Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[SeriousSam]

It's really too bad he crashed out last year and wasn't allowed to annihiliate Wiggins in 2012. If we look at riders who won 7 Tours, they always won when they were the strongest rider in the race, as Froome was for the last 4 years.

Winning 3 more would be possible, perhaps likely at this point. Winning 5 more, though, is not.

 

[Mr.White]

It's really too bad he crashed out last year and wasn't allowed to annihiliate Wiggins in 2012. If we look at riders who won 7 Tours, they always won when they were the strongest rider in the race, as Froome was for the last 4 years.

Winning 3 more would be possible, perhaps likely at this point. Winning 5 more, though, is not.

Don't think he would won in 2014, nor that he was the strongest

 

[SeriousSam]

Don't think he would have won either, one of Nibali or Contador was more likely to win without crashes. But none more likely than Froome.

 

[dpm1991]

I'm not into Froome that much with full retardness and The Climb being the arguments against him. This time I'll actually cheer for him. It's his fourth Vuelta and he was allways somwhere around 1st place, but allways just short of it. I should be after Quintana, but this time i'll be after Froome.

I've heared a lot about his style being ugly. Yes, it is ugly but it's very distinctive. Cadel's style was very ugly too - he was throwing his bike from ground to ground and was descending like a cat falling on his feets. I like such distinctive styles even if they look ugly. Froome, Evans, Sorensen (C.A. aka the dying one), Escartin (the crooked one), Contador (samba, kiziame!).

 

[SeriousSam]

Contador had a super smooth and elegant style in 2009 but these days, it's painful and hideous low cadence grind. Poetry in motion, though, compared to Froome's grotesque pedalling, and that's not because he is tall. Andy Schleck's climbing was unsurpassed in its elegance.

 

[Miburo]

It's really too bad he crashed out last year and wasn't allowed to annihiliate Wiggins in 2012. If we look at riders who won 7 Tours, they always won when they were the strongest rider in the race, as Froome was for the last 4 years.

Winning 3 more would be possible, perhaps likely at this point. Winning 5 more, though, is not.

Everybody been unlucky, that's cycling, deal with it.

Besides if froome had actual balls he would have won the tour of 2012. Shouldn't have stayed in sky, he knew the deal

 

[dacooley]

It's really too bad he crashed out last year and wasn't allowed to annihiliate Wiggins in 2012. If we look at riders who won 7 Tours, they always won when they were the strongest rider in the race, as Froome was for the last 4 years.

Winning 3 more would be possible, perhaps likely at this point. Winning 5 more, though, is not.

it's not that simple. i remain unsure on if froome had been able to put about 3 min on wiggins in the most pitiable mountains-wise tour for years. similar doubt relates to the 2014 tour de france. before the start froome's chance was rated on par with contador.

 

[Taxus4a]

I'm not into Froome that much with full retardness and The Climb being the arguments against him. This time I'll actually cheer for him. It's his fourth Vuelta and he was allways somwhere around 1st place, but allways just short of it. I should be after Quintana, but this time i'll be after Froome.

I've heared a lot about his style being ugly. Yes, it is ugly but it's very distinctive. Cadel's style was very ugly too - he was throwing his bike from ground to ground and was descending like a cat falling on his feets. I like such distinctive styles even if they look ugly. Froome, Evans, Sorensen (C.A. aka the dying one), Escartin (the crooked one), Contador (samba, kiziame!).

+1

Anyway I like more Froome style than Contador horse style. Evans has not a bad style, just distintive.
The more class pedaling i have ever been were Bugno and now Wiggins.

 

[SeriousSam]

It's really too bad he crashed out last year and wasn't allowed to annihiliate Wiggins in 2012. If we look at riders who won 7 Tours, they always won when they were the strongest rider in the race, as Froome was for the last 4 years.

Winning 3 more would be possible, perhaps likely at this point. Winning 5 more, though, is not.

it's not that simple. i remain unsure on if froome had been able to put about 3 min on wiggins in the most pitiable mountains-wise tour for years. similar doubt relates to the 2014 tour de france. before the start froome's chance was rated on par with contador.

Wiggins was close to a mental collapse when Froome rode away from his just a little bit. Wiggins climbing was completely based on following the Sky train and then Froome at all times.

