Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[pastronef]

Re:

He'll ride the Giro for that Jewish money.

ignore him and the Giro if you dont like it.

 

[silvergrenade]

If it's true...
Wow. 2 million Euro. That's crazy!
Good for you Dawg, good for you.

 

[hfer07]

Re:

He'll ride the Giro (((for that Jewish money))).

Froome should pull an LA 09: grab the money, pretend to be there for the title while using it for training, put a good show-perhaps a stage win - and then move on to the Tour

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

He'll ride the Giro for that Jewish money.

ignore him and the Giro if you dont like it.

What did I say that wasn't true?

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

He'll ride the Giro (((for that Jewish money))).

Froome should pull an LA 09: grab the money, pretend to be there for the title while using it for training, put a good show-perhaps a stage win - and then move on to the Tour

Honestly, that wouldn't surprise me at all.
Do that and help one of your superdomestiques, Thomas for example, who's riding for gc, that will make him more willing to bury himself for you at the Tour.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

He'll ride the Giro (((for that Jewish money))).

Froome should pull an LA 09: grab the money, pretend to be there for the title while using it for training, put a good show-perhaps a stage win - and then move on to the Tour

Honestly, that wouldn't surprise me at all.
Do that and help one of your superdomestiques, Thomas for example, who's riding for gc, that will make him more willing to bury himself for you at the Tour.

No chance. If Froome goes the Giro, he will go for the win. Getting it is a different proposition of course.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

He'll ride the Giro (((for that Jewish money))).

Froome should pull an LA 09: grab the money, pretend to be there for the title while using it for training, put a good show-perhaps a stage win - and then move on to the Tour

Honestly, that wouldn't surprise me at all.
Do that and help one of your superdomestiques, Thomas for example, who's riding for gc, that will make him more willing to bury himself for you at the Tour.

No chance. If Froome goes the Giro, he will go for the win. Getting it is a different proposition of course.

Yeah, but I think that the 5th Tour win will still be the big goal for him and the team.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

He'll ride the Giro (((for that Jewish money))).

Froome should pull an LA 09: grab the money, pretend to be there for the title while using it for training, put a good show-perhaps a stage win - and then move on to the Tour

Honestly, that wouldn't surprise me at all.
Do that and help one of your superdomestiques, Thomas for example, who's riding for gc, that will make him more willing to bury himself for you at the Tour.

No chance. If Froome goes the Giro, he will go for the win. Getting it is a different proposition of course.

Yeah, but I think that the 5th Tour win will still be the big goal for him and the team.

If the fifth Tour win was that big of a deal for him he wouldn't be doing the Giro. I'm surprised by him doing the Giro but maybe the public pressure from fans and former champions have got him thinking. Quintana's best chance to win a Tour while Froome is still competing. I still can't see him being successful in a Giro/Tour double even though he was successful in the Tour/Vuelta double but I think that success has something to do with Sky's thinking not to mention the prize money on offer. It also sounds like the other Giro riders want Froome to be there whether that's because they think he will be easier to beat at the Giro or because they are talking the race up on behalf of the organizers, probably a bit of both.

 

[d-s3]

Since after the Vuelta I'm of an opinion that Froome has one and only unique chance of making history by holding all 3 GTs at one time.
It's extremely unlikely he would be able to get this chance again.
While the 5th Tour is still possible in 2019 or even in 2020, 2018 is not his only chance.

So IMO going for the Giro would be a good decision. If he succeeds in Giro, he will be among the greats.
If he then adds Tour in 2018, he will be exceptional. Even if not, he can still add the fifth it in 2019 and cement his place among the greats.

So is it a risk? Sure. Is reward really big? IMO yes.
Kudos to him if he takes this risk. It will be a sign of a champion.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Since after the Vuelta I'm of an opinion that Froome has one and only unique chance of making history by holding all 3 GTs at one time.
It's extremely unlikely he would be able to get this chance again.
While the 5th Tour is still possible in 2019 or even in 2020, 2018 is not his only chance.

So IMO going for the Giro would be a good decision. If he succeeds in Giro, he will be among the greats.
If he then adds Tour in 2018, he will be exceptional. Even if not, he can still add the fifth it in 2019 and cement his place among the greats.

So is it a risk? Sure. Is reward really big? IMO yes.
Kudos to him if he takes this risk. It will be a sign of a champion.

