Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[Ripper]

In his latest fitness video Chris Froome just revealed he had no thigh muscle in his right leg, due to post-crash atrophy.
He claims the muscle is now finally developed and matches his left leg.
This only finally occurred in January 2022, according to Froome.
Why didn't he say this throughout 2020 and 2021?
I don't remember him saying: "I'm riding the Tour de France on one leg."
In fact, what we were told was that his "training numbers" proved he was potentially as good as ever.
We were consistently asking on this forum for honesty from Israel and Froome and I do not think we have had it.

Because he and his team spout a BS narrative to suit whatever message they want to send.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Cyclingnews read our questions and posted a story about it today. It appears Israel-Premier Tech is looking for a sign that Froome can do something other than finish in the grupetto day after day for his selection to the TDF. Furthermore, they have added another 1-day race for him (Does this mean they don't have faith he will be succcessful at the Dauphine?)

Froome adds Ventoux Challenge to Dauphiné in fight for Tour de France berth

[According to an interview with team sports director Rik Verbrugghe in Belgium’s La Dernière Heure, just two spots out of the Israel-Premier Tech eight-man line-up for the Tour de France remain available, and it has yet to be decided if one of them will go to Froome.

Verbrugghe said of Israel-Premier Tech’s long list of 12 racers for the Tour, six were now confirmed and six to be decided. He also said that the team would very likely be looking for stage wins, not the GC in the Tour.

Verbrugghe confirmed they would give Froome the green light for the Tour if they thought a stage win was within his power, adding “that would be fantastic.”

 

[Ripper]

By that measure his whole career was pointless. I don't think it's fair to say that if he improves it's clinical and rediculous and if not it's pointless. Obviously in your mind he is done no matter what he does - so from that standpoint I guess you can't lose. But I think it says a lot about how you view him as a rider (past and present) and nothing to do with whether he will or won't improve.

I have no skin in this game, so I do not win or lose anything. However, objectively he is a bit of a catch 22 situation (or close to one) - suddenly improving drastically to go from back of the pack to front of the pack reincarnates the same crazy transformation of the Vuelta from many years ago, and thus builds loads of cynicism, or no improvement and no Tour.

Of course it's just my opinion! That's the whole point of a forum. It equally says a lot about people who buy into all of the BS Froome and his PR team spout.

 

[dazaau]

I have no skin in this game, so I do not win or lose anything. However, objectively he is a bit of a catch 22 situation (or close to one) - suddenly improving drastically to go from back of the pack to front of the pack reincarnates the same crazy transformation of the Vuelta from many years ago, and thus builds loads of cynicism, or no improvement and no Tour.

Of course it's just my opinion! That's the whole point of a forum. It equally says a lot about people who buy into all of the BS Froome and his PR team spout.

He had loads of cynicism before, didn't seem to do him any serious harm. I suspect he would be happy to go again. I mean Lance came back (though I'm sure he regrets that!)

I don't think he'll ever compete with the likes of Pog and Rog. I'm not sure he ever could have with Pogacar. But he can improve, and I think in the main, if he does, people will love it. I was never a fan but I'm totally keen to see him win a mountain stage or be competitive in the top 10 GC again. Would make a great story.

People loved Cavs comeback, and he wasn't too popular for a while there.

 

[memyselfandI]

Calm down people, time will tell. We're about to see. Calm down!

And from media visibility point of view, don't just blame PR machine, it takes two to tango.. If you grab quick Twitter or Instagram analysis who is the most followed athlete, guess what? By far it's the 'old guard' Mr. Froome and the Old Texan.

 

[red_flanders]

He had loads of cynicism before, didn't seem to do him any serious harm. I suspect he would be happy to go again. I mean Lance came back (though I'm sure he regrets that!)

I don't think he'll ever compete with the likes of Pog and Rog. I'm not sure he ever could have with Pogacar. But he can improve, and I think in the main, if he does, people will love it. I was never a fan but I'm totally keen to see him win a mountain stage or be competitive in the top 10 GC again. Would make a great story.

People loved Cavs comeback, and he wasn't too popular for a while there.

It’s not about cynicism or fan reaction, it’s about learning the vital lesson of Armstrong‘s eventual demise.

He has his trophies and he’s clearly not willing to risk having them tarnished or revoked in a dubious comeback effort. They’re safe at this point. He’s going to keep posting BS about how he’s returned to form and collecting his paychecks. They credulous will continue to lap it up as they always have.

