2013 Tour de France, stage 18: Gap - Alpe-d'Huez, 172.5km

[movingtarget]

There's a theory going round that Froome has trained for a 20-25min high power effort for mountain top finishes and today's events are somewhat consistent with that. Froome makes a solo effort to bridge to Rodruigez approximately 21min before he signals he needs to take on more food. If that's the case though, I don't understand why Froome would make his effort 10 mins into a 40min climb? Maybe he thought he could drop Quintana and Rodruigez and take it easy to the top.

Dumb ride by Froome today, almost as bad as Saxo. He did not seem to know what he was doing on the Alpe the second time. It seemed that Porte was offering him advice. I think he panicked. One minute he asks Porte to drive the pace then he wants him to slow down, then he attacks, then he slows down, not sure what was going on. He just made it easier for Rodriguez and Quintana.

 

[lemoogle]

To the topic of combativity, usually they decide it before the end, maybe they thought riblon wouldn't catch Tejay?

 

[Lupetto]

His career is over, so nobody cares if today or tomorrow.

80. EVANS Cadel 31 BMC RACING TEAM 05h 16' 42'' + 25' 10''

 

[lemoogle]

the fact that he's no real cyclist. he constantly talks in his radio, is clueless about what to do on his own, has the worst style of anyone I've ever seen. it doesn't even look like cycling what he is doing. and many more reasons

You forget the fact that he looks down at his power meter more often than in front of him

 

[movingtarget]

80. EVANS Cadel 31 BMC RACING TEAM 05h 16' 42'' + 25' 10''

Touche'. Yep he had a horrible day. I think he just wants the race to be over. He is steadily getting worse while Tejay has showed some improvement over the past few day not that it will be any better for BMC but he was unlucky not to win today. The mechanical cost him dearly but that's racing. A stage win would have been something.

 

[TANK91]

what are you talking about?

You were saying CF is in the wrong for winning a stage, its not CF fault Quintana could not follow its not like he attacked, I wanted N.Q to win the stage by the way but you cant expect CF to gift him the stage m8.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You forget the fact that he looks down at his power meter more often than in front of him

add that to my many more list

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You were saying CF is in the wrong for winning a stage, its not CF fault Quintana could not follow its not like he attacked, I wanted N.Q to win the stage by the way but you cant expect CF to gift him the stage m8.

that's not what happened. froome asked quintana to please help him as contador had blown and distance him, he could get the stage win,. then froome attacked him, showing the pathetic human being that he is. I'm not talking when quintana dropped, that but he also did an attack before that and quintana followed that one.

 

[Cookster15]

Dumbest thing I've read on these boards in a long time.

Agree. I came on here after the stage to see what everyone is saying and every 2nd post is mostly irrational hate from one poster who I actually wonder has ever raced a bike himself. These guys are paid to win bike races not 'look good on a bike'. Next time I'm racing I'll try harder to look good

 

[Warhawk]

To the topic of combativity, usually they decide it before the end, maybe they thought riblon wouldn't catch Tejay?

Yeah, probably.

Not that doing it that way makes much sense to me (how are you supposed to make a qualitative decision like that when there's still racing to be done?), but yeah, I guess that's why it happened like it did.

And doesn't change the fact that I think Tejay deserved it for, on the last 3 climbs, dropping (1) everyone in the break, (2) Moser, and (3) Riblon and Moser, basically summiting Alpe D'Huez solo twice, and all that with a mechanical on the descent where he had to make up what was probably a good minute or so (since the first time check we got on him was 45 seconds, but that was at least a few minutes after he had the problem in the first place).

 

[Fight.The.Power]

80. EVANS Cadel 31 BMC RACING TEAM 05h 16' 42'' + 25' 10''

Cadel will probably retire soon and I think he knows himself that his days are numbered.

However, overall, Cadel has been a great rider, champion, racer and personality. He has gone through tremendous adversity at times (GIRO) and I think we should celebrate him still having the balls to continue.

 

[Carols]

Cadel will probably retire soon and I think he knows himself that his days are numbered.

He has gone through tremendous adversity at times (GIRO) and I think we should celebrate him still having the balls to continue.

Chapeau to Cadel for sticking it out. He was always a fighter!!!!

 

[Warhawk]

80. EVANS Cadel 31 BMC RACING TEAM 05h 16' 42'' + 25' 10''

The way it's going for him he could manage to finish behind Tejay again.

Not that likely, mind you, with the effort Tejay put in today, but the difference is down to about 20 minutes. If Tejay feels good enough to go for it on Stage 20, since he seems to be throwing everything into trying to win a stage at this point (3 relatively near misses in the last week), it could be close.

 

[Cookster15]

Cadel will probably retire soon and I think he knows himself that his days are numbered.

However, overall, Cadel has been a great rider, champion, racer and personality. He has gone through tremendous adversity at times (GIRO) and I think we should celebrate him still having the balls to continue.

Well put. I think right now he must surely realise his body is in decline. He's had a great career no shame in fighting on to Paris.

 

[Red Lobster]

that's not what happened. froome asked quintana to please help him as contador had blown and distance him, he could get the stage win,. then froome attacked him, showing the pathetic human being that he is. I'm not talking when quintana dropped, that but he also did an attack before that and quintana followed that one.

Agreed. If after such a conversation Froome felt Quintana wasn't contributing enough then just go to the front and ride ... and if Quintana can't match the pace then okay. But the attacks??? Not cool.

 

[Afrank]

Yeah, probably.