Yes either way Froome wins, if he grabs a fifth Tour win or the Giro win, either result will be big in the history of the sport but if he does ride the Giro, the Tour suddenly becomes a more open race and probably a more entertaining one hopefully. Especially if Porte, Bardet and Quintana can all arrive on the start line in good form. Dumoulin and Martin will also make it interesting although I think Dumoulin will do the Giro unless he wants to avoid Froome and sees the Tour as maybe not the best route but a better chance for him to beat a fatigued Froome. I don't think the later start in the Tour will make a big difference for the Giro riders that also do the Tour, it's only a week. Doubtful that an extra week will make the Tour any easier. Even if Uran sits back like last year I still expect a more aggressive race in the mountains especially after Froome's last Tour performance and now with the Giro also in his legs. Bardet has no choice without the TT to fall back on and Quintana, Porte and others will have to test Froome especially in the early mountain stages. If Froome doesn't win the Giro he runs the risk of missing out in both races which would put Sky under huge pressure in the Tour.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

I guess that that's good news for Vegni. I still can't see him actually peaking for the Giro, the Tour will probably remain his main goal.

I'm not sure that the not peaking at the Giro holds water. It's an excuse ready to serve in case of a loss, but to be remotely competitive, he'll have to peak. Winning a GT while at 80%, or 90%, I don't believe anyone can do that. The difference between first and fifth is..1%? 2%? His hope will be that his team can tame his foes, that the extra week in between helps recovery. But it's likely that something is going to give, like week 3 in Le Tour.

If Froome does Giro-Tour and I'm Dumoulin, I go all in for the Tour.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

I guess that that's good news for Vegni. I still can't see him actually peaking for the Giro, the Tour will probably remain his main goal.

I'm not sure that the not peaking at the Giro holds water. It's an excuse ready to serve in case of a loss, but to be remotely competitive, he'll have to peak. Winning a GT while at 80%, or 90%, I don't believe anyone can do that. The difference between first and fifth is..1%? 2%? His hope will be that his team can tame his foes, that the extra week in between helps recovery. But it's likely that something is going to give, like week 3 in Le Tour.

If Froome does Giro-Tour and I'm Dumoulin, I go all in for the Tour.

I agree I think this is why Dumoulin has not committed himself to either race yet. I think he will do the Tour even though the Giro is better for the TT. Quintana will still have to be better than he was in 2017 to beat Dumoulin, Bardet will lose time in the TT and to a lesser degree so will Porte and Froome if Froome does the Giro first. But the mountains in the Tour will still be a test for Dumoulin. Froome will have to be peaking for the Giro otherwise why do the double at all when you have to win the first race to make it a success ? Be interesting to see how Froome goes on the Giro climbs. I think Aru, maybe more than Nibali, will test him. The Giro is always a bit more chaotic than the Tour and Sky has had trouble in the past but not with Froome as a leader. He will be more of a calming influence on the team I expect. The Giro/Tour double is more difficult than the Tour /Vuelta or Giro/Vuelta. As good has Froome has been I can't see him winning both races. Also be interesting to see how Sky rides in the mountains without Landa and Nieve.

 

[glassmoon]

Re: Re:

I guess that that's good news for Vegni. I still can't see him actually peaking for the Giro, the Tour will probably remain his main goal.

I'm not sure that the not peaking at the Giro holds water. It's an excuse ready to serve in case of a loss, but to be remotely competitive, he'll have to peak. Winning a GT while at 80%, or 90%, I don't believe anyone can do that. The difference between first and fifth is..1%? 2%? His hope will be that his team can tame his foes, that the extra week in between helps recovery. But it's likely that something is going to give, like week 3 in Le Tour.

If Froome does Giro-Tour and I'm Dumoulin, I go all in for the Tour.

QFT :idea:

 

[ferryman]

I really hope Froome does ride. But seriously, just who will be he competing against? Aru/Landa? The sceptic in me (admittedly from a big anti Froome stance), screams he may only ride because Quintana, Nibali, Dumoulin, Bardet et al have committed themselves to the TDF. Dunno, just musing aloud....

 

[staubsauger]

Landa is especially the rider Froome NOT wants to compete against in a hectic race like the Giro!

 

[deValtos]

Re:

I really hope Froome does ride. But seriously, just who will be he competing against? Aru/Landa? The sceptic in me (admittedly from a big anti Froome stance), screams he may only ride because Quintana, Nibali, Dumoulin, Bardet et al have committed themselves to the TDF. Dunno, just musing aloud....

Doing the Giro/Tour would mean you have to face every GT contender no? Surely that's the exact opposite of a dodge.

Not to mention if Froome does include the Giro in his program it's logical a lot of the other contenders who havn't chosen yet will go all in for the Tour since it's a better opportunity for them. I have not seen any news on Dumoulin yet?

 

[ferryman]

Re: Re:

I really hope Froome does ride. But seriously, just who will be he competing against? Aru/Landa? The sceptic in me (admittedly from a big anti Froome stance), screams he may only ride because Quintana, Nibali, Dumoulin, Bardet et al have committed themselves to the TDF. Dunno, just musing aloud....

