Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[Ramon Koran]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

On what is this based? On one descent where he followed Nibali where Nibali said he didn't go full-out because the breakaway was going to win the stage anyway?

And lol if you think he's one of the bst on the cobbles. That stage last year was much easier than the year before. Proven by the fact a large group was still together and Tony Martin out of all people won.

I know it's only one descent but Nibali was going falt out as was Valverde yet Froome was extremely confortable, i saw then that he was a great descender his balance on the bike for such a big guy is great. On the cbbles he was fantastic even fresh enough to attack afterwards, i believe if he gave P-R a go with his big engine and bike handling skill from dirt roads in kenya he would be one of the best.

He is too fragile for Roubaix and too light. The cobbles of Roubaix would wear him down. I really doubt at his present weight that he would be one of the best. He'd need bulk up a bit and then actually finish the event a few times to get an idea of what he's in for and what it takes to "be one of the best".

Agree, he would have to do like wiggins start in a couple of years, but someone needs to knock him off his pearch at sky before hand.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Also where is he on monuments?Nowhere.So much for the complete package
Also there are lots of descenders better than him.
Valverde is a better sprinter than him.
Also he is not good tactically when put on the pressure.
EDIT:And I agree with El Pistolero on most points.But Froome is pretty good on cobbles.At least better than Quintana and Contador.Though Froome would have lost 2-5 miuntes in 2014 like El P said in another thread.Because Froome sucked that year mentally.He was crashing all over the place.Also he is much worse in rain so he would have lost a lot of time on 2014 cobbles stage,not just 1 minute.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Better than Valverde? You must be kidding!! And before you protest that Valverde is not a "gt specialist", he is one of the elite grand tour riders having made the podium in multiple grand tours (all 3 as a matter of fact), won the Vuelta, over the course of his long career.

Also what is your measuring stick for deciding that Froome is a better descender than Aru, Contador, Valverde or any of the other riders that have finished on the podium of a grand tour that is still active (Sammie Sanchez for example)?

Yes Valverde is a better sprinter, but I didn't include him as he's not a contender to win the tour, nor is sammie who I believe is even better than nibali in descents. Alberto crashed on the descent where Froome followed Nibali there for he is not as good. Finally despite Aru impressive descending yestaerday he is I believe prone to making mistakes in descents.

Doesn't your post say "gt specialist" and not specifically the Tour? Are Froome's multiple crashes in 2014 an indication that he has bike handling deficiencies or should we strike it up to an extended string of bad luck? Nibali has crashed before on descents also yet he is still given high ratings for his descending skills. Sometimes being a good descender involves taking risks that others will not take. Sammie Sanchez as he has advanced in his career has seemed to backed off on the risk taking on descents, likely out fear for his safety!

 

[Ramon Koran]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Better than Valverde? You must be kidding!! And before you protest that Valverde is not a "gt specialist", he is one of the elite grand tour riders having made the podium in multiple grand tours (all 3 as a matter of fact), won the Vuelta, over the course of his long career.

Also what is your measuring stick for deciding that Froome is a better descender than Aru, Contador, Valverde or any of the other riders that have finished on the podium of a grand tour that is still active (Sammie Sanchez for example)?

Yes Valverde is a better sprinter, but I didn't include him as he's not a contender to win the tour, nor is sammie who I believe is even better than nibali in descents. Alberto crashed on the descent where Froome followed Nibali there for he is not as good. Finally despite Aru impressive descending yestaerday he is I believe prone to making mistakes in descents.

Doesn't your post say "gt specialist" and not specifically the Tour? Are Froome's multiple crashes in 2014 an indication that he has bike handling deficiencies or should we strike it up to an extended string of bad luck? Nibali has crashed before on descents also yet he is still given high ratings for his descending skills. Sometimes being a good descender involves taking risks that others will not take. Sammie Sanchez as he has advanced in his career has seemed to backed off on the risk taking on descents, likely out fear for his safety!

