Tinkoff want Froome, Nibali & Quintana at Giro

[Cimber]

Yes I agree it would be incredible, I bet one of the second tier GC guys would start planning to be in peak form for the Vuelta to have the best chance of capitalising on tiredness.

Exactly, the Tour and especially the Vuelta would be much more open than normally and the 2nd tier riders would have a really good chance.

 

[Netbalp]

what do you think? If they all will compete giro-tour,(highly unlikely esp Froome) has anyone a decent shot at winning Tour except those 4?

I dont think so.

Unless somebody surprises us very very much,which is not very likely but not completely unlikely.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes I agree it would be incredible, I bet one of the second tier GC guys would start planning to be in peak form for the Vuelta to have the best chance of capitalising on tiredness.

Tired?
By rights they should all be on their knees by the third week.

Awesome? Yes.
A realistic possibility? No.

This thread partially reads like it should be in the games and fantasy cycling section.
Rest and recuperation is a non-issue there, too.

 

[ILovecycling]

Unless somebody surprises us very very much,which is not very likely but not completely unlikely.

interesting, I think Pinot and Uran would have good chance, but still think those 4 tired after Giro would beat them

 

[Energy Starr]

Meh, Froome or Nibali should just come out and say: I am doing Tour and Vuelta next year. If Contador and Nibali/Froome aren't there for both races, it means they are avoiding racing me on level field.

Too late....see that's what makes Oleg the smart one.

 

[yespatterns]

Oleg taking the Michael out of Contie's opponents yet again.

 

[MellowJohnny]

This isn't about Oleg Tinkoff taking on Froome, Contador and Quintana, its about his war against the ASO. He wants to pull decent riders from the Tour for his own little epic at the Giro.

Froome will ride the tour, Sky are focused on that, if not in a sporting sense than at least a PR and advertising sense.

Contador may not want to do battle with Froome (in Froome's territory) and so he may do Giro/Vuelta next year.

Nibali has the lure of his home tour, and Quintana who knows. - A lot will depend on the race routes, but I cannot see all four of them going head to head at Oleg's request.

 

[djpbaltimore]

Hasn't Froome already said since before the Vuelta his aim is to get back to top form ready for next years Tour? Therefore this whole argument revolving around Tinkoff PR and getting riders to do the Giro is null and void. Certainly on Froome's part anyway, over to you Nibali...

Agreed. Here is a quote from Froome in the Guardian article on Aug 12.

It’s been quite refreshing to come in now knowing I’m not going in as defending Tour de France champion again. I can probably fly under the radar a little bit more now. It will definitely spur me on to be absolutely ready for next year’s edition

Too late....see that's what makes Oleg the smart one.

Actually it looks like Oleg is the one who was too late.

 

[doperhopper]

Too late....see that's what makes Oleg the smart one.

or maybe the translation of TinkSpeak should be: "I just managed to purchase another freeride year from UCI/ASO mafia (if skymugs could have two...) and I'm such a dumbass that I can't resist rolling crappy posts (and btw we've got license for a double as a little compensation for the bloody french pothole)"

 

[Pricey_sky]

Agreed. Here is a quote from Froome in the Guardian article on Aug 12.

It’s been quite refreshing to come in now knowing I’m not going in as defending Tour de France champion again. I can probably fly under the radar a little bit more now. It will definitely spur me on to be absolutely ready for next year’s edition



Actually it looks like Oleg is the one who was too late.

Thanks for finding it.

 

[sir fly]

Anyone willing to bet that not even Contador will do the Giro?

 

[Jspear]

Anyone willing to bet that not even Contador will do the Giro?

Nope. He IS doing the Giro, then the Tour, and then the Vuelta.

 

[sir fly]

Nope. He IS doing the Giro, then the Tour, and then the Vuelta.

Why don't you capitalize on the fact?
C'mon, let's bet.

 

[Jspear]

Why don't you capitalize on the fact?
C'mon, let's bet.

I'd only do an avatar bet. And I'd only bet that he rides the Giro and Tour - wouldn't bet on the Vuelta.

