Froome is Sky's best chance to win Le Tour

[greenedge]

and yes i think cobo in full form can get near a podium finish or even on it.remember that vuelta was hard ridden last year,most of the riders said that was the harderst grand tour of their lifes.

I doubt Cobo could on next years route. He would have to be even better than Andy on all the climbs.

 

[Mambo95]

We would not be arguing about who should be leader at the TDF if Froome was allowed to ride for the GC at the Vuelta instead of having to ride for Wiggins. That performance would have guaranteed him leadership.

Cobo won the damn thing, and he only just managed to get a job.

The Vuelta ain't the Tour. Froome's time will come, but I think he needs to give another top performance to confirm his Vuelta one. 2012 is a Tour for Wiggins - in top form he'll beat Froome almost every time in TTs.

 

[greenedge]

huh, i wonder why considering Tour chances of Giro top-3 guys like Scarponi, Nibali or Basso we often say 'no way', but yet someone like Froome or Cobo suddenly becomes a Tour favourite after good Vuelta

I think each of them could go well at the TDF. Everyone last year thought Basso would podium, Nibali shall finish on the podium at least once ( though he might have to work on some minor things/ recapture his Vuelta/ Giro 2010 form, which i think he could if he goes to the TDF. Scarponi along with Basso both have not great ITT's but are two great climbers in their own ( huge gear )/ ( diesel ) way.

However the Giro had a shorter ITT compared to the Vuelta. The Vueltas' ITT was longer than the TDF's and was more balanced out ( it had a stage where Nibali gained time on a descent/ it only had one mountain on a mountain stage most of the time ) than the Giros'.

The fact that in 47 km Froome gained 2:02 minutes on Cobo ( who can time-trial ) means that he can contend in a GT ( especially one with near 100km of ITT's ). If he hadn't had to ride for Wiggins he would have kept that lead probably.

 

[greenedge]

Cobo won the damn thing, and he only just managed to get a job.

The Vuelta ain't the Tour. Froome's time will come, but I think he needs to give another top performance to confirm his Vuelta one. 2012 is a Tour for Wiggins - in top form he'll beat Froome almost every time in TTs.

I did say that Wiggins would beat him ( on peak form ). However Froome might improve ( a lot ) now that he could be a contender for GC in the future.

Of course Cobo was going to get a job though ( it was just a question of when ).

I do agree that he needs another performance ( however it would be pointless for Sky if he gets into yellow/ higher than Wiggins- which is a performance ) to not then ride for him.

 

[Parrulo]

I think each of them could go well at the TDF. Everyone last year thought Basso would podium, Nibali shall finish on the podium at least once ( though he might have to work on some minor things/ recapture his Vuelta/ Giro 2010 form, which i think he could if he goes to the TDF. Scarponi along with Basso both have not great ITT's but are two great climbers in their own ( huge gear )/ ( diesel ) way.

However the Giro had a shorter ITT compared to the Vuelta. The Vueltas' ITT was longer than the TDF's and was more balanced out ( it had a stage where Nibali gained time on a descent/ it only had one mountain on a mountain stage most of the time ) than the Giros'.

The fact that in 47 km Froome gained 2:02 minutes on Cobo ( who can time-trial ) means that he can contend in a GT ( especially one with near 100km of ITT's ). If he hadn't had to ride for Wiggins he would have kept that lead probably.

you are forgetting that the vuelta usual flat stage with finish on a mountain isn't really a good indication of a proper GC candidate. wiggins can do great on those kind of stages(arcalis, verbier, ventoux(even tho he still struggled there), and the vuelta. but on the only proper mountain stage of the 2009 tour wiggins lost 2 minutes to the schlecks and contador and 1 minute to nibali and armstrong.

froome can be the same type of rider so until he rides a proper mountain stage we won't know for sure if he is great or just good.

 

[Mambo95]

( however it would be pointless for Sky if he gets into yellow/ higher than Wiggins- which is a performance ) to not then ride for him.

