Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[Cookster15]

Re: Re:

Why would I be sour? I just don't like the current trend of GT riders who target a top ten in a GT they can't possibly win. They just follow and don't even try to win stages. Bardet's second place with a stage win is something I respect and rate high. Quintana's third place however is worthless to me. But unlike Porte he did win some nice races already this season (Romandie, Catalunya), so his season isn't a total failure. He'll also be at the Vuelta and I don't think Porte will start there.

You are softening . Porte won Paris-Nice, Catalunya and Trentino last year so he's proved he can win races but he never proved his credentials in a Grand Tour over a full 3 weeks. He's done that now. Bardet rode exceptionally well this Tour and deserves commendation for his attack on Mont Blanc. But that attack came when Froome had crashed and Porte likewise was caught and forced to chase back on. Do you think Bardet would have been able to attack if he was the one caught and forced to chase? You do what you can not what keyboard warriors think.

I suspect you are struggling with Alberto's misfortune. We will never know how this race would have developed but don't take that out on LRP.

I'm not struggling with Contador's misfortune, I just think Porte isn't riding a good season. One win in the Tour Down Under and not even a podium in his beloved race. Porte had three weeks to do something, but he never did something that could put him on the podium.

Second, third or fifth, it's all the same: you lose.

Bardet wouldn't be on the podium if he lost nearly two minutes on stage 2. Likewise Bardet had luck yesterday as the GC group got split up with Froome's cash and Porte getting held up and expending energy to get back on. He capaitalised good for him he deserved it. But Porte did plenty to put himself on the podium bad luck stopped him just as bad luck stopped AC. Porte also ran into a motorbike on Ventoux 30 seconds up the road attacking with Froome and Mollema. Likewise he attacked on other MTFs. No they weren't attacks of the calibre of say Contador but you cannot accuse Porte of being timid and not trying. He did what he can. Hats off I say.

 

[DBotero]

Good Tour for Porte .Without those incidents and maybe with a better TT would have been on the podium in Paris.Strongest rider after Froome.Chapeau.

 

[Jagartrott]

Good Tour for Porte .Without those incidents and maybe with a better TT would have been on the podium in Paris.Strongest rider after Froome.Chapeau.

Could've, would've, should've.
Bardet was the second best rider, end of discussion.

 

[DBotero]

Good Tour for Porte .Without those incidents and maybe with a better TT would have been on the podium in Paris.Strongest rider after Froome.Chapeau.

Could've, would've, should've.
Bardet was the second best rider, end of discussion.

Not really.

 

[El Pistolero]

If Contador didn't crash and if Quintana was in last year's shape, Porte wouldn't have been on the podium.

See, I can do the same.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Good Tour for Porte .Without those incidents and maybe with a better TT would have been on the podium in Paris.Strongest rider after Froome.Chapeau.

Could've, would've, should've.
Bardet was the second best rider, end of discussion.

It's Critérium du Dauphiné all over again.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Hopefully he keeps targeting TdF. Lets not forget he has been the one following Froome on the MTF's, altho the general consensus is Froome didnt went all out (nor was able to, Ventoux and Saint Gervais). He would be able to put up a fight without all the mishaps.

 

[Night Rider]

Re:

Hopefully he keeps targeting TdF. Lets not forget he has been the one following Froome on the MTF's, altho the general consensus is Froome didnt went all out (nor was able to, Ventoux and Saint Gervais). He would be able to put up a fight without all the mishaps.

I don't think he should, week long races are his strength and the only GT he has an outside chance of a win is the Vuelta. But that's a long shot.

LRP had a bit of bad luck with the puncture but he didn't at any point show he could be a winner, plus there are younger riders ready to overtake him in Yates, Dumolin, Bardet already has better results, Kruijswijk will do the tour, Chaves and others. LRP will be 32 next year, that's only two years younger than Contador.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Hopefully he keeps targeting TdF. Lets not forget he has been the one following Froome on the MTF's, altho the general consensus is Froome didnt went all out (nor was able to, Ventoux and Saint Gervais). He would be able to put up a fight without all the mishaps.

