Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[saneguy]

I am so so so ruing the mechanical. He is the only one capable to take the fight to Froome.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

To be honest he has a perfectly good excuse for being sore. He face planted after hitting a moto then had 2 other riders land on top of him. That just 24 hours before a tough, power TT.

Legit excuse or not, winners always find a way to win, losers always find a way to lose :

Denying the existence of luck and pretending everyone has control over their destiny is a very immature view. Porte has had undeniable bad luck. To attribute that to some underlying character trait is asinine.

Yes, bad luck is bad luck but again, riding smart and avoiding bad situations is part of the rider's winning skills. Also, how you handle those situations separates the winners from losers.

If you are a "leader" and you don't have teammates around to help you when in need, means that you are not a leader because a true leader would make sure to always have someone near.

Same for bad positioning and crashes related to that is a sign of poor leadership or even poor bike handling skills.

Either you have it or you don't. Seems like he is capable of managing shorter races but he does not have the mental and physical strength to keep it together for 3 weeks.

Your absence from this thread is noted. Richie is beginning to confound his doubters - still looking good. I had my doubts but its now deep into the 3rd week, and he still has the strength to attack and drop all his GC rivals except Froome. Based upon today's efforts Porte should ride a strong MTT. Mea culpa? What happened to your boy?

My absence? Not only this thread, just too busy during the summer. This TT should be OK for Richie. The field seems to be somewhat weak this year and with Contador, Pinot out and others underperforming this is Richie's only chance for a Tour Top 10. I think these shorter stages are ideal for his little body, and he got a chance that may never come back.

 

[52520Andrew]

Just like old times watching Porte work for Froome today. I am sure Froome would have done a turn as he has something to gain from working with Porte. Oh well, at least Porte attacked today, would be nice to see him podium since none of the other riders seem to want to fight for it.

 

[damian13ster]

Actually, both did the only sensible thing. Porte had to pull since he was putting time into all other rivals. Froome didnt have to because he is race leader with commanding advantage and has MTT tommorow. Chris could have cooperated but wasnt obliged to

 

[52520Andrew]

Actually, both did the only sensible thing. Porte had to pull since he was putting time into all other rivals. Froome didnt have to because he is race leader with commanding advantage and has MTT tommorow. Chris could have cooperated but wasnt obliged to

Froome was gaining more time on everyone else, especially Quintana. If he has no reason to put in work, he has no reason to accelerate to Porte in the first place.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I don't get why people have a problem with Porte pulling on the front with Froome following.

Porte obviously was aware that many of the guys above him on GC were struggling and he needs to take time. It's highly unlikely he takes nearly 5 minutes on Froome in 3 stages. However it's not impossible he could end up on the podium. Had he sat up and tried to let Froome take a pull then he risked losing some advantage on those chasing behind. It was best for him to just ride as fast as he could over those final 2k's, rather than play games with Froome who wasn't going to take a pull as he already has a big lead.

 

[vedrafjord]

Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

Because he was forced to. And he quickly gave up once he lost those 2 minutes.

 

[kenk09]

Re: Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

Stop using facts.

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

Because he was forced to. And he quickly gave up once he lost those 2 minutes.

And you call that arrogance? lol

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

Because he was forced to. And he quickly gave up once he lost those 2 minutes.

And you call that arrogance? lol

Saying stuff like "I didn't leave Sky to race races like the Giro and Vuelta, otherwise I would've stayed at Sky" is arrogant when you have achieved nothing in Grand Tours. I wouldn't be surprised if he thinks he's better than Nibali or Contador.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't really see the arrogance in that statement

 

[SeriousSam]

HIs expected performance level going forward may well be better

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

Because he was forced to. And he quickly gave up once he lost those 2 minutes.

And you call that arrogance? lol

Saying stuff like "I didn't leave Sky to race races like the Giro and Vuelta, otherwise I would've stayed at Sky" is arrogant when you have achieved nothing in Grand Tours. I wouldn't be surprised if he thinks he's better than Nibali or Contador.

I think he might be referring to the fact that some people saw TJVG as the sole team leader but BMC made it clear from the start that they would both have their chances. Conversely you could also say that Contador wasted opportunities chasing the Giro instead of the Tour. No podium since 2010 is a pretty big gap on his record. Porte is definitely better than Nibali and Contador in this race and TJVG ! Porte would not be the only rider who seems to think the Tour is the biggest race to perform well in. How many years did Gesink and VDB go for the Tour when they could have picked an easier race against easier opposition.

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

I don't really like Porte's arrogance, as if the Giro and Vuelta are beneath him. Now lesser riders (at least it seems so) like Fabio Aru have a better palmares than him already: 3 Giro stages, 2 Vuelta stages and overall GC.

The same Porte that targeted the Giro last year?

Because he was forced to. And he quickly gave up once he lost those 2 minutes.

And you call that arrogance? lol

Saying stuff like "I didn't leave Sky to race races like the Giro and Vuelta, otherwise I would've stayed at Sky" is arrogant when you have achieved nothing in Grand Tours. I wouldn't be surprised if he thinks he's better than Nibali or Contador.

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

I don't get why people have a problem with Porte pulling on the front with Froome following.

Porte obviously was aware that many of the guys above him on GC were struggling and he needs to take time. It's highly unlikely he takes nearly 5 minutes on Froome in 3 stages. However it's not impossible he could end up on the podium. Had he sat up and tried to let Froome take a pull then he risked losing some advantage on those chasing behind. It was best for him to just ride as fast as he could over those final 2k's, rather than play games with Froome who wasn't going to take a pull as he already has a big lead.

Froome was making time sitting on Porte anyway. They were both riding their own race as they should. Froome does not have to waste energy for an extra 30 seconds or when he is so far ahead anyway and with a TT to come.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

Arcalis, Ventoux, Finhaut-Emosson.

The only place he didn't attack was peyresourde

 

[SeriousSam]

Suicide attacks and trying to win the Tour aren't equivalent.

Ironically, the only rider who could conceivably implement the cherished cn forum riding style and win the Tour is.. Froome. Because his power completely dwarfes everyone else's

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

Arcalis, Ventoux, Finhaut-Emosson.

The only place he didn't attack was peyresourde

I don't call tempo riding at the front an attack, but to each their own.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

Arcalis, Ventoux, Finhaut-Emosson.

The only place he didn't attack was peyresourde

True dat.

But haters gonna hate. And if he attacked from a long way out he'd be accused of being arrogant

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

Arcalis, Ventoux, Finhaut-Emosson.

The only place he didn't attack was peyresourde

True dat.

But haters gonna hate. And if he attacked from a long way out he'd be accused of being arrogant

It's not arrogance if you can back your words up.

 

[lenric]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

He has attacked more times than Quintana. And he lost time twice without any fault.
Plus, he only has one top-ten. Getting a third place is a wonderful result to him and to his team. I don't see why you're whining so much, but ok lol

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

That isn't arrogance. It's just stating facts. In Sky he would have no chance of riding the Tour for the victory.

At BMC he has no chance either. Rather third in the Tour than a win in the Giro or Vuelta it seems. Enough reason for me to dislike him. Has never tried winning the Tour this year either, has only made one attack so far during the whole race.

He has attacked more times than Quintana. And he lost time twice without any fault.
Plus, he only has one top-ten. Getting a third place is a wonderful result to him and to his team. I don't see why you're whining so much, but ok lol

Quintana is the most boring and conservative rider there is (in his talent category anyway), not sure why you think he's a good comparison. I don't think third is a wonderful result, but oh well. He's 31 years old, not 24...