How are the others going to beat Froome?

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I see the usual Froome/sky haters are fantasizing once again about a latino pact where Nibali , Contador, Purito and Valverde combine forces to act as super domestiques to soften up the skytrain so Quintana can apply the coup de grace and take a glorious GC win at the top of alp duez!! Great stuff guys!!!

Latino
People aren't suggesting everyone rides to help Quintana win. Rather, they suggested it might be good for for example Nibali and Contador, to work together to gain time on a descent. It is very simple.

 

[cellardoor]

Can anyone cite any good examples of GC rivals forming alliances in recent years? Simoni/Di Luca is an example that springs to mind. I ask this because I think it's pretty rare.

 

[SeriousSam]

It is rare, as is gaining significant time on descents.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

We know zilch about how everyone is going to go on the real mountains.

You can always count on hrotha for the reality check

But yea seriously, we haven't seen one mountain. And usually in the tour on the first MTF we got at least one big surprise.

 

[willbick]

Re: Re:

I see the usual Froome/sky haters are fantasizing once again about a latino pact where Nibali , Contador, Purito and Valverde combine forces to act as super domestiques to soften up the skytrain so Quintana can apply the coup de grace and take a glorious GC win at the top of alp duez!! Great stuff guys!!!

Latino
People aren't suggesting everyone rides to help Quintana win. Rather, they suggested it might be good for for example Nibali and Contador, to work together to gain time on a descent. It is very simple.

I was being facetious

And no-one gains time decending nowadays, unless its against wiggins in the pouring rain in italy!!

 

[hrotha]

Or Quintana winning a friggin' Giro, or Contador a friggin' Vuelta.
edit: you know, kinda.

 

[rick james]

Yip, squeaky bum time for Froome haters

 

[DBotero]

I see a possible alliance between Contador/Nibali/Quintana/Valverde,but how about this one:Froome/TVG/J.Rod/Uran?

 

[King Boonen]

I see a possible alliance between Contador/Nibali/Quintana/Valverde,but how about this one:Froome/TVG/J.Rod/Uran?

Afraid I really don't think an alliance will happen. Tinkov might allow it but I can't see Astana or Movistar doing it. Froome and TJ could be interesting though...

 

[cellardoor]

I could see Jean and Gadret forming an aliiance, assuming they're in the race.

 

[WheelofGear]

What's the most likely alliances?

Tinkov + ?
Sky + ?
Astana + ?
Movistar + ?

Team X could promise team Y something, maybe a potential stage win(s), in return for a podium.

 

[dacooley]

Re:

I see the usual Froome/sky haters are fantasizing once again about a latino pact where Nibali , Contador, Purito and Valverde combine forces to act as super domestiques to soften up the skytrain so Quintana can apply the coup de grace and take a glorious GC win at the top of alp duez!! Great stuff guys!!!

this ^^. the obsession of 'please only not froome ffs' is conquering the forums...

 

[LaFlorecita]

I see a possible alliance between Contador/Nibali/Quintana/Valverde,but how about this one:Froome/TVG/J.Rod/Uran?

You seriously think Rod would rather see Froome win than Contador, Nibali or Quintana?
And what about Uran? Colombian alliance surely.

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

By dropping him in the mountains in the 3rd week.
Like this
Alpe d'Huez 2013:
4. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 02'12" 25
5. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 02'15" 15
6. AUS PORTE Richie SKY 03'18" 10
7. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 03'18" 5

Annecy/Semnoz 2013:
1. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 3h39'04" 80
2. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 18" 50
3. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 29" 35

And before skyfans come crawling in with Quintana losing time on Ventoux etc: remember, he was still 2nd man for Valverde back then and attacked way before Froome did and already spent much more energy.

At that point, he knew he would win the race. His victory was never in danger.

I was thinking more on unconventional methods. Sabotaging the Sky train's rhythm could be an option if possible. Groups of 40 or something attacking early out with several key lieutenants in them (Fuglsang, Majka, even Valverde) with riders already in the low end of the GC (Bardet, Peraud, Pinot). They have to try something crazy if they want to win it.

So basically all teams riding together against just Sky. The two teams idea (I've seen things like this here before): Team Sky and Team not-Sky. I'm not sure how riders like Majka will put Sky under pressure, because he's well down on GC.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Majka can put Sky under pressure, if he's in the break and Contador manages to bridge towards him.

 

[dacooley]

i see froome/quintana alliance against ac and nibs the most probable given the pyrenees coming up

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I see the usual Froome/sky haters are fantasizing once again about a latino pact where Nibali , Contador, Purito and Valverde combine forces to act as super domestiques to soften up the skytrain so Quintana can apply the coup de grace and take a glorious GC win at the top of alp duez!! Great stuff guys!!!

this ^^. the obsession of 'please only not froome ffs' is conquering the forums...

It is a rather universal sentiment, not just a CN forum thingy.
Froome's not very well-liked. I wonder why

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

I see the usual Froome/sky haters are fantasizing once again about a latino pact where Nibali , Contador, Purito and Valverde combine forces to act as super domestiques to soften up the skytrain so Quintana can apply the coup de grace and take a glorious GC win at the top of alp duez!! Great stuff guys!!!

this ^^. the obsession of 'please only not froome ffs' is conquering the forums...

