2013 Tour of Oman (11th-16th February), 2.HC

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Jul 13, 2012
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The Hitch said:
So for Froome to beat Contador definately sends the alarm bells ringing.

Not the end of the world of course. There are other scenarios. Maybe Contador is just here for the pay and the sun and wouldnt have even bothered otherwise. Maybe he is trying to save himself for a few goals. Maybe he plans on doing things differently this year with the train. He has sucked worse before in races (eg Criterium International)

Or maybe Froome simply is now a better climber than Contador.

I do take heart from the fact though that Evans beat Contador and Nibali was close behind. Because that suggests it may have been more Contador sucking than Froome improving (and its a lot easier to deal with the former than the latter).

Some good points Hitch.

Was i surprised AC sucked today,yeah,i must admit i thought he had the form to win.He could be here for the pay,sun and promotion of the team and waiting for later goals.He probably knows Froome in July is going to be a different Froome to last year's Vuelta so a meaningless stage today has just eradicated any chance of complacency from AC for the rest of the year.He will have been slightly concerned by it for sure,also Purito's continuing excellent form,was at Lombardia and thought he was incredible in atrocious conditions.

Do i believe Froome is simply now a better climber than Contador.That i am unconvinced of.Maybe last year was Froome's TDF and his team didnt want that.Still firmly believe its AC for the win in Paris.
 
Mar 31, 2010
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Telmisartan new said:
Some good points Hitch.

Was i surprised AC sucked today,yeah,i must admit i thought he had the form to win.He could be here for the pay,sun and promotion of the team and waiting for later goals.He probably knows Froome in July is going to be a different Froome to last year's Vuelta so a meaningless stage today has just eradicated any chance of complacency from AC for the rest of the year.He will have been slightly concerned by it for sure,also Purito's continuing excellent form,was at Lombardia and thought he was incredible in atrocious conditions.

Do i believe Froome is simply now a better climber than Contador.That i am unconvinced of.Maybe last year was Froome's TDF and his team didnt want that.Still firmly believe its AC for the win in Paris.

last year froome outclimbed nibali, jvdb and wiggins, in the vuelta he was nowhere. of course he doesn't hold a candle towards contador. this is f'n oman, when contador lost few years ago queenstage in castilla to anton nobody took it serious and rightfully so
 
Jul 29, 2012
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Ryo Hazuki said:
last year froome outclimbed nibali, jvdb and wiggins, in the vuelta he was nowhere. of course he doesn't hold a candle towards contador. this is f'n oman, when contador lost few years ago queenstage in castilla to anton nobody took it serious and rightfully so

That wasn't Contador's best year though, still enough to win the tour :D
 
Jul 13, 2012
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Ryo Hazuki said:
last year froome outclimbed nibali, jvdb and wiggins, in the vuelta he was nowhere. of course he doesn't hold a candle towards contador. this is f'n oman, when contador lost few years ago queenstage in castilla to anton nobody took it serious and rightfully so

Agreed.Contador didnt look concerned at the finish in the above clip.Out on a training run it looked like.I am reading nothing into it as i said in my first post after the stage.
 
Ryo Hazuki said:
last year froome outclimbed nibali, jvdb and wiggins, in the vuelta he was nowhere. of course he doesn't hold a candle towards contador. this is f'n oman, when contador lost few years ago queenstage in castilla to anton nobody took it serious and rightfully so

You don't have a VO2 MAX above 50, do you?
 
Dec 30, 2011
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The Hitch said:
Froome on the other hand is the guy who goes 0 to hero just before a gt begins.

So for Froome to beat Contador definately sends the alarm bells ringing.
Froome has been handicapped by Bilharzia in the last two years prior to the 2 GTs he raced. So I would not be all that surprised about him actually being in some good form prior to GTs now that his Bilharzia seems to have cleared up. Of course due to that he should have a much smoother preparation for the Tour.. which can only pay dividends surely.;)
 

serfla

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Nov 12, 2012
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Froome19 said:
Froome has been handicapped by Bilharzia in the last two years prior to the 2 GTs he raced. So I would not be all that surprised about him actually being in some good form prior to GTs now that his Bilharzia seems to have cleared up. Of course due to that he should have a much smoother preparation for the Tour.. which can only pay dividends surely.;)
I can't believe you're still considering the parasite like a handicap.
 
Carols said:
I understand the feeling, I experienced it with Pantani......the heights and the depths of despair. This morning I shed a few tears over a man I'd never even seen in person.

But it is Cycling I adore above all else! And cycling will outlive any of our designated favorites, thank goodness.

So very true. LaFlo will learn in time. Contador I'm guessing was her doorway into passionately following what goes in in the sport (primarily with him) but I'm sure it has exposed her to more than just Contador and in the long run she will likely be a cycling fan for long after Contador retires.
 
