I don't support Froome (If only he could stop to watch his handlebar every 2 seconds), but he deserves this Tour.
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Singer01
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i imagine this experiment will be put to bed now if he wins this year, once he has the tour/vuelta double in his pocket there is no way he risks coming in this undercooked again, if LRP was here i'd give him a 25% chance of success.
I would love to see him go for a Tour/Vuelta double.
For me, this Tour was rather disappointing in many ways, including watching Froome. It seemed to me like he spent 99% of the Tour following wheels, almost always his own teammates, but others as well when no teammates were around. Granted, this isn't 1972 with Eddy Marckx riding at the front, or just attacking on every other stage. But I would have liked to have seen a little more championship grit, coming from a guy who's about to win his 4th Tour, and may have won 5 straight had he not crashed out a couple years ago (maybe 6 if allowed to press Wiggans).
For me, this Tour was rather disappointing in many ways, including watching Froome. It seemed to me like he spent 99% of the Tour following wheels, almost always his own teammates, but others as well when no teammates were around. Granted, this isn't 1972 with Eddy Marckx riding at the front, or just attacking on every other stage. But I would have liked to have seen a little more championship grit, coming from a guy who's about to win his 4th Tour, and may have won 5 straight had he not crashed out a couple years ago (maybe 6 if allowed to press Wiggans).
Re:
I largely agree with you, there's a definite difference between winning in style and winning by holding on, far too much indurain not enough Hinault this time. Don't think it's anything to do with Froome, more just the closeness of the race meaning he couldn't do daredevil attacking ala 2013 from 13k out. Strangely having a closer title battle than before seems to have done the entertainment of the race more harm than good.
Alpe d'Huez said:
I largely agree with you, there's a definite difference between winning in style and winning by holding on, far too much indurain not enough Hinault this time. Don't think it's anything to do with Froome, more just the closeness of the race meaning he couldn't do daredevil attacking ala 2013 from 13k out. Strangely having a closer title battle than before seems to have done the entertainment of the race more harm than good.
Re: Re:
I believe this is Taxus on Froome, he says he noticed him earlier than 2011. Make your own mind up.
http://patrimoniociclista.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/an-unpolished-diamond-story-of-chris.html
burning said:
I believe this is Taxus on Froome, he says he noticed him earlier than 2011. Make your own mind up.
http://patrimoniociclista.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/an-unpolished-diamond-story-of-chris.html
Re:
Was it just because he was under cooked ? Before the Tour he hadn't won a race, in the Dauphine he looked below his best. He should win this race unless Uran does the TT of his career but he's hardly been convincing. Last year wasn't regular Froome neither is this year and both times some people assume it's because he wants to win the Vuelta as well, or he has under trained which is very unlikely for someone with Froome's experience. Next year he will be riding for a record equaling Tour victory and he won't be thinking about the Vuelta but something tells me that Froome will find it no easier than this year.
I think the Froome of old is gone or seems to be. Of course he can win next year but he showed this year that he is beatable even with the best team. Porte and Valverde crashing out changed the dynamics of the race and Martin has also been riding injured and Quintana had done the Giro. None of those riders may have won this year but they would have made the race more aggressive and even though Froome has the TT advantage he has never looked more vulnerable in the mountains not since 2011 anyway. Froome hasn't made one attack stick in the mountains which is unusual for him. You can only win, and he will increase his margin in the TT you would think but it will be interesting to see how he goes in the Vuelta and the next Tour. The way he climbed in this race, the so called anti Froome course may have been a blessing. In his current form I don't think he would have wanted more MTFs.
Singer01 said:
Was it just because he was under cooked ? Before the Tour he hadn't won a race, in the Dauphine he looked below his best. He should win this race unless Uran does the TT of his career but he's hardly been convincing. Last year wasn't regular Froome neither is this year and both times some people assume it's because he wants to win the Vuelta as well, or he has under trained which is very unlikely for someone with Froome's experience. Next year he will be riding for a record equaling Tour victory and he won't be thinking about the Vuelta but something tells me that Froome will find it no easier than this year.
I think the Froome of old is gone or seems to be. Of course he can win next year but he showed this year that he is beatable even with the best team. Porte and Valverde crashing out changed the dynamics of the race and Martin has also been riding injured and Quintana had done the Giro. None of those riders may have won this year but they would have made the race more aggressive and even though Froome has the TT advantage he has never looked more vulnerable in the mountains not since 2011 anyway. Froome hasn't made one attack stick in the mountains which is unusual for him. You can only win, and he will increase his margin in the TT you would think but it will be interesting to see how he goes in the Vuelta and the next Tour. The way he climbed in this race, the so called anti Froome course may have been a blessing. In his current form I don't think he would have wanted more MTFs.
