He tends to be for the first MTF! Maybe he can even challenge the Froomedog. I'm looking foward to see that battle in the Tour and perhaps before even before that? (first march up in Paris-Nice???)
But he still needs to prove that he can hold it for more than a week.
But he still needs to prove that he can hold it for more than a week.
Arredondo, why should holding back in the Ardennes because he is racing the Giro? Di Luca never did that. Bettini never did that.
- Aug 3, 2015
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Because Porte's ceiling is what makes him intriguing. We all know he hasnt done anything GC-wise, but he is one of the best 1 week stage racers and is capable of putting extremely good efforts in against the best climbers in the world in the Tour, 2013 and 2015. Only 3-5 other riders have that. If it all clicks, I wouldnt be super surprised to see him on the podium Tour, maybe even win. There's a reason people like him better than Tejay in terms of GC potential for 2016
Angliru said:
Because Porte's ceiling is what makes him intriguing. We all know he hasnt done anything GC-wise, but he is one of the best 1 week stage racers and is capable of putting extremely good efforts in against the best climbers in the world in the Tour, 2013 and 2015. Only 3-5 other riders have that. If it all clicks, I wouldnt be super surprised to see him on the podium Tour, maybe even win. There's a reason people like him better than Tejay in terms of GC potential for 2016
Porte is the only one who can challenge Froome in the first MTF. Not even Contador can do that anymore.
I think that is why Thomas is going to have a important role in the Tour. He is going to act like Porte's anchor when Froome attacks. Or if Porte attacks before Froome.
I think that is why Thomas is going to have a important role in the Tour. He is going to act like Porte's anchor when Froome attacks. Or if Porte attacks before Froome.
- Mar 10, 2009
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Not that I think that it's impossible, but in the course of his career, at what will be 31 years of age next year, he has exactly 1 grand tour gc top ten. The excuses that fly automatically are that he wasn't team leader in most of those instances/injuries/bad luck....yada, yada, yada. Generally the course of time is proof enough of a riders worth and yet with Porte he gets a pass. Yes he's been great in major one week stage races, he can on occasion climb with the best in the mountains in grand tours and has shown to, on occasion time trial with the best of his rivals. He is not deserving to be put on the same level of riders that have shown their worth time and time again over the course of their careers. When he completes a grand tour, three weeks of head to head battles with the elite and finishes what he started with a complete effort then he should be mentioned with those deserving the praise and stature. BMC is hedgeing their bets because they aren't sure of TVG ability to take that next step. They likely aren't sure of Porte either but figure chances are one of them will measure up and deliver.
Valv.Piti said:
Not that I think that it's impossible, but in the course of his career, at what will be 31 years of age next year, he has exactly 1 grand tour gc top ten. The excuses that fly automatically are that he wasn't team leader in most of those instances/injuries/bad luck....yada, yada, yada. Generally the course of time is proof enough of a riders worth and yet with Porte he gets a pass. Yes he's been great in major one week stage races, he can on occasion climb with the best in the mountains in grand tours and has shown to, on occasion time trial with the best of his rivals. He is not deserving to be put on the same level of riders that have shown their worth time and time again over the course of their careers. When he completes a grand tour, three weeks of head to head battles with the elite and finishes what he started with a complete effort then he should be mentioned with those deserving the praise and stature. BMC is hedgeing their bets because they aren't sure of TVG ability to take that next step. They likely aren't sure of Porte either but figure chances are one of them will measure up and deliver.
- May 15, 2011
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I would like to remind you we haven't seen Contador in good shape go up against Froome on the first MTF of the TDF yet.WheelofGear said:
- Jul 27, 2009
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In that case they won't score big points for the Ardennes. Why do they have to participate in the Giro when they can score a hugh amount of points in the Ardennes classics in just three days? It's all about efficiency.
WheelofGear said:
In that case they won't score big points for the Ardennes. Why do they have to participate in the Giro when they can score a hugh amount of points in the Ardennes classics in just three days? It's all about efficiency.
Re: Re:
It worked fine for him in 2012. Fleche Wallone and 2nd in Giro.
And the Giro is less hard this year.