Dec 27, 2010
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Froome19 said:
Froome has been handicapped by Bilharzia in the last two years prior to the 2 GTs he raced. So I would not be all that surprised about him actually being in some good form prior to GTs now that his Bilharzia seems to have cleared up. Of course due to that he should have a much smoother preparation for the Tour.. which can only pay dividends surely.;)

Considering Froome's form now vs. this time last year, the astronomical improvement in the five weeks between Romandie '12 and the Dauphine, and then another step increase in the four weeks from then until the Tour, we may as well give Froome that porcelain bowl already.
 
Aug 5, 2012
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serfla said:
I can't believe you're still considering the parasite like a handicap.

Been too much of this **** in this thread today, your implications are obvious despite not saying it outright, take it elsewhere.
 
Jul 29, 2012
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will10 said:
Considering Froome's form now vs. this time last year, the astronomical improvement in the five weeks between Romandie '12 and the Dauphine, and then another step increase in the four weeks from then until the Tour, we may as well give Froome that porcelain bowl already.

By that reasoning he should do the triple :D
 

serfla

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Nov 12, 2012
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Cyivel said:
Been too much of this **** in this thread today, your implications are obvious despite not saying it outright, take it elsewhere.
What are you, a mod? Admin?
It's not about the clinic staff, it's about belief.
 
Aug 5, 2012
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serfla said:
What are you, a mod? Admin?
It's not about the clinic staff, it's about belief.

Don't try and be coy it's obvious what you are saying, it's annoying, just like it was when someone thinks he can label all Spaniards by using speech marks.
 

serfla

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Nov 12, 2012
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Cyivel said:
Don't try and be coy it's obvious what you are saying, it's annoying, just like it was when someone thinks he can label all Spaniards by using speech marks.
Do you understand what I'm telling you?
It's about someone's persistent belief in something what's been numerous times discussed and unmasked.
That's annoying.
 
Aug 5, 2012
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serfla said:
Do you understand what I'm telling you?
It's about someone's persistent belief in something what's been numerous times discussed and unmasked.
That's annoying.

I understand exactly what you are saying hence my post.
 
Lexman said:
Indeed very impressive the way Froome rockets away, the presentator says he just arrived too late to catch JRod, we'll see more tomorrow morning at Eurosport ;-)

i've read that froomey thought the finish supposed to be higher than it was. imagine the days sky will implement marginal gains like informing where the finish line is or take off your nose plugs. scary:D


Froome19 said:
Froome has been handicapped by Bilharzia in the last two years prior to the 2 GTs he raced. So I would not be all that surprised about him actually being in some good form prior to GTs now that his Bilharzia seems to have cleared up. Of course due to that he should have a much smoother preparation for the Tour.. which can only pay dividends surely.;)


haha you're trolling them don't you?:p
 
Jul 29, 2012
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jens_attacks said:
so will alberto, nibali and evans attack sky tomorrow?

it is not broadcasted live so the likely answer is yes

And other boring races get a live broadcast :eek:

I don't know the exact finances but does it really cost that much money to put 2 camera guys on a moto and put it on a livestream?

I've no idea, someone any clue?
 
Aug 5, 2012
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The Hitch said:
I do take heart from the fact though that Evans beat Contador and Nibali was close behind. Because that suggests it may have been more Contador sucking than Froome improving.

This is my thought as well, if Contador wasn't in the race and Froome finished 2nd to JRod and beat Evans and Nibali by that amount people wouldn't be shocked.

Expecting and hoping that Contador will do better on the next similar climb they are up against each other.
 
Jun 16, 2009
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The Hitch said:
The thing is Contador usually has a very high base rate. It may be months from the Tour but time after time after time he has won these kinds of races. and whatsmore for once he wasnt talking himself down but claimed to have "good sensations"

Froome on the other hand is the guy who goes 0 to hero just before a gt begins.

So for Froome to beat Contador definately sends the alarm bells ringing.

Not the end of the world of course. There are other scenarios. Maybe Contador is just here for the pay and the sun and wouldnt have even bothered otherwise. Maybe he is trying to save himself for a few goals. Maybe he plans on doing things differently this year with the train. He has sucked worse before in races (eg Criterium International)

Or maybe Froome simply is now a better climber than Contador.

I do take heart from the fact though that Evans beat Contador and Nibali was close behind. Because that suggests it may have been more Contador sucking than Froome improving (and its a lot easier to deal with the former than the latter).
Contador went too early, I think that was his problem and he didn't really have much left in the final km. I don't agree with your final paragraph, because Evans has come back from illness and no racing for a long time so he really should have beaten Cadel.
 
Nov 29, 2010
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Cyivel said:
This is my thought as well, if Contador wasn't in the race and Froome finished 2nd to JRod and beat Evans and Nibali by that amount people wouldn't be shocked.

Watching the highlight video it looked to me like Froome was stronger than JRod. JRod had gone up the road while Froome was marking his GC rivals Contador & Nibali. Froome then realised Contador/Nibali had nothing left in the tank and put in a massive acceleration that nearly knocked Nibbles off his bike! :D He clearly closed the gap to JRod but its hard to say what the distance between the two was when he launched his attack.