I don't think he should, week long races are his strength and the only GT he has an outside chance of a win is the Vuelta. But that's a long shot.

He just needs to avoid turning up to the start line of Froome's main goal for the year. However, same can be said of any other GC rider looking to win

 

[Night Rider]

Re: Re:

Hopefully he keeps targeting TdF. Lets not forget he has been the one following Froome on the MTF's, altho the general consensus is Froome didnt went all out (nor was able to, Ventoux and Saint Gervais). He would be able to put up a fight without all the mishaps.

I don't think he should, week long races are his strength and the only GT he has an outside chance of a win is the Vuelta. But that's a long shot.

He just needs to avoid turning up to the start line of Froome's main goal for the year. However, same can be said of any other GC rider looking to win

Porte has more than just Froome to consider but yeah, most riders should be cautious about banking everything on the TdF.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Why would I be sour? I just don't like the current trend of GT riders who target a top ten in a GT they can't possibly win. They just follow and don't even try to win stages. Bardet's second place with a stage win is something I respect and rate high. Quintana's third place however is worthless to me. But unlike Porte he did win some nice races already this season (Romandie, Catalunya), so his season isn't a total failure. He'll also be at the Vuelta and I don't think Porte will start there.

You are softening . Porte won Paris-Nice, Catalunya and Trentino last year so he's proved he can win races but he never proved his credentials in a Grand Tour over a full 3 weeks. He's done that now. Bardet rode exceptionally well this Tour and deserves commendation for his attack on Mont Blanc. But that attack came when Froome had crashed and Porte likewise was caught and forced to chase back on. Do you think Bardet would have been able to attack if he was the one caught and forced to chase? You do what you can not what keyboard warriors think.

I suspect you are struggling with Alberto's misfortune. We will never know how this race would have developed but don't take that out on LRP.

I'm not struggling with Contador's misfortune, I just think Porte isn't riding a good season. One win in the Tour Down Under and not even a podium in his beloved race. Porte had three weeks to do something, but he never did something that could put him on the podium.

Second, third or fifth, it's all the same: you lose.

Bardet wouldn't be on the podium if he lost nearly two minutes on stage 2. Likewise Bardet had luck yesterday as the GC group got split up with Froome's cash and Porte getting held up and expending energy to get back on. He capaitalised good for him he deserved it. But Porte did plenty to put himself on the podium bad luck stopped him just as bad luck stopped AC. Porte also ran into a motorbike on Ventoux 30 seconds up the road attacking with Froome and Mollema. Likewise he attacked on other MTFs. No they weren't attacks of the calibre of say Contador but you cannot accuse Porte of being timid and not trying. He did what he can. Hats off I say.

Porte's ride was full of merit and much better than most people expected especially when things started going wrong. I won't recount the incidents but people that actually watched the race know what happened. The rain threw a spanner in the works unfortunately also but conditions can't be good all the time. It was a solid performance from Porte and an honest one. He admitted to being disappointed with his TTs especially the first one and he also admitted that the pace Sky was setting made it hard to attack especially on the last two stages when Porte needed to attack but could not. For all of TJVGs talk about supporting Richie in the final week he was very disappointing and seems to have given up. If he was ill he would have dropped out. Very odd performance. I would not be wasting a domestique spot on TJVG in next year's Tour. He should do the Giro and go for stage wins maybe. He does not seem to be the type of rider to handle two GTs in one year so the Vuelta probably would not happen for him. I was impressed with Caruso and thought he did a great job for Porte.

 

[Jelantik]

Anyone knows where Richie will be riding next year? Last time I heard, he only signed for 1 year contract. So that means this year is his last year with BMC? any chance he will be back to Sky? his interviewed last time when he signed with BMC, saying that he was in good term, and made is sound like he probably would be back to sky?

