Froome vs wiggins: hinault vs lemond?

[Magnus]

More Riis v Ullrich.

How so?
Ullrich had no chance of winning the '96 tour and Riis had no chance of winning the '97 tour.

 

[ElChingon]

Its definitely a good inner team battle (for us), comparisons are good but its a unique situation really. Both seem to be dealing with it much better than most of you as we've heard/seen nothing that shows any issue as to who is the leader.

I see Sky as the only team with a true possibility at having two leaders.

 

[greenedge]

To be fair to the sky set-up one can imagine that it is promised that given wiggens's age froome may be told to work this year( and next?) for the team leader. From 2014,the team rides for froome?

For those dissing the sky supporters, you have to remember that a british rider in yellow after the 1st mountain stage is beyond belief. As a young amateur rider in my past we brits always looked for robert millar, boardman etc but we always kmew that we as brits were outside the real game. You can dis sky, you can dis the supporters but screw you. Kids in the uk will be reading the press and watching tv and seeing a british guy riding with the best. On the limit, making other great riders suffer. If this isn't what cycling is about then what is?

I hope that next year Froome can lead at the TDF for 2 reasons.
1. He is a much better climber than Wiggins- the 2013 TDF route will probably be stacked heavily with climbs.
2. Contador/ Andy shall annihilate Wiggins' train.

Also Wiggins did barely any work on stage 7- it was EBH, Rogers, Porte and then Froome, who dropped everyone. LA would usually after his Postal team peeled off only bring one dude to the finish line with him.

 

[Andre.J]

More Riis v Ullrich.

I was just about to say that.

 

[blutto]

The basic difference is current professionalism. Visentini had and internal cabal that actually rode against Roche who had a sudden burst of incredible...form...all year...ahem, Claudio-who was the guy we saw about the stuff?
Anyway; they will ride to place Evans and others in difficulty but may have less success in another week so it's too early to tell. It's one thing when you have 4 domestiques in a mountain stage and quite another when you have one. Cadel has made do with none before.

....the internal cabal?...now that's funny...

Cheers

blutto

 

[mr. tibbs]

It's a shame they aren't riding for different teams this year. Could really liven things up. The gaps between 1, 2, and 3 might be a whole lot different right now...

 

[Oldman]

....the internal cabal?...now that's funny...

Cheers

blutto

I thought so when Roche implied it. Who would have guessed Italians on an Italian team would favor their Italian teammate over a whiney, tight-fisted Irishman? Hopefully Stephen offered some con$olation to them before the Tour was over.

 

[messycolin]

People arent getting the concept of an analogy.
.

As the person who started this...you're right. What was difficult to understand?

Interesting to watch todays stage. Froome under orders, but looking strong enough to do his own thing ie win the tour.

I am not complaining. It makes sense. Wiggins wins 2012 if things go well. Froome can go for 2013 if wiggins can't follow contador. 2014 froome is kopman.

It makes a great story. Wiggins is real british (lol. Born in belgium). Froome is pseudobritish. Not that this matters really but it does for the average public and Sky.

 

[jilbiker]

As the person who started this...you're right. What was difficult to understand?

Interesting to watch todays stage. Froome under orders, but looking strong enough to do his own thing ie win the tour.

I am not complaining. It makes sense. Wiggins wins 2012 if things go well. Froome can go for 2013 if wiggins can't follow contador. 2014 froome is kopman.

It makes a great story. Wiggins is real british (lol. Born in belgium). Froome is pseudobritish. Not that this matters really but it does for the average public and Sky.

Typical isn't it???? Froome is "sort" of british. I will not go there, thats a topic for another forum. I think Froome senses the disdain and today he planned and knew exactly what he wanted to do. I think the Director must have said something in his ear, may a threat or two and he changed his mind. I saw something in Froome's eyes and face for ITT, it was a determination at the end, he pushed himself, he really wanted to best Wiggins.Wiggins also pushed himself when he must have been told Froome's time.

Froome is not finished, this is the TDF NOT the Vuelta (no disrespect), I think he has seen an opportunity for the gold and he will take it. If Sky wants to chulk him out after that they can, there will be a ton of teams ready to take him and ready to buy out his Sky contract. I think he will wait for the pyrennes and fly away with his radio turned off, put the about 3 minutes between him and Wiggins.

 

[Apollonius]

Froome is not finished, this is the TDF NOT the Vuelta (no disrespect), I think he has seen an opportunity for the gold and he will take it. If Sky wants to chulk him out after that they can, there will be a ton of teams ready to take him and ready to buy out his Sky contract. I think he will wait for the pyrennes and fly away with his radio turned off, put the about 3 minutes between him and Wiggins.

Froome will do as he's told I suspect. He wouldn't last long without the support of his team mates, he'd be handing the GC to Nibali. The bottom line is that Wiggins doesn't seem strong enough to win it without Froome and Froom would find it impossible to rid to victory without the Sky riders putting him in the positions he needs to be in. So in the end he'll lose and so will Wiggins so ultimately what's the point in him going rogue?