 

[sir fly]

I'd only do an avatar bet. And I'd only bet that he rides the Giro and Tour - wouldn't bet on the Vuelta.

O.K., it fits me.
I'm saying he'll skip the Giro and focus on the Tour.

 

[Jspear]

O.K., it fits me.
I'm saying he'll skip the Giro and focus on the Tour.

Ok. Your on.
I'll save this conversation and we can follow through next spring.

 

[Electress]

Contador may not want to do battle with Froome (in Froome's territory) and so he may do Giro/Vuelta next year.

Seriously? Because Contador has such a track record of running away from a fight..?

I do think that Contador will ride the Giro and the Tour. If no other major GT contender is going to join him, it'll be the best chance for doing the double he's ever going to get.

I suppose I could imagine him not doing only if the route is unveiled to be some beasting inhuman epic which would destroy him for the rest of the season. Even so..my money's on him doing what he says he will.

 

[sir fly]

Ok. Your on.
I'll save this conversation and we can follow through next spring.

It's a deal.

 

[Publicus]

Agreed. Here is a quote from Froome in the Guardian article on Aug 12.

It’s been quite refreshing to come in now knowing I’m not going in as defending Tour de France champion again. I can probably fly under the radar a little bit more now. It will definitely spur me on to be absolutely ready for next year’s edition



Actually it looks like Oleg is the one who was too late.

All of the top GT racers have said they want to be in top form for the next tour de france, including Contador. That wasn't the issue and certainly wasn't the point of Oleg's challenge. In any event, Froome won't do it and judging by Martinelli's comments, neither will Nibbles. Good on Contador if he goes through with it and tries to pull of the double once again.

 

[Netbalp]

The opponents are way tougher than in 2011. Contador is not even considered a top Tour favorite without doing the Giro. The chance of making a double is minimal, objectively speaking.

 

[Publicus]

The opponents are way tougher than in 2011. Contador is not even considered a top Tour favorite without doing the Giro. The chance of making a double is minimal, objectively speaking.

Well thats better than zero if you dont suit up for the race. Like I said, kudos to him for giving it a shot.

 

[robertocarlos]

contador not a top favorite without the giro?
he migh not be the top favorite like he was in the days of old, but outside of nibali ( contador has already beat him at his own home tour), quintana ( migh be a better climber, but not enough to beat him all around) and froome ( defeated conatdor 1 has been beaten by contador 1) i do not see other guys that could beat him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The opponents are way tougher than in 2011. Contador is not even considered a top Tour favorite without doing the Giro. The chance of making a double is minimal, objectively speaking.

Wait what

 

[Netbalp]

Wait what

Froome's chances are still rated equally or even a bit higher in the context of the Tour. That's the case by virtue of time trials or something else but still. The season didn't demonstrate any inequality between big guns. That would've been reasonable to talk about the double after 2009 and 2010 seasons probably, but today the top over top field is too compressed to win Giro and Tour in one season. That's not unlikely, but that's highly unlikely. Million of details should match perfectly that the double could be conquered. I would share an optimism of probable double after 2009, but not now.

Tinkov and Contador either play tricky mind games or just confuse reality with dreams. Needless to say nobody will adjust their racing calendar.

 

[Red Rick]

Froome's chances are still rated equally or even a bit higher in the context of the Tour. That's the case by virtue of time trials or something else but still. The season didn't demonstrate any inequality between big guns. That would've been reasonable to talk about the double after 2009 and 2010 seasons probably, but today the top over top field is too compressed to win Giro and Tour in one season. That's not unlikely, but that's highly unlikely. Million of details should match perfectly that the double could be conquered. I would share an optimism of probable double after 2009, but not now.

Tinkov and Contador either play tricky mind games or just confuse reality with dreams. Needless to say nobody will adjust their racing calendar.

I do think Froome tt's better on a flat road, but the time where he put 2 minutes in Contador in a 30km tt where a one-off. That will never happen again. I actually think Contador has the edge in a decently hilly tt, so the mountains will decide everything