Valverde IMO is no longer a GT contender in the way that froome nibali quintana aru... Who are in it to win it, yes bala has podiumed every gt but he's only won oneseveral years ago. I believe 2014 was just bad luck since then he hasn't crashed

 

[TMP402]

Froome descending like Mohorič and easily catching up to Quintana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBiD2Sl5HPo

And lol if you think he's one of the bst on the cobbles. That stage last year was much easier than the year before. Proven by the fact a large group was still together and Tony Martin out of all people won.

You mean Tony Martin, one of the stars of P-R this year?

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Froome descending like Mohorič and easily catching up to Quintana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBiD2Sl5HPo

And lol if you think he's one of the bst on the cobbles. That stage last year was much easier than the year before. Proven by the fact a large group was still together and Tony Martin out of all people won.

You mean Tony Martin, one of the stars of P-R this year?

That clip shows confidence, sure. But it doesn't involve any technical corners. On a perfectly straight descent, Kittel ought to be the fastest. Similarly, as the heaviest GC contender due to his height, Froome ought to be the best on the straight parts of the descents. It's the technical corners where the likes of Nibali and Sagan really gain on less able descenders.

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

Rather than ruthless competitivity, his racing in sprint finales looks nerdy to me. It's beyond safety concerns... He rides to be in the winner's group for really tiny benefit. The time differences are rarely applied, and when they are - they're most often insignificant.
But it's good to see that he knows how to handle these hectic finales.

I would think the teams with sprinters' actually competing for the win that they would prefer that the little climber dudes and their domestiques just get out of the way after the 3 kms to the line point. Just seems to add to the chaos.

Certainly. And it's nerdy exactly because of that - he's trying to pull benefits from unusual racing praxis. But if he's already decided to push all the way, you have to give him (and to his lead out lieutenant) the credit for skill.

 

[SeriousSam]

A refreshingly unambiguous stance from Froome. None of those 'I don't care but secretly I really do' shenanigans from the defending champion.

“From the word go here I’ve said that this is an important race for me,” a determined Froome told Cyclingnews at the finish of the stage.

“The Dauphine is an important race in it’s own right. Yes, it’s the last race for me in the build up before the Tour but it’s important in it’s own right.”

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

A refreshingly unambiguous stance from Froome. None of those 'I don't care but secretly I really do' shenanigans from the defending champion.

“From the word go here I’ve said that this is an important race for me,” a determined Froome told Cyclingnews at the finish of the stage.

“The Dauphine is an important race in it’s own right. Yes, it’s the last race for me in the build up before the Tour but it’s important in it’s own right.”

Indeed refreshing.

 

[sir fly]

Loosing never feels good. Especially from a bitter rival.
The way it happened can make it easier to accept or rationalise, but it's never a thing one doesn't care about.

 

[bikinggirl]

We really saw the sportsmanship from Frome today, hope Contador will pay him back the same way next time Frome is in difficulties!

 

[bikinggirl]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

 

[pastronef]

Re:

We really saw the sportsmanship from Frome today, hope Contador will pay him back the same way next time Frome is in difficulties!

I didnt see the stage. what bad thing did Froome do today?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

We really saw the sportsmanship from Frome today, hope Contador will pay him back the same way next time Frome is in difficulties!

I didnt see the stage. what bad thing did Froome do today?

He raced till the finish line. Horrible crime, that is.

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

We really saw the sportsmanship from Frome today, hope Contador will pay him back the same way next time Frome is in difficulties!

I didnt see the stage. what bad thing did Froome do today?

He raced till the finish line. Horrible crime, that is.

ah ok ok
I dont know what bikinggirl was expecting Froome and any other rider to do after the crash, everybody just was happy half the peloton didnt go down. it could've been big crash
also, I fear bikinggirl wouldnt be posting the same thing if Froome crashed and Contador crossed the line with a few seconds advantage
Froome was lucky and raced on the front

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

Frome is much nicer than Somerton.

 

[TomLPC]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

You're right, The Dawg never got jacked 3 times for doping or tried to bribe police chiefs, no comparison

 

[contador_attacks]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

You're right, The Dawg never got jacked 3 times for doping or tried to bribe police chiefs, no comparison

Be careful! The tongue is the whip of the body!

