2016 Critérium du Dauphiné, 2.UWT, June 5-12

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

I hate to say it, but that slow-mo of Contador coming over the line reminded me of Lance during his comeback. Just looking old and tired.

I agree. I saw the same thing. Sad to say for a legend, he is out of his class. He has got to rethink the retirement thing, so we don't see a sad mess. He is perhaps 2 years beyond when he should have quit.

Winning a Giro last year? I agree that it didn't look great today, but to say that not retiring after 2014 was a mistake is a bit harsh no?

He was poor by his standards in the Giro last year. However, it's possible that was simply a result of him trying to keep reserves for the Tour, and he has looked stronger than what he showed last year.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Today reminded me of this:
http://www.up-shack.com/assets/up/10866121d68f8b9af608cb16b440c8b4.swf

to be seen with sound.

It really really does. I don't want to be negative, but once again he accelerated massively without changing gear or cadence while seemingly not in much of an effort, then looked back with surprise at having dropped others.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Either Bertie had a bad day or else Froome and Porte had a thermo nuclear day. Bertie looked unstoppable at the MTT, wonder what happened. Dauphine never disappoints.

 

[Red Rick]

Don't really know why Porte was working with Froome. His chance of wheelsucking Froome to stage victory today.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure how many times Froome has to do his yo-yo bluff before people stop being surprised by it.

Froome vs. Quintana for the Tour.

I don't think it's a bluff; it's just efficient riding. He knows he's the strongest climber in the field; why go anaerobic and respond to attacks from weaker riders? He can just carrying on spinning at threshold, reel them in and then attack them decisively when they're already on the limit.

True, although wind matters even for climbs.

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

 

[arvc40]

Don't think Tour is over for Contador yet !. That was just a bad day.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure how many times Froome has to do his yo-yo bluff before people stop being surprised by it.

Froome vs. Quintana for the Tour.

I don't think it's a bluff; it's just efficient riding. He knows he's the strongest climber in the field; why go anaerobic and respond to attacks from weaker riders? He can just carrying on spinning at threshold, reel them in and then attack them decisively when they're already on the limit.

True, although wind matters even for climbs.

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

That only works at speeds far higher than those reached climbing on a bike, though

 

[PremierAndrew]

Don't think Tour is over for Contador yet !. That was just a bad day.

It hasn't even started yet. People need to calm down

 

[memyselfandI]

Re: Re:

I hate to say it, but that slow-mo of Contador coming over the line reminded me of Lance during his comeback. Just looking old and tired.

I agree. I saw the same thing. Sad to say for a legend, he is out of his class. He has got to rethink the retirement thing, so we don't see a sad mess. He is perhaps 2 years beyond when he should have quit.

Yes..already year ago saw it too on slow mo finish line videos. Funny how people sense that tiredness in an effort there is compared younger athletes raw rage

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure how many times Froome has to do his yo-yo bluff before people stop being surprised by it.

Froome vs. Quintana for the Tour.

I don't think it's a bluff; it's just efficient riding. He knows he's the strongest climber in the field; why go anaerobic and respond to attacks from weaker riders? He can just carrying on spinning at threshold, reel them in and then attack them decisively when they're already on the limit.

True, although wind matters even for climbs.

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

Yeah, doesn't make too much sense. Perhaps it was a kind of insurance, just in case Froome cracked for some reason or couldn't close the gap, Henao could have sat on and won the stage.

Maybe they're just letting riders like Henao and Landa do what they want and go for stages here; it could be good to let them do their own race here and come into the TdF fully motivated to slave away for Froome.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

That only works at speeds far higher than those reached climbing on a bike, though

Marginal gains

Also not to mention Froome has to stick his nose into the wind despite having teammates. Again, not significant at gradients of 9% but still makes a marginal difference.

 

[rainman]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure how many times Froome has to do his yo-yo bluff before people stop being surprised by it.

Froome vs. Quintana for the Tour.

I don't think it's a bluff; it's just efficient riding. He knows he's the strongest climber in the field; why go anaerobic and respond to attacks from weaker riders? He can just carrying on spinning at threshold, reel them in and then attack them decisively when they're already on the limit.

True, although wind matters even for climbs.

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

LOL! Plus he's breathing hard on your back, too funny.