It is a rather universal sentiment, not just a CN forum thingy.
Froome's not very well-liked. I wonder why

Please tell us

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

Majka can put Sky under pressure, if he's in the break and Contador manages to bridge towards him.

Then Contador should first be able to drop Froome/they should let him go. If they let the break get 10 minutes, I don't see how he can help Contador.

 

[Walkman]

The funny thing in all this talk about alliances is that I think the most likely alliance to form is the Froome/Tejay-alliance, unless Froome decides to drop the hammer on them all. Because both of them likes the steady pace climbing and both are in a position to defend. So for them to keep a steady pace benefits both. Whereas Nibali, Contador, Quintana and Purito are fighting each other (as well as Froome and Tejay). Let's face it, Nibali isn't going to do squat to help anyone, he is the defending champion and want to win, hence he want to beat all of them. They will work together in order to put time into their opponents. But it's not like it's everyone against Froome. Nibali and Quintana has quite a few people to pass before they can climb onto the podium. So if, let's say Nibali and Froome gets a gap, I think Nibbles will be just as willing to push it as Froome. Thus I think every team will ride for themselves.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

By dropping him in the mountains in the 3rd week.
Like this
Alpe d'Huez 2013:
4. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 02'12" 25
5. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 02'15" 15
6. AUS PORTE Richie SKY 03'18" 10
7. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 03'18" 5

Annecy/Semnoz 2013:
1. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 3h39'04" 80
2. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 18" 50
3. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 29" 35

And before skyfans come crawling in with Quintana losing time on Ventoux etc: remember, he was still 2nd man for Valverde back then and attacked way before Froome did and already spent much more energy.

At that point, he knew he would win the race. His victory was never in danger.

I was thinking more on unconventional methods. Sabotaging the Sky train's rhythm could be an option if possible. Groups of 40 or something attacking early out with several key lieutenants in them (Fuglsang, Majka, even Valverde) with riders already in the low end of the GC (Bardet, Peraud, Pinot). They have to try something crazy if they want to win it.

So basically all teams riding together against just Sky. The two teams idea (I've seen things like this here before): Team Sky and Team not-Sky. I'm not sure how riders like Majka will put Sky under pressure, because he's well down on GC.

It's just some ideas. Pure mental mastubation from my side. We discussing the potential "what-if" scenarios. If not Majka, then maybe Kreuziger or something. I think an alliance between Movistar, Tinkoff and/or Astana is needed in order to beat Sky.

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

By dropping him in the mountains in the 3rd week.
Like this
Alpe d'Huez 2013:
4. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 02'12" 25
5. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 02'15" 15
6. AUS PORTE Richie SKY 03'18" 10
7. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 03'18" 5

Annecy/Semnoz 2013:
1. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 3h39'04" 80
2. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 18" 50
3. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 29" 35

And before skyfans come crawling in with Quintana losing time on Ventoux etc: remember, he was still 2nd man for Valverde back then and attacked way before Froome did and already spent much more energy.

At that point, he knew he would win the race. His victory was never in danger.

I was thinking more on unconventional methods. Sabotaging the Sky train's rhythm could be an option if possible. Groups of 40 or something attacking early out with several key lieutenants in them (Fuglsang, Majka, even Valverde) with riders already in the low end of the GC (Bardet, Peraud, Pinot). They have to try something crazy if they want to win it.

So basically all teams riding together against just Sky. The two teams idea (I've seen things like this here before): Team Sky and Team not-Sky. I'm not sure how riders like Majka will put Sky under pressure, because he's well down on GC.

It's just some ideas. Pure mental mastubation from my side. We discussing the potential "what-if" scenarios. If not Majka, then maybe Kreuziger or something. I think an alliance between Movistar, Tinkoff and/or Astana is needed in order to beat Sky.

This could work if they shared a common goal of denying Froome and Sky victory, rather than winning themselves.

 

[LaFlorecita]

To win they need to deny Froome and Sky the victory.

 

[ad9898]

Is the question that needs to be asked. After the first hectic week, Froome is in the perfect position and in yellow. And from what we've seen so far, he looks like he is the strongest climber in the race.

Should the other favorites attack from very early out, on the penultimate climb, at the bottom of last climb or risk everything downhill in the coming mountain stages? Or should they simply "just" follow his wheel and see if they can beat him in the final.

And who will have the best chance to match him?

One thing is for sure, waiting until the last 3km on the final climb is unlikely to work.

 

[MatParker117]

Re:

By dropping him in the mountains in the 3rd week.
Like this
Alpe d'Huez 2013:
4. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 02'12" 25
5. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 02'15" 15
6. AUS PORTE Richie SKY 03'18" 10
7. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 03'18" 5

Annecy/Semnoz 2013:
1. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 3h39'04" 80
2. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 18" 50
3. GBR FROOME Chris SKY 29" 35

And before skyfans come crawling in with Quintana losing time on Ventoux etc: remember, he was still 2nd man for Valverde back then and attacked way before Froome did and already spent much more energy.

So hope he bonks or has has already won?