Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[Cookster15]

He seems to be most out of his depth when there are hard accelerations often on rolling terrain so I would expect him to look at his absolute worse in an effort like today.

I would expect Richie Porte to look at his absolute worse in an effort like today. Porte is even older than Froome. Not looking good for Froome. Really sad to see this all from that crash.

 

[saunaking]

The only way this can get better is the ISUN owner channeling his inner Tinkov

 

[Savant12]

I would expect Richie Porte to look at his absolute worse in an effort like today. Porte is even older than Froome. Not looking good for Froome. Really sad to see this all from that crash.

Comparing current-form Porte to current-form Froome is not a fair comparison. Porte has done really well in one week stage races and seems to be injury-free.

 

[MartinGT]

I can't see ISUN not taking him to the TDF even if he's going to be Fun bus fodder. It will still bring them publicity.

 

[bigcog]

On his current form he'd probably get dropped on every stage and miss the time cut at some point. Seems a pointless thing to do when he is so far from being competitive.

 

[Pinot's goat]

On his current form he'd probably get dropped on every stage and miss the time cut at some point. Seems a pointless thing to do when he is so far from being competitive.

Why do people think he is going to miss the time cut, there are numerous other riders who get dropped before him and he did an entire grand tour without even getting close to the time cut.

 

[OldCranky]

That's all fine, but surely you don't suggest that they're happy with the contract...

I think everyone involved would have expected Froome to be better than this. This is grabbing onto the motor bike, paper-boy up the climb stuff. Worse, really.

Happy, no - that would be overstating the case for sure. I was thinking more 'not absolutely devastated', since a large part of their intent when signing Froome was clearly the increased profile it gave them as a team. A lot of the value to a signing like Froome to a team like ISN was saying 'look everybody, we're a team who can throw a 5m contract out there.' Could they have spent the 5m better? If we're talking about performances on the road then yes, undoubtedly.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

It would be a good decision to take Froome to TDF

as a commentator or pundit.

 

[Poursuivant]

I don’t think ISN will select him for TDF team. He has about 6 weeks to show something for the Dauphine, otherwise I’d be very surprised if he goes TDF, as others have said, he has regressed from last year. At Occitanie last year he was actually alright, was one of last 7/8 in peloton on few stages working for Bernal. This year, he has been worse in my opinion, obviously it is mainly because of injury and time off bike, muscle problems etc. But also the fact that he is now closer to 40 than 30.

 

[Froome]

I don’t think ISN will select him for TDF team. He has about 6 weeks to show something for the Dauphine, otherwise I’d be very surprised if he goes TDF, as others have said, he has regressed from last year. At Occitanie last year he was actually alright, was one of last 7/8 in peloton on few stages working for Bernal. This year, he has been worse in my opinion, obviously it is mainly because of injury and time off bike, muscle problems etc. But also the fact that he is now closer to 40 than 30.

He was better in uae tour this year. It's getting worse.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Since the crash:

-71st Overall UAE tour 2020
-37th overall Occitanie 2020
-41st overall L'ain 2020
-71st overall dauphine 2020
-91st overall tirreno 2020
-DNF liege 2020
-98th Overall vuelta 2020
-47th overall UAE tour 2021
-81st overall catalunya 2021
-93rd overall tour of the alpes 2021

he did manage to get 22nd on a sprint stage of UAE tour this year, best result since crash.

But it seems like he starts a racing block better off than he finishes it, his results slowly get worse over a couple of months. Decent at occitanie, decent at UAE this year, then it slips.

 

[red_flanders]

Dropped on the run in to the finish today from what I'm reading. Wow. That isn't good.

