Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[King Boonen]

I reckon Froome must be hoping Movistar do their usual podium protecting tactics at the moment, because they could be really dangerous.

 

[hazaran]

You lost me, how do you protect a podium you don't even have.

 

[AlexNYC]

You lost me, how do you protect a podium you don't even have.

Just by riding conservatively, Movistar is assured of at least a podium right now. If they only had Landa and Valverde, that's they way they would go I think. But Quintana is not going to be content with a podium. I'm pretty sure he'll ride aggressively even if it means ignoring Unzue's usual *** advice.

 

[cantpedal]

You lost me, how do you protect a podium you don't even have.

Just by riding conservatively, Movistar is assured of at least a podium right now. If they only had Landa and Valverde, that's they way they would go I think. But Quintana is not going to be content with a podium. I'm pretty sure he'll ride aggressively even if it means ignoring Unzue's usual *** advice.

Why will this TDF be any different than the rest of the ones he rode?

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

he can't really be thinking of going to the Vuelta? win or lose this Tour he should put his feet up

I dunno...i dont think Froome fancies becoming an also ran as he drifts towards retirement. I don't expect to see him around for too much longer.

So maybe he fancies a crack at the unprecedented triple and then putting his feet up permanently as the GOAT

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

Pantani did the Giro-Tour double, famously, and that was after the Vuelta moved to september.

In any case, GT doubles are so rare, and the names of almost everyone who managed to do it so legendary, winning this race would cement his name in cycling history anyway.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

he can't really be thinking of going to the Vuelta? win or lose this Tour he should put his feet up

I dunno...i dont think Froome fancies becoming an also ran as he drifts towards retirement. I don't expect to see him around for too much longer.

So maybe he fancies a crack at the unprecedented triple and then putting his feet up permanently as the GOAT

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

I thought Indurain did it in consecutive years (Giro/Tour)?

 

[MatParker117]

Re:

he can't really be thinking of going to the Vuelta? win or lose this Tour he should put his feet up

I think after that it will be Innsbruck.

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

he can't really be thinking of going to the Vuelta? win or lose this Tour he should put his feet up

I dunno...i dont think Froome fancies becoming an also ran as he drifts towards retirement. I don't expect to see him around for too much longer.

So maybe he fancies a crack at the unprecedented triple and then putting his feet up permanently as the GOAT

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

I thought Indurain did it in consecutive years (Giro/Tour)?

the Giro was the 2nd GT of the year until 1994. Indurain won the 2nd and 3rd GT of the year.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

Pantani did the Giro-Tour double, famously, and that was after the Vuelta moved to september.

In any case, GT doubles are so rare, and the names of almost everyone who managed to do it so legendary, winning this race would cement his name in cycling history anyway.

I had completely forgotten Pantani. If you can believe that.

Or else I’ll just claim I couldn’t remember when the Vuelta switched to Autumn. But point still stands, if Froome wins the Tour, he’ll have the chance to be the first person to even attempt to win a 3rd GT in the same season. I think even if he were to abandon halfway through, or finish dead last, it’d be worth it to just take to the start line.

Also, with seemingly every GC contender at the Tour this year, who will his Vuelta competition even be? Aru?

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

he can't really be thinking of going to the Vuelta? win or lose this Tour he should put his feet up

I dunno...i dont think Froome fancies becoming an also ran as he drifts towards retirement. I don't expect to see him around for too much longer.

So maybe he fancies a crack at the unprecedented triple and then putting his feet up permanently as the GOAT

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

I thought Indurain did it in consecutive years (Giro/Tour)?

the Giro was the 2nd GT of the year until 1994. Indurain won the 2nd and 3rd GT of the year.

Learn something new everyday! Thanks!

 

[Blanco]

You lost me, how do you protect a podium you don't even have.

Just by riding conservatively, Movistar is assured of at least a podium right now. If they only had Landa and Valverde, that's they way they would go I think. But Quintana is not going to be content with a podium. I'm pretty sure he'll ride aggressively even if it means ignoring Unzue's usual *** advice.

Quintana is just that kind of rider, it has nothing to do with Unzue! I hope he will ride differently this time, though...

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

Pantani did the Giro-Tour double, famously, and that was after the Vuelta moved to september.

In any case, GT doubles are so rare, and the names of almost everyone who managed to do it so legendary, winning this race would cement his name in cycling history anyway.

I had completely forgotten Pantani. If you can believe that.

Or else I’ll just claim I couldn’t remember when the Vuelta switched to Autumn. But point still stands, if Froome wins the Tour, he’ll have the chance to be the first person to even attempt to win a 3rd GT in the same season. I think even if he were to abandon halfway through, or finish dead last, it’d be worth it to just take to the start line.

Also, with seemingly every GC contender at the Tour this year, who will his Vuelta competition even be? Aru?

Porte, Lopez, Oomen, Pinot? And whichever other GC contender has to abandon the Tour, but can still be competitive again come the Vuelta. Oh and Valverde will obviously be there.

 

[del1962]

Re: Re:

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

Pantani did the Giro-Tour double, famously, and that was after the Vuelta moved to september.

In any case, GT doubles are so rare, and the names of almost everyone who managed to do it so legendary, winning this race would cement his name in cycling history anyway.

I had completely forgotten Pantani. If you can believe that.

