Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[rallybanana]

Maybe that will be Froome's next excuse. "I just discovered my wheels have been back-to-front / upside-down / inside-out for the last three seasons."

 

[red_flanders]

I‘ve read it here already, and I think I can confirm that sometimes, there are surprises when it comes to technical knowledge, within the teams.

I remember in 2004 or 2005, at Deutschland Tour, Jan Ullrich‘s mechanic (which was his brother, at this race) installed this super aero „Xentis“ front wheel the wrong way around, at Jan‘s TT bike.

Jan tightly did not win this Deutschland Tour, and few fans or journalists contacted Xentis, afterwards. The manufacturer then confirmed that the wrong fixing of their front wheel at Jan’s bike made the aerodynamic advantage an aerodynamic disadvantage. Watts transferred into times, Jan apparently lost this Deutschland Tour GC due to the fact that the mechanic fixed this wheel wrongly.

Nowadays, almost twenty years later, TdF bikes have become machines. No way being a mechanic without having fundamental technical knowledge.

In German federation BDR, in the 1980ies, when the Espoirs were at stage races abroad, one of their mechanics was well-known that he joined his boys with just a screwdriver with him. He had basic knowledge about mechanics, had his screwdriver, and spent many of the stage race evenings at the local red light districts… That‘s what he was famous for, after some time… (The Espoir riders used to call him „The horny grandpa [first name]“…)

That's interesting...but not sure what you're suggesting with regard to this topic, can you clarify? It's been shown in this thread that IPT are going quite deep with Froome with regard to fit and setup–as one would expect.

 

[red_flanders]

Maybe that will be Froome's next excuse. "I just discovered my wheels have been back-to-front / upside-down / inside-out for the last three seasons."

Indeed! The rounder wheels at Sky/Ineos may have masked this problem, where for IPT it really hampers performance!

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

That's interesting...but not sure what you're suggesting with regard to this topic, can you clarify? It's been shown in this thread that IPT are going quite deep with Froome with regard to fit and setup–as one would expect.

It‘s just because when checking the last few pages, here, this evening, I more than once read that there are doubts about IPT‘s professionalism when it comes to material, for example. So I was remembered of the mentioned stories.

In Froome‘s current case, his recent comments appear a bit „weird“ to me. These (quite big) discrepancies between Sky and current bike setup - unnoticed for so long? I doubt it. I mean, it‘s Chris Froome, the living legend. I‘d guess he at all times has an entourage of five to ten people around him. These people certainly know everything about Chris‘ body, and bike…

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Wrong saddle height is obvious.

 

[RedheadDane]

To be fair...

 

[sevenall]

It's not that I don't understand. Froome has a contract with huge financial benefits and he will probably have to live off the money he makes now for the rest of his life.

And maybe he likes the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed and maybe he wants yachts or polo horses, whatever. It's natural to want things; just yesterday I bought a big platter of delicious cheeses and charcuteries that I didn't need at all.

But I don't even know what is the worse option:

1) Froome believes everything he says and everyone around him goes along with it.

2) Froome makes up what he says and everyone around him goes along with it.

3) Froome and his team make up what he says as part of their media strategy.

I'm fairly neutral when it comes to Froome, but if I was a fan or had ever been, I would be so distressed.

 

[theyoungest]

From a breakaway which was handed the stage by the peloton. Reading it as "third on Alpe" doesn't really tell the full story, i.e. it's a bit like saying Javier Otxoa once 'beat' Lance Armstrong on Hautacam back in 2000 & using that to extrapolate a performance delta which paints a misleading picture.

As for Froome's saddle height issue... what I first viewed as a quasi funny quip to get the media off his back (some sort of last-ditch Hail Mary effort to concoct the 'least' ridiculous excuse for his hilariously poor form) seems to have gone viral & is now being spread around various cycling news outlets, like wielerflits as well.

I mean come on... this is just total bullsh*t on an epic scale. I think it's a step too far tbh, i.e. because it might have seemed like a good idea to get some sort of justification out on social media in order to explain why he's continuing to ride next season, it will make him look like an even bigger chancer when he inevitably finishes below 100th in Romandie or the Tour of the Alps, as per usual.

FYI in December 2022, Froome released a video on his youtube channel in which he detailed how he was working with his team on improving his ITT position for the upcoming season:

The (predictable) result of this 'ground-breaking' ride position was total irrelevancy in ITT's, also as per usual. I didn't think I'd ever be back in his thread typing out a long post regarding why Froome is full of sh*t but here I am. I guess history repeats itself.

He has bilharzia of the bike.

Froome has become quite a tragic character, of course his crash and his subsequent return to competition are a story of perseverance (although that's not unique in cycling) but right now he should just accept that for whatever reason he isn't good enough anymore. Professional athletes have to be able to lie to themselves to some degree, otherwise they never come to extraordinary performances. But at some point the people around them also have to tell them, dude, it's not going to happen anymore.

