Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[contador977]

Early days yet. Contador is doing the Giro Froome is not. One thing I have noticed though is the acceleration that Froome showed in the 2013 Tour does not appear much anymore. He is riding more like a diesel. He either does not try to respond to attacks or simply rides his own race at his own pace. It might be different when Porte is with him and Sky have their best team on hand but it's been a while since we have seen a dominant Sky team dragging Froome and then Froome disappearing up the road.

He didnt use that today but he was dropping everyone toward the end of the Vuelta except Contador. 2014 Dauphine same thing. He put 1:20 into Bardet. Today's stage might have suited Contador more...it was those steep corners that really provided a launching pad from what I saw. Froome took the corners wide to lessen the gradient, Contador took the insides with Basso and that inself started a gap.

 

[rick james]

I think Froome was caught out by the very early attack from Basso then Contador at the bottom of the climb, he did look like he was breathing very heavy, but it is his first race of the year and Contador you be a it further forward in form wise

 

[rhubroma]

I think Froome was caught out by the very early attack from Basso then Contador at the bottom of the climb, he did look like he was breathing very heavy, but it is his first race of the year and Contador you be a it further forward in form wise

Yea, well, it is also Contador's first race of the season. He can't have trained much harder than Froome, both in terms of time and effort. There simply isn't the chronology necessary to have done so. While both did a block of intensive work load before this race.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Regardless of who is preparing for what ... it has to be certain that Alberto is in great shape for this time of year.

Perhaps today might show further clues as to how the winter has gone and how the form is building. This kind of result does happen ... even later in the year when riders are at their peaks.

Might be time to take a chill pill and enjoy the racing at THIS race and not make wild projections for July. Although i suppose i have the luxury of liking both riders and the spectacle they can create. Can watch it with both eyes open rather than the one eyed fanboy/girl views of rabid supporters of one rider

 

[rhubroma]

Regardless of who is preparing for what ... it has to be certain that Alberto is in great shape for this time of year.

Perhaps today might show further clues as to how the winter has gone and how the form is building. This kind of result does happen ... even later in the year when riders are at their peaks.

Might be time to take a chill pill and enjoy the racing at THIS race and not make wild projections for July. Although i suppose i have the luxury of liking both riders and the spectacle they can create. Can watch it with both eyes open rather than the one eyed fanboy/girl views of rabid supporters of one rider

I was not making predictions for the rest of the year and I am quite capable at watching with "both eyes," while simply admiring what the Spaniard is able to do when on form is just an acknowledgement of his undeniable class.

Having said that, it is clear that neither Contador, nor Froome can be anywhere near top form, and yet both were head and shoulders above the rest of the field. However, on the face of it, Contador is a bit stronger than Froome at the moment. What this means for the rest of the season, I have no idea. But I do believe that if both are in tip-top shape, baring incidents, I think Contador is better. In such circumstances, Froome would never be able to just ride Contador off his wheel as he did in 2013, precisely because the Spainard was decidedly off-form that Tour. Thus it is no indication of either's worth in a direct confrontation under ideal situations for both.

Personaly I think the Vuelta last year, given that both had made theTour their primary goal for the season and both sustained fractures that took them out of the race and made their plans radically change; is a better indication of the hierarchy.

 

[Red Rick]

Last time Porte did Giro-Tour he was only usefull in the Tour in case his team leader fell off the mountian. I don't expect too much from Porte in the Tour.

 

[Angliru]

He still needs to be in decent form come May, otherwise riders like Aru will give him a really tough time at the Giro. I think both Alberto and Froome are where they need to be at this point.

A rested Aru was no match for a Contador healing from a knee fracture in the Vuelta. Contador will be in decent form but I don't think Aru will really give him too much trouble.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Wasn't particularly pointing the finger or blaming anyone for the one-eyeness .

Its just that even the most sane and insightful posters can get drawn into it easily. Its always good to hear differing viewpoints and theories ... but its the open hostility towards certain riders and everything they do that i'm referring to.

 

[May0maniac]

A rested Aru was no match for a Contador healing from a knee fracture in the Vuelta. Contador will be in decent form but I don't think Aru will really give him too much trouble.

