Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[maxmartin]

He has just hit his form 1 year ago. He has a good 6 years left in him minimum, plenty of chances to go after the TDF.

agree, but can''t see 2013 be a peaceful year for him, maybe later years down the road

 

[Pricey_sky]

It just looks as though a combination of the Tour and the incredible heat in this years Vuelta are the reason for Froome not being 100%. Still along way to go but I can't see him being in red come next Sunday in Madrid.

 

[El Pistolero]

It just looks as though a combination of the Tour and the incredible heat in this years Vuelta are the reason for Froome not being 100%. Still along way to go but I can't see him being in red come next Sunday in Madrid.

He's Kenyan and can't stand the heat?

 

[Jelantik]

I have to ask, has it been confirmed that he's constantly looking at his power meter or is it just strange habit that he has while climbing?

that's a sky method of riding in the mountains. Ride hard at 470 watts therefore no one should be able to sustain any attack beyond that. (that's what wiggins said in the interview during TDF). I guess froome now realizes that AC is NO wiggins. He can ride as hard as he can, but AC is still able to smash him.

 

[Jelantik]

Anyway he'd better get his act together and win the Vuelta or he'll have to bow down to Wiggo again in the next TDF. It's not the first time a very talented rider would do that, Jean-François Bernard (and to a lesser extent Gérard Rué) did that for Indurain in the early 90s.

There's NO way, wiggin will bow down to Froome for TDF next year even if he won Vuelta. After all, wiggin is the ' TDF defending champion'. Sky will want wiggin to defend his title and so does wiggin. And since when is the 'defending champion' playing second fiddle?.. I think Sky will let wiggin blow first before they give Froome a green light.

 

[The Hitch]

agree, but can''t see 2013 be a peaceful year for him, maybe later years down the road

Why not a peaceful year for him? You know anything we dont?

Froomes only problem may be that he becomes a total gt rider Menchov style, who has nothing else to aim for in a season than a gt or 2, and would probably struggle to go for 2 in a year if tdf is involved, leaving him with not much to do in a season.

 

[movingtarget]

Froom's career path so far seems tragic to me, hand over last year Vuelta win, hand over this year Tour win, and possibly fall off the podium of Vuelta this year. Well hope he will not regret too much when he looks back his career and he only have himself to blame.

He is still relatively young, so still have plenty chances to get on the top of the podium. But assessing current SKY situation, I can only imagine more drama between him and Wiggins for next year tour. And in the end maybe neither of them can benefit from those drama, let's wait and see.

Also expect much close fight in the next year Tour, people are catching up with SKY innovative training methods, it is already obvious in the Vuelta right now.

This race is far from over. It's too early yet write off any of the top four riders. Rodriguez's TT was a great ride and if he can finish with the others he has a better chance along with Valverde of grabbing the bonuses. You won't see Froome at his best until he changes teams unless Sky really are going to ride for him in the 2013 Tour. Valverde did not work as hard in the Tour as Froome and he does look the fresher of the two at the moment. If Froome's career path is tragic what would you call Andy Schleck's ?

 

[maxmartin]

This race is far from over. It's too early yet write off any of the top four riders. Rodriguez's TT was a great ride and if he can finish with the others he has a better chance along with Valverde of grabbing the bonuses. You won't see Froome at his best until he changes teams unless Sky really are going to ride for him in the 2013 Tour. Valverde did not work as hard in the Tour as Froome and he does look the fresher of the two at the moment. If Froome's career path is tragic what would you call Andy Schleck's ?

I am very well aware of that, didn't you see my comment

"Good news is he is still pretty much in the game, although lost a little momentum. But he can turn that around in just one stage because the race is so tight right now."

 

[The Hitch]

There's NO way, wiggin will bow down to Froome for TDF next year even if he won Vuelta. After all, wiggin is the ' TDF defending champion'. Sky will want wiggin to defend his title and so does wiggin. And since when is the 'defending champion' playing second fiddle?.. I think Sky will let wiggin blow first before they give Froome a green light.

Sigh, not again.