 

[arvc40]

Don't think Tour is over for Contador yet !. That was just a bad day.

It hasn't even started yet. People need to calm down

And for me, the fact that Porte held on shows me that Contador can and will do the same. Needless to say they are all great Athletes.

 

[Breh]

Pinot

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

That only works at speeds far higher than those reached climbing on a bike, though

Marginal gains

Also not to mention Froome has to stick his nose into the wind despite having teammates. Again, not significant at gradients of 9% but still makes a marginal difference.

The effect is tiny at 300km/h, it's nothing at 15.
And to get even that tiny effect Henao had to be 2-3cm from touching Froome's back. He can't do that while riding a bike

 

[HelloDolly]

People on here never learn ...one swallow doe snot a summer make..still along way to go before the Tour

That climb today suited Froome & Porte becasue it was not very long...they could do it at speed...Contador & Quintana are better on longer climbs
Dan Martin did all the pulling for that Yates twin to pip him at the end was not on...

As for SKY Landa is a great foil...definitley needs to go to the Tour ...Henao also looking very good

Not sure about Poels...his form looks dodgy to me
And of course Kwait not great he is ill

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Either Bertie had a bad day or else Froome and Porte had a thermo nuclear day. Bertie looked unstoppable at the MTT, wonder what happened. Dauphine never disappoints.

It really didnt surprise me. Contador is just a monster in hard TT's, he also was in front of froome after the first climb in the hard tdf TT 2013

 

[BigMac]

Agreed. Mountain drafting is overrated.

 

[46&twoWheels]

multiple and non-stop attacks (hopefully resulting in breakaways) from Contador,Quintana,Verde,Nibali,Aru......every single stage
only way Froome cracks and Sky goes banana. Too much unpredictable data to handle for them


unfortunately, nobody would put their Tour in jeopardy (with the risk of finishing out of the top 10) for the greater good

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Either Bertie had a bad day or else Froome and Porte had a thermo nuclear day. Bertie looked unstoppable at the MTT, wonder what happened. Dauphine never disappoints.

It really didnt surprise me. Contador is just a monster in hard TT's, he also was in front of froome after the first climb in the hard tdf TT 2013

Exactly, he can do a great hilly or mountainous ITT even when he's average. So the prologue meant nothing. Froome and Porte are just stronger, let's see if Contador can still find some form.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Don't think Tour is over for Contador yet !. That was just a bad day.

It hasn't even started yet. People need to calm down

And for me, the fact that Porte held on shows me that Contador can and will do the same. Needless to say they are all great Athletes.

To be fair I expected that from Porte today, he is consistently strong in week long races. The complete opposite of which is of course true in GT's.

 

[Rollthedice]

Froome back to his old self, Porte back to Sky days, Contador back to 2013, Aru and Pinot going backwards. Quintana smiling somewhere in Colombia while chewing on a coca leaf.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

That climb today suited Froome & Porte becasue it was not very long...they could do it at speed...Contador & Quintana are better on longer climbs

Hate to say it but that really isn't true.

 

[laurensde+]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure how many times Froome has to do his yo-yo bluff before people stop being surprised by it.

Froome vs. Quintana for the Tour.

I don't think it's a bluff; it's just efficient riding. He knows he's the strongest climber in the field; why go anaerobic and respond to attacks from weaker riders? He can just carrying on spinning at threshold, reel them in and then attack them decisively when they're already on the limit.

True, although wind matters even for climbs.

Sure, but Sky have surely made the calculations and worked out it's the best strategy. Putting your nose in the wind for half a minute on a climb has to be better than going deep into the red trying to follow the attack of a much more punchy rider like Martin.

What was the point of Henao following Contador instead of pacing Froome up when he dropped back?
If anything, having a cyclist behind you improves your aerodynamics, because the guy behind pushes air forward and increases the pressure of the air behind the guy in front, so the guy in front has a lower pressure differential pushing him back ie less air resistance.

lol... do you even ride, bro?

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Agreed. Mountain drafting is overrated.

That's a bit of a blanket statement. Surely it depends on many factors; such as gradient, wind direction, wind strength, the number and size of riders you are drafting behind, road surface etc...

Sometimes it will save loads of energy, sometimes very little.