Or else I’ll just claim I couldn’t remember when the Vuelta switched to Autumn. But point still stands, if Froome wins the Tour, he’ll have the chance to be the first person to even attempt to win a 3rd GT in the same season. I think even if he were to abandon halfway through, or finish dead last, it’d be worth it to just take to the start line.

Also, with seemingly every GC contender at the Tour this year, who will his Vuelta competition even be? Aru?

Porte, Lopez, Oomen, Pinot? And whichever other GC contender has to abandon the Tour, but can still be competitive again come the Vuelta. Oh and Valverde will obviously be there.

De La Cruz

 

[Amazinmets87]

Re: Re:

If he wins the Tour, it’ll almost be a shame if he doesn’t at least line up for the start of the Vuelta.

Am I right in thinking that if he wins the Tour, he’ll only be the 3rd rider to win the first 2 GTs of the year, Merckx and Battaglin being the others, neither of whom then contested the 3rd?

Pantani did the Giro-Tour double, famously, and that was after the Vuelta moved to september.

In any case, GT doubles are so rare, and the names of almost everyone who managed to do it so legendary, winning this race would cement his name in cycling history anyway.

I was told Pantani kicked around the idea of riding the Vuelta but decided against it.

 

[oldcrank]

I think we should always expect the unexpected
from the TopDawg......but is it most likely that he
is planning to keep his powder dry today so he'll
be able to do something spectacular on stage 11
which falls on Mandela Day? That'd be awesome!

 

[Ataraxus]

I think we should always expect the unexpected
from the TopDawg......but is it most likely that he
is planning to keep his powder dry today so he'll
be able to do something spectacular on stage 11
which falls on Mandela Day? That'd be awesome!

I fear today will be damage limitation.
It looks to me as he still doesn't have the form and is planning to peak for week 3.
Being distanced in Mur de Bretagne gave bad signals.

 

[Jagartrott]

Your fear is my hope.
I can't take another Sky-dominated Tour procession.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Your fear is my hope.
I can't take another Sky-dominated Tour procession.

My fear and your fear are not mutually exclusive though.
Even if Froome gets dropped, I am afraid Sky train will be omnipresent.

 

[dacooley]

Re:

Your fear is my hope.
I can't take another Sky-dominated Tour procession.

I don't think you'd much enjoy froome winning the Tour in a dominant fashion without Sky-train.

 

[hazaran]

Re: Re:

Uhm, he is basically in yellow right now. Look at the scrubs in front of him: van Avermaet, Gilbert, Jungels: gone Tuesday. Thomas Geraint, Valverde, Majka, Fuglsang: dropped Thursday the latest.

Oh, no

Theres a reason the guy doesn't win GTs. Every time we get to altitude he collapses. That's before you even consider he also randomly collapses, like the other 2nd rate GC guys (hello Majka, Fuglsang, G..)

And well, that's the set complete.

There's a reason guy won GT, and has 7 other podiums, and is always in the mix.., but nevermind, just sit back and watch, I think you'll be quite surprised at the end

Great stage today! Valverde must have gotten a rock stuck in his brakes, right? :lol:

Majka, Jungels and Gilbert gone. Valverde obviously in no shape to stop his inevitable downfall. van Avermaet went into the break and then essentially rolled backwards all climb, so that prediction is well over water. Now we just need a MTF to get rid of Fuglsang and Thomas Geraint, but hey, I gave myself till Thursday right. It's even better with how today went, it sidesteps the whole T in yellow stuff.

 

[Jagartrott]

Valverde's chain slipped, says Nibali. GVA did pretty damn well for a classics guy on long steep climbs.
But continue laughing, please.

 

[hazaran]

Yeah, I got the same problem with my bike, new cassette, new chain, new chainrings, but it just keeps "slippin" after I've already been riding at the same speed for a bunch of kilometres. It magically improves once I drop off the record pace on Colombiere :lol:

Some people are so gullible. The time to start believing interviews is *after the race*.

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re: Re:

Uhm, he is basically in yellow right now. Look at the scrubs in front of him: van Avermaet, Gilbert, Jungels: gone Tuesday. Thomas Geraint, Valverde, Majka, Fuglsang: dropped Thursday the latest.

Oh, no

Theres a reason the guy doesn't win GTs. Every time we get to altitude he collapses. That's before you even consider he also randomly collapses, like the other 2nd rate GC guys (hello Majka, Fuglsang, G..)

And well, that's the set complete.

There's a reason guy won GT, and has 7 other podiums, and is always in the mix.., but nevermind, just sit back and watch, I think you'll be quite surprised at the end

Great stage today! Valverde must have gotten a rock stuck in his brakes, right? :lol:

Majka, Jungels and Gilbert gone. Valverde obviously in no shape to stop his inevitable downfall. van Avermaet went into the break and then essentially rolled backwards all climb, so that prediction is well over water. Now we just need a MTF to get rid of Fuglsang and Thomas Geraint, but hey, I gave myself till Thursday right. It's even better with how today went, it sidesteps the whole T in yellow stuff.

Oh, my Godness, yes. I had so many doubts, but .. yes.. it looks like he will achieve 5th TdF triumph.
Marvellous! What a legend!

 

[hazaran]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, we're only discussing the sorry state of the competition for now. Already it's a bunch of whining and misdirection over headwinds here and "slipping chains" there. Still some marvelous displays waiting on us to stick the knife in.