Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[Angliru]

Again, we're not looking for a guy who turned pro and instantly was amazing, that is the exact opposite of Froome.
We're looking for a guy who was below average for years upon years, then suddenly became amazing out of the blue.[/quote]

Cobo?

And by the way, what happened to him after the 2011 Vuelta?[/quote]

Cobo had shown potential with Saunier Duval at the Giro prior to his Vuelta win, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[cellardoor]

Re:

My point is that none of the riders I named were viewed as the next big thing untill they won a major race out of the blue or at least had a high placing. the same can be said of landa and Froome neither were viewed as the next big thing untill they had their hig gc results.

I don't really think that's true in the case of Andy Schleck and Contador, both of whom you mentioned. Andy was being bigged up based on Franck's comment that Andy was even better than him. Contador was being talked about as the next Indurain for a few years prior to his 2007 breakthrough.

 

[StryderHells]

Again, we're not looking for a guy who turned pro and instantly was amazing, that is the exact opposite of Froome.
We're looking for a guy who was below average for years upon years, then suddenly became amazing out of the blue.

Cobo?

And by the way, what happened to him after the 2011 Vuelta?[/quote]

Cobo had shown potential with Saunier Duval at the Giro prior to his Vuelta win, if I'm not mistaken.[/quote]

You are right and Cobo showed plenty before his Vuelta win, won Pais Vasco way back in 07, won a Tour stage in 08, Vuelta stage and top 10 in 09 so he really wasn't a below average rider who came out of nowhere to win a GT. Leaving Clinic issues aside I'm pretty sure he had some mental health/depression issues that messed about with his career unless I'm mistaken

 

[movingtarget]

Strange how some careers go. Matt Goss would be the obvious example for one day riders with early success then nothing. Cunego was Junior World Champion and won some good amateur races then won the Giro at 22 and won most of his races before 27 or 28 then nothing except some minor races and a few stage wins in the Vuelta. Never looked like winning another GT after winning the Giro but had a few top 10 and top 5 rides. Maybe the competition just improved and he didn't. See if Porte can also go against the trends and find success later in his career or at least a podium. Not many people expected Dumoulin's success in the Vuelta but the race was a bit too long for him at this stage of his career and his team lacked the firepower of Astana. But he was sensational for the majority of the race. Chaves' performance was also an eye catching ride for the future.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Strange how some careers go. Matt Goss would be the obvious example for one day riders with early success then nothing. Cunego was Junior World Champion and won some good amateur races then won the Giro at 22 and won most of his races before 27 or 28 then nothing except some minor races and a few stage wins in the Vuelta. Never looked like winning another GT after winning the Giro but had a few top 10 and top 5 rides. Maybe the competition just improved and he didn't. See if Porte can also go against the trends and find success later in his career or at least a podium. Not many people expected Dumoulin's success in the Vuelta but the race was a bit too long for him at this stage of his career and his team lacked the firepower of Astana. But he was sensational for the majority of the race. Chaves' performance was also an eye catching ride for the future.

Of course Chaves was highly touted prior to his almost-career-ending injury. He has been on the slow track to just getting back to being what he was. Glimpses of his old self were seen last season and this year is when he truly showed he was completely recovered from his injuries.

 

[WheelofGear]

I can't wait to see the Porte/Froome duel. First round, Tour Down Under?

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I can't wait to see the Porte/Froome duel. First round, Tour Down Under?

Froome isn't going to do the TdU. It doesn't suit his characteristics and he's never done it before.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

I can't wait to see the Porte/Froome duel. First round, Tour Down Under?

Froome isn't going to do the TdU. It doesn't suit his characteristics and he's never done it before.

Why shouldn't it suit him if it suits Porte?

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

I can't wait to see the Porte/Froome duel. First round, Tour Down Under?

Froome isn't going to do the TdU. It doesn't suit his characteristics and he's never done it before.

Why shouldn't it suit him if it suits Porte?

It has one single stage with a hill on it. As you've probably seen...Porte does well on the hill, but it isn't tough enough for him to win the overall. Porte is from down under....it makes sense that he might start his season there. Froome doesn't have any reason to start his season there....he usually starts a tad later.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

I can't wait to see the Porte/Froome duel. First round, Tour Down Under?

Froome isn't going to do the TdU. It doesn't suit his characteristics and he's never done it before.

Why shouldn't it suit him if it suits Porte?

It has one single stage with a hill on it. As you've probably seen...Porte does well on the hill, but it isn't tough enough for him to win the overall. Porte is from down under....it makes sense that he might start his season there. Froome doesn't have any reason to start his season there....he usually starts a tad later.

Two stages with hills. The first one is steep but not that long and then you have Willunga Hill twice on the other stage. Not a race for Froome of course and I doubt Porte will be there either this year. Most Tour riders like to avoid the early season races. Evans and Valverde were the exceptions for different reasons.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

I can't wait to see the Porte/Froome duel. First round, Tour Down Under?

Froome isn't going to do the TdU. It doesn't suit his characteristics and he's never done it before.

Why shouldn't it suit him if it suits Porte?

It has one single stage with a hill on it. As you've probably seen...Porte does well on the hill, but it isn't tough enough for him to win the overall. Porte is from down under....it makes sense that he might start his season there. Froome doesn't have any reason to start his season there....he usually starts a tad later.

It will be interesting as to whether Porte will ride Nationals in 2016 as he WILL be looking for Rio selection. Given AUS can enter 2 in the ITT, and the course may suit him, he may put his hand up for one of these so he may look to defend his 2015 title.