How many grand tours has Froome raced in starting with the 2011 Vuelta where there wasn't at least one stage that he dropped everyone on a climb? Besides the 2014 Tour DNF of course. Would this be the first time in his last ten grand tours if not counting the 2014 TDF?
Froome clearly isnt at his best this Tour. But he is still way above the rest of the GC contenders. He does deserve the tour although I do feel that Landa has been the strongest rider this Tour.
ah, let finally taxus feel free about his often delusional admiration for froome, eventually big champions ought to have lots of fan exaggerrations surrounding them. froome is not at his best, but the question is more like does he still have the capacity to go back to his best, that is under big doubt imo. I'm not even completely sure he'll try to win the Vuelta this year. The Tour win obviously is taking an immense effort from him, a much bigger one than he expected at the end of last season imo.
Re:
Agreed but what does it matter,the only judgement that counts is the scoreboard.
saneguy said:
Agreed but what does it matter,the only judgement that counts is the scoreboard.
Merckx index said:
Plus...
Stage 1 Valverde DNF.
Stage 9 Porte DNF.
Only 2 riders all season who have shown GC potential that could have rattled Froome other than Landa and Dumoulin.
I'll say it, Big Tom would win this Tour if he raced it in his Giro form.
Quintana would have won this Tour as well, had he turned up in his Giro form. Only just, but he'd have won it. He'd only need a Blockhaus stage to win this.
Froome, and Sky, got very lucky this time around. Sure, it's not over yet. But barring a misfortune, which I don't want, Sky and Froome executed a well thought out plan. He was on the ropes several times. A Valverde or Porte level shown earlier in the season would have knocked him out.
No way could Froome have prevented a strong Valverde gaining all those bonus seconds on the short sharp finishes. He'd have won all of them. Easily.
But the race is who turns up on the day. On that note, Kwiatkowski and Landa earned their keep big time...Sky were very solid and secure. Well done to them.
Re:
I remember Barloworld.
Hunter won a stage. Then he crashed. The team was down to 4 riders!
I remember clearly John Lee Augustyn reaching the summit of the highest peak that year and then crashing down the side...he had really big feet.
Also years later, I recognised in a DVD and the interviews, that Geraint Thomas was on that squad. He'd been there.
Did not remember Chris Froome at all. Why?
Because he did absolutely nothing. Phil and Paul if they mentioned his name, it was a passing glance. Yes Froome was there, but he was of no strength or consideration in that Tour.
Amazing how people can grow huh!
Anyway, we can always continue this talk properly, in the Clinic if you'd prefer?
Taxus4a said:
I remember Barloworld.
Hunter won a stage. Then he crashed. The team was down to 4 riders!
I remember clearly John Lee Augustyn reaching the summit of the highest peak that year and then crashing down the side...he had really big feet.
Also years later, I recognised in a DVD and the interviews, that Geraint Thomas was on that squad. He'd been there.
Did not remember Chris Froome at all. Why?
Because he did absolutely nothing. Phil and Paul if they mentioned his name, it was a passing glance. Yes Froome was there, but he was of no strength or consideration in that Tour.
Amazing how people can grow huh!
Anyway, we can always continue this talk properly, in the Clinic if you'd prefer?
Re:
He can keep his hands away from that one.
It was Landa's.
Now it can rightfully go to someone else. Let the paupers get something dude :lol: Sky can't take all the beans and goodies!
Gosh, it would be nice if Porte could ride the Vuelta.
Nibali going? How about Dumoulin? Now contrast with Froome.
Unless it is 2011 Vuelta vintage Froome or 2012 Tour Froome, do you really want him to sit behind his team and just get a freebie?
Unless he gets out there and attacks...nah, I can pass on that. Give it to Nibali or Chaves. Someone interesting. How about Kruisjwijk? Or Zakarin?
Quintana's win last year at least had him win stages...which isn't always needed, but Froome at this years Tour, is not exactly like Contador's 2015 Giro and fighting off a two pronged Astana duo now is it?
If Froome does ride, I hope he races it like last years Tour. That was good racing from him. Solid on every front.
Alpe d'Huez said:
He can keep his hands away from that one.
It was Landa's.
Now it can rightfully go to someone else. Let the paupers get something dude :lol: Sky can't take all the beans and goodies!
Gosh, it would be nice if Porte could ride the Vuelta.
Nibali going? How about Dumoulin? Now contrast with Froome.
Unless it is 2011 Vuelta vintage Froome or 2012 Tour Froome, do you really want him to sit behind his team and just get a freebie?
Unless he gets out there and attacks...nah, I can pass on that. Give it to Nibali or Chaves. Someone interesting. How about Kruisjwijk? Or Zakarin?