Even if Wiggins might have been physiologically capable of holding off Froome with controlled and experienced damage limitation exercises in the climbs and dominating the time trials, I think he would not have been able to remain composed enough to do so had Froome really tried to burn him.

 

[LanLions]

It's really too bad he crashed out last year and wasn't allowed to annihiliate Wiggins in 2012. If we look at riders who won 7 Tours, they always won when they were the strongest rider in the race, as Froome was for the last 4 years.

Winning 3 more would be possible, perhaps likely at this point. Winning 5 more, though, is not.

it's not that simple. i remain unsure on if froome had been able to put about 3 min on wiggins in the most pitiable mountains-wise tour for years. similar doubt relates to the 2014 tour de france. before the start froome's chance was rated on par with contador.

Wiggins was close to a mental collapse when Froome rode away from his just a little bit. Wiggins climbing was completely based on following the Sky train and then Froome at all times.

Even if Wiggins might have been physiologically capable of holding off Froome with controlled and experienced damage limitation exercises in the climbs and dominating the time trials, I think he would not have been able to remain composed enough to do so had Froome really tried to burn him.

I think that the 'mental collapse' you refer to was only due to him being on the same team, and feeling threatened when he was supposed to be leader. Had they been on different teams I don't think he would have struggled as much with composure, he seemed to remain composed enough when the Schlecks burnt him on stage 17 (2009).

 

[SkyTears]

Initially i did not think Froome has a chance for Vuelta win.

But... the only guy who beat him sometimes , in the past 5 years, is not riding Vuelta. All of the other contenders have also 1 GT in their legs. And theres a 40km flat ITT.

I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do a double.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Contador had a super smooth and elegant style in 2009 but these days, it's painful and hideous low cadence grind. Poetry in motion, though, compared to Froome's grotesque pedalling, and that's not because he is tall. Andy Schleck's climbing was unsurpassed in its elegance.

Elegant??? Andy was knock-kneed with his knees likely rubbing the finish off of his top tube in every out of the saddle effort. Andy wasn't "grotesque like Froome but IMO of course, his style was quite far from elegant. It was comparable to watching a stork pedal a bicycle.

 

[Angliru]

I'm not into Froome that much with full retardness and The Climb being the arguments against him. This time I'll actually cheer for him. It's his fourth Vuelta and he was allways somwhere around 1st place, but allways just short of it. I should be after Quintana, but this time i'll be after Froome.

I've heared a lot about his style being ugly. Yes, it is ugly but it's very distinctive. Cadel's style was very ugly too - he was throwing his bike from ground to ground and was descending like a cat falling on his feets. I like such distinctive styles even if they look ugly. Froome, Evans, Sorensen (C.A. aka the dying one), Escartin (the crooked one), Contador (samba, kiziame!).

He finished 4th in his second to last appearance, 10 minutes behind the eventual winner. That isn't somewhere around 1st and not just short of it either. His other 2 appearances I agree with this assessment.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Initially i did not think Froome has a chance for Vuelta win.

But... the only guy who beat him sometimes , in the past 5 years, is not riding Vuelta. All of the other contenders have also 1 GT in their legs. And theres a 40km flat ITT.

I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do a double.

His ITT is not what it was in past years and he ain't going to get it back in a months time.

 

[offbyone]

I'm not into Froome that much with full retardness and The Climb being the arguments against him. This time I'll actually cheer for him. It's his fourth Vuelta and he was allways somwhere around 1st place, but allways just short of it. I should be after Quintana, but this time i'll be after Froome.

I've heared a lot about his style being ugly. Yes, it is ugly but it's very distinctive. Cadel's style was very ugly too - he was throwing his bike from ground to ground and was descending like a cat falling on his feets. I like such distinctive styles even if they look ugly. Froome, Evans, Sorensen (C.A. aka the dying one), Escartin (the crooked one), Contador (samba, kiziame!).

+1

Anyway I like more Froome style than Contador horse style. Evans has not a bad style, just distintive.
The more class pedaling i have ever been were Bugno and now Wiggins.

While I like watching the smooth styled riders, I like cheering for the guys who are imperfect on a bike.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't see Froome winning the Vuelta, simply because I think Quintana will recover better from the Tour and during the Vuelta and thus will ride closer to his best.