As for TdU, I DO fully concur. BMC are not likely to field both Dennis and Porte and have them at each others throats straight away ...... give 'em time for that LOL. Suspect Dennis will be given the nod for TdU and Richie packed on a plane to Europe (if he DID compete at AUS Nats).

Two stages with hills. The first one is steep but not that long and then you have Willunga Hill twice on the other stage. Not a race for Froome of course and I doubt Porte will be there either this year. Most Tour riders like to avoid the early season races. Evans and Valverde were the exceptions for different reasons.

 

[Dog]

GuyIncognito, are you aware that Froome suffered a ridiculous amount of undiagnosed and not properly treated illnesses (bilharzia, typhoid, urticaria, blastocystosis and asthma) up until 2012?

I think there's only one answer that will satisfy you though, and that belongs in the clinic.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Ah yes the illness that he remembered he had in early 2012, after never mentioning even once in the many previous years that he was suffering with anything.

They tried a lot of different excuses since his transformation at the Vuelta, before coming up with the Bilharzia one. My personal favorite is the first one they used, about how he always had the power but growing up in Africa didn't know how to handle a bike so wasted energy riding in a bunch.....which somehow also made him suck in time trials. As excuses go it's right up there with Bugno's inner ear balance.

Bilharzia sufferers have trouble standing, but sure, Froome was competing in professional sports. All hail the lord and savior Froome.

 

[del1962]

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/schistosomiasis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

No it does not mean you cant stand up, look at the NHS wensite, it effects you immune system so you get ill more often and then recover, so it is quite plausible - if you want to go any futher I suggest you do it elsewhere

 

[Irondan]

I'd like to steer this thread back to the discussion of Richie Porte please.

There's plenty of threads available to discuss Chris Froome and his illnesses without hijacking this thread to do it here.

 

[Scarponi]

I think this tour is not a good one for Porte. When there are already question marks if you can last three weeks, this route of mtfs and downhill finishes might be too much

 

[jens_attacks]

Super mountainous, definitely not suited to him i agree
At least he will fly in the pyrenees...

 

[DBotero]

I think it's a good route for Porte considering the hilly ITT and the MTT.I'm confused why people believe that the route is not good for him.He's a climber he should thrive on this route if he'll have the endurance.

 

[jens_attacks]

Way too many mtn stages where he can crack

I fear that he will lose everything on joux plane

 

[Jspear]

I think it's a good route for Porte considering the hilly ITT and the MTT.I'm confused why people believe that the route is not good for him.He's a climber he should thrive on this route if he'll have the endurance.

I think the ideal GT for him would be one with a single mtf where he can crush nearly everyone and then 20 flat stages (perhaps a TT). This way there's no chance of him cracking. The only things he would have to avoid is flats, crashes, and perhaps some wind.

 

[SlickMongoose]

I think it's a good route for Porte considering the hilly ITT and the MTT.I'm confused why people believe that the route is not good for him.He's a climber he should thrive on this route if he'll have the endurance.

I think the ideal GT for him would be one with a single mtf where he can crush nearly everyone and then 20 flat stages (perhaps a TT). This way there's no chance of him cracking. The only things he would have to avoid is flats, crashes, and perhaps some wind.

Well he managed to screw up the Giro on the flat.

 

[movingtarget]

The route is a good one for Quintana and Contador more than anyone else. As for Porte he has to go the distance before even worrying about the route. Not a good course for TJVG better for Porte but if Porte does not perform it matters little. It seems that the Tour organizers are moving away from the traditional prologue and two TT type races which would have suited Froome more. It seems the Tour is more about mixing it up now and let's the Giro and Vuelta load up on lots of MTFs and the more extreme stages. It's not such a bad thing to have the organizers doing things differently in each GT. BMC are overdue for a good Tour result. Fifth place in 2012 for TJVG.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I think it's a good route for Porte considering the hilly ITT and the MTT.I'm confused why people believe that the route is not good for him.He's a climber he should thrive on this route if he'll have the endurance.

I think the ideal GT for him would be one with a single mtf where he can crush nearly everyone and then 20 flat stages (perhaps a TT). This way there's no chance of him cracking. The only things he would have to avoid is flats, crashes, and perhaps some wind.

Porte's Dream TDF:

Stage 1: MTT (Col d'eze)
Stages 2-20: Mostly flat, but with a category 2 or 3 climb (nothing too difficult where he could crack) always included between 50-10 kms from the finish, ensuring that there are no massive bunch sprint (crash fest) situations.
Stage 21: Another MTT (to prove to the naysayers that Richie can ride strongly for three weeks)

 

[Jancouver]

I think it's a good route for Porte considering the hilly ITT and the MTT.I'm confused why people believe that the route is not good for him.He's a climber he should thrive on this route if he'll have the endurance.

I think the ideal GT for him would be one with a single mtf where he can crush nearly everyone and then 20 flat stages (perhaps a TT). This way there's no chance of him cracking. The only things he would have to avoid is flats, crashes, and perhaps some wind.

Porte's Dream TDF:

Stage 1: MTT (Col d'eze)
Stages 2-20: Mostly flat, but with a category 2 or 3 climb (nothing too difficult where he could crack) always included between 50-10 kms from the finish, ensuring that there are no massive bunch sprint (crash fest) situations.
Stage 21: Another MTT (to prove to the naysayers that Richie can ride strongly for three weeks)

I mostly agree, but you know that TLMRP will manage to crash or will have some health issues during those 3 weeks so there is no chance that he would podium even with your ideal scenario.

 

[blackcat]

LRP could do something surprising. Will depend on Och and his fiancee or gf imo. Can they deliver for him and can LRP deliver for the LRP fans. I think so.