 

[sir fly]

Like him or not, prime Froome would be welcome against Pogačar.
Too bad the meanest Skytrain incarnation didn't have an opportunity to line against Pogi.

Yet, I'm not giving up on Bernal and Grenadiers. Plenty of time to look forward to.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Wow if he wins the Ventoux Challenge
then he'll be well in!

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-adds-ventoux-challenge-to-dauphine-in-fight-for-tour-de-france-berth/

 

[Sciatic]

Because he and his team spout a BS narrative to suit whatever message they want to send.

Calm down people, time will tell. We're about to see. Calm down!

And from media visibility point of view, don't just blame PR machine, it takes two to tango.. If you grab quick Twitter or Instagram analysis who is the most followed athlete, guess what? By far it's the 'old guard' Mr. Froome and the Old Texan.

It’s not surprising they would do so (which I think is what you’re saying) but because some of us what to get plausible information about about and races, it’s fitting to criticize what they’re posting. And Froome’s posts always come across to me as such disingenuous bullsh@t even if he does start being honestly transparent I’m not going to believe him. But I can still watch him ride and see what happens, it might make the Dauphin a bit more interesting.

 

[Sciatic]

Wow if he wins the Ventoux Challenge
then he'll be well in!

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-adds-ventoux-challenge-to-dauphine-in-fight-for-tour-de-france-berth/

But is he going to ride it or run it?

 

[rm2021]

It’s not about cynicism or fan reaction, it’s about learning the vital lesson of Armstrong‘s eventual demise.

He has his trophies and he’s clearly not willing to risk having them tarnished or revoked in a dubious comeback effort. They’re safe at this point. He’s going to keep posting BS about how he’s returned to form and collecting his paychecks. They credulous will continue to lap it up as they always have.

Risky comment if he continues to improve in the next months.

 

[rm2021]

Like him or not, prime Froome would be welcome against Pogačar.
Too bad the meanest Skytrain incarnation didn't have an opportunity to line against Pogi.

Yet, I'm not giving up on Bernal and Grenadiers. Plenty of time to look forward to.

Froome from 2013 vs pogacar. It would be interesting to see that.
He´s not done. Pozzovivo, rebellin, valverde, horner are good examples.

 

[Rackham]

It is not so unlinear anyway. That could have some explanation although you think no.

Some of them is that he did a past winter , 2020.2021 traying to rehab his leg... that way he started quite bad the season, he crashed at le Tour and he was better lat the end of the season, and now stronger.. I think is no so unlinear or ilogical. When he lost 12 minutes in Ain he was not a domestique..he was treated as a leader for the team..it is not the same when you work.. To lose 12 minutes no working is not a good result. To be 22th at Slovakia working for the team is a good result.

The Tour de l'Ain 2020 queen stage had Bernal & Roglic throwing a few bombs at each other; i.e. Bernal who of course was the actual real leader of Ineos that day.

I can't say I watched the Slovakia race he finished 22nd in but I doubt the riders ahead were of the calibre of Roglic & Bernal in top form on the Grand Colombier. So I think you do that 2020 result a disservice tbh (& considering such stages with multi col passes were his bread & butter as a GT rider, it's fair to best measure his performance on that sort of traditional French route better than elsewhere).

Froome was also better in the 2020 Vuelta than anything he showed in 2021, as well. So the yardstick by which his health is measured shouldn't ignore the fact his performances have been varying levels of awful since 2019 & haven't linearly showed improvement.

Post-crash 2020 Ineos Froome > 2021 Israel Froome.

 

[red_flanders]

Risky comment if he continues to improve in the next months.

“Risky comment”? That’s funny. You mean…I’m at risk for…good heavens…being wrong on an Internet forum?

I’m sure he does improve a bit. He’s not coming back to “the Froome that never should have been” after years of clearly not being anywhere in shouting distance of contention. Can’t see why he’d change now.

Actually, on reflection it does seem the team is putting pressure on him to actually deserve a spot on the TdF team this year, so that might spark a smaller change.

 

[stonerider]

I don't really believe Froome tells the truth...the whole truth...and nothing but the truth.

 

[Rollthedice]

Mont Ventoux Challenge

 

[Wyndbrook]

Personally I would like him to make the selection.
Any other team would be a no go, but until the last ten days or do the same case could be made for all his prospective Tour teammates.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@Rollthedice Haha, the Mt Ventoux run was epic! This and Finestre attack made him an immortal legend! Chris is very motivated to be selected for the Tour team. Even Superman knows he will be smoked on Ventoux this time if he decides to participate.

