Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Alberto says Froome is the biggest challenge of his entire career. I believe him, and I think that says it all. Froome is a force to be reckoned with since he suddenly became world class in 2011. In that time he has won 2 GTs and shows no signs of slowing down. He seems susceptible to illness and injury but when he is on form he is formidable. Since he 'emerged' late his career will most likely fall shy of legend status, but I'd never count the guy out of any race he enters.

Thing is, if hypothetically Froome was to win 5 Tours, would you consider him as a legend? He'd definitely be memorable, and given that those 5 Tours would be during the time of AC, he would definitely be up there. But come on, the guy needs to show something in the classics too imo, or he needs to win at least 1 edition of each GT and end up with at least 7 GTs. Even AC wouldn't qualify for legendary status (I count 7, not 9) if some of those GT wins weren't quite so memorable, though I guess he has done the GT triple twice over

Let's talk about it when he wins 5 Tours .

I'm very stingy with the Legend title, last one I've seen was Pantani and before him Hinault. History will decide on Contador, not us.

I think you got the wrong end of the stick. I was trying to say 'even if Froome won 5 tours would he be a legend'? not 'when Froome wins 5 tours...'. It's a very ambitious target he's set himself but I reckon he'll end up with 3, possibly 4 (if it goes well)

 

[SeriousSam]

Even just one more Tour would have him close to legendary status. There aren't many 3+times Tour winners around. The last one was Indurain.

 

[harryh]

Yep. And I really hope that he wins at least one Tour more 'cause then we can enjoy Froome on Tour (instead of Lemond on Tour) on Eurosport in the near future.

 

[Brullnux]

Even just one more Tour would have him close to legendary status. There aren't many 3+times Tour winners around. The last one was Indurain.

But Indurain won the Giro twice as well (with 2 Giro-Tour doubles), and was the OITT champion and the world ITT champion. Also, it was 3 in a row, along with 2 Giro/Tours in a row. Froome will never be a legend like Pantani, Indurain or Bahamontes, who only won 1 Tour, but 6 Polka dots, unless if he starts winning Giro/Tour doubles, or even any other GT, or a Giro/Vuelta double, or a Tour/Vuelta double. He needs a double.

 

[MatParker1711]

Will ride Vuelta after Olympics.

 

[Põhja Konn]

Froome, more than any other rider, needs some time to pass in order the get correct assessment/appreciation for his achievements. Due to circumstances surrounding his breakthrough, his team and his career as a whole, its not possible to give calm and reasoned opinion about his career, before there is substancial time gone past the end of it.

He is a very divisive character who is the leading rider of the most hated cycling team out there. Those who don't buy into his story, don't consider him any sort of champion, and most of others think of him as, if not legend already, then at least a legend in the making.

Too many and too strong contrasting emotions are involved to give calm and balanced opinion of Froome's career and his standing in the pantheon of cycling during his career and even some time after it has ended. He might be even too controversial to be ever appreciated in a way the likes of Indurain have been, even if he does end up winning 5 Tours and one or two doubles.

 

[Brullnux]

Froome, more than any other rider, needs some time to pass in order the get correct assessment/appreciation for his achievements. Due to circumstances surrounding his breakthrough, his team and his career as a whole, its not possible to give calm and reasoned opinion about his career, before there is substancial time gone past the end of it.

He is a very divisive character who is the leading rider of the most hated cycling team out there. Those who don't buy into his story, don't consider him any sort of champion, and most of others think of him as, if not legend already, then at least a legend in the making.

Too many and too strong contrasting emotions are involved to give calm and balanced opinion of Froome's career and his standing in the pantheon of cycling during his career and even some time after it has ended. He might be even too controversial to be ever appreciated in a way the likes of Indurain have been, even if he does end up winning 5 Tours and one or two doubles.

He is obviously a champion, but legend are only 1 or 2 guys in a generation, and like Carols said, history, not us, decides them.

 

[ray j willings]

"even if he does end up winning 5 Tours and one or two doubles"

what comedy club are you performing at tonight

 

[JRanton]

Even just one more Tour would have him close to legendary status. There aren't many 3+times Tour winners around. The last one was Indurain.

Yup, one more would mean only Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain have more than him.

 

[Ruby United]

Re: Re:

Alberto says Froome is the biggest challenge of his entire career. I believe him, and I think that says it all. Froome is a force to be reckoned with since he suddenly became world class in 2011. In that time he has won 2 GTs and shows no signs of slowing down. He seems susceptible to illness and injury but when he is on form he is formidable. Since he 'emerged' late his career will most likely fall shy of legend status, but I'd never count the guy out of any race he enters.

Thing is, if hypothetically Froome was to win 5 Tours, would you consider him as a legend? He'd definitely be memorable, and given that those 5 Tours would be during the time of AC, he would definitely be up there. But come on, the guy needs to show something in the classics too imo, or he needs to win at least 1 edition of each GT and end up with at least 7 GTs. Even AC wouldn't qualify for legendary status (I count 7, not 9) if some of those GT wins weren't quite so memorable, though I guess he has done the GT triple twice over

100% 5 Tour de France wins counts him as a legend; even 4 would.