Sky would certainly be wise to keep both balls in play for as long as possible. Froome won't need to set the pace again like he did in the Vuelta (Radioshack will do that - it's all Bruyneel knows).

 

[The Hitch]

huh, i wonder why considering Tour chances of Giro top-3 guys like Scarponi, Nibali or Basso we often say 'no way', but yet someone like Froome or Cobo suddenly becomes a Tour favourite after good Vuelta

Again. Big difference between Cobo and Froome. Froome is a great tter and Cobo isnt.

Oh and @ youngest i have high expectations for Velits at the Tour yes.

Froome was something else... but against what opposition? His teammate and Mollema?

And Cobo. Cobo won on time bonuses and cos Froome was working for Wiggins. Froome was the better rider.

 

[trevim]

First of all Froome needs to show that the Vuelta wasn't just a one off. I mean, he didn't do anything besides that race that shows he has potential for anything. Not even the Sky management are convinced he can reply that kind of form since they didn't guarantee a place in the TDF squad for him.

So yeah, Sky will do what they want of course and Froome was certainly good at the Vuelta but Wiggins should still be indisputed leader at the start.

 

[hfer07]

First of all Froome needs to show that the Vuelta wasn't just a one off. I mean, he didn't do anything besides that race that shows he has potential for anything. Not even the Sky management are convinced he can reply that kind of form since they didn't guarantee a place in the TDF squad for him.

So yeah, Sky will do what they want of course and Froome was certainly good at the Vuelta but Wiggins should still be indisputed leader at the start.

Same has been said about Wiggins-yet he got 3rd in the Vuelta. We're keep waiting for him to shine in the Tour after his 4th place....
I think Roche is right to consider him the better candidate to shine-but i believe he implied the age factor-which isn't on Wiggins side....

 

[cineteq]

I have a feeling Wiggins didnt particularly like Froome taking over the leadership towards the end of the vuelta. I remember even at one stage Froome doing all the work for Wiggins when in fact Froome had the leaders jersey on.

All these BS he's saying has one target: campaigning against Froome so he's not considered to ride the TdF. then again, if Wiggins has any chance of winning 2012 TdF, then Froome will have to be there too...

 

[greenedge]

you are forgetting that the vuelta usual flat stage with finish on a mountain isn't really a good indication of a proper GC candidate. wiggins can do great on those kind of stages(arcalis, verbier, ventoux(even tho he still struggled there), and the vuelta. but on the only proper mountain stage of the 2009 tour wiggins lost 2 minutes to the schlecks and contador and 1 minute to nibali and armstrong.

froome can be the same type of rider so until he rides a proper mountain stage we won't know for sure if he is great or just good.

In that i was not really referring to Wiggins but you are right in that assessment.

Unlike Wiggins, Froome has at least won a mountain stage ( and he nearly cracked Cobo )

 

[greenedge]

Froome won't need to set the pace again like he did in the Vuelta (Radioshack will do that - it's all Bruyneel knows).

You are right

Sky won't have the necessary squad in the mountains to ride tempo anyways ( until the last few days ).

Can anyone imagine the lead out Cav will have into Paris??? It will be totally awesome.

 

[greenedge]

if Wiggins has any chance of winning 2012 TdF, then Froome will have to be there too...

It would be like Steegmans leading out Boonen in 07. He needs a teammate but that teammate might turn out to be stronger than Wiggins.

Froome is the improved Wiggins ( he can climb better ), i can see him winning a GT very soon.

 

[orangerider]

Froome's better, Wiggins will crack once the pace gets too high on a long climb. Would agree though that keeping the leadership a mystery would only aide Froome, but it better be known internally who the leader should really be.

Wiggins really fits better just as a super domestique for Froome and Cavendish, and have enough spare energy to go for an ITT stage win. A super-duper version of Hincapie, if you will. Unfortunately, don't think he can be as humble and want to play second fiddle.

