Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[CTQ]

Re:

It's totally up to Froome to decide what he wants to do if he can no longer win GTs.

I don't think Sky will force him into a domestique role or ditch him too quickly, but I do think they would do it if it were clear he was past it.

I don't know when his current contract runs out.

current contract for the next 2 years: 2019-2020.

 

[Tim Booth]

What is the one-day race of your dreams?
«For me it would be the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. From what I understand, the route is really very hard and for me to win gold would be a crazy result. But I am aware of never having achieved results in one-day races, so maybe I should change something about my preparation ».

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Unwritten rule, you don’t win more than 5

And that isn't going to change with Froome I don't think unless he bucks all of the trends and history re winning grand tours at mid thirties or later. Evans won one at 34 and that was an anomaly historically and he dropped off fairly quickly after that. Top 10 in the following Tour, a podium in the Giro which he had no hope of winning and the mountains were cut back due to bad weather, and then one more mediocre result, by his standards, in the Giro.

Firmin Lambot, the oldest Tour winner ever at 36, won his second Tour in 1922. He was only one to exceed Evan's age as a Tour winner.

 

[argyllflyer]

The lesser spotted Froome back racing today in Catalunya.

 

[rick james]

Re:

The lesser spotted Froome back racing today in Catalunya.

Racing? He’ll be surviving

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

The lesser spotted Froome back racing today in Catalunya.

Racing? He’ll be surviving

Last time he did Catalunya he did pretty decent.

Guess he'll be around 10th position or in that neighbourhood, though if he's in the gruppetto every day that's hardly reason to panic, even for his fans.

 

[rick james]

The dawg needs a diet

 

[tobydawq]

This is not normal from Froome.

He seems to be going the Nibali way - only being good in Grand Tours (though, he has still been good in the final preparation as well so far).

 

[CTQ]

Re:

This is not normal from Froome.

He seems to be going the Nibali way - only being good in Grand Tours (though, he has still been good in the final preparation as well so far).

it's only his 2nd race of the year, race which have finished one month ago, he lacks rhythm of race

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

This is not normal from Froome.

He seems to be going the Nibali way - only being good in Grand Tours (though, he has still been good in the final preparation as well so far).

it's only his 2nd race of the year, race which have finished one month ago, he lacks rhythm of race

2013: His first 3 races was Oman (overall win), Tirreno (overall second), Critérium International (overall win).

2014: His first 2 races was Oman (overall win), Catalunya (overall sixth).

2015: His first race was Ruta del Sol (overall win, epic battle with Contador).

2016: His first race was the Herald Sun Tour (overall win, but laughable opposition).

But now he does nothing at the beginning of the season. You can't say there hasn't been a change.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Did he struggle today? I fell asleep.

Froome is not good enough anymore to win anything outside of GT really, maybe apart from the Dauphine. His career as trended this way for many years now. I wouldnt worry at all if he hasnt showed anything until Dauphine, even a poor showing there wont get me too worried honestly. He has become a diesel at this point altho Im pretty sure his top level also has been in decline, his poor showings in other races has probably been a conscious decision in order to maximise his performances in GTs.

 

[Red Rick]

Froome needs to worry if he gets dropped in the Tour.

 

[Koronin]

Wasn't 2017 the last time he raced Catalunya? That was the year Valverde and Contador had a nice battle for the overall win and they also did one of their ambushes and caught Froome and basically the entire Sky team out. That group barely made it to the line inside the time limit.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Nothing to worry about with Froome at this stage, Herald Sun Tour aside, its been several years since he had a good result in his first few races of the season. He knows his body and knows he can be in the shape he needs without having to prove himself in the first half of the year.

If he's lacklustre in the Dauphine, then I might start to admit something is wrong, but I expect him to be the one to beat when we get to July.

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

Wasn't 2017 the last time he raced Catalunya? That was the year Valverde and Contador had a nice battle for the overall win and they also did one of their ambushes and caught Froome and basically the entire Sky team out. That group barely made it to the line inside the time limit.

Yep I think that was 2017. He was still good on the MTF though, finished second behind Valverde.

 

[Scarponi]

Compared to Contador you are looking at one of the luckiest cyclists on earth bar Lance during his 7 streak. This
man legit falls 5+ times a year with barely a serious injury. Especially in GTs, he has legit fallen and mistimed corners upwards of 20 times in GTs alone and sits at one abandon.

 

[Rollthedice]

Compared to Contador you are looking at one of the luckiest cyclists on earth bar Lance during his 7 streak. This
man legit falls 5+ times a year with barely a serious injury. Especially in GTs, he has legit fallen and mistimed corners upwards of 20 times in GTs alone and sits at one abandon.

What's a few bruises for a man that has defeated bilharzia?

 

[Velolover2]

There is no reason for him to be in this race. He is not in shape and now he is also hurt. I'll recover and add Tour of California to the calender instead for more racing in the legs.

Yorkshire (just for fun) then California before the Daphine and Tour. A much better preparation.

 

[rick james]

He needs the racing miles in the legs

 

[Valv.Piti]

Looks like he is about to throw in some embarrasing performances in the Pyrenées at this point.

 

[movingtarget]

Froome is always ready in July.

 

[Robert5091]

Compared to Contador you are looking at one of the luckiest cyclists on earth bar Lance during his 7 streak. This
man legit falls 5+ times a year with barely a serious injury. Especially in GTs, he has legit fallen and mistimed corners upwards of 20 times in GTs alone and sits at one abandon.

I think Froome has been more seriously injured then Sky have let on in the past.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Froome is always ready in July.

Most Tour winners are ready in July until the day they are not ...and alot dont see that day coming
"Indurain lache"

 

[Pricey_sky]

Compared to Contador you are looking at one of the luckiest cyclists on earth bar Lance during his 7 streak. This
man legit falls 5+ times a year with barely a serious injury. Especially in GTs, he has legit fallen and mistimed corners upwards of 20 times in GTs alone and sits at one abandon.

Two. Tour 2014 with broken bones in his hand and wrist, and Vuelta 2015 with a fracture in his foot. But he did get very lucky after his nasty crash before the start of the Giro last year, the team said he was still very sore for several days afterwards.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Froome is always ready in July.

Most Tour winners are ready in July until the day they are not ...and alot dont see that day coming
"Indurain lache"

Of course. He has to have a mediocre performance some time. But are the non Sky rivals better than last year ? I still think the biggest rival will probably be on his own team riding for him. Dumoulin doing the Giro along with Yates and Roglic. Who is left as a major rival ? At this stage it's more about Froome deteriorating. Too many of the best rivals backing up from the Giro can only help Froome.