2015, 69th Tour de Romandie: April 28 to May 3 (WT)

[SeriousSam]

To be fair, the Tour is much bigger race than the Giro.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

To be fair, the Tour is much bigger race than the Giro.

The mountains are not bigger.

 

[bigcog]

Re: Re:

froome has 2 peaks, first in ruta del sol to beat contador and the second in the tour de france

You forgot to mention the stage the day before where Bertie dropped froome with ease and you also forgot the ITT where Bertie beat Froome as well
The stage Froome won Bertie was not right.
If Bertie had not eased up on his mountain stage win then Froome would not have won the overall.

Get your facts right mate, stop dreaming ....No one can touch Bertie when his game is on.
Vuelta last year Bertie toyed with Froome and Bertie was not on his best form.

Why do you think Froome changed his mind about riding the Giro this year. When the tour route was announced Froome said it was to mountainous and he may ride the Giro instead. Once he knew Bertie was riding the Giro he switched to the tour because he knows he will have a better chance to win a big GT and Bertie will be tired going into the tour.

Froome is a chicken or he would ride the Giro and Tour like Bertie.....cluck cluck cluck

Froome knows being au natural that it's not possible to do well in both, cluck cluck my a**, one thing he's not is chicken.

NO TROLLS please. But seriously I just think Froome doesn't see the prestige in trying to win the Giro, since all UK residents care about the Tour. Also Froome and AC was probably on similar form last year in the Vuelta.

You may be right. He also knows he doesn't have the gas to do both though successfully. They seem to want to keep the rest of the team happy too, e.g. Porte etc.

 

[ferryman]

Whatever you think about Froome, you have to admit he is value for money on stages like this. Now, I'm really not sure if his yo-yo style is because he really does struggle early on in climbs with accelerations or he is just supremely confident that riding at his own pace will bring him back. The latter doesn't necessarily mean he is being arrogant using a rope a dope tactic. The danger in playing this game, if he is playing, is that he underestimates a Contador or Quintana or dare I say it a Nibali or Pinot attack when he is off the pace. If he was isolated like today, and had to do all of the work (because everyone knows he will do it and let him get on with it), it's a very dangerous game to play against fully fit and motivated rivals at the sharp end of a stage...Contador at least, had his number on this last year in the Vuelta...

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Whatever you think about Froome, you have to admit he is value for money on stages like this. Now, I'm really not sure if his yo-yo style is because he really does struggle early on in climbs with accelerations or he is just supremely confident that riding at his own pace will bring him back. The latter doesn't necessarily mean he is being arrogant using a rope a dope tactic. The danger in playing this game, if he is playing, is that he underestimates a Contador or Quintana or dare I say it a Nibali or Pinot attack when he is off the pace. If he was isolated like today, and had to do all of the work (because everyone knows he will do it and let him get on with it), it's a very dangerous game to play against fully fit and motivated rivals at the sharp of a stage...Contador at least, had his number on this last year in the Vuelta...

I think the yo-yoing won't happen at the peak of his form.
It's a training manner.

 

[Poursuivant]

I think he only does it on days that he is not 100%. He wasn't doing it at last years Dauphine, well the first two stages at least. This is first time since RDS that Froome has been at the pointy end of a race, in good condition, and that was a nasty climb without teammates too. If all goes well , I am sure he will be a level above at the Dauphine.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Whatever you think about Froome, you have to admit he is value for money on stages like this. Now, I'm really not sure if his yo-yo style is because he really does struggle early on in climbs with accelerations or he is just supremely confident that riding at his own pace will bring him back. The latter doesn't necessarily mean he is being arrogant using a rope a dope tactic. The danger in playing this game, if he is playing, is that he underestimates a Contador or Quintana or dare I say it a Nibali or Pinot attack when he is off the pace. If he was isolated like today, and had to do all of the work (because everyone knows he will do it and let him get on with it), it's a very dangerous game to play against fully fit and motivated rivals at the sharp end of a stage...Contador at least, had his number on this last year in the Vuelta...

The thing is, if riding at his own pace would not bring him back, then neither would going with every change of pace and cracking. The former style is, in fact, what allows you to do the climb in the least amount of time. The only downside is that you lose on on drafting.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

To be fair, the Tour is much bigger race than the Giro.

Bigger is, but not much. Giro is the most beautiful race in the world

Edit: Oh, I forget, Zakarin is going to win this

 

[Vino's Mum]

Re:

Now, I'm really not sure if his yo-yo style is because he really does struggle early on in climbs with accelerations or he is just supremely confident that riding at his own pace will bring him back.

Isn't he just riding to a steadier W/kg? It only seems to happen when his team is weak (plenty of races from 2014 onwards) and can't sustain a strong enough pace for him to deter anyone from jumping off the front.

 

[SeriousSam]

Yes, I think that's the most likely explanation.

 

[HelloDolly]

Froome is doing the yo-yoing cos he has to...he is not fully fit...According to himself he has to lose another 1.5/2 KG ...He hasn't raced for awhile (Catalunya he was ill)

Considering all this he will have done very well in Romandie

Nibali isn't looking too hot and for a man that starts a GT next week Uran doesn't look great either
And what about Quintana ...not one single attack today

 

[qwer]

Re: Re:

froome has 2 peaks, first in ruta del sol to beat contador and the second in the tour de france

You forgot to mention the stage the day before where Bertie dropped froome with ease and you also forgot the ITT where Bertie beat Froome as well
The stage Froome won Bertie was not right.
If Bertie had not eased up on his mountain stage win then Froome would not have won the overall.