So much for Tejay saying will help Porte. He couldn't even climb as good as Caruso. Nice work by Caruso to support Porte. But boy, all in all, this guy is a magnet for bad luck. Feel sorry for him. He is the only one who can challenge Froome. Again, it's not meant to be. I hope he won't be back to Sky and play another domestique dutty like Poehl, Landa, Thomas, Henao. (I'm surprised that these guys are happy just to be a domestique for Froome).

 

[barmaher]

I am pleased that Porte rode well and proved his doubters wrong. People like to draw conclusions on minimal evidence. This "bad day" theory always struck me as half-baked.

 

[El Pistolero]

It wasn't half baked, he was terribly inconsistent at Sky.

 

[hfer07]

gotta give LRP thumbs up for his debut as TDF leader. he did very well

hopefully he'll get things straighten out on TVG co- leadership BS while getting more support in the coming years.

 

[barmaher]

Re:

It wasn't half baked, he was terribly inconsistent at Sky.

Domestiques' finishing positions in GT's should b inconsistent.

How many GT's did he ride as leader with Sky?

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

It wasn't half baked, he was terribly inconsistent at Sky.

Domestiques' finishing positions in GT's should b inconsistent.

How many GT's did he ride as leader with Sky?

2014 Tour and 2015 Giro.

And being a domestique didn't stop Froome in the Vuelta of 2011 or the Tour of 2012. But I guess Froome can't be discussed in this forum section.

 

[barmaher]

So a sample of two then.

And you draw conclusions on such a sample size.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

It wasn't half baked, he was terribly inconsistent at Sky.

Domestiques' finishing positions in GT's should b inconsistent.

How many GT's did he ride as leader with Sky?

2014 Tour and 2015 Giro.

And being a domestique didn't stop Froome in the Vuelta of 2011 or the Tour of 2012. But I guess Froome can't be discussed in this forum section.

And neither can any top tier cyclist

 

[Red Rick]

Wiggins had to be dragged to the line every single mountain stage. Huge difference with having a leader who's actually among the best climbers himself

 

[cantpedal]

Re: Re:

Why would I be sour? I just don't like the current trend of GT riders who target a top ten in a GT they can't possibly win. They just follow and don't even try to win stages. Bardet's second place with a stage win is something I respect and rate high. Quintana's third place however is worthless to me. But unlike Porte he did win some nice races already this season (Romandie, Catalunya), so his season isn't a total failure. He'll also be at the Vuelta and I don't think Porte will start there.

You are softening . Porte won Paris-Nice, Catalunya and Trentino last year so he's proved he can win races but he never proved his credentials in a Grand Tour over a full 3 weeks. He's done that now. Bardet rode exceptionally well this Tour and deserves commendation for his attack on Mont Blanc. But that attack came when Froome had crashed and Porte likewise was caught and forced to chase back on. Do you think Bardet would have been able to attack if he was the one caught and forced to chase? You do what you can not what keyboard warriors think.

I suspect you are struggling with Alberto's misfortune. We will never know how this race would have developed but don't take that out on LRP.

I'm not struggling with Contador's misfortune, I just think Porte isn't riding a good season. One win in the Tour Down Under and not even a podium in his beloved race. Porte had three weeks to do something, but he never did something that could put him on the podium.

Second, third or fifth, it's all the same: you lose.

Bardet wouldn't be on the podium if he lost nearly two minutes on stage 2. Likewise Bardet had luck yesterday as the GC group got split up with Froome's cash and Porte getting held up and expending energy to get back on. He capaitalised good for him he deserved it. But Porte did plenty to put himself on the podium bad luck stopped him just as bad luck stopped AC. Porte also ran into a motorbike on Ventoux 30 seconds up the road attacking with Froome and Mollema. Likewise he attacked on other MTFs. No they weren't attacks of the calibre of say Contador but you cannot accuse Porte of being timid and not trying. He did what he can. Hats off I say.

