Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[Pricey_sky]

Froome in his interview when asked about whether banning power meters is a good idea:

"Yeah why not? Maybe we should go back to single speed bikes too?"

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

Froome in his interview when asked about whether banning power meters is a good idea:

"Yeah why not? Maybe we should go back to single speed bikes too?"

Fixed wheel, bloody freewheel hipsters...

 

[Gigs_98]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

 

[PremierAndrew]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

He's admitted that for him, the Vuelta was a bigger goal than the Olympics, and come on, in Tour shape, Froome doesn't lose 1 minute to Canc in a hilly TT and beaten by Dumoulin with a badly injured wrist (along with getting dropped by Rui Costa uphill)

Furthermore, his main rival right now is another guy who did the Tour flat out...

 

[cantpedal]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

Equally as likely that this years Vuelta froome would be 3 min down on the Tour Froome. He's come back to Quintana's level not the other way around.

 

[SeriousSam]

It's becoming a signature move. Froome is the Bolt of cycling

 

[DBotero]

 

[kenk09]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

Worth remembering that his main rivals are also doing the Tour-Vuelta (one is doing Giro-Tour-Vuelta). He's not going up against spring fresh challengers.

 

[DFA123]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

Equally as likely that this years Vuelta froome would be 3 min down on the Tour Froome. He's come back to Quintana's level not the other way around.

Except that he's not at Quintana's level. Today he beat him a sprint after 1.5km of cat and mouse. The previous two proper mountain stages, he lost a minute.

Saturday will show us if he can really challenge Quintana, but I don't think winning an uphill sprint today automatically makes him the strongest climber in the race; quite the opposite based on the previous days.

 

[Gigs_98]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

He's admitted that for him, the Vuelta was a bigger goal than the Olympics, and come on, in Tour shape, Froome doesn't lose 1 minute to Canc in a hilly TT and beaten by Dumoulin with a badly injured wrist (along with getting dropped by Rui Costa uphill)

Furthermore, his main rival right now is another guy who did the Tour flat out...

I'm pretty sure the wrist wasn't such a big problem for Dumoulin, he also beat Froome by a minute in a much shorter tour TT and Dumoulin definitely peaked for the Olympics. The thing is, a Froome out of shape wouldn't even win a bronze medal against TT specialists. He isn't so incredible in TT's that he could do that. And the RR, well maybe one day races simply don't suit him and iirc, he actually was one of the best on the last climb.

 

[SeriousSam]

Exactly. In theory, rested riders like Chaves and Contador should be a much better position wrt being rested, but the gulf in class clearly is clearly too wide for that to matter. At least up to now.

 

[King Boonen]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

Equally as likely that this years Vuelta froome would be 3 min down on the Tour Froome. He's come back to Quintana's level not the other way around.

Except that he's not at Quintana's level. Today he beat him a sprint after 1.5km of cat and mouse. The previous two proper mountain stages, he lost a minute.

Saturday will show us if he can really challenge Quintana, but I don't think winning an uphill sprint today automatically makes him the strongest climber in the race; quite the opposite based on the previous days.

This is true. Today is a good sign for him but he needs to continue to improve and be able to at least hold Quintanas wheel otherwise this was just a nice stage win for him.

 

[PremierAndrew]

I'm pretty sure the wrist wasn't such a big problem for Dumoulin, he also beat Froome by a minute in a much shorter tour TT and Dumoulin definitely peaked for the Olympics. The thing is, a Froome out of shape wouldn't even win a bronze medal against TT specialists. He isn't so incredible in TT's that he could do that. And the RR, well maybe one day races simply don't suit him and iirc, he actually was one of the best on the last climb.

Come on. As good as Canc was that day, no way peak Dumoulin loses anywhere near 45 seconds to Canc, especially on that course. The wrist was definitely a factor, and Froome still couldn't beat him, which says a lot about Froome's form.

And to say one day races don't suit him, well it's different tactically, sure. But the fact is Froome didn't have the strength uphill. He wasn't able to go with Purito and Alaphilippe, and he later got dropped by Costa. On a route like that, Froome would not get dropped like that in peak form

 

[Gigs_98]

I'm pretty sure the wrist wasn't such a big problem for Dumoulin, he also beat Froome by a minute in a much shorter tour TT and Dumoulin definitely peaked for the Olympics. The thing is, a Froome out of shape wouldn't even win a bronze medal against TT specialists. He isn't so incredible in TT's that he could do that. And the RR, well maybe one day races simply don't suit him and iirc, he actually was one of the best on the last climb.

Come on. As good as Canc was that day, no way peak Dumoulin loses anywhere near 45 seconds to Canc, especially on that course. The wrist was definitely a factor, and Froome still couldn't beat him, which says a lot about Froome's form.

