Tour 2014 Route Rumours

[Ryo Hazuki]

Then why did you expect/predict them (and other teams) to try for GC in that stage?

they did try, but it failed

 

[Netserk]

they did try, but it failed

No they didn't.

I see you still haven't admitted that you were wrong to The Hitch...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

No they didn't.

I see you still haven't admitted that you were wrong to The Hitch...

they tried but they failed, why did you think saxo, movistar and others were getting riders there. the group got way too much time and they gave up.

 

[Netserk]

they tried but they failed, why did you think saxo, movistar and others were getting riders there. the group got way too much time and they gave up.

Stage win and team GC.

With radios it's not a big problem that they had 'too much time' since they could just wait...

 

[the sceptic]

9 sectors confirmed.

Seems like it should be possible to put the hurt down on Froome on some of these stages. Sky probably wont be a 2 man team next year, but still. there is hope.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A picture from one of the cobblestone sections.

So do they leave the loose cobbles on the side of the road?

 

[al_pacino]

Seems like it should be possible to put the hurt down on Froome on some of these stages. Sky probably wont be a 2 man team next year, but still. there is hope.

How much weaker is Froome on the cobbles than the people he'll be contending with over the 3 weeks? Sure he could crash or be behind an accident but I don't see it happening to him over any of his rivals.

 

[fraserhughes]

How much weaker is Froome on the cobbles than the people he'll be contending with over the 3 weeks? Sure he could crash or be behind an accident but I don't see it happening to him over any of his rivals.

His positioning isn't great - see Stage 13 of this year Tour - but then I guess he'll have Stannard and a fully fit Thomas to keep him out of trouble.

 

[jens_attacks]

froome will also have the 2014 paris-roubaix winner along his side in the person of sir bradley wiggins let's not forget

 

[RownhamHill]

His positioning isn't great - see Stage 13 of this year Tour - but then I guess he'll have Stannard and a fully fit Thomas to keep him out of trouble.

Based on this year I would have thought relying on Thomas for position would ensure a crash 30km from the end, just as the action is hotting up?

 

[jens_attacks]

one thing is certain

the battle for a "good position on the front" will be frightening. i'm sure there will be crashes galore. if it's a rainy day, god save us all

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

His positioning isn't great - see Stage 13 of this year Tour - but then I guess he'll have Stannard and a fully fit Thomas to keep him out of trouble.

both thomas and stannard are attrocious in placing themselves. that's what we can 100% say after past few seasons in the spring races and especially cobble races. they were in wrong positions literally everywhere

 

[movingtarget]

So one stage is going to lose the race for Froome ? Unlikely but like he said himself it's the potential for crashes that is the main worry. Hopefully no rain but the race won't be decided on the cobbles. None of the GC riders are so much better than the others on this terrain and if they were they would be trying to win classics not GTs.

 

[LaFlorecita]

So one stage is going to lose the race for Froome ? Unlikely but like he said himself it's the potential for crashes that is the main worry. Hopefully no rain but the race won't be decided on the cobbles. None of the GC riders are so much better than the others on this terrain and if they were they would be trying to win classics not GTs.

Will Froome tell the other GC hopefuls not to try attack him because it is too dangerous?

 

[darwin553]

I very much give Nibali the advantage in the cobbles not so much Contador but Froome will more than make up for it in the Pryrennes. Probably just a way to keep it a closer competition towards the pointy end of the GC

 

[fraserhughes]

Based on this year I would have thought relying on Thomas for position would ensure a crash 30km from the end, just as the action is hotting up?

both thomas and stannard are attrocious in placing themselves. that's what we can 100% say after past few seasons in the spring races and especially cobble races. they were in wrong positions literally everywhere

Fair point on Thomas but Stannard I would suggest is pretty good

 

[movingtarget]

Will Froome tell the other GC hopefuls not to try attack him because it is too dangerous?

Like who ? Froome knows what cobbles are like and his team will do everything they can. Who are the GC cobble experts ?

 

[b.broadhurst]

If Boonen doesn't want to do the Tour, I hope OPQS take Stybar

 

[coimbrawu]

If Boonen doesn't want to do the Tour, I hope OPQS take Stybar

They have Kwiatkowski and it is a good chance for Michal to find for the maillot jaune

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Fair point on Thomas but Stannard I would suggest is pretty good

I've seen him f*** up positioning in literally every cobbled race last year, despite being quite strong.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Like who ? Froome knows what cobbles are like and his team will do everything they can. Who are the GC cobble experts ?

no he doesn't perhaps he's never even seen one. for sure not in kenya or south africa.

 

[Arredondo]

no he doesn't perhaps he's never even seen one. for sure not in kenya or south africa.

Froome rode PR in his Barloworld period.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Froome rode PR in his Barloworld period.

ah, my bad then I didn't know that

 

[vladimir]

ah, my bad then I didn't know that

I cannot find any results on Froome doing P-R on CQRanking (and they normally include DNFs) so I am not sure from where Arredondo has this information...

 

[pastronef]

Will Froome tell the other GC hopefuls not to try attack him because it is too dangerous?

no, that day will be one of the most dangerous and tense stage of the last few years
i just imagine the madness on this forum IF froome looses contact from the front group or has a flat... whoah