 

[jsem94]

Lemond was also a two-time WC. Just 3 TDF titles alone does not merit legendary status. Maybe 4 would though. He's not far from it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

"Froome not far from legendary status"... Let's be realistic here, there are very few legends in cycling and right now Froome is not even close to legendary status. He has won 2 GTs and 9 stage races rated 2.1 or higher. Maybe at the end of his career he will be a legend but I highly doubt it, he would need to win at least 3 or 4 more GTs and some classics.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

 

[jsem94]

So how do you define a legend? If Lemond is a legend, then Froome is not THAT far behind.

Is Contador one? Sean Kelly? Charly Gaul? I don't know where you would draw the line.

Really, Menchov? LOOOOOOOOOOL

 

[StryderHells]

Seems like a ridiculous conversation, I mean what is a legend? Merckx I guess would be it. Froome? Not even close,

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Really, Menchov? LOOOOOOOOOOL

Of course Menchov isn't a legend. I used him to show how ridiculous it is to consider Froome "close to legendary status".

In my opinion, Tommeke (4 PR, 3 RVV, Worlds, thousands of other wins) and Fabian (3 PR, 3 RVV, 4 Worlds ITT, 1 MSR, thousands of other wins) are the only ones who could be considered legends in the future as it stands know. Others, not a chance. As you know Berto is special for me, but I have to be realistic and because of his "bland" personality, stripped victories and lack of wins in several big races (classics but also Dauphiné/Suisse) he will never be a legend.

Let's look at it this way: how many "legends" are there, really? 15 at most? 2, maybe 3 from each generation? Taking this into account, would it be logical if at least a dozen cyclists of this decade were to be considered legends in the future?

 

[MatParker1711]

Re:

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

Not really they've all done unique things in this sport and in some cases are there nations greatest ever cyclist. I include Chris Froome in that who has a better record in the sports biggest event than all of those names.

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

Not really they've all done unique things in this sport and in some cases are there nations greatest ever cyclist. I include Chris Froome in that who has a better record in the sports biggest event than all of those names.

Contador rates higher than Froome when it comes to the Tour, we will have to wait and see as it could all change next season. When it comes to the greatest regarding nations then I'd rate Wiggins and Cavendish higher than Froome at this stage

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

Not really they've all done unique things in this sport and in some cases are there nations greatest ever cyclist. I include Chris Froome in that who has a better record in the sports biggest event than all of those names.

I guess it depends on your definition of "legend", if it is just an extremely good cyclist, or actually not just an extraordinary cyclist but one that inspires, transcends time and will be used as a benchmark for decades to come. Of the first there've been dozens in not hundreds. The second, 15 at best.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

Not really they've all done unique things in this sport and in some cases are there nations greatest ever cyclist. I include Chris Froome in that who has a better record in the sports biggest event than all of those names.

As has already been said multiple times, it ain't all about the Tour!

 

[MatParker1711]

Re: Re:

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

Not really they've all done unique things in this sport and in some cases are there nations greatest ever cyclist. I include Chris Froome in that who has a better record in the sports biggest event than all of those names.

Contador rates higher than Froome when it comes to the Tour, we will have to wait and see as it could all change next season. When it comes to the greatest regarding nations then I'd rate Wiggins and Cavendish higher than Froome at this stage

Not according to the record books he doesn't:

Contador:
2 wins
1 White Jersey
3 stages

Froome:
2 wins
Polka Dots
5 stages

 

[pink_jersey]

Re:

If Froome right now is close to legendary status then Cancellara, Cavendish, Boonen, Nibali, Valverde, Contador, Gilbert heck even Evans and maybe mythical Denis Menchov should all be considered legends out of the current generation of riders... that's stretching it a bit, don't you think?

Contador, Cancellara and Boonen are legends...Cavendish is one of the best sprinters all time.Not sure if he's a legend but he's close.Valverde is one in a generation.Maybe not a legend but damn, he's a helluva bike rider.Gilbert won the Ardennes treble.If he wins another monument he can be one.Nibali won all three GT's + 1 monument.Olympic/WC and he can be put in the some bracket as Contador, Cancellara and Boonen.
Right now, Froomey isn't better than Evans.And Evans is not exactly a legend...

 

[djpbaltimore]

Re: Re:

Not according to the record books he doesn't:

Contador:
2 wins
1 White Jersey
3 stages

Froome:
2 wins
Polka Dots
5 stages

All that despite fewer attempts. Also, don't forget to add Froome's runner-up finish in 2012. Contador has no other podium finishes in the TDF.

 

[Jacques de Molay]

Re:

If Lemond is a legend, then Froome is not THAT far behind.

Yes, he is that far behind. By a distance that can barely be measured.

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

If Lemond is a legend, then Froome is not THAT far behind.

Yes, he is that far behind. By a distance that can barely be measured.

Damn straight!
3x Tour GC, 2x Podium, 5 stages
2x Worlds RR, 2x Podium
Dauphine
Giro podium, 2x stages
I could list more but we don't have that kind of time