jelantik]

enough with the 'but froome only won 12 seconds' bs. That was a) in 1km b) it's modern cycling, mountain stages are about seconds difference, not minutes

And adding to that Froome is already by far superior in the ITT... where are they going to gain back time? There are no Tirreno-like stagesi n the TDF and there are no Nibali like riders

True, true. Chris indeed by far the strongest rider on "this race". But I would expect for someone who's form is above everyone's shoulder, well heck, he is a whole body above his opponents, he would be full gas, leave everyone in the dust and stomp his authority. Contador's form was rubbish yesterday. But yet, he seemed to be able to hang on for 4 seconds slower to the superior form.

Sky train was meh today too. Doesn't quite decimate anyone important who's clearly was fall of their waist side on ITT. Even Rodgers came in with 12 sec after.

For contador, i would say B for his performance. He can hang with sky express and still do what he does the best:"attack", not so bad for someone who looked like done yesterday. With his cluster form, he still managed to come to the line 4 seconds slower than Froome. If he was like purito today, then his TDF will be game over. Still 2 stages to come. We'll see if today is the best of him.

 

[TANK91]

He's not talking about punctuation, but about using paragraphs occasionally. Blocks of text are a bit annoying.

Well i think thats pretty ridicolous, im not usually a long poster, i just got my point across thats all.

 

[Cyivel]

Well i think thats pretty ridicolous, im not usually a long poster, i just got my point across thats all.

Fam, walls of text are the worst.

 

[TANK91]

It didnt really mean grammar. I am not a native English speaker, so I make a lot of mistakes my self. I meant using more paragraphs etc. to make it easier for the eye to read instead of a wall of text.

Ok well i thought you was being arkward i apologise.

 

[wwabbit]

Some question marks about the Sky train, apart from Porte. Think Sky need to consider bringing in Uran or Henao into the Tour squad

 

[Leonardus]

I love how everybody thinks the Tour is a done deal already. Even mentioning precise time gaps for the TTs I'm glad I'm not a clairvoyant and will have some anticipation and excitement left.

Anyway, Bertie better than expected, Froome as strong as exptected I would say. Even if Conti lost 4s today, that constellation makes me a little more confident regarding the Tour. Looks like It'll be a great battle. JRod...well, we'll see.

Exactly. There are still three weeks after this Dauphine before the Tour starts and another week before the Gc stages are coming. A lot can happen in a month.
Contador has time to improve and so can the other contenders, including Froome. We simply don't know how far they are from their top-level and this dress rehearsal only gives us and the riders an indication.

 

[search]

Some question marks about the Sky train, apart from Porte. Think Sky need to consider bringing in Uran or Henao into the Tour squad

there are more climbs in this Dauphine than in the entire Tour de France, Stannard will do 90% of the work, the remaining 10% for Kiryienka and Lopez. No need for anyone else

 

[TANK91]

True, true. Chris indeed by far the strongest rider on "this race". But I would expect for someone who's form is above everyone's shoulder, well heck, he is a whole body above his opponents, he would be full gas, leave everyone in the dust and stomp his authority. Contador's form was rubbish yesterday. But yet, he seemed to be able to hang on for 4 seconds slower to the superior form.

Sky train was meh today too. Doesn't quite decimate anyone important who's clearly was fall of their waist side on ITT. Even Rodgers came in with 12 sec after.

For contador, i would say B for his performance. He can hang with sky express and still do what he does the best:"attack", not so bad for someone who looked like done yesterday. With his cluster form, he still managed to come to the line 4 seconds slower than Froome. If he was like purito today, then his TDF will be game over. Still 2 stages to come. We'll see if today is the best of him.

Did you even read DT quote, 4 seconds is alot in such a small amount of distance, 12 seconds to Rogers and co is actually alot when you think Froome only went inside of a KM, he did not attack from far he responded as he has a big buffer on GC.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I honestly think 2nd place and a stage win on say the Alpe combo would be awesome, La Flo, Milburo dont you agree? I mean i know Contador would only class a win as acceptable, but if he looses to Froome and gets 2nd what is the shame in that

Yea I agree







LMAO

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

This stage was a big WTF?!

Purito loses HUGE time. Same with Rolland. VdB almost 10 minutes back.

 

[Bumeington]

This stage was a big WTF?!

Purito loses HUGE time. Same with Rolland. VdB almost 10 minutes back.

the Inner Ring ‏@inrng 1h

Pierre Rolland delayed by a crash and Joaquim Rodriguez has punctured

VdB it seems just didn't have the legs, J-Rod and Rolland probably gave up as I think this tweet was in the run in to the climb

 

[TANK91]

Great stage,but i will never listen to eurosport commentary again,they think Froome is the new Pantani or something

Good rides by Rogers and Jesus,Cofidis really impressive too,and Dennis - wow!

As for the Tour.
Movistar has better team for mountains than Sky.Froome's only chance at Tour are TT,he won't be able to drop Alberto in the mountains.
Alberto should only sit on his wheel and attack about 1,5km before finish to distance him,cos Froome is lot better sprinter.but this won't happen,Alberto will attack,it will be fun!

Oh come on man its alway's the same with you guys, Froome is dropping the best GT rider of his generation, can you blame them.

If Contador was Froome and he had yet two win a GT and was dropping a multiple GT winner it would be epic, which is what it is. Contador is the elite of the elite uphill and no 1 really drops him, yet this year Froome does.

 

[cineteq]

You made this post about 50 times about Wiggins last year. How did that work out?

So? What's your point? Races need to be raced, as simple as that.

 

[TANK91]

Yea I agree







LMAO

I think it would be good defo, a 2nd place to add to his wins would be great, and it would add a podium to his collection, he is that great when he is on the podium it is the top step, it wont hurt to be 2nd imo to a very strong guy like Froome, their is no shame if he finishes 2nd afterall if Froome was not their he'd win.

I actually think you have even lowerd expectations, in the past we would fight over something but i think you have realised 2nd still adds to a palmares and he is racing a guy who is in peak shape, Contador is obviously great still to get podiums, i just think he lacks a win v Froome in a TDF when both are at peak fitness.

He can still win GT's as proved bye last year but he did need an element of luck which was understandable.

 

[Kender]

Also the gap was coming down very neatly by 10 seconds every km from about 5km out. Clearly someone sitting in the Sky car was telling them the speed to pace at to catch the leader in time.

Boring, but as long as we have radios that's what'll happen.

Don't be silly. They didn't care about the riders up the road in the last 5km. Porte set a pace to discourage attacks. When Bertie attacked froome responded. The stage win was a bonus. Race radio's had nothing to do with it. Froome is here to win the GC

Froome didn't need to attack. All he had to do was drop Dennis and mark contador and valvarde. He did that and when contador opened the door for him to gain time and win the stage he did