Not that doing it that way makes much sense to me (how are you supposed to make a qualitative decision like that when there's still racing to be done?), but yeah, I guess that's why it happened like it did.

And doesn't change the fact that I think Tejay deserved it for, on the last 3 climbs, dropping (1) everyone in the break, (2) Moser, and (3) Riblon and Moser, basically summiting Alpe D'Huez solo twice, and all that with a mechanical on the descent where he had to make up what was probably a good minute or so (since the first time check we got on him was 45 seconds, but that was at least a few minutes after he had the problem in the first place).

Agree, Tejay deserves it most IMO.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Agree. I came on here after the stage to see what everyone is saying and every 2nd post is mostly irrational hate from one poster who I actually wonder has ever raced a bike himself. These guys are paid to win bike races not 'look good on a bike'. Next time I'm racing I'll try harder to look good

When I'm struggling uphill at the end of a long ride I probably look horrendous. It's all about getting from a to b. I don't think Froome cares how he looks if he wins this race. It seems to suit him, if he tried to look better he would nowhere near as effective.

 

[User Guide]

Cadel will probably retire soon and I think he knows himself that his days are numbered.

However, overall, Cadel has been a great rider, champion, racer and personality. He has gone through tremendous adversity at times (GIRO) and I think we should celebrate him still having the balls to continue.

Cadels face at the end of the rainy strade bianchi stages on of my favourite images in cycling.Whatever you think of his talents/personality its always been a battle it seems.Has been fun.

 

[Cookster15]

When I'm struggling uphill at the end of a long ride I probably look horrendous. It's all about getting from a to b. I don't think Froome cares how he looks if he wins this race. It seems to suit him, if he tried to look better he would nowhere near as effective.

Exactly. Road racing is one of the most arduous sports on Earth. As if any Pro rider gives two hoots how he looks just to please 'fans'. If Quintana looks good that's thanks to god or his parents. If Froome looks bad same thing. You can argue about their tactics or courage to attack etc but to demonise riders because they don't fit your subjective opinion on what looks good is absurd.

 

[velascoabuela]

Exactly. Road racing is one of the most arduous sports on Earth. As if any Pro rider gives two hoots how he looks just to please 'fans'. If Quintana looks good that's thanks to god or his parents. If Froome looks bad same thing. You can argue about their tactics or courage to attack etc but to demonise riders because they don't fit your subjective opinion on what looks good is absurd.

I'm sure you look fabulous on a bike. Froome looks like one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

 

[Red Lobster]

Exactly. Road racing is one of the most arduous sports on Earth. As if any Pro rider gives two hoots how he looks just to please 'fans'. If Quintana looks good that's thanks to god or his parents. If Froome looks bad same thing. You can argue about their tactics or courage to attack etc but to demonise riders because they don't fit your subjective opinion on what looks good is absurd.

Demonise? Really? Ooookay. Not aware anyone has interpreted Froome's ugly style as evidence that the man is evil, but whatever.

Look, fans like or dislike riders for all sorts of reasons that don't relate strictly to how fast said riders make the bike go ... otherwise we'd all simply be Froome fans and be done with it. Is this surprising to you? If not, is it then shocking that among those reason are things like panache, style, charisma, tactical sense? Take it to other sports ... would it be "absurd" to like a golfer with a beautiful, fluid, poetic swing over one who muscles his way around the course but scores better? Or would it be "absurd" to prefer the vision and elusiveness of Barry Sanders over a back who simply but effectively smashes ahead?

Long and short - some things, including athletes, are beautiful to behold; some things simply are not. Whether you care about beauty or not is up to you, but it's pretty lame to tell someone else that they are wrong to care about it.

 

[wwabbit]

Agreed. If after such a conversation Froome felt Quintana wasn't contributing enough then just go to the front and ride ... and if Quintana can't match the pace then okay. But the attacks??? Not cool.

It didn't look to me like Froome attacked Quintana (apart from the first time, before they had the conversation). Froome himself said that Quintana faded, and it did look to me like Froome was just setting a strong pace that Quintana couldn't match for long enough.

It's a pity for Quintana, maybe he should not have gone so early. But overall both Froome and Quintana benefitted equally from cooperating for the period they rode together, putting more time into their rivals.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It didn't look to me like Froome attacked Quintana (apart from the first time, before they had the conversation). Froome himself said that Quintana faded, and it did look to me like Froome was just setting a strong pace that Quintana couldn't match for long enough.

It's a pity for Quintana, maybe he should not have gone so early. But overall both Froome and Quintana benefitted equally from cooperating for the period they rode together, putting more time into their rivals.

froome attacked quintana twice, once when he came to him and another time after they had conversation and the final time when quintana dropped wasn't a real attack. I'm talking about his 2nd attack

 

[Red Lobster]

It didn't look to me like Froome attacked Quintana (apart from the first time, before they had the conversation). Froome himself said that Quintana faded, and it did look to me like Froome was just setting a strong pace that Quintana couldn't match for long enough.

It's a pity for Quintana, maybe he should not have gone so early. But overall both Froome and Quintana benefitted equally from cooperating for the period they rode together, putting more time into their rivals.

Okay I'll confess I am not sure about the timing of the conversation being before or after that first attack.

 

[willbick]

Well put. I think right now he must surely realise his body is in decline. He's had a great career no shame in fighting on to Paris.

Lol. He's probably not at his absolute physical peak at the age of 36 but he was 3rd in the giro 2 months ago for god's sake!!