Get your facts right mate, stop dreaming ....No one can touch Bertie when his game is on.
Vuelta last year Bertie toyed with Froome and Bertie was not on his best form.

Why do you think Froome changed his mind about riding the Giro this year. When the tour route was announced Froome said it was to mountainous and he may ride the Giro instead. Once he knew Bertie was riding the Giro he switched to the tour because he knows he will have a better chance to win a big GT and Bertie will be tired going into the tour.

Froome is a chicken or he would ride the Giro and Tour like Bertie.....cluck cluck cluck

i agree, froome fears contador, he knows bertie is unbeatable in this route of tour de france

 

[SkyTears]

they gave bonus seconds today ?! :facepalm:

anyway, if Zakarin keeps his lead in ITT then it's a well deserved victory.

For Froome should not be a problem to take under 20 seconds from Zakarin & Pinot

 

[SeriousSam]

Wouldn't be too sure, it's been some time actually since Froome destroyed the field in a time trial. This Zakarin guy seems like he might just do the time trial of his life.

 

[SkyTears]

Re:

Wouldn't be too sure, it's been some time actually since Froome destroyed the field in a time trial. This Zakarin guy seems like he might just do the time trial of his life.

true but he doesn't have to get 20 seconds on freaking Tony Martin

if it rains then Zakarin has the win assured.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

And a guy like Henao doesn't belong in a train. He is a pure attacker.

Henao is allrounder. He has good TT, good climbing and some punch, albeit not as big as hype about it

Anyway König and Porte both should do Tour.

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Re:

froome has 2 peaks, first in ruta del sol to beat contador and the second in the tour de france

You forgot to mention the stage the day before where Bertie dropped froome with ease and you also forgot the ITT where Bertie beat Froome as well
The stage Froome won Bertie was not right.
If Bertie had not eased up on his mountain stage win then Froome would not have won the overall.

Get your facts right mate, stop dreaming ....No one can touch Bertie when his game is on.
Vuelta last year Bertie toyed with Froome and Bertie was not on his best form.

Why do you think Froome changed his mind about riding the Giro this year. When the tour route was announced Froome said it was to mountainous and he may ride the Giro instead. Once he knew Bertie was riding the Giro he switched to the tour because he knows he will have a better chance to win a big GT and Bertie will be tired going into the tour.

Froome is a chicken or he would ride the Giro and Tour like Bertie.....cluck cluck cluck

Froome knows being au natural that it's not possible to do well in both, cluck cluck my a**, one thing he's not is chicken.

Cluck cluck cluck Froome to scared to race Bertie at the Giro otherwise he would have raced "simple really" Froome has no excuse. He took the easiest option for a GT win. He won't win, Bertie or no Bertie at the tour.
Bertie is not scared to lose that's why he's going for the double. No one can match him. if they could they would race the Giro as well. Cluck cluck cluck

Froome au natural

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

And a guy like Henao doesn't belong in a train. He is a pure attacker.

Henao is allrounder. He has good TT, good climbing and some punch, albeit not as big as hype about it

Anyway König and Porte both should do Tour.

Porte & Konig are lined up for Tour ....Konig may be tired though as hasn't done back to back tours

Tour team is Froome, Porte, Poels, Roche,Henao, Konig, Stannard, Thomas and another ...possibly KIri

But with Poels injury maybe Nieve will replace him

Kennaugh, Rowe & Deignan will be back up IMO

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

And a guy like Henao doesn't belong in a train. He is a pure attacker.

Henao is allrounder. He has good TT, good climbing and some punch, albeit not as big as hype about it

Anyway König and Porte both should do Tour.

Porte & Konig are lined up for Tour ....Konig may be tired though as hasn't done back to back tours

Tour team is Froome, Porte, Poels, Roche,Henao, Konig, Stannard, Thomas and another ...possibly KIri

But with Poels injury maybe Nieve will replace him

Kennaugh, Rowe & Deignan will be back up IMO

Kennaugh will be there,they can't screw him over again.I think Vasil will be in,instead of Konig.

 

[ILovecycling]

I hope that this Syroboil toll is not banned yet.I have won a terrible risky avatar bet today

 

[SkyTears]

After i watched the youtube profile i can say that i think Zakarin will win if it's a wet road and Froome will win if it's a dry road.

 

[Mr.White]

Everybody speaks about Froome, Quintana, Nibali.., very little praise for Thibaut Pinot, he actually did beat 3 of the 4 biggest GC riders at the moment, and he is looking pretty good for the Tour

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

Nibali isn't looking too hot and for a man that starts a GT next week

FYI, Nibali isn't doing the Giro.

 

[huge]

Chapeau to him for his win today, but I think he still has a long way to go before he can be a real contender for a GT. He is still in 2nd tier for a GT, imho.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Froome is doing the yo-yoing cos he has to...he is not fully fit...According to himself he has to lose another 1.5/2 KG ...He hasn't raced for awhile (Catalunya he was ill)

Considering all this he will have done very well in Romandie

Nibali isn't looking too hot and for a man that starts a GT next week Uran doesn't look great either
And what about Quintana ...not one single attack today

No, Uran is fine, just look at last years Romandie, he's just using it to build his Giro form and will ride a great TT tomorrow.