 

[pastronef]

he came in with a bunch of 30 riders at 3 minutes

 

[pastronef]

2022 and 23, Procyclingstats reports

 

[Taxus4a]

Today in the second group of four. Considing the rain, not too bad, but as he use to do the last year. I have seen now his breakaway in Tour of the Alps. He was pulling very often in the flat, but he had some problems on the climb to follow Luis Leon pace. I think his main problem now is weight. He looks like when he rides for Barloworld, He need as least to lose 2 kilos, and I think that when he lose it he will be at a good level. But I am not sure if he dont want to lose it yet or if he is no able for some reason,

 

[red_flanders]

he came in with a bunch of 30 riders at 3 minutes

Yeah, for a guy "slowly ramping up for the Tour" that is not good. Was watching but fell back asleep on the run in to the finish. Just flat into a headwind, no? I'm almost starting to feel bad for him. Almost.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Watched the last part of the race and if Froome was in that second group, not bad for today.

 

[ppanther92]

Today in the second group of four. Considing the rain, not too bad, but as he use to do the last year. I have seen now his breakaway in Tour of the Alps. He was pulling very often in the flat, but he had some problems on the climb to follow Luis Leon pace. I think his main problem now is weight. He looks like when he rides for Barloworld, He need as least to lose 2 kilos, and I think that when he lose it he will be at a good level. But I am not sure if he dont want to lose it yet or if he is no able for some reason,

I think he does not look good even if he loses weight. Too often he loses contact on flat parts in the end of stages, too bad are his TTs. So I clearly think he is also missing quite some watts. But I agree that he also has some wight to lose. But that might actually be a sensible strategy if he is looking to rebuild his injured leg (but then again - how long does it take or is his current level not rather permanent).

That he starts off better after training cycles and then becomes apparently weaker after racing more is interesting though.

 

[Taxus4a]

I think he does not look good even if he loses weight. Too often he loses contact on flat parts in the end of stages, too bad are his TTs. So I clearly think he is also missing quite some watts. But I agree that he also has some wight to lose. But that might actually be a sensible strategy if he is looking to rebuild his injured leg (but then again - how long does it take or is his current level not rather permanent).

That he starts off better after training cycles and then becomes apparently weaker after racing more is interesting though.

Os course he has lose watts, but at the end of flat stages he has been ok. He lost time on the echelons in the desert, but one stage he was 22 th. https://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=37868 and the rest of the stages he did this year, there were climbs, and I think he lost time on the climbs.

 

[Red Rick]

Positive development would probably be to be in smaller pelotons and maybe even some breakaways in the Tour, nevermind be competitive for stage wins, nevermind be competitive for the GC.

 

[T-Nielsen]

I don’t think ISN will select him for TDF team. He has about 6 weeks to show something for the Dauphine, otherwise I’d be very surprised if he goes TDF, as others have said, he has regressed from last year. At Occitanie last year he was actually alright, was one of last 7/8 in peloton on few stages working for Bernal. This year, he has been worse in my opinion, obviously it is mainly because of injury and time off bike, muscle problems etc. But also the fact that he is now closer to 40 than 30.

Unless he chooses not to himself then he is going to the tour.

Sponsors pay the bill. They want the coverage.

 

[Cookster15]

Comparing current-form Porte to current-form Froome is not a fair comparison. Porte has done really well in one week stage races and seems to be injury-free.

Its a fair comparison. How long ago was Froome injured - June 2019. It is now almost 2 years later, he is riding grupetto and amongst the last in ITTs - when did that ever happen pre crash? As I have said before Froome was already showing signs of age related decline before his crash. The miracle isn't going to happen sorry

 

[Breh]

Unless he chooses not to himself then he is going to the tour.

Sponsors pay the bill. They want the coverage.

Aren't they sponsored by a billionaire? I don't know if he's that set on having a decent ROI.

 

[Savant12]

Its a fair comparison. How long ago was Froome injured - June 2019. It is now almost 2 years later, he is riding grupetto and amongst the last in ITTs - when did that ever happen pre crash? As I have said before Froome was already showing signs of age related decline before his crash. The miracle isn't going to happen sorry

Even with age and without his crash, Froome could still do Top 5 on GC. Yes, it is probably harder to recover to his previous level because of his age but he's giving it a right go.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Only 43 seconds down, not too bad for a guy who some think will be OTL.