 

[Taxus4a]

The Tour de l'Ain 2020 queen stage had Bernal & Roglic throwing a few bombs at each other; i.e. Bernal who of course was the actual real leader of Ineos that day.

I can't say I watched the Slovakia race he finished 22nd in but I doubt the riders ahead were of the calibre of Roglic & Bernal in top form on the Grand Colombier. So I think you do that 2020 result a disservice tbh (& considering such stages with multi col passes were his bread & butter as a GT rider, it's fair to best measure his performance on that sort of traditional French route better than elsewhere).

Froome was also better in the 2020 Vuelta than anything he showed in 2021, as well. So the yardstick by which his health is measured shouldn't ignore the fact his performances have been varying levels of awful since 2019 & haven't linearly showed improvement.

Post-crash 2020 Ineos Froome > 2021 Israel Froome.

I told you why, but he was not better at that Vuelta than in Tour of Slovakia despite he did a good Angliru stage...Israel won an sprint to Sagan because his work. He was worse st the begining of Last year, but of course than could be because the kind of job he did on winter..you have s problem and if the time pass and the problem is there you don't improve and you can go even worse..but he showed in autumn some glimpsed of quality helping the team..for example in Torino before Superga catching thee strong Quick step rider..it was a pull that remembered me Cancellara or Ganna...you can look at that day at he DNF...or at he worked and with some glimpsed of quality....look how he started this year at Coppi Bartali and how was last race and think he can improve much more before le Your.

 

[Rollthedice]

@Rollthedice Haha, the Mt Ventoux run was epic! This and Finestre attack made him an immortal legend! Chris is very motivated to be selected for the Tour team. Even Superman knows he will be smoked on Ventoux this time if he decides to participate.

A Tour without Froome is not a proper Tour. I mean he won a Vuelta while riding on an indoor training bike using one leg (that 's what he was doing when he was awarded Cobo's 2011).

 

[Krzysztof_O]

A Tour without Froome is not a proper Tour. I mean he won a Vuelta while riding on an indoor training bike using one leg (that 's what he was doing when he was awarded Cobo's 2011).

Exactly. If Chris doesn't take part this Tour victory will be asterisked forever (no matter if it's Pog's or Rog's).

 

[tonymikejoe]

Can Chris Froome improve by 10%?
That's probably massive at this level of professional road racing, but if we use his last TimeTrial as a rough example then that's what he needs to do if he's going to be competitive in the Tour de France or even the upcoming Dauphine.
Chris Froome averaged 25.5 km/hour during the 15.8km TT at the Tour of Romandie.
Now Sir Dave Brailsford would probably accuse me of "pseudo science" but a 10% improvement on that would be just over 28 km/hour, near stage winner Alek Vlasov's 28.2 km/hour.
Is that a step too far for Chris Froome?
He seems confident he can improve on his current level, but is this huge leap a realistic possibility?
Who agrees / disagrees with this percentage?
Do you think Froome is closer or even further away than this in being competitive at WordTour level?

 

[topcat]

Exactly. If Chris doesn't take part this Tour victory will be asterisked forever (no matter if it's Pog's or Rog's).

When Quintana wins and Froome is not there, there will be a big *

 

[sir fly]

Can Chris Froome improve by 10%?
That's probably massive at this level of professional road racing, but if we use his last TimeTrial as a rough example then that's what he needs to do if he's going to be competitive in the Tour de France or even the upcoming Dauphine.
Chris Froome averaged 25.5 km/hour during the 15.8km TT at the Tour of Romandie.
Now Sir Dave Brailsford would probably accuse me of "pseudo science" but a 10% improvement on that would be just over 28 km/hour, near stage winner Alek Vlasov's 28.2 km/hour.
Is that a step too far for Chris Froome?
He seems confident he can improve on his current level, but is this huge leap a realistic possibility?
Who agrees / disagrees with this percentage?
Do you think Froome is closer or even further away than this in being competitive at WordTour level?

I'm not sure 10% increase in power output (objective measure) translates into 10% increase in speed on the gradient. There's the angle.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I'm not sure 10% increase in power output (objective measure) translates into 10% increase in speed on the gradient. There's the angle.

Actually the steeper the slope is the closer to linear is the relation of speed and power (or in other words VAM and power/mass). It's because on climbs the major component of resistive force is gravity (which is constant) and this force is a multiplier that changes velocity to power. On flat it's not the case as resistive force grows considerably with speed.