Is Froome The only rider who can take down Contador in the tour?

[Escarabajo]

It always seemed obvious to me that it is a 3 man race. Al Andy and Chris.

Purito is simply not going to challenge. Dont get why his name is thrown around. Neither is Valverde who if Unzue plays it right wont even be top finisher for his team.

+1.

This sums it up.

 

[airstream]

Yes he took 40.seconds on Bola del.mundo has the last 3k at 12%. Which mountains in the tour will suit purito this way?

What you are saying now I think wouldn't work even in August because almost everyone would say 'oh, Purito never showed himself consistently on long climbs. He had to defend even against Hesjedal'. The Vuelta changed the situation so much? To me, it is not about 7% and 12%. It is about a qualitative growth of the rider. Rodriguez has been always very strong in in recent years. Probably, he improved more than anyone but Froome in the last 2 years. When he made his debut in the Tour in 2010, he started from an attack in Avoriaz. It's very eloquent. Yes, it was not too provident and Astana pulled him back. But it says about big reserves the cyclist had. And he is bringing these reserve to life. Seriously I can not understand how we can explain the things with average gradients. If a climber is very good, he is good at any climbs. That's a rule with no exceptions. Age is not his ally and situation with a team is uncertain too. But why he won't be among 2-3 best best climbers? Simply because it is the Tour? )

 

[the asian]

Jesus Manzano

The most probable one.

 

[airstream]

The most probable one.

He is still not kicked away from the affair?

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

If Froome is able to handle the pressure this july he will make a mockery of Alberto.

Frightening as it is, that is the deal. When he fails/cracks/cant handle the pressure they will have Wiggins to defend the honours of team sky.

Good team tactics.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If Froome is able to handle the pressure this july he will make a mockery of Alberto.

yea right

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

yea right

I fear for it, trully.

Much better in TT, in Tour form I guess he will be able to follow Contador in the mountains. Do the math.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I fear for it, trully.

Much better in TT, in Tour form I guess he will be able to follow Contador in the mountains. Do the math.

much better?

 

[Pentacycle]

much better?

On flat TT's Froome is clearly better, but on a hard course Contador has the better climbing and descending skills. However in the Tour the time trials are mostly flat, making it harder for lighter riders like Alberto to limit their losses.

In terms of climbing they're just incomparable, both will be better than when they met in the Vuelta last year. The next couple of races(esp. Tirreno) will be a good indication of who's better uphill.

 

[airstream]

For me who is the a better climber of them is still a question. No matter what shape Froome had, he already attacked Contador twice, and one of attempts was successful. So I wouldn't hurry to ascribe Froome a deeply defensive role as you do.

 

[Haynzie]

If Froome is able to handle the pressure this july he will make a mockery of Alberto.

Frightening as it is, that is the deal. When he fails/cracks/cant handle the pressure they will have Wiggins to defend the honours of team sky.

Good team tactics.

We, and by this I mean the spectating public, are yet to see the full extent of Froome's capabilities. In fairness, so is Froome.

Make no mistake, Froome will be the de facto leader of Sky come July, regardless of what may appear in the press, provided that Contador shows up to ride. Wiggins made the most of his opportunities in 2012, but it will take an exceptional GT talent to unseat Contador, and Froome is probably the only rider with a chance at this.

Contador rarely drops the ball. Can Froome keep his nerve?

It's going to be great

 

[Angliru]

I fear for it, trully.

Much better in TT, in Tour form I guess he will be able to follow Contador in the mountains. Do the math.

What are you basing this belief on?

 

[LaFlorecita]

On flat TT's Froome is clearly better,

How do we know this for sure? Don't forget Alberto was faster on the flat part of the vuelta tt

However in the Tour the time trials are mostly flat, making it harder for lighter riders like Alberto to limit their losses.

30 km flat and 30 km hilly I think

 

[SafeBet]

I doubt Contador can be taken down.
Unless Pinot goes berserk. Which could totally happen.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

How do we know this for sure? Don't forget Alberto was faster on the flat part of the vuelta tt



30 km flat and 30 km hilly I think

alberto blew himself up completely on the flat part

 

[LaFlorecita]

alberto blew himself up completely on the flat part

that explains why he still managed to finish second

 

[Pentacycle]

How do we know this for sure? Don't forget Alberto was faster on the flat part of the vuelta tt

30 km flat and 30 km hilly I think

I figured with Froome weighing 10 kgs more than Alberto he'd be able to push about 60W more on the flat. Froome showed in the Tour and the Olympics he's currently one of the best time trialists on a flat course.

Still the Vuelta is the only race they rode together since Froome's breakthrough, and both weren't in top shape. We'll never know exactly who's the best until the Tour.

 

[airstream]

Another gift?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No, only TAWK can beat Contador obviously

 

[LaFlorecita]

I figured with Froome weighing 10 kgs more than Alberto he'd be able to push about 60W more on the flat. Froome showed in the Tour and the Olympics he's currently one of the best time trialists on a flat course.

Still the Vuelta is the only race they rode together since Froome's breakthrough, and both weren't in top shape. We'll never know exactly who's the best until the Tour.

I think froome is better but not by a huge margin, I think in the flat tt Alberto will lose maybe 30-60 seconds but then Froome will lose time in the hilly tt and he will be crushed in the mountains ofc

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I figured with Froome weighing 10 kgs more than Alberto he'd be able to push about 60W more on the flat. Froome showed in the Tour and the Olympics he's currently one of the best time trialists on a flat course.

Still the Vuelta is the only race they rode together since Froome's breakthrough, and both weren't in top shape. We'll never know exactly who's the best until the Tour.

with 10 you mean 5? and weight doesn't mean much, see wiggins vs cancellara

 

[Gloin22]

yea right

I love the way when someone shows bit of fanboyism for Froome ( etc.) you look down at them, but when you go about Contador nothing matters then

Anyway, do people really expect Andy to challenge those 2 ? There's no way Andy will be in shape of those two at all.

Can't see anyone else challenging Alberto par Froome.

 

[hfer07]

Maybe first let Froome prove he's a threat to Andy Schleck... not the other way around.Remember Wiggo in 2009, and how much better Contador & Schleck were? Was Froome really that much better than him?

Wait a minute, let time proves first Schleck is at high-level form to dispute any GT. Then what you said.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-quits-the-tour-mediterraneen

 

[Froome19]

No. Schleck, Pinot and Quintana I would say.

The latter two because I believe they have the potential to match Contador.
I don't personally believe they will manage it but they can. Schleck is Schleck and he certainly can, once again will he? Maybe.. maybe not.
Froome is the only one which may have the ability to take on Contador who you would be confident will be on a level close to Contador's by the time July swings around.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

What are you basing this belief on?

The watts per kilo of course. Both are in form able to get to the holy grail, only, in TT's Froome will prove to be better. Or Contador will have a 2009 like TT in the hat, doubt that.