The only reason froome worked for wiggins was because big promises were made. promises wiggins admits too, that next year Froome had leadership guaranteed.

Moreover everything wiggins has ever said suggests he has no intention of contesting next years Tour. Not only before when he said 1 tdf was enough for him, and that he might retire if he won it, but even after when he said he would work for Froome next year, and that he doesnt really want to go through it all again.

But every day, someone else comes on and declares, with absolutely no back up, that wiggins will lead the best team in the TDF next year, even though its clear he has no chance, and froome has a big one.

 

[maxmartin]

Why not a peaceful year for him? You know anything we dont?

Froomes only problem may be that he becomes a total gt rider Menchov style, who has nothing else to aim for in a season than a gt or 2, and would probably struggle to go for 2 in a year if tdf is involved, leaving him with not much to do in a season.

I just don't see how is it possible W as a defending tour champion admits he will ride for F at least not in the beginning of the Tour. I just feel there would be more internal power struggle and debating leading to the Tour. Well I guess SKY can always declare Co-captain for the Tour and may the best legs win.

 

[RVPRVP]

Sigh, not again.

The only reason froome worked for wiggins was because big promises were made. promises wiggins admits too, that next year Froome had leadership guaranteed.

Moreover everything wiggins has ever said suggests he has no intention of contesting next years Tour. Not only before when he said 1 tdf was enough for him, and that he might retire if he won it, but even after when he said he would work for Froome next year, and that he doesnt really want to go through it all again.

But every day, someone else comes on and declares, with absolutely no back up, that wiggins will lead the best team in the TDF next year, even though its clear he has no chance, and froome has a big one.

Wiggins will do Giro i bet he as already said it ,try and complete the set of being on the podium of each GT.

 

[cineteq]

Sigh, not again.

The only reason froome worked for wiggins was because big promises were made. promises wiggins admits too, that next year Froome had leadership guaranteed.

And you're going to believe this fairy tale? All you need is common sense to know that Wiggins will be returning as the defending champ. Froome failing to win La Vuelta will add to that. Plus Prudhomme will make sure Wiggo is there for the 100th celebration of the Tour. The best case scenario for Froome is to be a co-leader.

 

[maxmartin]

And you're going to believe this fairy tale? All you need is common sense to know that Wiggins will be returning as the defending champ. Froome failing to win La Vuelta will add to that. Plus Prudhomme will make sure Wiggo is there for the 100th celebration of the Tour. The best case scenario for Froome is to be a co-leader.

LOL we are on the same page, exactly what I said a couple posts before

 

[The Hitch]

http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/8006101/Fresh-goals-for-Wiggins

lol i remember wiggins being asked in 1 of those newspaper online questions from the fans deals, if he would thought trying for the giro or vuelta 1 day would be worthwhile and he answered - no.

As for him saying hes not greedy, he wants to win it once, before the tour he said he wouldnt want to go through with it 7 times like lance, but didnt rule out doing it a couple of times.

Its once again Wiggins changin his opinions drastically and rapidly. I suppose 3 months down the line he might change his mind again. I hope tour organizers put in 120k of tt to bait him.

 

[movingtarget]

And you're going to believe this fairy tale? All you need is common sense to know that Wiggins will be returning as the defending champ. Froome failing to win La Vuelta will add to that. Plus Prudhomme will make sure Wiggo is there for the 100th celebration of the Tour. The best case scenario for Froome is to be a co-leader.

Another Hinault/Lemond situation ? Although with Contador there, there may not be a need for any hard decision making by Sky.

 

[cineteq]

Another Hinault/Lemond situation ? Although with Contador there, there may not be a need for any hard decision making by Sky.

You got it. More drama, more cash.

LOL we are on the same page, exactly what I said a couple posts before

Squali think alike!

 

[The Hitch]

And you're going to believe this fairy tale? All you need is common sense to know that Wiggins will be returning as the defending champ. Froome failing to win La Vuelta will add to that. Plus Prudhomme will make sure Wiggo is there for the 100th celebration of the Tour. The best case scenario for Froome is to be a co-leader.

