Froome's TdF chances: better or worse without Wiggins?

[Ride to forget]

Slightly better, because there was some chance that Wiggins might take yellow after the first ITT, and then Froome might not be allowed to attack his team-mate in yellow on the next mountain stage - or at least have to wait for someone else to light the fuse.

But I think the overall outcome won't be that different.

 

[Boeing]

Slightly worse. all attention on him with one less Sky rider to take the Jersey early stages. If you feel Froome would benefit for Wiggo holding the Jersey a day or two first week?

I don't know much about Froome's head as in if he can handle the exposure and attention of the media as sole leader every day. Fewer distractions IMHO with Wiggo in the group than with him out.

 

[Boeing]

Slightly better, because there was some chance that Wiggins might take yellow after the first ITT, and then Froome might not be allowed to attack his team-mate in yellow on the next mountain stage - or at least have to wait for someone else to light the fuse.

But I think the overall outcome won't be that different.

Wiggo taking Jersey early was part of Brainsfords plan I thought?

 

[Ride to forget]

Wiggo taking Jersey early was part of Brainsfords plan I thought?

Who knows if Brailsford really had a plan - but in my opinion Wiggins taking the jersey could only serve to hamper Froome. Would Froome have had the balls to attack against possible team orders a la Contador on Arcalis in 2009?

(And yes, I know Contador didn't attack with his "team-mate" in yellow, but it was only a fraction of a second from being the case)

Ultimately, I think Wiggins would have dropped straight out of yellow on the first mountain stage (if he ever took it in the first place), and it would have made little difference. But it could have unsettled Froome, or even caused him to mis-time a pre-emptive attack on Ax 3 Domaines ahead of the ITT.

Obviously, we'll never know now.

 

[S2Sturges]

Non of this matters, because Contador will win.

Exacto! Contador vainqueur!

 

[Jelantik]

well at least for me, wiggins ducks the bullet again. Either it's coincidence, on purpose or mother nature's plan or the singing french fat lady's curse... I've been waiting to see a proper battle between wiggins vs froome vs contador. Now we won't see it. . all year long (except oman), he's been taking different race. So the debate about wiggins is great at this and that will continue for another year .. I guess.

As far as froome, I think slightly better. At least no distraction over leadership. sky might not be dominating in TTT without wiggins, but Froome probably prefers tranquilo I'm pretty sure if sir wiggo lining up, it'll be another amstrong vs contador all over again.

who's going to smile ear to ear without wiggins presence now? '.. lil' richie..

 

[acetray]

Wiggins got off pretty easy last year without Contidor or Andy Shleck in the field. When your top competitor is evens you have a pretty dang easy time.

 

[blaxland]

Better by a country mile.If only to stop the infighting that may have developed.Froome now has his chance to show us all what he is made off?

 

[xrayvision]

Remember Lance vs Berto? anyone?

There you go, the poll is meaningless.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Only a slight difference as it is known that Froome is a better climber & descender than Wiggins. Froome will now have the mental peace to focus on his main rivals than look over his shoulder if anybody is backstabbing him.

 

[movingtarget]

Only a slight difference as it is known that Froome is a better climber & descender than Wiggins. Froome will now have the mental peace to focus on his main rivals than look over his shoulder if anybody is backstabbing him.

Better for him mentally but Wiggins engine would have come in handy in the TTT and also as another quality domestique but only at peak fitness. It's worked better for the team this way. Less than 100% fit Wiggo plus leadership babble was not going to help. No excuses now for Froome and if he does not win it could get interesting at team Sky and in the forums.

 

[PasqualeMendoza]

Remember Lance vs Berto? anyone?

There you go, the poll is meaningless.

So you don't think Contador would have had an easier time if Armstrong wasn't there and he'd had a whole team riding for him?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Don't worry, Wiggins will be there.

 

[contessador]

So you don't think Contador would have had an easier time if Armstrong wasn't there and he'd had a whole team riding for him?

Interesting question. Contador did quite well I thought turning the negative situation into taking the trophy!

 

[Carols]

Sutton

Sutton weighs in:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...-more-of-a-tour-threat-without-wiggins_289341

British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton claims Bradley Wiggins’ absence from the Tour de France will prove a major boost to Chris Froome’s hopes of winning the race.

EDIT:
quote:“Froome goes in as red-hot favorite to win the Tour and possibly the only guy that could have beaten him would have been Bradley.”

Geez these guys think quite highly of themselves LOL!!!! I can think of a few guys that would cream Wiggo on this years parcours...

 

[The Hitch]

Froome
Contador
Porte
Murito
Talansky

G Thomas

 

[whittashau]

Sutton weighs in:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...-more-of-a-tour-threat-without-wiggins_289341

British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton claims Bradley Wiggins’ absence from the Tour de France will prove a major boost to Chris Froome’s hopes of winning the race.

EDIT:
quote:“Froome goes in as red-hot favorite to win the Tour and possibly the only guy that could have beaten him would have been Bradley.”

Geez these guys think quite highly of themselves LOL!!!! I can think of a few guys that would cream Wiggo on this years parcours...

God, someone needs to crush them.

 

[ILovecycling]

Sutton weighs in:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...-more-of-a-tour-threat-without-wiggins_289341

British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton claims Bradley Wiggins’ absence from the Tour de France will prove a major boost to Chris Froome’s hopes of winning the race.

EDIT:
quote:“Froome goes in as red-hot favorite to win the Tour and possibly the only guy that could have beaten him would have been Bradley.”

Geez these guys think quite highly of themselves LOL!!!! I can think of a few guys that would cream Wiggo on this years parcours...

Whoa,this guy is seriously ****ed up in the head

 

[Afrank]

Clearly he's a July only fan that only started watching cycling in 2012.

 

[S2Sturges]

Whoa,this guy is seriously ****ed up in the head

Shane Sutton hype and head games, I think there are some serious contenders out there this year, how many races has the Sky A team showed up to and come away empty handed, the other teams are on to their tactics and counter accordingly, the Giro was a prime example. Keep balloning the guy up and hope it gets into the opponents head, but expect collusion inside the Spanish and Italian teams, ain't no way Froome is going to get on the top step...

 

[Cimber]

Sutton weighs in:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...-more-of-a-tour-threat-without-wiggins_289341

British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton claims Bradley Wiggins’ absence from the Tour de France will prove a major boost to Chris Froome’s hopes of winning the race.

EDIT:
quote:“Froome goes in as red-hot favorite to win the Tour and possibly the only guy that could have beaten him would have been Bradley.”

Geez these guys think quite highly of themselves LOL!!!! I can think of a few guys that would cream Wiggo on this years parcours...

And some wonder why not everyone love Sky

 

[denjo17]

Wiggins would help Froome

I think wiggins would have done a great TDF, but if it was needed he would work for Froome. No questioons asked. Allthough he might had a chance, i dont thinks Sky would let him go for it.

 

[Cimber]

I think wiggins would have done a great TDF, but if it was needed he would work for Froome. No questioons asked. Allthough he might had a chance, i dont thinks Sky would let him go for it.

Thats the difference between Froome and Wiggins. Wiggins chance would be the TTs and they werent gonna tell him to hold back in the TTs

 

[Richeypen]

Wiggo would have bossed today and would have been there at the end on stage 9 as well. Big big loss to this Sky team.

 

[argyllflyer]

Whatever benefit Wiggins would bring I feel would be lost by the animosity & disharmony between the two of them. Sky's troubles seem to stem from poor conditioning as well as ill-fortune leaving them a number of riders down.