LaFlorecita said:
Ataraxus said:
The same analogy can be applied about Froome's 2014 Vuelta as well. It is obvious that Froome wasnt at his best in the Vuelta with all his yoyo-ing and dropping behind Aru Jrod and Piti in several cases, several times.
By the same analogy Froome might not have an explanation why he was below par and couldn't achieve his peak in the whole Vuelta.
Have you seen the climbing times for Froome for that race?
Agree with Ataraxus.
It was obvious to me at the time, especially in the first 2 weeks of the Vuelta, that Froome was not in peak shape. He had a poor time trial by his usual standards and was yo yoing on the first mountain stages. Looked like he was just trying to find some form, which he sort of did in the last few days. But he never hit 100%. I suspect that after his fractured hand and broken wrist he just took it pretty easy for a couple of weeks after he abandoned the Tour. And as Taxus pointed out, Contador had the benefit of a few hard extra days in the Tour before he abandoned.
P.S. I guess we are focused in their closest comparison in GT only. Because if we leave GTs aside there is always the first two stages of the 2014 Dauphine which remain the best medium of comparison of their performances in(or close to) top shape.
No.
Don't know how Flo can just declare
'No' (like that wins the debate)?
I think Ataraxus is right. I have often thought myself that the beginning of the 2014 Dauphine is the very closest both have been to peak condition at the same time. They were both exactly at the same point in their preparation for the Tour. And Froome proved to be the slightly stronger, winning the prologue by 8 seconds and beating Contador in the next day MTF. Froome won the two stages and was in the leader's jersey. It's clear they were both really going for it as well.
What came later:- between the Tour and Vuelta; how their respective rehabilitation from injuries went; their respective training; the sort of condition both showed up in at that Vuelta; - one can only speculate. But it certainly did not look like a top shape Froome to me.