 

[Ramon Koran]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

Only in the way they are once in a lifetime, of course mercx was better than froome I'm not arguing that

 

[rick james]

Can't believe the dawg raced all the way to the finish line yesterday...shocking display from him

 

[ferryman]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

Only in the way they are once in a lifetime, of course mercx was better than froome I'm not arguing that

Do you honestly believe that? No seriously. Maybe you meant once in a generation but even then...Froome age 31, 2 GTs (all in France) Contador age 33, 9 (7) GTs (in France, Italy and Spain). Don't let your blinkers completely blind you my friend . 20/30 years from now people will talk about Merckx, Hinault and Contador in the same sentence. Froome has a LOOOONG way to even get on that podium...that's a fact...

 

[dacooley]

Froome doesn't pretend to be one the greats ever is what people should realize. He is just one of the biggest riders of the last 5 years, might be one of the greatest riders on the decade in the best-case scenario. The different thing is fanboys of other cyclists would prefer froome to end up with 0 grand tours in his career but he anyways dared to take two. That's the problem.

 

[Ramon Koran]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

Only in the way they are once in a lifetime, of course mercx was better than froome I'm not arguing that

Do you honestly believe that? No seriously. Maybe you meant once in a generation but even then...Froome age 31, 2 GTs (all in France) Contador age 33, 9 (7) GTs (in France, Italy and Spain). Don't let your blinkers completely blind you my friend . 20/30 years from now people will talk about Merckx, Hinault and Contador in the same sentence. Froome has a LOOOONG way to even get on that podium...that's a fact...

Im not sure Alberto will be remembered as positive as you think. Yes great legacy but it is tarnished. Froome will be remembered specifically for ventoux 2013 one of the greatest moments in tdf history, so probably wrong to compare him to hinault and mercxk but yes he will still be remembered in years to come.

 

[Oliwright]

Re: Re:

Gained a few seconds today thanks to his keen positional awareness. A ruthless competitor.

Say what you want about it he's the complete package, great tactical awarness, great climber, great tt'ist, decent descender (only nibali is better among gt specialists), best sprinter among gt specialist, top 5 in the world on short steep climbs, one of the best on the cobbles. All this despite coming from a backwards cycling nation, and not starting properly untill relatively late. A once in a lifetime cyclist like merckx, hinault...

Don't you ever compare Frome to Merckx...are you kidding me!!!

Only in the way they are once in a lifetime, of course mercx was better than froome I'm not arguing that

Do you honestly believe that? No seriously. Maybe you meant once in a generation but even then...Froome age 31, 2 GTs (all in France) Contador age 33, 9 (7) GTs (in France, Italy and Spain). Don't let your blinkers completely blind you my friend . 20/30 years from now people will talk about Merckx, Hinault and Contador in the same sentence. Froome has a LOOOONG way to even get on that podium...that's a fact...

I'm a big Contador but a bigger Froome fan.

IMO Froome is better nowadays than Contador and due to leadership issues at 2011 Vuelta and 2012 Tour de didn't win when he was the best rider. Talent wise i think Froome and Contador are equal or close, but due to being born in Africa and bilharzia he had a late start as a pro.

But despite these things, you can't say Contador isn't greater. He has achieved more for longer. Due to this late start for Froome and with Contador retiring after next year, Froome still has 3-4 more years at the top of his form. So he might win enough and be dominant enough in his era to better Contador.

 

[Oliwright]

Contador will always have a slight tarnish to his rep, wheels rumours, clenbuterol etc.
BUT Imo that doesn't make a difference to me. I trust him and he has been so good for the sport. Just ask the pros no one has a bad word to say about Alberto. However a lot do about Aru or Nibali etc

Froome's Legacy will be different as he isn't as popular as Contador. Contador is the most loved in Spanish cycling, where as Froome is only steadily getting his recognition. Due to that idiot called Brad who didn't deserve the tour win.

Contador will be remembered as a great in every way, too watch, personality and performance wise.
Froome will be remember more as a great athlete. Also can't see him staying around the sport like Alberto will imo.

But i think Froome by the time he retires will have a very good reputation! He already has a better rep than Brad in the cycling community.

This is coming from a Froome fan