Re: Re:
This is an interesting debate which will continue until Sky's dominance at the TDF is broken - To do what I propose ,would need teams to rethink the selection of riders - I reckon if you have a serious GC contender than 3 or 4 support climbers is all that's needed.
HelloDolly said:yaco said:Ataraxus said:yaco said:Will be interested at what tempo Movistar ride the last climb - My eyes tell me that SO FAR, Movistar has been riding the climbs at a higher tempo, than Sky did in the TDF
One of the (non-clinic) reasons Quintana's time up the Covadonga was so fast, is the tempo that his team set in the hardest middle part.
One of the most efficient ways for pure climbers to beat Froome in a MTF is to attack (or set a harder tempo than Froome's threshold ) at the base of the climb. And that's what Movistar seems to be doing this Vuelta.
It has worked in Hazallanas (Ruta del Sol 2015), it worked (only for Fernandez) on Ezaro and yesterday in Covadonga as well.
These are also my thoughts and also dovetails with how to break the Skytrain at the TDF - Teams need to be more aggressive in mountain stages, particularly riding harder in the valleys and flat sections before the climbs to make Sky weaker before the mountains This is also means instead of picking a 'Sky' team of 7 climbers and 2 flat riders, you need to go for 4 climbers and 5 flat riders - Tire Sky out before the mountains which means they may set a slower tempo up the climb, allowing more rope for attacks.
Anyway will continue to watch at what tempo Sky ride the mountains in the following stages - It's been good tactics by Movistar.
This is very true but the thing is SKY at the tour are infintely stronger than Movistar at the Vuelta ... Of course Fernandez has been setting a blistering pace but can he keep that up and over longer climbs
SKY at the Tour rode at apace that stop attacked...maybe they could have gone faster and better if required...No one challenged them
I'd love to know how long Chris Froome can keep up his Yo yo TT up a mountian and what is his threshold
It would be lovely to know the power and speed at each KM up Covodongo for Froome , Quintana & Contador
I would be great to figure out Froome's threshold
Also agree about putting SKY under pressure before the mountains... Tinkoff would need to do this here as Monvistar can leave it till the mountains...but Tinkoff look like they are not strong enough .... Need some cross winds ??
This is an interesting debate which will continue until Sky's dominance at the TDF is broken - To do what I propose ,would need teams to rethink the selection of riders - I reckon if you have a serious GC contender than 3 or 4 support climbers is all that's needed.