Froome is Sky's best chance to win Le Tour

[Froome19]

not is isn't, that's the only actual data we have for him on multi climb stages so ignoring it just because it was 3 years ago is stupid. he may be a better rider now but so are nibali and VDB who imo can drop him on multiple climb mountains, and so can evans.

Besides the fact that that is the only multiple mountain stage he has had to go full gas from far out in the last 3 years should also count as something as experience is needed in order to deal with those which is something nibali has from the giro and evans as well.

Well Ok put it this way, every other aspect of his perfomance has improved dramatically so I dont see any reason why this aspect should not have.

 

[Parrulo]

Well Ok put it this way, every other aspect of his perfomance has improved dramatically so I dont see any reason why this aspect should not have.

the thing is, has he really improved so much as some say? how many people did he drop on the mountains this year before the tour? and even during this year tour he hasn't dropped any1 other then the people we were already expecting to see getting dropped anyway.

so the "he has improved greatly" argument is flawed, his itt seems indeed better but we have no evidence of his performance in the mountains being any better then in 09 when he only got dropped by real tip top climbers for most of the tour but then started to struggle on the last week.

p.s. just to avoid miss interpretations when i say: "how many people did he drop on the mountains this year before the tour?" the answer is obviously none has there wasn't a single proper mountain stage on neither PN, nor romandie nor the dauphine, which is why i say there is no evidence of his climbing having improved so drastically since 09.

 

[Froome19]

So did the courses in Romandie and P-N have multiple cols so? They were p*** poor routes that suited him. And as for the Dauphine, like Libertine said the racing all went down to one climb which was the Joux Plane.

That is irrelevant.

He has shown that his general climbing is up there with the best, see the Vuelta bar the Angliru which this year he would easily navigate, see his improvement in hisTT, see his perfomance yesterday, see his descending today.

So it would be logical to say he has improved over multiple climbs as well.

Look at it from this angle, what is the difficulty with multiple climbs? It is not the climbing itself because I think many people admit that Wiggin's climbing is obviously up there with the best probably as good as everyone else's bar possibly Evans (and Froome). It is the recovery and Stamina and from What Wiggins has shown he has improved in those areas and of course he has shown he has become a much stronger rider all round and that has had a very visible effect on his stamina etc. Also Sky I am sure focus a lot on that and so I see no reason why particularly that aspect would be left behind all the others in terms of Wiggins improvement.


It seems like many posters are still clutching at straws but they will see come Stage 11.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's still the case that Richie Porte has never put in an especially strong performance on a tough multiple mountain stage (some decent ones in that 2010 Giro but he did lose time on every real mountain stage), while the last time Chris Froome took on a difficult multiple mountain stage in a GT he was expelled for holding on to motorcycles (caveat: he had crashed and injured his knee).

There is a fair bit of clutching at straws going on, but at the same time Wiggins is still a bit of an unknown in big multiple col stages. I'm pretty confident given the form he's been in (having an even more dominant season than Contador at his peak) it'll be no problem for him, and I'm sure Robofroome will be with him, but they might run out of backup early and have to do more work than they would like themselves.

 

[BillytheKid]

There is a fair bit of clutching at straws going on, but at the same time Wiggins is still a bit of an unknown in big multiple col stages.

I think we will see the pressure on all the way in the remaining mountain stages, especially from RSNT with the hopes taking time at some point and/or taking it out of Cadel and Wiggins, etc before the last ITT.

Likely? Entertaining? Yes. Great stage 8.

 

[Ferminal]

It's still the case that Richie Porte has never put in an especially strong performance on a tough multiple mountain stage (some decent ones in that 2010 Giro but he did lose time on every real mountain stage), while the last time Chris Froome took on a difficult multiple mountain stage in a GT he was expelled for holding on to motorcycles (caveat: he had crashed and injured his knee).

There is a fair bit of clutching at straws going on, but at the same time Wiggins is still a bit of an unknown in big multiple col stages. I'm pretty confident given the form he's been in (having an even more dominant season than Contador at his peak) it'll be no problem for him, and I'm sure Robofroome will be with him, but they might run out of backup early and have to do more work than they would like themselves.

Without Siutsou maybe, but there's no one left to make a race of it on Croix de Fer/Bales. EBH/Rogers will be enough for the penultimate climb, and then Porte for most of the finale. Or swap Rogers and Porte if something is wrong with the latter.

 

[greenedge]

He has shown that his general climbing is up there with the best, see the Vuelta bar the Angliru which this year he would easily navigate, see his improvement in hisTT, see his perfomance yesterday, see his descending today.