Porte's ride was full of merit and much better than most people expected especially when things started going wrong. I won't recount the incidents but people that actually watched the race know what happened. The rain threw a spanner in the works unfortunately also but conditions can't be good all the time. It was a solid performance from Porte and an honest one. He admitted to being disappointed with his TTs especially the first one and he also admitted that the pace Sky was setting made it hard to attack especially on the last two stages when Porte needed to attack but could not. For all of TJVGs talk about supporting Richie in the final week he was very disappointing and seems to have given up. If he was ill he would have dropped out. Very odd performance. I would not be wasting a domestique spot on TJVG in next year's Tour. He should do the Giro and go for stage wins maybe. He does not seem to be the type of rider to handle two GTs in one year so the Vuelta probably would not happen for him. I was impressed with Caruso and thought he did a great job for Porte.

Actuall TJVG if accepting of his role and used properly could be a great Domestique maybe even Super. big engine big frame good on Flats and mountains without the pressure of being a leader or needing to be "on" every day.

 

[SeriousSam]

Landa did extremely well as a domestique at the Giro, although he's regressed to inconsistency.
Froome is obviously an outlier.

barmaher's point stands, Porte's domestique work at Sky demonstrated great climbing and time trialling ability. Together with the dominant one week stage race results, it was pretty clear that Porte would be able to do well in a GT, with all the remaining doubt as to whether he can keep it up in the third week (this also made him a much more exciting contender than consistent well-recovering riders that have never shown the climbing or time trialling required to win the Tour even once). There's never been strong evidence that he wouldn't be able to.

 

[Night Rider]

Re:

I am pleased that Porte rode well and proved his doubters wrong. People like to draw conclusions on minimal evidence. This "bad day" theory always struck me as half-baked.

Put me in the doubter camp, I said he would never win a GT and would be lucky to podium. And, that he should concentrate on week long races and the Vuelta as that's the GT where he could go against the former comment about not winning a GT.

Nothing has changed, nothing in those comments has been proved wrong and there are now some younger riders who will beat him next time.

Even his own team doubted he could win, otherwise they would have had a rider glued to his wheel in case he punctured. Instead they were trying to get a win for one of their domestiques.

 

[The Hegelian]

Re: Re:

I am pleased that Porte rode well and proved his doubters wrong. People like to draw conclusions on minimal evidence. This "bad day" theory always struck me as half-baked.

Put me in the doubter camp, I said he would never win a GT and would be lucky to podium. And, that he should concentrate on week long races and the Vuelta as that's the GT where he could go against the former comment about not winning a GT.

Nothing has changed, nothing in those comments has been proved wrong and there are now some younger riders who will beat him next time.

Even his own team doubted he could win, otherwise they would have had a rider glued to his wheel in case he punctured. Instead they were trying to get a win for one of their domestiques.

Nothing has changed?

He was - I think unambiguously - the strongest challenger to Froome in the tdf. It was straight up bad luck off 2nd.

That's a change my friend. A clear, empirically tested, big change.

He's gone from: might have GT potential to is a bona fide GT contender.

 

[sienna]

Re: Re:

I am pleased that Porte rode well and proved his doubters wrong. People like to draw conclusions on minimal evidence. This "bad day" theory always struck me as half-baked.

Put me in the doubter camp, I said he would never win a GT and would be lucky to podium. And, that he should concentrate on week long races and the Vuelta as that's the GT where he could go against the former comment about not winning a GT.

Nothing has changed, nothing in those comments has been proved wrong and there are now some younger riders who will beat him next time.

Even his own team doubted he could win, otherwise they would have had a rider glued to his wheel in case he punctured. Instead they were trying to get a win for one of their domestiques.

But he was the only rider who blew up the Sky train in the three weeks even if he only did it once.