Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[Kwibus]

Does showing how much vein bulging better than show a more toned leg muscle? Last year I could have sworn that I saw more muscle on Froome's leg.(but I could've been wrong too ). Btw, his bulging veins took him only 13th place today. We shall see if his bulging vein is an indication that he will destroy everyone in the mountain ooorr.. it could be just he is too anorexic to the point it's unhealthy..

Flat prologue.
I'm actually surprised he was 13th. (I expected him lower)

 

[Jelantik]

Flat prologue.
I'm actually surprised he was 13th. (I expected him lower)

I thought he was supposed to be good in flat ITT compare to other GC contenders . That kid, Kwiat is something, at least he got a chance to beat contador and froome in ITT.

 

[Jspear]

I thought he was supposed to be good in flat ITT compare to other GC contenders . That kid, Kwiat is something, at least he got a chance to beat contador and froome in ITT.

He is good in flat itt's. I think he is simply better over a longer distance than a shorter distance. Historically (except for the 2013 Romandie prologue) he has always been better in itt's than in prologues. I guess that's why people were commenting on his "good" placing yesterday.

 

[RichieTheBest]

If the role of weight was so overwhelming as some forum posters serve, Contador, Nibali and others could have preferred to be so skinny as Froome and crushed him, because there is too much at stake and all legit methods are good for big wins. However, for some reason other big guns don't do this. So apparently it helps only Froome and Wiggins in a way due to particular qualities of physiology. Let me say Porte looks quite balanced athlete in spite of riding for the same team.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I thought he was supposed to be good in flat ITT compare to other GC contenders . That kid, Kwiat is something, at least he got a chance to beat contador and froome in ITT.

Longer iTT's yes, not really short ones though. That long TT in the Tour is almost perfect for him and he will take a lot of time on his rivals if on form.

 

[SafeBet]

If the role of weight was so overwhelming as some forum posters serve, Contador, Nibali and others could have preferred to be so skinny as Froome

I don't think Nibali had more body fat than Froome during last year Giro.

 

[Carols]

I don't think Nibali had more body fat than Froome during last year Giro.

Well Nibali didn't look like a walking skeleton so he must have more muscle.

 

[RichieTheBest]

Well Nibali didn't look like a walking skeleton so he must have more muscle.

Without muscles none of them wins a GT.

 

[stutue]

Anyone else think Froome will be under immense pressure in Romandie?

He's got to show form or the unthinkable may happen and we may see Wiggo looming up into view for the TdF

Sky had crap luck prior to 2012, pure luck in 2012, and in 2013 they got away with being a man down.

2014 is looking like it might turn out to be a damp squib for them. Part of their luck in the previous two years was the absence of an on form Contador.

Don't think it is going to work out for them this year.

 

[Poursuivant]

Anyone else think Froome will be under immense pressure in Romandie?

He's got to show form or the unthinkable may happen and we may see Wiggo looming up into view for the TdF

Sky had crap luck prior to 2012, pure luck in 2012, and in 2013 they got away with being a man down.

2014 is looking like it might turn out to be a damp squib for them. Part of their luck in the previous two years was the absence of an on form Contador.

Don't think it is going to work out for them this year.

I think they would be stupid to back Wiggins over Froome if he has a poor TDR. He has done more than enough to earn the right to lead, an don't forget after TDR, he will go back to training then ) weeks down the line it is the Dauphine. A long way to go until TDF.

 

[stutue]

Yes, good points, but I do think Wiggins will be in the TdF lineup one way or another.....waiting to pounce

 

[willbick]

Wiggins will be in the TdF no doubt but no chance of being a GC contender. His climbing days are long gone

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Wiggins will be in the TdF no doubt but no chance of being a GC contender. His climbing days are long gone

yea, think you are right on both accounts. Froome to get results and Sir Wiggo to sell the tickets.

 

[Poursuivant]

Yes, good points, but I do think Wiggins will be in the TdF lineup one way or another.....waiting to pounce

Interested to see how well Wiggins does in Cali, he has been targetting it for a few months now.

 

[Jelantik]

Yes, good points, but I do think Wiggins will be in the TdF lineup one way or another.....waiting to pounce

he is the only one who seems healthy. So if he continues his trend, he might earn a spot on TDF squad.

 

[Afrank]

Even if Froome is behind his form of last year he'll still crush Wiggo on the climbs.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Froome is still number 1 and would beat Wiggins even if not 100%. It will be interesting to see if Froome has the legs on tomorrow's tough stage, even when he didn't have form in Catalunya he still tried to attack so we can expect more fireworks.

 

[ILovecycling]

I smell something from Froome last interview for CN.
He said something like "My numbers are good,maybe better than last year this time"

iirc its the exactly same thing(!) what Wiggins said before his Giro last year.IMO he is lying to not give a boost to Contador and other opponents.
What kind of impression do you have?

 

[RichieTheBest]

I smell something from Froome last interview for CN.
He said something like "My numbers are good,maybe better than last year this time"

iirc its the exactly same thing(!) what Wiggins said before his Giro last year.IMO he is lying to not give a boost to Contador and other opponents.
What kind of impression do you have?

