Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[Jspear]

Well Froome proved me wrong. It was painful to the eyes of course , but that doesn't really matter. He did a great ride and he tried to gain time on AC. No one cooperated with him in the final.

 

[djpbaltimore]

It will be interesting to see if he has a dig on stage 8 as well before they hit the mountains. One big hurdle cleared, but the TTT looms large now. SKY's domestiques have been A+ so far, but that stage will be the real test.

 

[SeriousSam]

Odds on favourite now (>50%). Will post the beloved graph later after the trading has processed today's information gain.

 

[deValtos]

Should have a crack at Roubaix next year and attempt what Wiggins couldn't.

 

[harryh]

Great two days by Chris. Wish he continues at least at the same level.

 

[qwer]

froome was brilliant but he continues a terrible bike handler... almost went down when he hit a katusha's rider

 

[harryh]

Re:

froome was brilliant but he continues a terrible bike handler... almost went down when he hit a katusha's rider

That Katusha's rider went to the right and almost pushed Froome over but with his excellent skills he managed to stay upwards

 

[The_Cheech]

In my opinion, Chris' plan was to peak for the first two weeks. He's being extra aggressive. IMO he wants to have this TdF in the bag by the time they get to the Alps and then Contador his way to Paris.

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

In my opinion, Chris' plan was to peak for the first two weeks. He's being extra aggressive. IMO he wants to have this TdF in the bag by the time they get to the Alps and then Contador his way to Paris.

You clearly haven't paid attention. He stated repeatedly he aims to peak in the third week, like in last year's Vuelta.

 

[Jagartrott]

I didn't expect it, and I still think he's a danger on two wheels, but he did well and wanted to race. Chapeau sir.

 

[bikinggirl]

Re:

How can one watch Froome ride a bike without getting physically ill? Need advice.

There are any!

 

[SeriousSam]

Froome is now the odds on favourite with only Quintana being reasonably close.

Nibali is today's big loser. Why? Because like many here, the markets, perhaps foolishly, expected him to gain time today. To a lesser extent, this is true for Contador as well. Quintana lost almost nothing.

Unless something unexpected happens, Froome should continue to become marginally more likely to win the Tour with every stage that passes, as every stage completed is one less opportunity to crash or be caught in a split. The next stage where GC contenders will once again be separated, if everything goes normally, will be probably be the Mur de Bretagne

 

[Cookster15]

Froome looks in super strong form. Early days and no mountains yet but he is looking the strongest of the top contenders so far this Tour.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

In my opinion, Chris' plan was to peak for the first two weeks. He's being extra aggressive. IMO he wants to have this TdF in the bag by the time they get to the Alps and then Contador his way to Paris.

I think the opposite. In 2013 he was in super shape since day 1 of the Dauphine and he managed pretty well in the first two weeks of that Tour. In this years Dauphine he was struggling in the opening days, only to become better in the last two stages. If he manages to keep the same span as in 2013, I'm afraid he will be in top shape in the third week as well.And he has less racing days this year compared to 2013, so the form till the end of the tour wont be difficult to be maintained.

 

[TommyGun]

Re: Re:

In my opinion, Chris' plan was to peak for the first two weeks. He's being extra aggressive. IMO he wants to have this TdF in the bag by the time they get to the Alps and then Contador his way to Paris.

I think the opposite. In 2013 he was in super shape since day 1 of the Dauphine and he managed pretty well in the first two weeks of that Tour. In this years Dauphine he was struggling in the opening days, only to become better in the last two stages. If he manages to keep the same span as in 2013, I'm afraid he will be in top shape in the third week as well.And he has less racing days this year compared to 2013, so the form till the end of the tour wont be difficult to be maintained.

I am afraid you are right indeed
Only 'deus ex machina'-type events could save this Tour now (I am thinking crashes or time penalties due to 'elbows-out' riding and endangering fellow riders ).

 

[Ramon Koran]

I seem to remember him saying he was aiming to do the vuelta as well, if so he wont peak before week 3.

 

[SlickMongoose]

Chapeau Froome. Did anyone really think he'd be the leading GC rider after stage 4 this year? I didn't.

Sky have really hit these classics-style stages head-on. And those elbows are a very useful weapon when fighting for position!

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

froome was brilliant but he continues a terrible bike handler... almost went down when he hit a katusha's rider

That Katusha's rider went to the right and almost pushed Froome over but with his excellent skills he managed to stay upwards

You're probably joking, but I agree. As stupid as Froome may look on the bicycle usually, that one time the Katusha guy was clearly at fault imo.

 

[ray j willings]

Froome "eggfaced git wizard"

That's It.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Froome "eggfaced git wizard"

That's It.

I expected better from you

 

[damian13ster]

Re:

I seem to remember him saying he was aiming to do the vuelta as well, if so he wont peak before week 3.

Would be hilarious if he managed to do the double, without all of that PR crap. Done previously only by 2 riders in history and not since 1978 so 20 years longer than Giro- Tour (6 cyclists have done that). Doubt the Tour winner will ride the Vuelta though

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

Would be hilarious if he managed to do the double, without all of that PR crap. Done previously only by 2 riders in history and not since 1978 so 20 years longer than Giro- Tour (6 cyclists have done that). Doubt the Tour winner will ride the Vuelta though

Not a great comparison though, because how many riders ever seriously targeted the Tour-Vuelta double?

Would be cool if Froome could do it, but one step after the other.

 

[Jspear]

Froome "eggfaced git wizard"

That's It.

I expected better from you

You did? Well then you probably haven't read many of his posts.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

I seem to remember him saying he was aiming to do the vuelta as well, if so he wont peak before week 3.

Would be hilarious if he managed to do the double, without all of that PR crap. Done previously only by 2 riders in history and not since 1978 so 20 years longer than Giro- Tour (6 cyclists have done that). Doubt the Tour winner will ride the Vuelta though

Very difficult to do the double Tour-Vuelta the same year, becouse in the Vuelta are better contenders than in the Giro, but this is a question that depend on every year...some year could be amazing to be second in the Giro and other year coudl be not very impressive to win. And the Vuelta the same.

But is expecially difficult the first year, now Froome has experience and he is a best rider, so he caqn be at a similar level than in the Tour. Landa or Purito could put him in some problems on the mountains, but he has the ITT at the end, it is a very good ITT for him, it is a route I use to ride. Later thre are some tactical stages, but if he has a minute after the ITT he should win.

For people that came from le Giro as Landa an Aru Vuelta shoudl be less demanding, but he can.

Nobody has won Tour-Vuelta. it would be historic.. but as i said that kind of stedistics are not important, palmares, doubles, importante is how somebody win... I remember Indurain not becouse he won 5 Tour or 3 giros, but becouse he put big difference to his rivals, he showed hewan the best, and you can show that in just one year, althoug other riders got more victories.

 

[Taxus4a]

I understand Froome go this year to the Vuelta not to train at last year (it was he said, I am in the Vuelta thinking in Next year Tour), but in a good shape to win.