Valv.Piti said:
It worked fine for him in 2012. Fleche Wallone and 2nd in Giro.
And the Giro is less hard this year.
Movistar, just say "*** it", peak for the Ardennes and see how the shape is in the Giro. They'll still be able to score more points than in the Tour.
- Feb 23, 2014
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True, not at the TdF.
I'd say the best we've seen is the 2014 Dauphine. I think from that we can safely assume that Froome won't be able to drop AC. If Froome can't drop him in the 2nd week he's going to have some issues, because he most definitely won't drop him in the 3rd week.
LaFlorecita said:
True, not at the TdF.
I'd say the best we've seen is the 2014 Dauphine. I think from that we can safely assume that Froome won't be able to drop AC. If Froome can't drop him in the 2nd week he's going to have some issues, because he most definitely won't drop him in the 3rd week.
- Aug 16, 2013
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But Purito said he will ride the Tour in an interview two days ago. So that should be clear.
And you can't be in 100% in FW/LBL and in the 3rd week of the Giro. You can do both, but that means that you have to chose in which races you want to be in super shape.
And Purito wasn't that good in 2012. He was nowhere in the Amstel, and he was only 15th in LBL. He won FW because he's just the best in the world by far on that kind of climbs. He can win it even when he's not in super shape. Just look at Tirreno 2013, where he was dropped by 8th riders on the longer climb of Prato di Tivo, but won easily on the Muro in Chieti.
WheelofGear said:
But Purito said he will ride the Tour in an interview two days ago. So that should be clear.
And you can't be in 100% in FW/LBL and in the 3rd week of the Giro. You can do both, but that means that you have to chose in which races you want to be in super shape.
And Purito wasn't that good in 2012. He was nowhere in the Amstel, and he was only 15th in LBL. He won FW because he's just the best in the world by far on that kind of climbs. He can win it even when he's not in super shape. Just look at Tirreno 2013, where he was dropped by 8th riders on the longer climb of Prato di Tivo, but won easily on the Muro in Chieti.
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we can't safely assume anything. that was in 2014, 2016 will be different. nobody knows to which side the pendulum will swing.Jspear said:
- May 17, 2013
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In Pinot's case, it's FDJ wanting to hold him back. As a sponsor, the TdF is everything to them. But Pinot wants to race the Giro. And it will be the final year of his contract with FDJ. IMO they have no choice but to let him race Giro ftw, and ask that he also lines up at the Tour for stages/polka dot. Otherwise, at the end of next year, he's gone. The '16 Giro is not the perfect course for Pinot, but it's not too bad for him either. And he's at his best in cooler/cold weather.WheelofGear said:
Re:
Why is Froome co-leading Paris-Nice all of a sudden? It's a race that suits Thomas and Kwiatkowski well, including the crosswinds that are quite common in the first few days. I'm sure Froome is motivated to ride Tirreno again after having to DNS the last 2 years.
Velolover2 said:
Why is Froome co-leading Paris-Nice all of a sudden? It's a race that suits Thomas and Kwiatkowski well, including the crosswinds that are quite common in the first few days. I'm sure Froome is motivated to ride Tirreno again after having to DNS the last 2 years.
Re:
Have to be there for Froome, when? You can risk the classics if you need to then later be in shape for the Tour. If you think they will save Thomas from the classics just so that he can be safe to help Froome in 1 week stage races, well that makes no sense at all. Just think about it logically.
Velolover2 said:
Have to be there for Froome, when? You can risk the classics if you need to then later be in shape for the Tour. If you think they will save Thomas from the classics just so that he can be safe to help Froome in 1 week stage races, well that makes no sense at all. Just think about it logically.
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because Landa and his Giro team will head to RCS´s Tirreno, while the Froome group will do Paris-Nice (and Dauphine´)
JRanton said:
because Landa and his Giro team will head to RCS´s Tirreno, while the Froome group will do Paris-Nice (and Dauphine´)
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But Sky will want to win Tirreno so they'll send Froome there and Thomas/Kwiatkowski to Paris-Nice.
pastronef said:
But Sky will want to win Tirreno so they'll send Froome there and Thomas/Kwiatkowski to Paris-Nice.
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