Froome and Thomas are certainly the two favourites to win the TDF, but this isn't over. Either or both of them could have a crash or a bad day that derails it, and if a guy goes off the rails enough then it doesn't always matter how good his team is. Wait and see.
- Apr 1, 2018
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Re:
I appreciate your spirit, but waiting for crashes or bad days is not really exciting. I naively hoped for intense, attacking and unpredictable racing, but that seems out of the question and consequently the Tour pretty much feels done and dusted.yetiyeti said:
- Apr 16, 2009
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Froome is going to crush Thomas. He won't allow any room for controversy going into the second rest day. He played that game with Wiggins once and I don't think he is going to play it again.
I think people should be careful about assuming that Froome and Sky will do the same things and have the same attitudes that they had in 2012. The team has matured a lot since then. The management are no longer painfully inexperienced. They are more strategically flexible. Thomas and Froome get on, by all accounts.
There's a whole lot of uncertainty about both Froome and Thomas, strong as each looks right now, and I can't see the team adopting tactics that would deliberately let either lose time.
There's a whole lot of uncertainty about both Froome and Thomas, strong as each looks right now, and I can't see the team adopting tactics that would deliberately let either lose time.
Cookster15
Moderator
- May 14, 2011
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Re: Re:
Were Tom's efforts today any more than his efforts in the 3rd week of the 2017 Giro after the "problem" stop? I don't think so. I think recovery is no issue. Next week maybe different.
Salvarani said:
Were Tom's efforts today any more than his efforts in the 3rd week of the 2017 Giro after the "problem" stop? I don't think so. I think recovery is no issue. Next week maybe different.
Re:
Agree, he might play nice tomorrow but in the third week the gloves will come off for sure.
Escarabajo said:
Agree, he might play nice tomorrow but in the third week the gloves will come off for sure.
I can't read the tone of what people write about Movistar, but the expectation that they can do anything is wrong and misguided. The Tour for Quintana wasn't lost yesterday or today (or tomorrow on Alpe) because of tactics, but in all his training and prep that wasn't enough.
He just isn't strong enough. A lot of vitriol being directed at Movistar, but they are riding at their limit. Their limit just isn't what people thought it would be.
He just isn't strong enough. A lot of vitriol being directed at Movistar, but they are riding at their limit. Their limit just isn't what people thought it would be.
- Feb 24, 2014
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If I'd have to describe to someone an Alpine stage, I'd show him/her this profile... and this OP, off course.
It surely isn't by the taste of every cycling fan, but it shows what the Alps are about. It describes the range in the right way.
It's good the stage is earlier in the race, more contenders should express their ambitions. And the finish is already prestigious enough to attract wide field.
Hopefully there are some GC contenders that have figured out today what to do against Sky 'cause, judging by the statements, it doesn't look they're willing to tell the stories of the past.
It surely isn't by the taste of every cycling fan, but it shows what the Alps are about. It describes the range in the right way.
It's good the stage is earlier in the race, more contenders should express their ambitions. And the finish is already prestigious enough to attract wide field.
Hopefully there are some GC contenders that have figured out today what to do against Sky 'cause, judging by the statements, it doesn't look they're willing to tell the stories of the past.
- Jun 17, 2010
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Re: Re:
Yes. Plus, this being the last Alps mountain stage before the flat and hilly stages leading up to the Pyrenees, it will be opportunity for Froome to use his high cadence rhythm (which he put on display a little bit today on the Rosiere climb) to make his case for the race win.hazaran said:
- May 5, 2010
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Re: Re:
I don't think Dumoulin is gonna let how much the Dutch fans on the Alpe drink affect how he rides.
Red Rick said:
I don't think Dumoulin is gonna let how much the Dutch fans on the Alpe drink affect how he rides.
I really hope they #freeLanda on this one, now that he’s not slaving for CF and team Sky we will finally see what he can do!
- May 5, 2010
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A strong competition will give Froome the excuse to attack the field (Thomas included).
So far only Dumo can give that excuse.
So far only Dumo can give that excuse.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Re: Le Tour '18 stage 12: Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Alpe d'Huez
Wouldn't shock me in the least. The only other option I can see is that Valverde may intentionally loose more time so he can go out in a break in the Pyrenees to go stage hunting, which he's talked about wanting to do before.
wheresmybrakes said:
Wouldn't shock me in the least. The only other option I can see is that Valverde may intentionally loose more time so he can go out in a break in the Pyrenees to go stage hunting, which he's talked about wanting to do before.
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