Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[maxmartin]

LOL.. maxmartin.. same concept with Nibali can get to his top form like last year Giro in 2 months! I believe when I see it too

then glad we agree on something LOL

 

[karlboss]

The risk to Froome atm is his team. Right now it looks like a kick on an early mountain by someone like Roche, Rogers or Sorenson is going to leave Froome without a team mate and vulnerable to attacks from any other favourites, especially those who can take a team mate with them. The only Sky guy who looks like he might put up some resistance is Nieve, and that is only because he doesn't show much before he performs, then maybe Wiggins. The idea of an unstoppable Sky train at this stage is laughable. Having said if you don't take advantage, isolate, and drop Froome BEFORE a MTF it doesn't matter.
Negative racing and Froome for the win.

 

[Pippo_San]

The risk to Froome atm is his team. Right now it looks like a kick on an early mountain by someone like Roche, Rogers or Sorenson is going to leave Froome without a team mate and vulnerable to attacks from any other favourites, especially those who can take a team mate with them. The only Sky guy who looks like he might put up some resistance is Nieve, and that is only because he doesn't show much before he performs, then maybe Wiggins. The idea of an unstoppable Sky train at this stage is laughable. Having said if you don't take advantage, isolate, and drop Froome BEFORE a MTF it doesn't matter.
Negative racing and Froome for the win.

What? Are you even paying attention? Almost every single top gun in Sky is going to Le Tour. At this rate it will be total obliteration of every other team.
Not like the Alien Dawg wasn't gonna trash Velasco like yesteryear, but this is gonna be domination USPS like.

And still Velasco is very VERY overhyped this year. One stage of awesomeness in Tirreno-Adriatico doesn't say about anything at all.
He's gonna get chewed and spit like a gum.

 

[Jspear]

What? Are you even paying attention? Almost every single top gun in Sky is going to Le Tour. At this rate it will be total obliteration of every other team.
Not like the Alien Dawg wasn't gonna trash Velasco like yesteryear, but this is gonna be domination USPS like.

And still Velasco is very VERY overhyped this year. One stage of awesomeness in Tirreno-Adriatico doesn't say about anything at all.
He's gonna get chewed and spit like a gum.

Have you been paying attention? Porte is having issues, Kennaugh is having issues, ect. Right now things aren't looking to bright for them as a team. Last year when Sky as a team was doing better, they weren't even the best team (as a whole) in the Tour (Saxo was)- Froome was isolated at times when Moviestar and Saxo still had riders. Now, in the end it didn't matter because other teams messed up at various times or their leaders couldn't finish the job off. But my point is if you compare them as a team, this year to last year, they are worst - which means that Froome will be even more isolated than last year. Now he is so strong that might not matter.

 

[JRanton]

The risk to Froome atm is his team. Right now it looks like a kick on an early mountain by someone like Roche, Rogers or Sorenson is going to leave Froome without a team mate and vulnerable to attacks from any other favourites, especially those who can take a team mate with them. The only Sky guy who looks like he might put up some resistance is Nieve, and that is only because he doesn't show much before he performs, then maybe Wiggins. The idea of an unstoppable Sky train at this stage is laughable. Having said if you don't take advantage, isolate, and drop Froome BEFORE a MTF it doesn't matter.
Negative racing and Froome for the win.

I think the law of averages suggests that Froome should at least have a reasonably good level of mountain support.

Porte (recovering from illness)
Nieve (struggled with allergies)
Henao (altitude native testing)
Wiggins (Can he lose/is he willing to lose the necessary weight in time?)
Thomas (Can he avoid crashing?)
Kennaugh (recovering from illness)
Lopez

They all have their problems with the exception of Lopez (who is a good not great climber) but you'd have to think at least 2 of the other 6 will show up with their top form in July.

I said this last year but Thomas will be a beast on the long Tour climbs if he can manage to stay upright in the first week.

 

[Pippo_San]

Have you been paying attention? Porte is having issues, Kennaugh is having issues, ect. Right now things aren't looking to bright for them as a team. Last year when Sky as a team was doing better, they weren't even the best team (as a whole) in the Tour (Saxo was)- Froome was isolated at times when Moviestar and Saxo still had riders. Now, in the end it didn't matter because other teams messed up at various times or their leaders couldn't finish the job off. But my point is if you compare them as a team, this year to last year, they are worst - which means that Froome will be even more isolated than last year. Now he is so strong that might not matter.

What you call issues I call "bull**** PR".
They're getting ready for Le Tour, and it's quite clear at Sky they're not gonna waste an ounce of their roster anywhere else. Issues are just blatant lies.

 

[karlboss]

What? Are you even paying attention? Almost every single top gun in Sky is going to Le Tour. At this rate it will be total obliteration of every other team.
Not like the Alien Dawg wasn't gonna trash Velasco like yesteryear, but this is gonna be domination USPS like.

And still Velasco is very VERY overhyped this year. One stage of awesomeness in Tirreno-Adriatico doesn't say about anything at all.
He's gonna get chewed and spit like a gum.

2 simple questions then, Right now who is Sky's second best climber? and right now where is the climber ranked in the world of climbers?

 

[Jspear]

What you call issues I call "bull**** PR".
They're getting ready for Le Tour, and it's quite clear at Sky they're not gonna waste an ounce of their roster anywhere else. Issues are just blatant lies.