 

[hrotha]

He has bilharzia of the bike.

Froome has become quite a tragic character, of course his crash and his subsequent return to competition are a story of perseverance (although that's not unique in cycling) but right now he should just accept that for whatever reason he isn't good enough anymore. Professional athletes have to be able to lie to themselves to some degree, otherwise they never come to extraordinary performances. But at some point the people around them also have to tell them, dude, it's not going to happen anymore.

"Bilharzia of the bike" is brilliant

 

[Rob5091]

Who rattled the Chicken's cage?
Twitter Rasmussen on Froome

Is it silly season in the cycling world maybe. Whatever you think of Froome, the fact he had a very bad crash and is still riding is a sign of the man's determination. Bernal had a similar bad crash, and is struggling to get back to his previous from, but there's no online hate for him. Sure there's a lot of dumb PR, but as Oscar Wilde said, "There is only one thing in the world worse then being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

At least we don't have to put up with Sir Dave's waffle as well.

​

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Hahaha, Rasmussen:

„Froome Could ride his Pinarello from 2015 and He still wouldn’t crack top 20 in Tour du Rwanda with his current level.“

That evil, that’s really evil… Rasmussen just made my day… Had such a good laugh…

Btw, I like them both, Froomey and Rasmussen.

Froomey really now has few rollercoasters behind him:

First noticed him racing full gas into this man on the track, Salzburg WCs… I thought, hope no one has just died. Glad apparently both were fine.

Then Barloworld Froome. Not skinny yet, he even looked soft. Didn’t race too fastly. Domestique rather.

Then domestique for Henderson at Sky, for their sprinter.

The stories about the worms, which he gladly beat.

Suddenly he won everything. And epic days, like his Ventoux run. And his bike position, staring at his stem all race long.

Glad he survived his bad, bad Dauphine crash in 2019.

And since his final days at Sky/Ineos, his IMHO best version became alive. Every few weeks or months, he issues great, great comments. He frequently gets me to, „Is he even serious??“…

At IPT, he even showed some very good performances. Great 3rd rank in an AdH stage at the Tour. Two nice performances at the Ventoux Challenge.

But then this results that you hardly believe. Grupetto at the Czech Tour. Dropped on 2kms @ 5%s climbs. Riding medium hard mountains alongside first-year U23 riders known as pure sprinters. Finishing hilly stages next to CT sprint domestiques.

I mean, Froomey is so much more than a four-time winner of the TdF. Pro cycling is about entertainment, and he entertains me better than almost anyone else. I really started liking him a lot, few years ago.

I hope he stays in the pro peloton as long as possible, and keeps entertaining us on his bike, and via epic press releases…

 

[rallybanana]

Hahaha, Rasmussen:

„Froome Could ride his Pinarello from 2015 and He still wouldn’t crack top 20 in Tour du Rwanda with his current level.“

That evil, that’s really evil… Rasmussen just made my day… Had such a good laugh…

Btw, I like them both, Froomey and Rasmussen.

Froomey really now has few rollercoasters behind him:

First noticed him racing full gas into this man on the track, Salzburg WCs… I thought, hope no one has just died. Glad apparently both were fine.

Then Barloworld Froome. Not skinny yet, he even looked soft. Didn’t race too fastly. Domestique rather.

Then domestique for Henderson at Sky, for their sprinter.

The stories about the worms, which he gladly beat.

Suddenly he won everything. And epic days, like his Ventoux run. And his bike position, staring at his stem all race long.

Glad he survived his bad, bad Dauphine crash in 2019.

And since his final days at Sky/Ineos, his IMHO best version became alive. Every few weeks or months, he issues great, great comments. He frequently gets me to, „Is he even serious??“…

At IPT, he even showed some very good performances. Great 3rd rank in an AdH stage at the Tour. Two nice performances at the Ventoux Challenge.

But then this results that you hardly believe. Grupetto at the Czech Tour. Dropped on 2kms @ 5%s climbs. Riding medium hard mountains alongside first-year U23 riders known as pure sprinters. Finishing hilly stages next to CT sprint domestiques.

I mean, Froomey is so much more than a four-time winner of the TdF. Pro cycling is about entertainment, and he entertains me better than almost anyone else. I really started liking him a lot, few years ago.

I hope he stays in the pro peloton as long as possible, and keeps entertaining us on his bike, and via epic press releases…

Great post. Although I think you meant to say Mercan'Tour Classic instead of Ventoux Challenge which he has only done once and not very impressively. By the way, stage 19 of next year's tour passes through the Mercantour National Park. Froome could be the one to watch there.

 

[Taxus4a]

He was pacing in the mountains in at least two or three stages - He was OK at the 2020 Vuelta but it went downhill after that.

He was clearly better at 2022 Tour de France

 

[Sciatic]

It's not that I don't understand. Froome has a contract with huge financial benefits and he will probably have to live off the money he makes now for the rest of his life.