His best chance is to stick with Wiggins, play his role as he has been and then hope that Wiggins has a very bad day and elevates Froome to leader by default with then full backing from the team. There's every chance that could happen too.

 

[zapata]

Would be something if brailsford finds himself with an african winner of the tour instead of the british one of the prophecy.

 

[Apollonius]

Would be something if brailsford finds himself with an african winner of the tour instead of the british one of the prophecy.

I think Brailsford will be requiring all Sky Rider's to obtain British passports in future, it's working out great with Froome

 

[jilbiker]

Froome will do as he's told I suspect. He wouldn't last long without the support of his team mates, he'd be handing the GC to Nibali. The bottom line is that Wiggins doesn't seem strong enough to win it without Froome and Froom would find it impossible to rid to victory without the Sky riders putting him in the positions he needs to be in. So in the end he'll lose and so will Wiggins so ultimately what's the point in him going rogue?

His best chance is to stick with Wiggins, play his role as he has been and then hope that Wiggins has a very bad day and elevates Froome to leader by default with then full backing from the team. There's every chance that could happen too.

Yes its a tough one, but remember a guy called Bertie in 2009 who had the famous lance (and Director Bruyneel) hijack his team? He still won, literally on his own, sort of played his cards right. We will see how smart and tough Froome is.

 

[jilbiker]

Would be something if brailsford finds himself with an african winner of the tour instead of the british one of the prophecy.

I would absolutely love that!

 

[PosterBill]

If the time gaps keep opening up then SKY should allow Froome or Wiggins the opportunity to prove who is tops in the mtns. Who will even come close to putting time into Wiggins or Froome in the final TT? Nobody. So as we close out the Pryenees how about allowing at least 1 mtn stage with some freedom

 

[UpTheRoad]

Froome is not finished, this is the TDF NOT the Vuelta (no disrespect), I think he has seen an opportunity for the gold and he will take it. If Sky wants to chulk him out after that they can, there will be a ton of teams ready to take him and ready to buy out his Sky contract. I think he will wait for the pyrennes and fly away with his radio turned off, put the about 3 minutes between him and Wiggins.

If he did that and Wiggins were in 2nd place, Sky might throw him off the team like Rabo did with Rasmussen (although for different reasons).

It should be clear to everyone that Sky is riding for Wiggins and Wiggins alone. It is unfortunate for Froome as I think he can win it this year, but that is the way it seems to be.

 

[orangerider]

If he did that and Wiggins were in 2nd place, Sky might throw him off the team like Rabo did with Rasmussen (although for different reasons).

It should be clear to everyone that Sky is riding for Wiggins and Wiggins alone. It is unfortunate for Froome as I think he can win it this year, but that is the way it seems to be.

Agreed. You could see Froome visibly upset when he was being given orders (probably swear words coming through the radio) to slow down after that fierce attack making Wiggins look as overrated as he is.

 

[jilbiker]

Agreed. You could see Froome visibly upset when he was being given orders (probably swear words coming through the radio) to slow down after that fierce attack making Wiggins look as overrated as he is.

Froome should give me a call, there is a way to play it and walk away with the title. Sky will NOT boot out someone with the Yellow jersey....Wait, yes they will, the desire for a "true/real" brit to win it runs deep...way deep.

When Froome signed the 3 yr contract last year, i felt that was the worst mistake he could make. I have no sympathy for him and the apparent frustration he must be feeling. For me this is Foome handing Wiggin a gift, much like the way he handed Cobo a gift last year. Once I can understand but to get played twice??? i have my doubts about the individual

 

[Casualfan]

I know what I'd be thinking if I was in Froome's position "What would Wiggo do if he was in 2nd and stronger?" I think we know the answer to that. However, I don't think Froome is a particularly arrogant individual or someone who would intentionally upset the harmony in the team. I think he sits tight for the time being
Brailsford after today's stage:

The team roles, he said, were clarified by the time trial, and then ended the interviews.

Interesting, considering that did not apply in the Vuelta last year. And Brailsford can't exactly argue that Froome's performance surprised him as he's been telling us how his numbers in training have always been great. Personally I think Wiggins will get preference more often than that because he has a lot more experience of working with Brailsford (2004, 2008). I feel for Froome and fear that he has probably missed the boat on his only chance to win the Tour.

 

[Parrot23]

Smart exploratory "play" by Riis, or maybe just 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/froo...gins-riis-says

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

 

[Fergoose]

Wiggins is strong but evans may get a jump somewhere. Does froome stay with wiggins or does he follow?

Interesting that in his interview with L'Equipe Froome is quoted as saying if the others make an attack and Wiggins is in trouble, he'll go after the others to secure the tour for Sky! I’m sure that will have gone down well over breakfast.

