Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[spalco]

I don't have that great of knowledge about cycling history and I have trouble searching for Ventoux finishes in other races than the TdF - maybe someone who knows more than me can answer this: Has anyone other than Pantani actually won a mountain top finish on both Mont Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez in a meaningful race?

 

[cineteq]

Froome calls for Sarenne to be neutralized if rain hits Alpe d’Huez

Riis: "Listen, riders have been going down dangerous descents one thousand times before. They must hit the brakes and be careful. This is a bike race; it’s not some Sunday morning grandma trip. They have to learn how to race their bikes and stop complaining"

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...be-neutralized-if-rain-hits-alpe-dhuez_295693

 

[trevim]

from now on, froome's form will only go backwards i think
gave his all today and barely beat alberto, it won't be enough for the mountains to come

I wish I could be that optimistic. My hopes are only that Froome doesn't win so the breakaway will have to do it.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I think its more likely Froome didn't give it his absolute best today as he wants to save his energy for the next 3 stages. Hence he was surprised to win the TT.

It's funny that some people believe Froome is being too cocky yet others are calling him a liar for being too modest.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think its more likely Froome didn't give it his absolute best today as he wants to save his energy for the next 3 stages. Hence he was surprised to win the TT.

It's funny that some people believe Froome is being too cocky yet others are calling him a liar for being too modest.

Nah, he looked a bit weak on stage 16 as well when put in context now.

Still his lead is big.

Porte will have some hard days.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Nah, he looked a bit weak on stage 16 as well when put in context now.

Still his lead is big.

Porte will have some hard days.

Im yet to be convinced although you may be right. People said he looked like he was struggling on Ventoux with 10k's to go and we know how that turned out. It will take a big performance from someone to put serious time into him on a MTF. Friday is the best chance to have him isolated and attack him with the final descent not helping Froome.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Im yet to be convinced although you may be right. People said he looked like he was struggling on Ventoux with 10k's to go and we know how that turned out. It will take a big performance from someone to put serious time into him on a MTF. Friday is the best chance to have him isolated and attack him with the final descent not helping Froome.

Really, I saw zero weakness on Ventoux. Always in control, never bothered etc.

Last two stages very different when put together. Acceleration was soft, out of the saddle when climbing etc. Very different.

But stage 18 will give us the real story.

 

[maxmartin]

Im yet to be convinced although you may be right. People said he looked like he was struggling on Ventoux with 10k's to go and we know how that turned out. It will take a big performance from someone to put serious time into him on a MTF. Friday is the best chance to have him isolated and attack him with the final descent not helping Froome.

he always looks like he is struggling on the bike, i thought this is the fact everyone knows. And his recovery time is amazing, last year Tour he seemed to be dropped, then he came back to put a massive dig to drop W. So Froom is an biohazard alien on the bike, I don't think we have seen his limits on the climb yet.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Really, I saw zero weakness on Ventoux. Always in control, never bothered etc.

Last two stages very different when put together. Acceleration was soft, out of the saddle when climbing etc. Very different.

But stage 18 will give us the real story.

he always looks like he is struggling on the bike, i thought this is the fact everyone knows. And his recovery time is amazing, last year Tour he seemed to be dropped, then he came back to put a massive dig to drop W. So Froom is an biohazard alien on the bike, I don't think we have seen his limits on the climb yet.

Yeah his style on a bike is not very good at all, I was referring the Ventoux race thread where some posters were saying he didn't look in good form and was struggling up the climb.

I guess we will find out over the next three days if he will lose his form or ride away from everyone again, They should be 3 great stages.

 

[wwabbit]

I think its more likely Froome didn't give it his absolute best today as he wants to save his energy for the next 3 stages. Hence he was surprised to win the TT.

I think Froome went for negative splits, possibly as a response to his first TT where he lost time in the final section. On top of that, he was probably told to descend like a Wiggin and use his buffer to stay out of trouble - his 2nd split time was terrible, and again at the rain hit parts of the final section.

It's funny that some people believe Froome is being too cocky yet others are calling him a liar for being too modest.

You know how it is in this forum. If a rider is being modest, the haters will call him a liar. If a rider is being confident, the haters will call him arrogant.

 

[Jelantik]

I think its more likely Froome didn't give it his absolute best today as he wants to save his energy for the next 3 stages. Hence he was surprised to win the TT.

It's funny that some people believe Froome is being too cocky yet others are calling him a liar for being too modest.

i think froome won with his TT bike in the final. Even though CN said the he gain 9 seconds from contador on the second climb. I thought Ventoux he looked good. But I believe that's his limit there, the best of him so far. He said it himself, he saw quintana fading and he still got something left. On Gap stage, he didn't close up richie acceleration quickly like in the first week when roman and bertie attacked.

