Teams & Riders Froome Talk Only

[the sceptic]

I see that my prediction that sky would take doping to another level this year was correct.

How can anyone watch this circus and think there is a hope for clean cycling?

 

[thehog]

I see that my prediction that sky would take doping to another level this year was correct.

How can anyone watch this circus and think there is a hope for clean cycling?

After Contador's attack the British Press were already concerned. But appears not once Froome won

Apparently you can't win every race for 6 months unless you're Dawg in 2013

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/21/8081279/contadors-hazallanas-form-a-good-thing

A dominating performance by Contador, unusual for him in early-season races. Fitting, as this is an unusual early-season race. Usually we have short, punchy climbs in Andalucia, and puncheurs like Kwiatkowski win, and don't challenge in stage races for the rest of the year. Yesterday, there was a different scenario, known as the Alto de Hazallanas. 8 kilometres at 10 %, with sections at 18 dwarf the usual spring ascents such as the Alto do Malhao (2.8km) or Jabal al Akhdhar (5km, but steep).

But is such early-season form wise? From some hasty research, only two riders have ever won one of the February races and gone on to win a Grand Tour - and none won the Ruta. Froome, of course, beat Contador in Oman in 2012, and Contador won the Volta ao Algarve in 2009. Contador wants to win two.


If Contador rides like he did yesterday in Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta a Catalunya, he will not win the Tour. It is not possible to win every race you enter beforehand, and do so. That, at least, is my opinion. It would be riding full-bore for 6 months, which is impossible.

 

[SeriousSam]

Yes, Dawg dominating every race he enters would not be suspicious, after all, he dominated in 2013 as well.

 

[Rollthedice]

After Contador's attack the British Press were already concerned. But appears not once Froome won

Apparently you can't win every race for 6 months unless you're Dawg in 2013

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/21/8081279/contadors-hazallanas-form-a-good-thing

Good point. Froome 2013:

16.02 finishes 1 GC Oman
13.03 Nibali pulls a fast one so Froome finishes second GC
23.03 he's back 1 GC Criterium Int.
28.04 Romandie 1 GC

In May he probably analyzes his poor performances until then and steps up his prep.

09.06 Dauphine 1 GC

then the legendary TdF.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

The idea that either Contador or Froome could be 'under the radar' after last week's fireworks is kinda hilarious.

Man, lets hope that was "under the radar" riding, because that means come Tour time, we'll get to watch them pushing trough the lead cars and motorbikes, and maybe even the publicity caravan to win the stage. Awesome!

 

[ChewbaccaD]

"It's inevitable that one day, a clean rider will beat the publicity caravan to the finish."--Dave Brailsford

 

[DirtyWorks]

why facepalm?
thought it was an interesting comment from simo1733.
shouldn't those guys be busting their asses six hours a day?
we always get to hear how the best training is to do races, i.e. to make mileage.

Yes, 100 years of bicycle racing history and resulting somatotype is now meaningless because... Well, it just is. Stop asking so many questions.

Funny how going away to train then show up and destroy is exactly the performance pattern of a doper.

 

[TailWindHome]

Funny how going away to train then show up and destroy is exactly the performance pattern of a doper.

Isn't everything?

 

[thehog]

Good point. Froome 2013:

16.02 finishes 1 GC Oman
13.03 Nibali pulls a fast one so Froome finishes second GC
23.03 he's back 1 GC Criterium Int.
28.04 Romandie 1 GC

In May he probably analyzes his poor performances until then and steps up his prep.

09.06 Dauphine 1 GC

then the legendary TdF.

Exactly! Super Froome is normal, for Contador its doping or not possible.

 

[the sceptic]

Exactly! Super Froome is normal, for Contador its doping or not possible.

It's funny that Contador is always questionable due to his 2 atoms of clen, even though there is no evidence of him doping in any other way.

Meanwhile Dawg can do whatever he wants with help from the UCI and will never be questionable no matter what he does since there is no evidence of him doping.

bot logic is hillarious.