 

[Fernandez]

For a reason I dont know, the man likes the Vuelta. Maybe its because it was the race where he shone for the first time (2011) and maybe its because he has been many times close to win it and he really wants to finally win it. But I think he really likes the Vuelta and its very kind of him to come here to ride it after having won the Tour and being probably very tired and not in the best form for it.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

For a reason I dont know, the man likes the Vuelta. Maybe its because it was the race where he shone for the first time (2011) and maybe its because he has been many times close to win it and he really wants to finally win it. But I think he really likes the Vuelta and its very kind of him to come here to ride it after having won the Tour and being probably very tired and not in the best form for it.

His reasons for going last year where pretty simple. He crashed out of the Tour. IMO he is doing it this year because of the possible double. He's already won a gt this year, he's got nothing to lose or prove. If he only top 10's so what? He won the Tour. But, If he manages to win the Vuelta it would be historic.

 

[Fernandez]

Re: Re:

For a reason I dont know, the man likes the Vuelta. Maybe its because it was the race where he shone for the first time (2011) and maybe its because he has been many times close to win it and he really wants to finally win it. But I think he really likes the Vuelta and its very kind of him to come here to ride it after having won the Tour and being probably very tired and not in the best form for it.

His reasons for going last year where pretty simple. He crashed out of the Tour. IMO he is doing it this year because of the possible double. He's already won a gt this year, he's got nothing to lose or prove. If he only top 10's so what? He won the Tour. But, If he manages to win the Vuelta it would be historic.

Yes, you are probably right. But I feel that for whatever reason the man likes the Vuelta. He has said it sometimes. Maybe its for the weather, or the parcours, or the people, or the more relaxed race... or whatever; but I feel he likes the race.

 

[Fernandez]

And always hes come here has given his 100%, even when he had the race very difficult and hard like in 2012. And that its something to thank, because there are other riders come to the race to have a walk, or training, or preparing the Worlds, like Cancellara use to do with the Vuelta.

 

[jens_attacks]

i think in spain, he was always the best respected compared to the other races by the public. and he always gave his best
i'm sure he will do again, a stage win and top 5 should be a very good vuelta, i'd say for him

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

For a reason I dont know, the man likes the Vuelta. Maybe its because it was the race where he shone for the first time (2011) and maybe its because he has been many times close to win it and he really wants to finally win it. But I think he really likes the Vuelta and its very kind of him to come here to ride it after having won the Tour and being probably very tired and not in the best form for it.

His reasons for going last year where pretty simple. He crashed out of the Tour. IMO he is doing it this year because of the possible double. He's already won a gt this year, he's got nothing to lose or prove. If he only top 10's so what? He won the Tour. But, If he manages to win the Vuelta it would be historic.

Yes, you are probably right. But I feel that for whatever reason the man likes the Vuelta. He has said it sometimes. Maybe its for the weather, or the parcours, or the people, or the more relaxed race... or whatever; but I feel he likes the race.

Maybe the bleak and dusty countryside the Vuelta often seems to go through reminds him of Kenya. And he prefers hotter weather also because of his upbringing.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

For a reason I dont know, the man likes the Vuelta. Maybe its because it was the race where he shone for the first time (2011) and maybe its because he has been many times close to win it and he really wants to finally win it. But I think he really likes the Vuelta and its very kind of him to come here to ride it after having won the Tour and being probably very tired and not in the best form for it.

His reasons for going last year where pretty simple. He crashed out of the Tour. IMO he is doing it this year because of the possible double. He's already won a gt this year, he's got nothing to lose or prove. If he only top 10's so what? He won the Tour. But, If he manages to win the Vuelta it would be historic.

Yes, you are probably right. But I feel that for whatever reason the man likes the Vuelta. He has said it sometimes. Maybe its for the weather, or the parcours, or the people, or the more relaxed race... or whatever; but I feel he likes the race.

Agreed. It's quite unusual for the top GC rider in the world to be interested in anything other than the Tour and to freely opt to do the Vuelta.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Interesting to see Froome putting in some rigorous training on the TT bike today. Its the one area where he can really hurt the others if back on song in that department.

 

[SeriousSam]

It's been quite a long time since he had a dominant time trial performance (was it beating Tony at Romandie 2014?), but I would not be shocked if he rapidly gets back to being one of the best time trial specialists in the world.

Since he's amongst the best in the world when it comes to steep shortish ramps at the finish too, it's really all about recovery.