Quintana's win last year at least had him win stages...which isn't always needed, but Froome at this years Tour, is not exactly like Contador's 2015 Giro and fighting off a two pronged Astana duo now is it?
If Froome does ride, I hope he races it like last years Tour. That was good racing from him. Solid on every front.
Re: Re:
He looks healthy and a normal weight.
Some of the guys on this forum should take note.
What a fatty huh? That's sarcasm BTW...
What is crazy is that his BMI in those photos was normal and fine for his height!
I forgot about the bilharzia! Thanks for the lols once again!!
Memories should be cherished.
Really glad, that I don't remember Froome until 2011 riding a bike! Don't know how anyone could handle all that awesome from back then!! It's like watching a young Jacques Anquetil or a young Coppi...flair everywhere on a bike! Epic!!
TMP402 said:
He looks healthy and a normal weight.
Some of the guys on this forum should take note.
What a fatty huh? That's sarcasm BTW...
What is crazy is that his BMI in those photos was normal and fine for his height!
I forgot about the bilharzia! Thanks for the lols once again!!
Memories should be cherished.
Really glad, that I don't remember Froome until 2011 riding a bike! Don't know how anyone could handle all that awesome from back then!! It's like watching a young Jacques Anquetil or a young Coppi...flair everywhere on a bike! Epic!!
Re: Re:
The first I really remember of Froome was his battle with Cobo in the 2011 Vuelta which was the first of quite a few entertaining Vuelta races. Froome really showed his fighting qualities in that race.
Galic Ho said:Taxus4a said:
I remember Barloworld.
Hunter won a stage. Then he crashed. The team was down to 4 riders!
I remember clearly John Lee Augustyn reaching the summit of the highest peak that year and then crashing down the side...he had really big feet.
Also years later, I recognised in a DVD and the interviews, that Geraint Thomas was on that squad. He'd been there.
Did not remember Chris Froome at all. Why?
Because he did absolutely nothing. Phil and Paul if they mentioned his name, it was a passing glance. Yes Froome was there, but he was of no strength or consideration in that Tour.
Amazing how people can grow huh!
Anyway, we can always continue this talk properly, in the Clinic if you'd prefer?
The first I really remember of Froome was his battle with Cobo in the 2011 Vuelta which was the first of quite a few entertaining Vuelta races. Froome really showed his fighting qualities in that race.
Galic Ho said:
Bardet would have won if he had attacked properly. Alberto in 2014 form would have won this easily. Miguel anytime. Tyson would have beaten Ali. And so on.
Re: Re:
Same here.
I did a double take and had to ask who was this secret Sky rider I didn't remember.
Then I saw footage of him climbing at the Giro.
I remember the stage clearly. It was 2009, Gerrans won and Froome had been passed, after making an attack from a breakaway, up some absurdly steep climb...Froome did almost what Kwiatkowski did last night on the Izoard, and started riding sideways. Granted he did not fall off, but he was spent.
So I did remember having seen him, I just didn't notice.
Bit hard to miss him since 2011. He could have won that Vuelta had he not held Wiggins hand. Same for the following Tour.
He's made up for it since then though.
movingtarget said:
Same here.
I did a double take and had to ask who was this secret Sky rider I didn't remember.
Then I saw footage of him climbing at the Giro.
I remember the stage clearly. It was 2009, Gerrans won and Froome had been passed, after making an attack from a breakaway, up some absurdly steep climb...Froome did almost what Kwiatkowski did last night on the Izoard, and started riding sideways. Granted he did not fall off, but he was spent.
So I did remember having seen him, I just didn't notice.
Bit hard to miss him since 2011. He could have won that Vuelta had he not held Wiggins hand. Same for the following Tour.
He's made up for it since then though.
Next years TDF will be interesting. Apparently Landa and Nieve are going, and of course there will be eight man teams. As well as that, there will be a 35km TTT, so Sky would want to bring some power for that possibly. If so, even though we don't know the profile, it makes it more difficult for Sky to control the race. It's never nice to see anyone crash out, but you also have to consider that possibility, which could leave a team down to 6 or 7 early on.
Re: Re:
I want a post before 2011 Vuelta, not some retroactive stories that makes no sense.
TMP402 said:
I want a post before 2011 Vuelta, not some retroactive stories that makes no sense.
Re:
Sky's performance since Thomas' crash makes me think that 8 rider teams are a disadvantage for all rival teams, rather than Sky.Poursuivant said:
Re:
This. But I wouldn't be surprised if they send Puccio as well in place of Elissonde perhaps.IndianCyclist said:
A story on the front page says: "Frooome Exits Tour d France..." "...Mountains With Confidence in Victory". The way that the title is stacked got my eyes open this morning!
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