On a tangent it was funny also seeing TJVG's selective blindness and deafness at the summit today when Evans, right next to him, gets a puncture and then yells to him. As TJVG serenely descends, whistling innocently, Evans is left stranded for ages waiting for another teammate. These ambitious teammates are good for entertainment but if they were on a team I was supporting I’d want them chewed out.

 

[maxmartin]

Interesting that in his interview with L'Equipe Froome is quoted as saying if the others make an attack and Wiggins is in trouble, he'll go after the others to secure the tour for Sky! I’m sure that will have gone down well over breakfast.

On a tangent it was funny also seeing TJVG's selective blindness and deafness at the summit today when Evans, right next to him, gets a puncture and then yells to him. As TJVG serenely descends, whistling innocently, Evans is left stranded for ages waiting for another teammate. These ambitious teammates are good for entertainment but if they were on a team I was supporting I’d want them chewed out.

Yeah, TJVG showed that in the previous stage, even he was pacing Evans, he would gap a few bike length, then looking back kinda of like saying "come on, catch my wheel". I think he felt his white jersey might be in jeopardy at that stage when Rolland and Pinot are riding away.

 

[The Tibetan Hat]

Froome, he's a strange one isn't he? Doesn't look like he has the media savvy to handle the situation he's gotten himself into, which is a good one, but probably not as good as he thinks.

Sure he probably is stronger than Wiggins in the mountains, but the fact of the matter is he's two minutes down and less than 20 seconds ahead of Nibbles. Tactically speaking if the team wants to maintain the jersey, is it really possible for him to make up that gap on Wiggins AND extend his lead over Nibali to something more meaningful? He's not much more than a minute up on Evans and we've seen what he can produce in week three.

While it must be a thrill to have the legs to race away for odd 20 second gaps here and there at the end of summit finishes, Froome needs to realise he's TWO MINUTES down and his team leader, a superior TT man, hasn't really faltered at all. He need to ask himself, why should Sky risk on him when they've already built such a meaningful lead over the field for their main guy?

With all this as clear as day to anyone looking at GC, the way he's practically briefing against Wiggins in the French press, possibly innocently - possibly not, has really got to make you wonder a wee bit about the guy's character.

 

[Richeypen]

Froome, he's a strange one isn't he? Doesn't look like he has the media savvy to handle the situation he's gotten himself into, which is a good one, but probably not as good as he thinks.

Sure he probably is stronger than Wiggins in the mountains, but the fact of the matter is he's two minutes down and less than 20 seconds ahead of Nibbles. Tactically speaking if the team wants to maintain the jersey, is it really possible for him to make up that gap on Wiggins AND extend his lead over Nibali to something more meaningful? He's not much more than a minute up on Evans and we've seen what he can produce in week three.

While it must be a thrill to have the legs to race away for odd 20 second gaps here and there at the end of summit finishes, Froome needs to realise he's TWO MINUTES down and his team leader, a superior TT man, hasn't really faltered at all. He need to ask himself, why should Sky risk on him when they've already built such a meaningful lead over the field for their main guy?

With all this as clear as day to anyone looking at GC, the way he's practically briefing against Wiggins in the French press, possibly innocently - possibly not, has really got to make you wonder a wee bit about the guy's character.

Talking sense isnt usually allowed on this forum!

 

[jilbiker]

Froome, he's a strange one isn't he? Doesn't look like he has the media savvy to handle the situation he's gotten himself into, which is a good one, but probably not as good as he thinks.

Sure he probably is stronger than Wiggins in the mountains, but the fact of the matter is he's two minutes down and less than 20 seconds ahead of Nibbles. Tactically speaking if the team wants to maintain the jersey, is it really possible for him to make up that gap on Wiggins AND extend his lead over Nibali to something more meaningful? He's not much more than a minute up on Evans and we've seen what he can produce in week three.

While it must be a thrill to have the legs to race away for odd 20 second gaps here and there at the end of summit finishes, Froome needs to realise he's TWO MINUTES down and his team leader, a superior TT man, hasn't really faltered at all. He need to ask himself, why should Sky risk on him when they've already built such a meaningful lead over the field for their main guy?

With all this as clear as day to anyone looking at GC, the way he's practically briefing against Wiggins in the French press, possibly innocently - possibly not, has really got to make you wonder a wee bit about the guy's character.

I just read this

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-i-could-win-this-tour

I think this young man is living in la-la land. I cannot believe that he signed that 2/3 yr contract with Sky on the "pre-aggreement" that Wiggins will pull for him next year. Absolute rubbish. Once you taste the lore of the yellow Jersey, standing on the highest podium on sunday, there is no turning back rather a desire to return to that power spot. I have never heard of ANY TDF winner that WILLINGLY gave up defending the jersey the following year in order to pull for team mate.

He better take it next year, else he will be serving Mr. Wiggins next year as he defends the Jersey. Unless Froome does something smart like grab this jersey somehow, I rate him as a 5/10 in the brains department. Great champions are not those with just the skills (thats actually 40%) but those with the smarts. The difference is the smarts. And telling me Wiggins will pull for you next year ain't no smarts.