So it would be logical to say he has improved over multiple climbs as well.

Look at it from this angle, what is the difficulty with multiple climbs? It is not the climbing itself because I think many people admit that Wiggin's climbing is obviously up there with the best probably as good as everyone else's bar possibly Evans (and Froome).

If the Angrilu was in the 2012 Vuelta route and Wiggins went to it he would get annihilated, probably even in TDF form.
He just seemed over geared last year as he is not a pure climber- though adimittedly it was very steep.

His performance yesterday as in stage 7 or stage 8? Because on stage 7 neither he nor Evans showed themselves and on stage 8 he closed the gap to Evans/ JVDB on the flats.

Is that idea that his climbing is the best in the TDF or in the whole peleton ( JROD, Contador and Andy )- all not here?

Even in this TDF i still think riders like Menchov ( 3 GT's would be a better climber- but he is off to a slow start ), Nibali ( though he did not attack is also very strong/ has a good aptitude on climbs ), Frank ( lost time so took himself out of the GC and is working for the team- is one of the best climbers ), Gesink ( went great at ToC/ evidently his GT hopes lie on his evident climbing talent- but he is also injured ), JVDB ( looked good on stage 8- but also lost time ), Valverde ( would probably have been inconsistent- but is a great climber on his day ) and Rolland who if he had not crashed i think would have been annihilating this race in the climbs.

 

[Magnus]

the answer is obviously none has there wasn't a single proper mountain stage on neither PN, nor romandie nor the dauphine, which is why i say there is no evidence of his climbing having improved so drastically since 09.

I don't understand how you think that stage 17 of the 2009 TdF was a proper mountainstage and stage 6 of Dauphine 2012 wasn't. As far as I can estimate using Bikeroutetoaster stage 17 TdF '09 had 4240 meters of ascent where stage 6 Dauphine had 4000. Is it those 240 meters that makes all the difference?

Of course you can consider Romme/Colombiere to be two climbs but I think most people who's been in the mountains on a roadbike would consider it one climb. Just like Telegraphe/Galibier is usually considered one climb.

 

[webvan]

Well if he wants to turn the table upside down he has to put a minute into Wiggo on the first ITT, it's up to him.

Very impressive ITT by Froomey today, not unexpected though to those who follow cycling closely, but not enough to beat Wiggo so no regrets about that flat the other day so far.

A Wiggo/Froomey 1/2 in Paris will likely be enough for him this year, he still has a long career ahead of him and can try his hand at leading at the Vuelta with the support of Uran and Henao.

He probably can't believe his luck when he looks back at where he was at the same time last year!

 

[webvan]

So did Froome explain what happened today when he fell back and let Wiggo pull to bridge to Nibali and was then able to recover/attack? I don't remember seeing anything quite like that before...closest would have to be Riis on Hautacam in 1996!

 

[mewmewmew13]

So did Froome explain what happened today when he fell back and let Wiggo pull to bridge to Nibali and was then able to recover/attack? I don't remember seeing anything quite like that before...closest would have to be Riis on Hautacam in 1996!

I was amazed when he then came back and attacked and dropped Wig entirely....leaving the yellow jersey alone. Then at the finish when he obviously abandoned Wiggins again to fly to the line....erm...

 

[webvan]

I guess it was ok at the end but at 4.5km to go it was certainly unexpected. I watched my recording and they did talk just before the caught up with the Nibali group so it looked like Wiggo had OKd the move but possibly only if he could go it alone and not drag Nibali and VDB2 along. Would really like to hear what they have to say about that move!

 

[T-Rav.]

Probably Froome was told by the team car to chill out because his attack was helping Nibali gain time on Wiggins. Had Nibali been also unable to follow his attack, I think Froome would have continued with it.

I think Froome was ultimately showing that while he will put in the time and effort to help Wiggins win this Tour, he's also going to take any opportunity he can to improve his own GC placing once all other significant threats to Wiggins have been neutralized. Froome's not stupid - he wants to finish on the podium in Paris, too.

I'm having fun watching Froome. I hope very much that Cadel, Nibali or VDB can get back into contention for yellow. If a 1-2 finish by Sky becomes inevitable early it would suck from a suspense standpoint. But if we get to that point, I would love to see Sky release the hounds in the final week and let the best rider win.

 

[webvan]

Yes and he's got his TOP 2 spot now and they're the strongest in ITTs so that's taken care of. It did seem like Wiggo had OK'd the move just before they caught up but he probably wasn't expecting Nibali and VDB to drop him and that's where he needed Froome's help. Froome should have noticed on his own really.

