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Critérium du Dauphiné May 30-June 6 2021

Page 15 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
I'm not committed to the Cavendish example at all. The specific example was not the point. It's just an example of something very unlikely.

No it's not impossible that Froome comes back strong but I don't think it was at all likely after a very bad 2020 and given Froome's age. Like I said in my first post, if this had been the end of 2019 I would have found the contract somewhat more reasonable but at the end of 2020 it was just never going to be good odds to give Froome such a long contract. I'm not saying that Froome did not justify any contract just not the one he was given.

I find this distinction between 2019 and 2020 to be key.
But you don't seem to find this distinction between 2019 and 2020 as important. Because 2020 is deemed to be part of the normal recovery process. I think the warning signs were there though and that given his age due diligence would dictate to be careful with the contract.

Them having money to burn does not excuse this in my opinion. Saying that it's okay to just gamble excess money away because you have enough of it anyway is the fast track to 'nouveau poverty'. The odds still need to be there and they weren't there in the case of Froome imo.

But we can agree to disagree as far as I am concerned. Was interesting though.
Froome was announced as moving to ISN in July 2020 before racing restarted. He had ridden the UAE tour at that stage in 2020. His form looked suspect but the full hopelessness of 2020 hadn't been revealed.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/christopher-froome/2020

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...eos-at-the-end-of-2020-tour-de-france-cycling
 
Froome was announced as moving to ISN in July 2020 before racing restarted. He had ridden the UAE tour at that stage in 2020. His form looked suspect but the full hopelessness of 2020 hadn't been revealed.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/christopher-froome/2020

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...eos-at-the-end-of-2020-tour-de-france-cycling

At UAE Tour he rode his first race after breaking his leg, I'm not sure how you can say his form looked suspect. What were you expecting?
 
Even without any injury doubts, 5.5 million for a rider who would be 36 by the time he started his first GT for you was well above market value. That kind of money would only have been worth it had Froome won his fifth Tour, and he would have had to become the oldest winner in 99 years to achieve that feat. Given that doubts were raised about the chances of him returning to form from the day of the crash onwards, it was a horrible deal for ISN even without hindsight bias.
 
To be fair in all honesty I think most people would understand that Israel Start Up Nation bought Froome more for the prestige of being attached to him and his record in the sport and the ongoing publicity him riding for them would bring than any realistic expectations that he could win the 2021 Tour de France.

They have likely recouped a large amount of the outlay on Froomes contract through extra sponsorship deals and the kind of extra media coverage it would cost a fortune to achieve through adverts.
 
You know logic is banned when half the posts on this page are not about Van Wilder who was in the top 10 today :(

He was soundly beaten by an interesting Spanish prospect, though :cool:
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To be fair in all honesty I think most people would understand that Israel Start Up Nation bought Froome more for the prestige of being attached to him and his record in the sport and the ongoing publicity him riding for them would bring than any realistic expectations that he could win the 2021 Tour de France.

They have likely recouped a large amount of the outlay on Froomes contract through extra sponsorship deals and the kind of extra media coverage it would cost a fortune to achieve through adverts.
There is almost a thread every second day about him, no one else can generate that much media tbh.
 
To be fair in all honesty I think most people would understand that Israel Start Up Nation bought Froome more for the prestige of being attached to him and his record in the sport and the ongoing publicity him riding for them would bring than any realistic expectations that he could win the 2021 Tour de France.

They have likely recouped a large amount of the outlay on Froomes contract through extra sponsorship deals and the kind of extra media coverage it would cost a fortune to achieve through adverts.
They knew what they were doing but still obviously hoped for better results. If they can get him to stay with the team or sponsor in another role after he retires even better.
 
The thing is people who say they think Froome can hit his old form, like let’s be honest. If he had a Giro like Nibali it would be a miracle let alone riding in the final two to three riders in a grand tour

I remember Pantani came back for the Giro in 2003 and finished 14th. That was an amazing accomplishment in hindsight. Andy getting 20th in the 2013 Tour was another similar one.

Won't ever see that from Foome. He is more following the Beloki path. But at $5 million, he will probably keep going.
 
They knew what they were doing but still obviously hoped for better results. If they can get him to stay with the team or sponsor in another role after he retires even better.
I think that's a fair assessment. I also think those who call Froome some kind of grifter or scammer are being unfair. Do you really think he's enjoying being a laughingstock right now? I don't particularly care for him as a rider or even a sports man, but I can't join the dog pile of sneering comments. (or dawg pile...)
 
I think that's a fair assessment. I also think those who call Froome some kind of grifter or scammer are being unfair. Do you really think he's enjoying being a laughingstock right now? I don't particularly care for him as a rider or even a sports man, but I can't join the dog pile of sneering comments. (or dawg pile...)
I think he will use this season to monitor his progress. He said he is making some progress but its taking time arriving. If he doesn't pick up much next season I think he will will probably retire at the end of 2022. He will be going on 38 then and his best GC years long behind him. Can see why he would want to be in good shape for one more crack at the Tour just to see what he can achieve. No pressure, probably more for himself and his critics.
 
I've watched none of this live so far, but I get the impression just off the results sheets and highlights, that if Bahrain had sent a stronger team to this, Colbrelli would not only be in yellow now, he'd have a decent chance of hanging on after the TT too. Fair assessment?
 
How where they allowed to do that? Usually you're only allowed to announce transfers after August 1st.
Or, did they just do it, and UCI couldn't really do anything about it. Not like they could go an whipe everyone's memory about it.

Mid season transfers are allowed. Masnada moved from CCC to DQS before the re-start last year.

Dennis and Verona are some other examples from the past.