Doing the Giro/Tour would mean you have to face every GT contender no? Surely that's the exact opposite of a dodge.

Not to mention if Froome does include the Giro in his program it's logical a lot of the other contenders who havn't chosen yet will go all in for the Tour since it's a better opportunity for them. I have not seen any news on Dumoulin yet?

Don't disagree, as I said just musing aloud It does get a bit boring of season

 

[yaco]

Remember the way Froome chased the points jersey in the final stage of the Vuelta after he wrapped up the GC - He'll ride the Giro to win and that means fall gas - My fear is Froome shortens his career by doing the Giro/TDF double - It's a tough ask at the age of 33 - Four GT's in a row could shorten his career.

 

[perico]

Re:

Remember the way Froome chased the points jersey in the final stage of the Vuelta after he wrapped up the GC - He'll ride the Giro to win and that means fall gas - My fear is Froome shortens his career by doing the Giro/Vuelta double - It's a tough ask at the age of 33 - Four GT's in a row could ruin his career.

You’re right. Look at Contador after winning the 2014 Vuelta and 2015 Giro. If successful, his legacy would be secured as passing Bertie (who I have him equal with now) and Indurain level. Will put him on Merckx Hinault levels

 

[perico]

Re:

I really hope Froome does ride. But seriously, just who will be he competing against? Aru/Landa? The sceptic in me (admittedly from a big anti Froome stance), screams he may only ride because Quintana, Nibali, Dumoulin, Bardet et al have committed themselves to the TDF. Dunno, just musing aloud....

If Valverde comes back as strong as in 2017 as states a while ago he would ride the Giro, he would not be an easy opponent.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Remember the way Froome chased the points jersey in the final stage of the Vuelta after he wrapped up the GC - He'll ride the Giro to win and that means fall gas - My fear is Froome shortens his career by doing the Giro/TDF double - It's a tough ask at the age of 33 - Four GT's in a row could shorten his career.

I think it's a mistake. After doing the double I thought he would be all in for the Tour and maybe the Worlds. He could end up winning neither but if he does win the Giro he will still have to turn the clock back to win the Tour as well and I don't see that happening. He relied on his team more than ever in the Tour and also on the TT. His days of mountain brilliance seem to be over. But if he does manage to do the double you really have to question whether riders like Quintana have been overrated or whether they were ever going to beat Froome anyway. Maybe Quintana is as good as he is going to get. The next few seasons will tell. The 2014/15 Quintana seems to have disappeared.

 

[Robert5091]

Can not see Sky giving up their between football season filler of Froome & team cycling/velo-advertising around France.

 

[deValtos]

Re: Re:

Remember the way Froome chased the points jersey in the final stage of the Vuelta after he wrapped up the GC - He'll ride the Giro to win and that means fall gas - My fear is Froome shortens his career by doing the Giro/TDF double - It's a tough ask at the age of 33 - Four GT's in a row could shorten his career.

I think it's a mistake.

Well it's really risky but the pay off is huge.

If successful he becomes a winner of all 3 GT's, 5 TDF club, the famous Giro/Tour double, holding every GT title at the same time and even making it 4 in a row. May as-well just retire at that point, doesn't matter if your career is shortened if it works.

Sure risky, but if he wants to go for it then hell yea go for it kid.

 

[gregrowlerson]

People are questioning whether it is too late for Froome to go for the double, but I'd be questioning whether it is too late for him to go for the Giro. Cyclists generally don't just have year after year after year after year to win whatever they like. It may be that next season is a crossing over point, where Dumoulin becomes a stronger GT rider than Froome. Maybe Froome secretly hopes to avoid Dumoulin at the Giro? Regardless of that, it's impossible to prove which riders are avoiding other's, and which genuinely want to win a particular race (it's a bit like the boy who takes apparently less risk in asking the physically less attractive girl to the ball; how are we to know if he would genuinely prefer to dance with her, or whether he is just scared of her?). But Froome hardly dominated the GT'S this year, and a smashing in the Tour after riding the Giro could completely destroy the kind of aura that he has in the peloton, the beatings of which didn't help Contador's career a great deal. If he is going to go for the Giro then why not back up with the Vuelta, where he can also defend his title (and do so much more realistically)? He would be a better chance at winning another Tour at 34 and fresh, then at 33 after a Giro.

It would be funny if Dumoulin and Froome both go to the Giro, leaving Nibali as the favourite to win the Tour.

 

[hazaran]

You can't make this stuff up, his most successful season yet is proof of his weakness that will not see him win the Giro :lol: