Teams & Riders Chris Froome Discussion Thread.

[PremierAndrew]

So much hate for the guy on here... seems like he just cannot accept the reality of his post-crash life. I wouldn't be surprised if he genuinely believes the excuses he's peddling in the media and is using it to cope with the mental issues he's facing, pretty sad to see.

He deserves a proper send-off, one of the all time greats whether you like it or not.

 

[jmdirt]

I feel bad for CF*, but saying silly things is only going to cause people to (keyboard) slap him.
“Physically I was ready, but unfortunately I was unable to show my full ability at the races assigned to me due to equipment issues,” he told GCN.

Are other riders on IP also having equipment issues, or just him? The equipment sponsors can't be happy about this, or his previous, public rambling.

We can't criticize him for making all of this money. Criticize IP, but CF was smart for signing this contract!

*I feel bad for him because his big crash ended his career before he was ready, and he has been unable to accept that. I hope that he can find joy beyond pro cycling.

 

[YavorD]

So much hate for the guy on here... seems like he just cannot accept the reality of his post-crash life. I wouldn't be surprised if he genuinely believes the excuses he's peddling in the media and is using it to cope with the mental issues he's facing, pretty sad to see.

He deserves a proper send-off, one of the all time greats whether you like it or not.

I'm fairly sure he would've been given a nice send-off had he just admitted that the crash plus his age is simply too much and it's simply impossible to reach his previous level. Therefore, he rides because he loves racing and the sport in general. IIRC Cavendish had similar comments back in 2020 and he gained a lot of respect for that.

Froome, however, gives us excuse after excuse, after excuse..
Like people are blind and can't see the truth. Yeah, maybe that comes with the contract, as some sort of obligation but still he deserves everything that he gets.

 

[Cookster15]

So much hate for the guy on here... seems like he just cannot accept the reality of his post-crash life. I wouldn't be surprised if he genuinely believes the excuses he's peddling in the media and is using it to cope with the mental issues he's facing, pretty sad to see.

He deserves a proper send-off, one of the all time greats whether you like it or not.

I don't think its about accepting the reality of his post-crash life. If someone waved millions in front of your face would you say no?

The fool isn't Chris Froome its Israel Premier Tech. Now they don't even think he's worth the PR by taking him to the Tour? Obviously Froome should now retire.

 

[Cookster15]

Yeah, maybe that comes with the contract

All of it comes from the contract. Would you say no?

 

[YavorD]

All of it comes from the contract. Would you say no?

Honestly, if I was him and I had so much money, I wouldn't act like a clown, saying the things he says for a few extra (million) $$$.
I mean, my name alone would be big enough to bring me considerable amount of income even after retirement, so I would say no.

But I can see his (and your) point. However, with the money he earns, he gets the laugh, but probably he's fine with it.

 

[bNator]

He has tarnished his legacy there’s no doubt about that. A name that was synonymous with GT perfection now echoes failure and excuses. And it is his fault… There‘s a reason people retire when the time comes and it’s exactly to keep their reputation intact. He chose not to do that. Whether it was money or sheer belief he could pull it off doesn’t even matter that much. I’d like to hope it was the latter though…

Anyway, his sympathisers often claim he has the right to make money and that it’s nobody’s business but his. Which is not true, to be honest. Us fans - ultimately we‘re the ones paying these guys and are allowed to have these opinions.

That being said, I really hope that when I think of Froome 20 years from now, I’ll be thinking about Col de la Finestre and not him getting dropped on the 2nd category climb in the middle of the stage. He was a great rider when in his prime.

 

[Divergence]

I think many people here are mocking him not for the fact that he is still riding and trying to get back to acceptable fitness (which I think is admirable, even though some might disagree, given the amount of money he gets), but rather for his communication. Every few months he is again supposed to be at top level, solemnly announcing it on his social media, but then when the results turn out way worse than expected he comes around with another excuse instead of realizing or admitting that he is not the rider anymore that he used to be. First it was long-term issues after his crash, then it was missing the hard miles, then it was getting sick at the wrong time, now all of the sudden it was the equipment... It's been three years since his return to racing with no significantly positive trend in results, but still he feeds us with the same narrative of his imminent great comeback.

It is true that he always has an excuse and it has already become a bit too much. I also never liked him nor the way his team rode in the TdF when he was at the top.
Having said that, I just wanted to bring some balance to the conversation on this tread because all I could read is mockery of the guy, but I kinda find it admirable that he is still believing and working hard at this stage of his career (that is unless we and not being duped by him and he is only doing like 20h weeks )

 

[yaco]

Much ado about nothing. He's been borderline WT level since he's injury and its no surprise that he misses the TDF - He'll continue chugging along in the second half of 2023 and possibly next season.