 

[LaFlorecita]

After Contador's attack the British Press were already concerned. But appears not once Froome won

Apparently you can't win every race for 6 months unless you're Dawg in 2013

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/21/8081279/contadors-hazallanas-form-a-good-thing

I know the guy who wrote that post. I asked him why he thinks it's impossible to win all races before the Tour, he clarified he meant that if Alberto does these types of attacks in every race, Alberto will be too tired for the Tour.

 

[thehog]

I know the guy who wrote that post. I asked him why he thinks it's impossible to win all races before the Tour, he clarified he meant that if Alberto does these types of attacks in every race, Alberto will be too tired for the Tour.

Thanks.

Which is what Froome did in 2013. He was attacking from everywhere. In 2014 before he crashed he was doing fairly similar. 2014 Romandie when on horse steroids Froome managed to attack Nibali 20km from the finish and still won by a lot more than Contador did on Friday.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Thanks.

Which is what Froome did in 2013. He was attacking from everywhere. In 2014 before he crashed he was doing fairly similar. 2014 Romandie when on horse steroids Froome managed to attack Nibali 20km from the finish and still won by a lot more than Contador did on Friday.

IIRC, in 2013, Froome mostly did last 1-2k attacks grabbing 10-20s. Besides, he didn't race the Giro.

 

[thehog]

IIRC, in 2013, Froome mostly did last 1-2k attacks grabbing 10-20s. Besides, he didn't race the Giro.

Not really. He was winning 3 day stage races by over a minute. Shorter climbs etc. He was beating some Tour riders by over 2-3 minute margins that year.

 

[sniper]

IIRC, in 2013, Froome mostly did last 1-2k attacks grabbing 10-20s. Besides, he didn't race the Giro.

hog is right about the Romandie stage 3.
ventoux also doesn't exactly support your point.

 

[Angliru]

I know the guy who wrote that post. I asked him why he thinks it's impossible to win all races before the Tour, he clarified he meant that if Alberto does these types of attacks in every race, Alberto will be too tired for the Tour.

The way I see it, the "attack" on the descent before the final climb was more of what riders do to stay out of trouble by being on the front and controling their destiny so to speak. It just so happened that Froome and Sky were no where to be found for whatever reason and the opportunity presented itself to gain time. For once Contador had ample support with Valgren and Basso, it's just that they both ran out of gas fairly early (with approx. 7 km's to go), leaving Contador to his own devices. I don't know if it was an intentional effort to distance their rivals. It's possible that the effort on that stage may have drained him more than he realized. I doubt that we will see him making these types of efforts in every race before the Giro.

 

[robow7]

It's funny that Contador is always questionable due to his 2 atoms of clen, even though there is no evidence of him doping in any other way.

No, he lost credibility when he blows the likes of Cancellara and other specialists away on a fairly even TDF ITT.

 

[red_flanders]

No, he lost credibility when he blows the likes of Cancellara and other specialists away on a fairly even TDF ITT.

How do you feel about Froome when he blows away the likes of Contador on a major climb?

 

[the sceptic]

No, he lost credibility when he blows the likes of Cancellara and other specialists away on a fairly even TDF ITT.

that doesn't count as evidence in the bot mind, because that would be evidence against dawg too.

 

[dolophonic]

No, he lost credibility when he blows the likes of Cancellara and other specialists away on a fairly even TDF ITT.

Flat TT.. i dont remember that one.. the TT at Annecy was not flat.

 

[roundabout]

Flat TT.. i dont remember that one.. the TT at Annecy was not flat.

He didn't write flat, he wrote fairly even, which it was.

 

[Netserk]

Didn't Contador have the best intermediate time before the hill, or am I misremembering things?

 

[burning]

Didn't Contador have the best intermediate time before the hill, or am I misremembering things?

Yes, he had the best intermediate time, Cancellara was pacing himself much more better.

 

[The Hitch]

After Contador's attack the British Press were already concerned. But appears not once Froome won

Apparently you can't win every race for 6 months unless you're Dawg in 2013

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2015/2/21/8081279/contadors-hazallanas-form-a-good-thing

Or Wiggins in 2012.

 

[LaFlorecita]

hog is right about the Romandie stage 3.
ventoux also doesn't exactly support your point.

i was talking about pre-tour races of course