Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[King Of Molehill]

Since we're comparing apples to oranges I believe that 'legends' (on a global scale) tend to have personalities that are as big, if not bigger, than their palmarès. It gives them that lasting power because more people tend to write about them for as long as they are alive and after they die, whether in or out of the sport they competed in. It has as much to do with what they do off the bike as they do on it. The only riders in the current peloton that I would argue have that combination are:

Peter Sagan

I suspect you'll read and hear more about Bradley Wiggins 25 years from now than you will about CF. Alberto might, but I'm not sure he'll have the same lasting power when off the bike than he does on it. He's too quiet. Like Indurain was.

 

[Taxus4a]

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

All the pros I know, in private doenst talk very well of Contador, how you ever ask him really in confidence?

 

[rick james]

Enough pulling off Bertie in this thread(you already have a massive one to do that) this is about the big bad dawg

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Since we're comparing apples to oranges I believe that 'legends' (on a global scale) tend to have personalities that are as big, if not bigger, than their palmarès. It gives them that lasting power because more people tend to write about them for as long as they are alive and after they die, whether in or out of the sport they competed in. It has as much to do with what they do off the bike as they do on it. The only riders in the current peloton that I would argue have that combination are:

Peter Sagan

I suspect you'll read and hear more about Bradley Wiggins 25 years from now than you will about CF. Alberto might, but I'm not sure he'll have the same lasting power when off the bike than he does on it. He's too quiet. Like Indurain was.

Maybe in Britain, where a lot care more about the olympics than the Tour.
And yeah Wiggins has achieved a lot tbf to him. But Froome will undoubtedly end up achieving more before retiring barring some career threatening injury

 

[LaFlorecita]

All the pros I know, in private doenst talk very well of Contador, how you ever ask him really in confidence?

Not this nonsense again

 

[hrotha]

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

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

Are you for real?

 

[Ataraxus]

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

All the pros I know, in private doenst talk very well of Contador, how you ever ask him really in confidence?

Provide reliable facts and quotations Taxus.
Otherwise it didn't happen.
But unlike others, I will not be surprised if facts provide true.
With all the ego that usually characterizes champions and with all this bossing and finger pointings in team meetings I'm hearing, he might have left some bad feelings here and there.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Since we're comparing apples to oranges I believe that 'legends' (on a global scale) tend to have personalities that are as big, if not bigger, than their palmarès. It gives them that lasting power because more people tend to write about them for as long as they are alive and after they die, whether in or out of the sport they competed in. It has as much to do with what they do off the bike as they do on it. The only riders in the current peloton that I would argue have that combination are:

Peter Sagan

I suspect you'll read and hear more about Bradley Wiggins 25 years from now than you will about CF. Alberto might, but I'm not sure he'll have the same lasting power when off the bike than he does on it. He's too quiet. Like Indurain was.

Maybe in Britain, where a lot care more about the olympics than the Tour.
And yeah Wiggins has achieved a lot tbf to him. But Froome will undoubtedly end up achieving more before retiring barring some career threatening injury

I don't think it's just about the Olympics, it's about personality as the poster said. Who is best known of Mike Hawthorn and Stirling Moss? Moss, yet unlike Hawthorn he never won the F1 world championship. Who is best known of Jim Clark and James Hunt? Hunt, but Clark won twice as many world championships.

 

[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!!!

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...

Is Froome really the same generation as Contador though? Yes in terms of pure age, but in cycling age seems to matter less than in other sports.

 

[Oliwright]

I've seen interviews from throughout the peleton of people who have great things to say about Alberto and are now on different teams. like Cancelara, Roche, Wiggins, Juul-Jensen and Mic Rogers.

 

[Oliwright]

Back to Froome:

I agree Froome isn't in Contadors Generation, I'd say Froome and Nibles are. Andy Schleck is more Berties generation

 

[Oliwright]

I don't see much difference due to how easy the finish is today.
Wouldn't be surprised if Froomey takes the jersey

 

[Scarponi]

Its funny though here in the english speaking Australia, most of my non cycling friends all know Contador but not Froome.

Did not even hear Hayman won Hell of the North though lol

 

[MatParker117]

Boom goes the dynamite!

 

[Eclipse]

Statement = Made

 

[rick james]

Woof Woof

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Statement = Made

Indeed, the way he ripped the leader's jersey off of Contador. Sheer power. Intimidating.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Stunning today, thought he was having a typical yo-yo day at one point he was losing positions in the MJ group, then that attack was huge.

 

[Taxus4a]

He doenst need too much help at the end becoue he is the stronger rider of the world for Tours, but I cant undertand why he has to close all the gaps alone with that strong team ... He could use a little the wheel of Henao or Landa, but it loooks he prefer to goat his way.

Not a good stage for him compared to Porte or Contador, (good respect Landa, Quintana, those kind of riders) but he has no rival here.. in le Tour with Quintana will be different, he is a seriouss rival, especially in the stages for pure climbers a tomorrow stage...

 

[rick james]

the signs have been there all week he was going to do this....just think when Landa is fully fit the will make some 1-2 in the mountains at Le tour

 

[sir fly]

Determined ride today.
And he's, still, in training mode. The yo-yoing before the take off is indication of riding inside some comfort/training zone. He's not yet in the mode when he responds to the events on road regardless of numbers..

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Stunning today, thought he was having a typical yo-yo day at one point he was losing positions in the MJ group, then that attack was huge.

As DFA123 said, it seems Froome rides at his limit, secure in the knowledge that he is the dominant climber in the field. If the group moves away from him, they're going at an unsustainable pace.

He doesn't always yoyo because in Tour stages, Sky set a blistering pace from far out, discouraging all attacks. Then you get the usual pattern where the other contenders drop out the back until Froome is alone.

When that pace setting isn't being done, there's more stop and go, which Froome wisely ignores until the drops the hammer.

 

[BigMac]

I missed the yo-yo. Nothing like seeing him almost drop only to come back and dismantle everyone like the used, tired toys they are.

 

[Scarponi]

Next year he could honestly skip every race pre Dauphine and still almost win the tour. It's insane he peaks so easily