So Porte pulled out of his last several races just because?....that doesn't make any sense. He was able to race last year and still support Froome at the Tour. Why not this year? I can understand him not wearing himself out at the Giro before doing the Tour, but he needs to be racing some to keep form, ect. He is not even doing that right now.

 

[Pippo_San]

And the Alien Dawg got his Romandie win out of nowhere.
A few days before he was ill, a few days after he obliterated everyone.
So...
You guys are forgetting this is another proof that we're clearly talking about peaking masters.
They'll be ready, mark my words. What you're seeing right now doesn't mean anything, at all.

 

[karlboss]

And the Alien Dawg got his Romandie win out of nowhere.
A few days before he was ill, a few days after he obliterated everyone.
So...
You guys are forgetting this is another proof that we're clearly talking about peaking masters.
They'll be ready, mark my words. What you're seeing right now doesn't mean anything, at all.

In previous years, there have been no peaks, just winning from season start to the end of the Tour.
Froome has been in form, won in OMan, took time out with injury and first race back was 17 seconds off victory, then won his next race after a day or 2 with a chest cold, and pulling out of a race he doesn't care about, obviously didn't lose much and who cares I've already said he is the strongest rider. We're talking about the others. Sure they could find form in the next two months, but right now Wiggins has to ride the Tour, as Porte, Kennaugh, and Henao are on very shaky ground, Nieve who knows? (I think he's ok) and the other guys couldn't hold a strong attack from Movistar or Tinkoff so don't matter.

 

[Publicus]

Pippo_San ain't trying to hear your logic. It's Froome Dawg, all day, every day in Pippo_San's world

 

[Pricey_sky]

If Porte shows up in similar form to last year then he will be a top 10 climber without doubt. At least his issues seem to be in the past and he can go and train with Froome with a race at the Dauphine next month too.

Hopefully Kennaughs illness is not too severe so he can get back to training soon and again get form back racing the Dauphine. Nieve and Lopez have not had too many issues so hopefully will arrive their in good shape.

I will wait and see until California next week to find out how Wiggins climbing legs are, hopefully he can continue his progress this year.

 

[karlboss]

If Porte shows up in similar form to last year then he will be a top 10 climber without doubt. At least his issues seem to be in the past and he can go and train with Froome with a race at the Dauphine next month too.

Hopefully Kennaughs illness is not too severe so he can get back to training soon and again get form back racing the Dauphine. Nieve and Lopez have not had too many issues so hopefully will arrive their in good shape.

I will wait and see until California next week to find out how Wiggins climbing legs are, hopefully he can continue his progress this year.

If...is really the question isn't it.

He DNF'd Romandie 4 days ago. Before Romandie he said he was back in good shape, but not good enough to contest 3 weeks in Italy, and then proved nor was he good enough to contend 6 days in Switzerland.

I won't be too surprised to see them all flying come June, but right now there are some doubts.

 

[Pricey_sky]

If...is really the question isn't it.

He DNF'd Romandie 4 days ago. Before Romandie he said he was back in good shape, but not good enough to contest 3 weeks in Italy, and then proved nor was he good enough to contend 6 days in Switzerland.

I won't be too surprised to see them all flying come June, but right now there are some doubts.

Yes I agree it's a big if at the moment, Originally I thought it was just Sky having some terrible luck, but the way it's all happening at once it wouldn't surprise me if its just a cover up to keep everyone fresh for July.

I suppose we will see when we get to the Dauphine in 4 weeks, Froome will want most of his Tour team there I would think with the route being quite testing.

 

[Jelantik]

Yes I agree it's a big if at the moment, Originally I thought it was just Sky having some terrible luck, but the way it's all happening at once it wouldn't surprise me if its just a cover up to keep everyone fresh for July.

i like your conspiracy theory better than jedi mindtrick

 

[stabbin31]

I am a Froome fan, but does he ever stop looking at his Power Meter? I mean come on. Maybe it is just me, but it bugs the **** out of me.

 

[ILovecycling]

I am a Froome fan, but does he ever stop looking at his Power Meter? I mean come on. Maybe it is just me, but it bugs the **** out of me.

Its his trademark,you should be proud of that if you are his fan

and the answer: No he will never stop.

 

[b.broadhurst]

He's not looking at his power meter, that is his style on the bike.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He's not looking at his power meter, that is his style on the bike.

That's even worse.

 

[Siriuscat]

He's not looking at his power meter, that is his style on the bike.

Style on the bike.... he doesn't have any....

 

[Carols]

Style on the bike.... he doesn't have any....

Oh he has style; ugly as crap style it is, Yikes!!! Can't argue with the results though; at least since his magical transformation.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Oh he has style; ugly as crap style it is, Yikes!!! Can't argue with the results though; at least since his magical transformation.

You beat me to it, why change you style when you just spent the last year winning nearly every race you target.

 

[Beech Mtn]

He's not looking at his power meter, that is his style on the bike.

IIRC, That's not what Bobby Julich said back when he was Froome's coach.

 

[RichieTheBest]

the most effective rider is always right!

 

[Afrank]

the most effective rider is always right!

I don't know if that's the right logic to preach in this case. We don't want every other rider to start imitating him. or after a few days the medical personal will be completely exhausted and the hospitals will be full.