Re: Re:
Porte ignore everyone except Froome in the Dauphine and you saw how that went. I wouldn't do that again. He bluffed, wanted to force Froome to work, but Froome called his bluff and out smarted him. He wasn't strong enough though, but that could easily change at the Tour.
And as for letting Valverde go, you also saw the result of that at the Dauphine. That created chaos. It was a crucial moment of the race. That move allowed Froome and Fuglsang to rode like that, it's a dangerous game to let go a move like that. Valverde will also be stronger at the Tour, and if he goes upfront it's a team move, he will not think too much about Quintana, believe me, nor will Unzue.
The smartest thing Porte could do is not to get the jersey too early. I think if he gets the jersey on stage 5 his team will be shattered already in Jura mountains, and if he hangs on, he will be buried in the Pyrenees.
Cookster15 said:yaco said:dirkprovin said:deValtos said:Whoever is in charge of the decision to (potentially) not take Dennis is, in my opinion, a moron.
A wee bit melodramatic ?? Dennis is a superlative TTer, arguably in the top 2-3 in the world currently but despite his declarations of future GC aspirations; to date he really has never shown any real capacity to handle the really high stuff esp on a day to day basis. He's actually only ever finished 2 of the 6 GTs he's started so its hard to sell a conclusive argument that he'll be Richie's main man in the mountains.
He most certainly WOULD be of great value to Porte on the flat although Dennis himself is no great shakes with echelons. He COULD be of legitimate use in the hills (where Dennis HAS proven himself competent in other WT races) but there's just very little evidence to date that Dennis would necessarily prove a quality mountain domestique on a day to day basis
Agree with your summary - The base of the TDF squad rode the TDU - Porte has a big say in the selection of the TDF squad and IMO only needs two mountain domestics - Better to have 2 reliable mountain domestics, then have 4 unreliable mountain domestics - Porte needs more help on the flat which the team will provide - Much ado about nothing - Ultimately when you are in the high mountains its man against man.
Exactly. Should Movistar or Sky send riders up the road in the mountains Porte can ignore them. He only need mark Froome or Quintana's wheel. If Valverde thinks he can steal the TdF from his teammate then I think that is a risk Porte should take.
But I still think Froome is going to be at a higher level next month and questions remain if Porte can hold let alone improve on the great form he has shown so far this season together with his now proven ability to last three weeks as he managed well in 2016.
Porte ignore everyone except Froome in the Dauphine and you saw how that went. I wouldn't do that again. He bluffed, wanted to force Froome to work, but Froome called his bluff and out smarted him. He wasn't strong enough though, but that could easily change at the Tour.
And as for letting Valverde go, you also saw the result of that at the Dauphine. That created chaos. It was a crucial moment of the race. That move allowed Froome and Fuglsang to rode like that, it's a dangerous game to let go a move like that. Valverde will also be stronger at the Tour, and if he goes upfront it's a team move, he will not think too much about Quintana, believe me, nor will Unzue.
The smartest thing Porte could do is not to get the jersey too early. I think if he gets the jersey on stage 5 his team will be shattered already in Jura mountains, and if he hangs on, he will be buried in the Pyrenees.