It was Aru in his 2nd year as a pro, first time doing 2 GTs in one season and both as a leader for the first time, so he should be better this year.
He only started road race after he turned 18, he was a cyclocross guy before that.

 

[Netserk]

It was Aru in his 2nd year as a pro, first time doing 2 GTs in one season and both as a leader for the first time, so he should be better this year.
He only started road race after he turned 18, he was a cyclocross guy before that.

I really, really hope Aru will take to the next level and attack over and over again during May. I want to see him and Alberto alone from the penultimate climb

 

[wwabbit]

Early days yet. Contador is doing the Giro Froome is not. One thing I have noticed though is the acceleration that Froome showed in the 2013 Tour does not appear much anymore. He is riding more like a diesel. He either does not try to respond to attacks or simply rides his own race at his own pace. It might be different when Porte is with him and Sky have their best team on hand but it's been a while since we have seen a dominant Sky team dragging Froome and then Froome disappearing up the road.

You've made a very good point there about Richie Porte. Almost all of Froome's best performances in 2013-2014 depended heavily on a healthy Porte, whose contributions has been understated. I can't help but think that in Stage 2 Dauphine 2014, a healthy Porte pushing a harder pace for Froome would have allowed Froome to drop Contador.

Not sure what kind of shape Porte will be in the Tour after doing the Giro.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

First time since when that Froome kicks AC's ***?

 

[Miburo]

First time since when that Froome kicks AC's ***?

It's only been 7 months, in the dauphine (early), clearly better than AC

 

[May0maniac]

You've made a very good point there about Richie Porte. Almost all of Froome's best performances in 2013-2014 depended heavily on a healthy Porte, whose contributions has been understated. I can't help but think that in Stage 2 Dauphine 2014, a healthy Porte pushing a harder pace for Froome would have allowed Froome to drop Contador.

Not sure what kind of shape Porte will be in the Tour after doing the Giro.

I think this year Geraint Thomas will be a pleasant surprise and a very strong superdom.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It's only been 7 months, in the dauphine (early), clearly better than AC

Perhaps, but he didn't put any time between the two. Rather, Contador beat Froome by 20 seconds on stage 7.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Seems Froome had an off-year last year just like Alberto in 2013. I think we're in for domination once again.

 

[Rollthedice]

Seems Froome had an off-year last year just like Alberto in 2013. I think we're in for domination once again.

It is still a long way to go. Last year Froome was smashing Oman by this time.

 

[rick james]

Still not seen todays stage, was out on my bike, plus Eurosport not having live made my mind up to go out on the bike, looking forward to the highlights

 

[LaFlorecita]

It is still a long way to go. Last year Froome was smashing Oman by this time.

Yeah, maybe he'll get ill or fall off his bike again.

 

[SeriousSam]

Still not seen todays stage, was out on my bike, plus Eurosport not having live made my mind up to go out on the bike, looking forward to the highlights

Highlights:

 

[jens_attacks]

as expected, chris a little bit better than alberto in february. he fought like champs should well done!

 

[Angliru]

It was Aru in his 2nd year as a pro, first time doing 2 GTs in one season and both as a leader for the first time, so he should be better this year.
He only started road race after he turned 18, he was a cyclocross guy before that.

I'm not saying Aru won't be better, but that so will Contador.

 

[Carols]

One must give credit where it is due. The man never gives up and today has his revenge. We are in for a grand mano a mano battle every time these two square off. This round went to Froomie!

 

[wwabbit]

Perhaps, but he didn't put any time between the two. Rather, Contador beat Froome by 20 seconds on stage 7.

That's correct, but you have to look at the context of what happened. Froome's win on Stage 2 was particularly impressive, despite the lack of a time gap, because Froome was riding point for several km with Contador wheelsucking behind him, and he still managed to hold off Contador in the uphill sprint finish. In contrast, twice during the Vuelta under the same situation Contador was able to attack Froome in the final km to win by 15 seconds.

 

[rhubroma]

I eat my words. Froome was impressive.

What is even more so, is that he just road Contador off his wheel!

The Sky captain clearly knows how to gauge his efforts to perfection, such that he neutralized what Alberto demonstrated yesterday in one ruthless acceleration, which he then sustained till the line.

The Briton from Kenya has just sent a huge message to anyone's hopes for success in July. Although it is still rather early.