Thing is there aren't going to be too many situations where Froome will be free to go for it full blast, because if he pulls Wiggo that's always going to give them some extra margin that could come in handy at some point.

Froome is not immune to cracking himself as we saw when Wiggo had to pull after Nibali's second attack. I'm curious to hear to what Froome has to say about what happened there.

 

[Karl Max]

How is Frooms contract situation with Sky'?
he is obviously capable of winning the tour himself the way he is riding now. Hopefully he will be able to ride for his own chances in the future. After all he would probably have won the Vuelta last year if it was not for he had to stop and wait for Wiggins in a couple of occasions.

He is to good to be a second choice in the future, so if he is not getting the chances he deserve at Sky he should look for other options in the future.

 

[Cimber]

How is Frooms contract situation with Sky'?
he is obviously capable of winning the tour himself

This year anyways. Might be hard for him when Bertie and Andy are back. Cant blame him for wanting to take this epic chance.

Dont know about his contract situation, sorry.

 

[webvan]

Google is your friend...but it's 3 years renewed 09/2011 after the Vuelta, certainly for a very tidy salary.

Let's not jump to conclusions on how he would perform elsewhere, Sky are clearly able to get the best out of him...unlike say Baloworld, but yes he's an amazing talent, the Vuelta should be fun.

 

[Cimber]

the Vuelta should be fun.

Doubt he can keep going 100% for the Vuelta. But ye would have been fun to see what he could do vs. Bertie

 

[webvan]

Vuelta starts August 18th so yes that might be a problem, he's flying though and didn't race much before the TDF.

Anyway here's what he had to say about the attack and today's stage : http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/533878/froome-explains-his-attack-on-la-toussuire.html - seems AOK to me, looks like he was sticking to the original tactics of the morning (taking time on Cadel) and needed some guidance adapting it to the new circumstances.

 

[PosterBill]

Froome's got to consider that it won't be getting any easier to win the tour then it is now...the course, the contenders, everything changes next year. Right now he has 1 guy he must go through to clinch the tour..it will never get better then this for Froome.

 

[orangerider]

This year anyways. Might be hard for him when Bertie and Andy are back. Cant blame him for wanting to take this epic chance.

Dont know about his contract situation, sorry.

A fresh-legged Berto for sure, but not an on-form Andy. Froome just clobbers Andy in any TT and appears stronger than him in the mountains.

 

[webvan]

I'm really not convinced that Bertie will be so hot after he comes back, for a start he's going to have to be extra careful or he's gone and when you've relied on help in the past, well...

As for Froome, hats off to the guy : http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-breaks-from-the-script-at-la-toussuire

 

[blackcat]

How is Frooms contract situation with Sky'?
he is obviously capable of winning the tour himself the way he is riding now. Hopefully he will be able to ride for his own chances in the future. After all he would probably have won the Vuelta last year if it was not for he had to stop and wait for Wiggins in a couple of occasions.

He is to good to be a second choice in the future, so if he is not getting the chances he deserve at Sky he should look for other options in the future.

I think there would be a simple case to be made, if he is forced to ride for Wiggins, and forgoing his own just desert. He may have a sport contract. But Brailsford and Sky cant force him to work next year for wiggins, and not fulfill his potential for a market salary.

2nd at Tour. 1million US. 1st at Tour, 1 million GBP.

If they worked for Frrome in Vuelta in 11, he wins. He could have a Vuelta and a TdF on his nightstand, and a contract starting at 1mill GBP per, for 4 years. As is, he is getting half that.

Frroomie and his management, have got some thinking to do.

 

[Parrot23]

Smart exploratory "play" by Riis, or maybe just stirring the pot up--or more simply, just saying what he thinks

He has Bertie, but just in case things don't work out, I'd like to see what a Riis could do with a Froome.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-the-favourite-over-wiggins-riis-says

I could see a Froome at Orica, etc. Right "cultural" fit, etc. Important: look how Hushvod could not quite fit with Garmin.

 

[simo1733]

Smart exploratory "play" by Riis, or maybe just stirring the pot up--or more simply, just saying what he thinks

He has Bertie, but just in case things don't work out, I'd like to see what a Riis could do with a Froome.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-the-favourite-over-wiggins-riis-says

I could see a Froome at Orica, etc. Right "cultural" fit, etc. Important: look how Hushvod could not quite fit with Garmin.

This is probably Wiggins one and only chance to win the tour and it maybe Froome's only chance as well.If Contador comes back to his best, everyone will be riding for second again.
Like Stephen Roche in the Giro."If you've got balls Christopher , now is the time to show them"