And to say one day races don't suit him, well it's different tactically, sure. But the fact is Froome didn't have the strength uphill. He wasn't able to go with Purito and Alaphilippe, and he later got dropped by Costa. On a route like that, Froome would not get dropped like that in peak form

He probably wasn't in absolute top shape but he said before the tour that he peaked later in the race because of the Olympics. I don't believe that he completely lost his shape in these two weeks. But still in theory this is the point where he should have tried to build his shape again if he wants to improve in this Vuelta and I don't know how this could have worked.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Ominous...

Indeed, if he does ride himself into form as the Vuelta goes on like he suggested then Quintana needs more than the 50-odd seconds he currently holds going in to that TT.

It's silly to base the rest of the Vuelta off one stage, but if we do... Nairo and Movistar will be worried based on that. They couldn't drop Froome before Nairo went. Nairo couldn't drop Froome and then he lost the bonus seconds. If he is going to lose about 1 minute in the TT he needs to win mountain stages, either with a gap or picking up bonuses and if Froome is getting better that's not going to happen.

Nairo losing by bonus seconds on a Froome stage is practically a win for a less explosive rider.

 

[TMP402]

I'd be interested to hear how much time people think either Froome or Quintana can gain from the other on the remaining GC road stages, ie stages 14, 15, 17, and 20.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

I'd be interested to hear how much time people think either Froome or Quintana can gain from the other on the remaining GC road stages, ie stages 14, 15, 17, and 20.

I'd still expect Quintana to be slight favourite on those multi mountain stages this weekend, but if like today Quintana accelerates and can't drop Froome things could be very interesting, very different on today's climb than the weekend though obviously.

Froome said he learned the other day to not try a silly attack and blow himself up so I guess he won't try anything too far fetched. He may even believe he can overcome the 54 second gap on Quintana in the TT so just tries to stick to his wheel. Stage 20 doesn't look overly difficult and I don't expect a big time difference between the pair unless one of them fades massively by then.

 

[Singer01]

Re:

It's becoming a signature move. Froome is the Bolt of cycling

how the fck did they get the st?

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

It's becoming a signature move. Froome is the Bolt of cycling

how the fck did they get the st?

Because Quintana rides for the Spanish Movistar

But anyway, the gap was 1s. If Quintana ends up winning the Vuelta by 1s over Froome, then we can go back to today, otherwise let's just forget it

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

I'd be interested to hear how much time people think either Froome or Quintana can gain from the other on the remaining GC road stages, ie stages 14, 15, 17, and 20.

I'd still expect Quintana to be slight favourite on those multi mountain stages this weekend, but if like today Quintana accelerates and can't drop Froome things could be very interesting, very different on today's climb than the weekend though obviously.

Froome said he learned the other day to not try a silly attack and blow himself up so I guess he won't try anything too far fetched. He may even believe he can overcome the 54 second gap on Quintana in the TT so just tries to stick to his wheel. Stage 20 doesn't look overly difficult and I don't expect a big time difference between the pair unless one of them fades massively by then.

Stage 17 looks like another Froome day to me.

 

[silvergrenade]

What do you think about stage 19 which is the ITT?
I mean, are there any TT specialists who can beat Froome?
If not, a stage win there is also on the cards.

 

[Amnes2015]

funny guy

Chris Froome ‏@chrisfroome 29m29 minutes ago
At least I've figured out which way to point the Gran Ducay #penacabarga 2011 vs 2016

[img=700x700]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrNIYd1XEAA368M.jpg[/img]

 

[silvergrenade]

If he can win this Vuelta it would be incredible, but I still can't believe it. I just don't believe that it's possible to ride the tour where you get into top shape in the 3rd week, then you ride the Olympics still with the tdf peak, but when you start at the Vuelta 1.5 weeks later you basically start your preparation again and ride yourself into top shape.

Usually the riders who try the Tour-Vuelta double try to keep the tour shape for as long as possible so they still have it in Spain but Froome does the exact opposite. And if that wouldn't already be strange enough he does that although he had another race two weeks earlier for which he tried to keep his tour shape. I just don't understand how this can work. If he wins, it would be the most incredible performance of a rider I have ever seen, but somehow I still think he will fade.

Worth remembering that his main rivals are also doing the Tour-Vuelta (one is doing Giro-Tour-Vuelta). He's not going up against spring fresh challengers.

Worth also mentioning that he himself has done the tour.
I generally dont reply to such BS but I was curious. I saw your previous posts; and i saw Froome on the floor with Richie and TGBM on Mt Ventoux.
Your Caption: BOOOOO... I hate you so much.
Your hate is sickening; please take it somewhere else.

On to a positive note, great ride by Froome today. I think he's getting better as the stages go by.
I think Quintana needs about 45 secs more on Froome to be on the safe side I think.

 

[staubsauger]

As long as he produces a good itt and ain't gonna crack in the Pyrenees he's got a real big shot at winning this Vuelta!

 

[dacooley]

Amazing... Quintana beating or even crushing Froome in the vuelta is ABSOLUTELY normal, thats the way its gotta be, the other way round - not at all. There's too little enthusiasm though the double of two consecutive grand tours hasnt been so close since 1998.