Today's TT is hard to judge who's fading, who's in form. Froome claimed he didn't ride hard, contador claimed he took it easy on the descent. But when the dust settled, contador lost 9 seconds compare to 2 min as many people predicted. He is showing that his form is improving. And, Froome is froome, still impressive. We know how mollema looked like after saying that he was comfortable during the attack on Gap stage.

stage 18 is definitely a thrilling answer...

 

[Jelantik]

Fairly sure Nibali wouldn't have fallen! Froome can follow Nibali with full confidence

LOL.. nibali fell twice in this year Giro on the same wet descent when wiggins fell. *Forgot what stage was that*. He took risk also to descent quickly on the wet. That's taking risk. But that's also called bike race. Bertie got some melt asphalt he lost his balance. Froome just being idiot of following him if he knows that contador taking risk. I wonder if nibali were here. Froome is going to wet his pants probably.

 

[autologous]

Froome calls for Sarenne to be neutralized if rain hits Alpe d’Huez

I wonder if the forum software censors "p***y"

hmm. how about "kitty-cat"

 

[Jelantik]

I just watch reply of the ITT on TV. I don't see how Froome said that he saved his leg. He could definitely know that he was behind *the race radio is in his DS car*, and the last few km he was up by 3 seconds. He looked like he was driving to the line as quick as possible. If he's trying to limit the loss, i guess you would have to still ride as fast as you can? No?. I guess that might his standard of "riding conservatively'

 

[ThirdWorld]

froome will use the yellow for the last day tomorrow.

 

[wwabbit]

I just watch reply of the ITT on TV. I don't see how Froome said that he saved his leg. He could definitely know that he was behind *the race radio is in his DS car*, and the last few km he was up by 3 seconds. He looked like he was driving to the line as quick as possible. If he's trying to limit the loss, i guess you would have to still ride as fast as you can? No?. I guess that might his standard of "riding conservatively'

He was definitely conservative up to the 3 time checks as well as the early parts of the wet final descent. That probably just gave him enough gas in the tank to play catchup towards the end. If you check out the per-section time rankings, it is fairly evident that Contador was starting to fade after his awesome first time check, although that could partly be blamed on the bike.

 

[maxmartin]

I just watch reply of the ITT on TV. I don't see how Froome said that he saved his leg. He could definitely know that he was behind *the race radio is in his DS car*, and the last few km he was up by 3 seconds. He looked like he was driving to the line as quick as possible. If he's trying to limit the loss, i guess you would have to still ride as fast as you can? No?. I guess that might his standard of "riding conservatively'

he could still conserve energy in the first two time split, basically just follow the pace of AC, but still give his best in the end. That might also be called riding conservatively. We will find out soon enough.

 

[airstream]

he could still conserve energy in the first two time split, basically just follow the pace of AC, but still give his best in the end. That might also be called riding conservatively. We will find out soon enough.

The thing is given the rain and minimal risk on descents he was ready to sacrifice a stage win before he started because safety was more imporstant. So his words sound plausible.

 

[airstream]

I just watch reply of the ITT on TV. I don't see how Froome said that he saved his leg. He could definitely know that he was behind *the race radio is in his DS car*, and the last few km he was up by 3 seconds. He looked like he was driving to the line as quick as possible. If he's trying to limit the loss, i guess you would have to still ride as fast as you can? No?. I guess that might his standard of "riding conservatively'

It is Riis who supported Crostis cancellation. What a gentleman, what an honest guy! Jelantik, with all seriousness, don't you see contradiction in these words?

 

[Race Radio]

l'Equipe today. Sky gives 2 years of data

 

[Cimber]

l'Equipe today. Sky gives 2 years of data

the data start at Vuelta 2011. I would like to see prior to that race too as that was his breaktrough. I would like to see what happened when he went from nothing to something. I would like to see the data for the transfroomation period


Several reportes already call the data useless when there isnt data prior to the vuelta 2011

 

[Pricey_sky]

l'Equipe today. Sky gives 2 years of data

I was going to mention this, it's a great move by Sky. I guess they are fed up of having all their hard work questioned and this is a real step in the right direction. Hopefully if other teams have nothing to hide they will do the same.

 

[jens_attacks]

after lance armstrong book, fred grappe hits the jackpot again. congrats to him

if he wins le tour he wins it because he's the strongest. all these scientists just make money from his work on the saddle. i didn't read anything new

at least i saw a nice pic in l'equipe that's all

 

[The Principal Sheep]

I was going to mention this, it's a great move by Sky. I guess they are fed up of having all their hard work questioned and this is a real step in the right direction. Hopefully if other teams have nothing to hide they will do the same.

Or a side step whilst the tour is on, people who wish to believe will continue to do so, anyone with questions really haven't had anything resolved, releasing partial information would always lead to further queries.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

l'Equipe today. Sky gives 2 years of data

let's see the clinic spin this into something ridiculous again