 

[dominikk85]

He certainly is a bit delusional and unable to accept that his age and injuries don't allow him to be the rider he wants to be so he is even searching excuses for why it doesn't work.

That is a bit of a bad look but it is not uncommon among champion athletes. Most real champions do not have balanced, laid back personalities, they are a bit crazy which is what allowed them to push themselves as hard but towards the end of the career that can be detrimental.

It is not uncommon that great champions miss the right time to retire, for example Muhammad ali was very bad in his last fights (maybe already even affected by his illness) but really nobody remembers that he was bad in the end.

In the end people will remember froome as a great champion and maybe on a side note wil notice he had some bad years in the end.

 

[samhocking]

To pretend Froome was worth 5 mill for 5 years in 2020 is actually the absurd position

How much less did Contador earn when he stopped winning Le Tour from 2010 onwards?

 

[dominikk85]

How much less did Contador earn when he stopped winning Le Tour from 2010 onwards?

Contador wasn't riding in the grupetto though, he still made top 10 placements in GCs in his final years

 

[Rackham]

I don't get the money excuse regarding 'why' he should keep on riding. I mean he's a 4x Tour de France winner. He has (or had) lots of avenues to make money after his retirement.

We're not talking about some footballer joining the MLS or Saudi league on a final big contract (basically showing off & scoring goals against quasi amateur level opponents), no, this is a guy who still wants to enter races versus the world's best riders... & he was invariably finishing beyond 50th in his races (I think he was top 30 in the TdF last year but still over 1 hour 25 minutes down in GC).

Are fans supposed to applaud the guy for making a fool out of himself just to fatten his bank balance a little? It seems... uniquely embarrassing for a champ, especially considering his now legendary excuses & stated ambitions which have to be some sort of troll because I refuse to believe the guy is this delusional (aka blaming "equipment problems" was a giant p*sstake of massive proportions).

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Today who would win
Alberto or Dawg?
Rematch please.
$$$$$$!

 

[Roku]

Much ado about nothing. He's been borderline WT level since he's injury and its no surprise that he misses the TDF - He'll continue chugging along in the second half of 2023 and possibly next season.

If only he was borderline WT level.

Except from 2022 TdF, when his performance was at least decent/acceptable for WT level, since 2020 he has been borderline PCT.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

It's almost certainly not about money, it's about pride. His own, he wants to show he can still do it. And about not having regrets later, could I have done it? Better to try and fail, then not try and regret it 5 years later.

As for tarnishing his legacy, he isn't. In 20 years he won't be remembered for not riding the TdF 23, he will be remembered for winning the 6 GTs. Or 7. Next will be the drama with Wiggins.

 

[witeken]

Let's see.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1672555779461722113

View: https://twitter.com/witeken/status/1672555779461722113

 

[Ricco']

Let's see.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1672555779461722113

View: https://twitter.com/witeken/status/1672555779461722113

60% chance no answer
40% chance block
100% chance equipment issues caused garmin to blow up and server failure deleted all strava data

 

[Ilmaestro99]

froome is a cheat and many people know it by now.. Came suddenly from a poor rider to good overnight then back to what he was his entier career after that.


hmm doesnt take a genius to understand very much about that.

You're back! And probably gone again after this post =(

 

[ZamlinusYoutubeious]

Even if Froome were back to his 2018 level, I don't think he would stand a chance against Vingegaard, Pogacar, Roglic, or Remco. Peak 2013 Froome could compete probably with Roglic and Remco but not Vingegaard and Pogacar, IMO. His train has disappeared over the horizon, and it's a shame he didn't have a champion's exit, but I can't fault him for making a living.

This is why i ask that question about froomey on top form vs pog/vinge on top form.

 

[gunara]

How much less did Contador earn when he stopped winning Le Tour from 2010 onwards?

Contador didn't stop winning after 2010, to the very end.

 

[witeken]

60% chance no answer
40% chance block
100% chance equipment issues caused garmin to blow up and server failure deleted all strava data

https://imgur.com/458Lkxm

 

[SHAD0W93]

How much less did Contador earn when he stopped winning Le Tour from 2010 onwards?

Contador still won and placed high in races after 2010, something Froome hasn’t come close to despite his salary to do so. Which was the point of @Red Rick and others’ posts. But he made that money off his previous accomplishments and deserves it. It’s not his fault Israel gave it to him.

 

[Rackham]

https://imgur.com/458Lkxm

That's just... funny? I don't know what to say really. He's liking tweets (& it's true, I checked) which imply he's been stabbed in the back & the author also poses existential questions ala "why should racing matter for a TdF selection when it doesn't for Pogacar?".

As if Froome is anywhere near comparable. I think someone needs to check his head tbh because he might have damaged something vital back in 2019.

 

[Ricco']

High probability that Froome's behaviour on Twitter highly reflects Michelle Cound's opinions.