Probably yes. All the methods are good not to inspire opponents. Isn't the same thing Contador said before the 2013 Tour?

 

[Pricey_sky]

I smell something from Froome last interview for CN.
He said something like "My numbers are good,maybe better than last year this time"

iirc its the exactly same thing(!) what Wiggins said before his Giro last year.IMO he is lying to not give a boost to Contador and other opponents.
What kind of impression do you have?

As you say I think its all a smokescreen to not give his rivals a boost. For what its worth he actually wasn't that far behind Contador and Purito in Catalunya despite his problems and I think he will fully fit and firing in time for the Tour.

I really hope so as 100% Froome v 100% Contador could be absolute carnage in the mountains in July. I cant see any others (Nibali, Tejay ect) getting close to them if they are at their best. The one thing I still believe will tip it in Froome's favour is the long iTT, however its not hard to see Contador gaining lots of time in the mountains.

 

[Kwibus]

As you say I think its all a smokescreen to not give his rivals a boost. For what its worth he actually wasn't that far behind Contador and Purito in Catalunya despite his problems and I think he will fully fit and firing in time for the Tour.

I really hope so as 100% Froome v 100% Contador could be absolute carnage in the mountains in July. I cant see any others (Nibali, Tejay ect) getting close to them if they are at their best. The one thing I still believe will tip it in Froome's favour is the long iTT, however its not hard to see Contador gaining lots of time in the mountains.

I don't think a good Froome will lose time in the mountains vs a good Contador. It's hard to predict if both will be on their top, even if both will be and one dominates the other we will likely say that the other rider wasn't top.

Stage 2 will be tricky for Froome if it's raced hard. Specially if it's going to be wet. I doubt it will be raced hard though. Cobbled stage will be tricky as well since Froomes bike handling isn't really his specialty and he is soooo skinny. Will be a rough ride for him. I expect Nibali(no idea if he's capable of doing do on the cobbles, but I have a feeling he will due to his big cojones) and Valverde to put the pressure on him during that stage. Not so much from Contador since I don't think he fancies cobbles that much

 

[Pricey_sky]

Stage 2 will be tricky for Froome if it's raced hard. Specially if it's going to be wet. I doubt it will be raced hard though. Cobbled stage will be tricky as well since Froomes bike handling isn't really his specialty and he is soooo skinny. Will be a rough ride for him. I expect Nibali(no idea if he's capable of doing do on the cobbles, but I have a feeling he will due to his big cojones) and Valverde to put the pressure on him during that stage. Not so much from Contador since I don't think he fancies cobbles that much

Yeah I think the big problem could be the cobbled stage, however he will more than likely have Stannard, Thomas and Wiggins with him which should keep him supported so he shouldn't lose any time to his GC rivals.

 

[RownhamHill]

I don't think a good Froome will lose time in the mountains vs a good Contador. It's hard to predict if both will be on their top, even if both will be and one dominates the other we will likely say that the other rider wasn't top.

Stage 2 will be tricky for Froome if it's raced hard. Specially if it's going to be wet. I doubt it will be raced hard though. Cobbled stage will be tricky as well since Froomes bike handling isn't really his specialty and he is soooo skinny. Will be a rough ride for him. I expect Nibali(no idea if he's capable of doing do on the cobbles, but I have a feeling he will due to his big cojones) and Valverde to put the pressure on him during that stage. Not so much from Contador since I don't think he fancies cobbles that much

Why don't you think it will be raced hard? Given stage 1 will probably end in a bunch sprint, and everyone will still be pretty fresh, I've got high hopes that it might be a great stage. (Although, maybe after this year's LBL that's a false hope).

Certainly you would think there would be opportunities here for anyone who wants to put their rivals under a bit of early pressure - http://blog.veloviewer.com/the-climbs-of-stage-2-of-the-2014-tour-de-france-part-2/. Throw in the seemingly inevitable crashes that you get in the early Tour, and the cobble stage coming up as well and I'm hoping there's the potential for some pretty active GC racing. But obviously that might be my own hope getting the better of reason.

 

[RichieTheBest]

We should take into account that the peloton will be full of cobbled specialists. I will be hugely surprised if Nibali, not a specialist too, would be able to do something against big group. None of big favorites has an edge on the cobbles and the stage will come down to a defensive work for them. Though, any unfortunate accident or puncture can be fatal, but it works for any rider the same way.

 

[ILovecycling]

Yeah,this Tour has a huge potential so far.It can be the best GT since 2010 Giro imo.Question is if it will deliver...

I hope all four/five main conteders will be in top form,but like Kwibus said,we will say someone was not. Cobbled stage will be a fight between teams of GC conteders and GC conteders with themselves (punctures,splits,falls).
Sky and Astana probably have better teams than Saxo and Movistar for cobbles,but imo Astana and Movistar should ride it hard to distance Froome and Contador (like someone mentioned,if they will be in topform nobody will stay with Froome and Contador in high mountains).