 

[Ferminal]

Sky went into the Vuelta convinced Wiggins was going to top their GC. Do not fault them for this, no one else saw Froome coming so it wouldn't surprise me if his own team didn't. Their failure though was not recognising soon enough that Froome was their best option. Strategically, the call was never made to save Froome from working for Wiggins. It was a heat of the moment decision on Angliru, Stage 15, where Brad was dropping off and Froome stayed with him, only for Wiggins to relinquish leadership on the spot and allow Froome to go again. Had Sky made the call to move to dual leadership, there's a reasonable chance that Froome would be a GT winner now.

It would be silly for Sky not to learn from this and approach the Tour the same way they did the Vuelta and convince themselves that only one of Froome/Wiggins will be their GC contender. If they are still both in contention, look to make the call after La Toussuire. If they are still inseparable, try and turn that into an advantage not a weakness.

 

[theyoungest]

It would be silly for Sky not to learn from this and approach the Tour the same way they did the Vuelta and convince themselves that only one of Froome/Wiggins will be their GC contender. If they are still both in contention, look to make the call after La Toussuire. If they are still inseparable, try and turn that into an advantage not a weakness.

It's only a problem in the very unlikely event that one of them will get yellow, and they'll have to take the race in their hands.

 

[Geordiedave]

Im hoping Froome does ride for GC, at least you can see him attacking the race, unlike the dullard, Wiggins

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Froome is the improved Wiggins ( he can climb better ), i can see him winning a GT very soon.

He's more explosive, but I'm not sure if he can climb better in a proper high mountain stage at the Tour. Jury's still out.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Wiggins may still be far better in this years Tour. Remember that he didn't exactly go into last years Vuelta with perfect preparation. The team needs to keep an open mind about the leadership and keep both riders protected until it is clear which one is the best.

 

[trevim]

Same has been said about Wiggins-yet he got 3rd in the Vuelta. We're keep waiting for him to shine in the Tour after his 4th place....
I think Roche is right to consider him the better candidate to shine-but i believe he implied the age factor-which isn't on Wiggins side....

After that 4th place Wiggins has done well in other races unlike Froome, specially in the Dauphine.

 

[movingtarget]

Considering how much work Froome did for Wiggins in the Vuelta, to finish where he did was a great ride. Yes Wiggins had some time off but he also rode the Dauphine and part of the TDF so his fitness had to be good. If Froome is expected to be a workhorse for Wiggins I think Wiggins will finish ahead of him simply because he will be fresher for the TT's but if they go into the race as equal leaders and Sky take a wait and see attitude, I think Froome could finish ahead of Wiggins. They both have a course that will suit them. I think Roche's comments make sense. With Cavendish in the team things get even more complicated.

 

[42x16ss]

Please, neither Froome nor Wiggins will be a GC threat at the Tour. Both of them (if selected) will be towing the peloton for km after km a la Grabsch/Eisel/Hansen to bring back breaks for Cavendish.

It will happen - Cav in a sprint is a much safer bet than Wiggins/Froome in the race for GC.

 

[Panda Claws]

I am not convinced that Froome is better than an in-form Wiggins.

Yes, he might be better than an "I just crashed, and conserved my energy badly during the ITT" Wiggins. But better than an in-form Wiggins?

 

[Gloin22]

Please, neither Froome nor Wiggins will be a GC threat at the Tour. Both of them (if selected) will be towing the peloton for km after km a la Grabsch/Eisel/Hansen to bring back breaks for Cavendish.

It will happen - Cav in a sprint is a much safer bet than Wiggins/Froome in the race for GC.

Lol, that's not going to happen.

Uran, Froome and Wiggo will be relieved from any work on flat stages

 

[will10]

Please, neither Froome nor Wiggins will be a GC threat at the Tour. Both of them (if selected) will be towing the peloton for km after km a la Grabsch/Eisel/Hansen to bring back breaks for Cavendish.

It will happen - Cav in a sprint is a much safer bet than Wiggins/Froome in the race for GC.

Unless he loses a lot of time somewhere and gives up on GC then there is 0.01% chance you will see Wiggins pulling for Cavendish at Le Tour (other than say on the Champs Elysees)