And maybe he likes the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed and maybe he wants yachts or polo horses, whatever. It's natural to want things; just yesterday I bought a big platter of delicious cheeses and charcuteries that I didn't need at all.

But I don't even know what is the worse option:

1) Froome believes everything he says and everyone around him goes along with it.

2) Froome makes up what he says and everyone around him goes along with it.

3) Froome and his team make up what he says as part of their media strategy.

I'm fairly neutral when it comes to Froome, but if I was a fan or had ever been, I would be so distressed.

How were the cheeses?

 

[Mayomaniac]

He was clearly better at 2022 Tour de France

But 2020 Froome showed Sohns of Life in the Tour de l'Ain and the Dauphine as a domestique. That and His 2020 Vuelta were indicators that He wouldn't Just be Froometto fodder..

 

[sevenall]

How were the cheeses?

Very, very good, thank you for asking! The picture from the fromagerie website does not correspond exactly to what I got, but near enough. Added French butter and walnut bread - I am in clover.

https://prd.one2three.network/system/products/main_images/000/120/928/large/Shoot_Elsen6_%282%29.png?1643214463

 

[Netserk]

But 2020 Froome showed Sohns of Life in the Tour de l'Ain and the Dauphine as a domestique. That and His 2020 Vuelta were indicators that He wouldn't Just be Froometto fodder..

Mayo, have you written mostly in German recently?

 

[RedheadDane]

Mayo, have you written mostly in German recently?

Or simply accidentally hit the keys just to the right of those he'd intended to use.

 

[red_flanders]

I'm fairly neutral when it comes to Froome, but if I was a fan or had ever been, I would be so distressed.

Welp. He's been shoveling legendary amounts of BS since he first came to prominence in the 2011 Veulta, so if one is a fan, they're already used to it or just can't see it.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Once Chris gets round wheels he will absolutely crush Skeletor, Teddy and the rest of wannabes!

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Great post. Although I think you meant to say Mercan'Tour Classic instead of Ventoux Challenge which he has only done once and not very impressively. By the way, stage 19 of next year's tour passes through the Mercantour National Park. Froome could be the one to watch there.

Thanks a lot - very much appreciated

And, indeed, Mercan‘Tour is correct. I confused it. Froomey was 11th and 14th there, in 2022 and 2023.

And now, I really hope for a Froome stage win, in 2024 TdF‘s stage 19… Would be epic. Maybe from a breakaway, just like Guerini did it, in 2005‘s last week (Puy-en-Velay? most watched rider, but still wins it, nevertheless)?…

 

[AmRacer]

Thanks a lot - very much appreciated

And, indeed, Mercan‘Tour is correct. I confused it. Froomey was 11th and 14th there, in 2022 and 2023.

And now, I really hope for a Froome stage win, in 2024 TdF‘s stage 19… Would be epic. Maybe from a breakaway, just like Guerini did it, in 2005‘s last week (Puy-en-Velay? most watched rider, but still wins it, nevertheless)?…

With Remco as first loser.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Mayo, have you written mostly in German recently?

Happens when I write on my new phone and I'm too lazy to fix everything...
But yeah, I usually. write mostly in German, because work.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Hahaha, Rasmussen:

„Froome Could ride his Pinarello from 2015 and He still wouldn’t crack top 20 in Tour du Rwanda with his current level.“

That evil, that’s really evil… Rasmussen just made my day… Had such a good laugh…

Btw, I like them both, Froomey and Rasmussen.

Froomey really now has few rollercoasters behind him:

First noticed him racing full gas into this man on the track, Salzburg WCs… I thought, hope no one has just died. Glad apparently both were fine.

Then Barloworld Froome. Not skinny yet, he even looked soft. Didn’t race too fastly. Domestique rather.

Then domestique for Henderson at Sky, for their sprinter.

The stories about the worms, which he gladly beat.

Suddenly he won everything. And epic days, like his Ventoux run. And his bike position, staring at his stem all race long.

Glad he survived his bad, bad Dauphine crash in 2019.

And since his final days at Sky/Ineos, his IMHO best version became alive. Every few weeks or months, he issues great, great comments. He frequently gets me to, „Is he even serious??“…

At IPT, he even showed some very good performances. Great 3rd rank in an AdH stage at the Tour. Two nice performances at the Ventoux Challenge.

But then this results that you hardly believe. Grupetto at the Czech Tour. Dropped on 2kms @ 5%s climbs. Riding medium hard mountains alongside first-year U23 riders known as pure sprinters. Finishing hilly stages next to CT sprint domestiques.

I mean, Froomey is so much more than a four-time winner of the TdF. Pro cycling is about entertainment, and he entertains me better than almost anyone else. I really started liking him a lot, few years ago.

I hope he stays in the pro peloton as long as possible, and keeps entertaining us on his bike, and via epic press releases…

Froomey used to be just a very good cyclist but since 2020 he's become a legend!