Wiggins can be at the 100th celebration of the tour. He can be at the 150th celebration of the tour. Doesnt mean anything, he cant beat Contador in a gt or Schleck in a gt with a hc climb. So what exactly are you suggesting Prudhomme is going to do, i dont quite get it.

 

[webvan]

Wiggins can be at the 100th celebration of the tour. He can be at the 150th celebration of the tour. Doesnt mean anything, he cant beat Contador in a gt or Schleck in a gt with a hc climb. So what exactly are you suggesting Prudhomme is going to do, i dont quite get it.

What, just one HC climb and you think Wiggo will be toast ?! In 2009 he wasn't half the GT racer he's become and Bertie and Schlekett were at their best and he wasn't that far in the end was he?

Anyway back to Froome, I really hope he gets over the ITT disappointment but it's not looking too good I'm afraid, he's going to have to get back to basics and race with his head with the help of Uran and Henao like he did on that first climb, not try to kill everyone and then put in a little attack.

 

[aidianajones]

Is there no chance of Froome changing teams next year? Or does his current contract hinder that? .. Would be good to see Wiggins and Froome on separate teams at next years tour!

 

[webvan]

Contract renewed for 3 years in 09/2011...could always be bought out or they could decide to let him go, neither is very likely at this point.

 

[airstream]

Wiggins can be at the 100th celebration of the tour. He can be at the 150th celebration of the tour. Doesnt mean anything, he cant beat Contador in a gt or Schleck in a gt with a hc climb. So what exactly are you suggesting Prudhomme is going to do, i dont quite get it.

Obviously Wiggins improved a lot as climber in comparison to the level you try to ascribe to him. Yep, he's not very showy on the climbs but who cares? Again, Sky showed unreal wattages, demolishing the competition. However, you authoritatively say that Contador and Schleck would have smashed Wiggins. On what is your perspective based?

 

[johnnycash]

Wiggins can be at the 100th celebration of the tour. He can be at the 150th celebration of the tour. Doesnt mean anything, he cant beat Contador in a gt or Schleck in a gt with a hc climb. So what exactly are you suggesting Prudhomme is going to do, i dont quite get it.

Why not? If contador or Schleck were at the Tour this year, I believe Wiggins would have beaten them both. He smoked Valverde and Rodriquez.

If AC, AS were of 2011-12 form that is. For future tours he may well not beat them but in 2012, with that parcours and Skys strength, you can't say Wiggo would have been beaten, pushed closer - perhaps.

AC's got this Vuelta in the bag now.

 

[The Cobra]

16 seconds down after the TT is not a total disaster for Froome, still a lot of hard mountains to come to blow the GC apart. Unfortunately he appears to be on the downward trend so although I havent given up all hope of a Froome win its more likely those 16 seconds will turn into a couple of minutes by the end.

Considering he has already done the Tour at 100% and finished second, a podium in the Vuelta against Contador and a course ideally suited to Purito he can be content.

 

[The Cobra]

Why not? If contador or Schleck were at the Tour this year, I believe Wiggins would have beaten them both. He smoked Valverde and Rodriquez.

If AC, AS were of 2011-12 form that is. For future tours he may well not beat them but in 2012, with that parcours and Skys strength, you can't say Wiggo would have been beaten, pushed closer - perhaps.

AC's got this Vuelta in the bag now.

Only person on the planet capable of beating Wiggins in this years Tour is Contador. Even then with Wiggins TT form, a super strong team and weak mountain stages I doubt Contador would have made up enough time to take it from him.

 

[RownhamHill]

Its once again Wiggins changin his opinions drastically and rapidly. I suppose 3 months down the line he might change his mind again. I hope tour organizers put in 120k of tt to bait him.

Not having a pop at you, just using this comment as an example of a wider trope I often see - which is comments like this about people 'changing their minds', and often in a fairly critical manner, as if it's some sign of weakness. I always wonder why the criticism? What does it matter if someone changes their mind about something, especially something as transitory of what race you might fancy entering next year?

Anyway, not having a pop at the Hitch here (don't even know if you mean this critically or not), just a genuine question as to why changing your mind is generally seen as a negative.