What Should Froome do?

[Buffalo Soldier]

Giro-Vuelta, for sure

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Just have a coffee with Alberto. And play chess instead.

 

[GoodTimes]

Giro - Tour.

Giro because the long ITT suits him, and it would make it an excellent race (hopefully Nibali goes as well)

Tour because it's the tour. Maybe the easier parcours make the double more doable.

Besides, Contador is doing the double... Froome isn't gonna let himself be outdone is he?

 

[Angliru]

Not that long ago people we saying Froome was the best climber of his generation and completely unbeatable, now suddenly he can't win a race without 1000km ITT to give him and advantage!

He will ride the Tour, Sky will not want him to do anything else.

Exactly. It's October 2014. By Tour time he'll be clicking in at the start. No way after how he left this year's Tour will he pass it up. I can't understand his reasoning considering his attributes. Do the cobbles strike that much fear in his heart? It definitely isn't, regardless of what he says, the minimal itt kms.

 

[Jspear]

He should at least do the Giro/Tour - then based on hows he is feeling he should try the Vuelta.

 

[hfer07]

Well, I really start to like him a bit more Just the fact that he's willing to try something new and give the Tour the finger, speaks aloud his intentions to become a better cyclist by racing -and perhaps winning other GT's.

Froome: Just go to IL GIRO and you'll be appreciated/cheered a whole lot more then whatever strength you can gain afterwards, choose September

 

[MBotero]

Giro-Vuelta and i hope Contador and Nibali will choose the same,that TDF route is a disgrace.

 

[Red Rick]

Tinkov should award a million so all 4 skip it.

I think he should do Giro-Tour though

 

[offbyone]

Stick it to ASO and do the Giro-Vuelta. Riders should absolutely not cave to ASO's absurdity.

At the same time....this sets it up so, Wiggins can ride the tour again with no excuses.

 

[oldcrank]

Perhaps Froomey is seriously considering the Giro,
but perhaps he is just having a little fun with Oleg.

I will let him choose the GT(s) he wants, but to
win the 2015 Tour with so few TT kilometres and
then back it up with ITT Rainbow Bands would be
quite a season, and quite a statement.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Where can I buy my WWFD bracelet?

 

[hfer07]

Stick it to ASO and do the Giro-Vuelta. Riders should absolutely not cave to ASO's absurdity.

At the same time....this sets it up so, Wiggins can ride the tour again with no excuses.

well - Froome can't completely "stick it" to ASO, since they own the Vuelta too
but yes- I Agree on the GT riders -the likes of Froome & Contador- shouldn't be forced to ride Le Tour by default, but rather make up their own mind and go for what feels right.

 

[winkybiker]

Where can I buy my WWFD bracelet?

I don't know why Froome would speculate about this in the press. What should Froome do? Consider, along with his manager and team (and any other relevant parties), his options; but do so away from the court of public opinion.

Yes, and I would totally buy a WWFD bracelet. Although I'd prefer the alternative WWFDD. The extra D is for Dog.

 

[Electress]

I can't see Froome not doing the Tour, whatever stuff may be in the press. Three weeks of live coverage plus highlights is what Team Sky are going to care about. The Giro and the Vuelta simply don't have the exposure, the reach to Sky's target audience nothing like what the Tour will give them.

However much the British public don't warm to Froome (have no idea if this is actually true), the average Joe in the street has at least heard of him, and will take an interest whilst he's got a shot at winning. No one else leading the team will mean anything whatsoever, at least in the UK.

He might try and avoid the 'all the eggs in one basket' stuff though. I can see him riding the Giro now.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Froome will only use the Vuelta as training in case of a crash somewhere. Just like this year.

Sky (the company) operates in Italy, they would be interested in max exposure there.

A Froome led team with Viviani as a wildcard on the flat-ish stages could provide a great deal of exposure methinks.

Add Aru (or Nibali) together with Contador and it will raise the overall profile of the race.

Later Froome can take on the Tour. Most British cycling fans will likely watch the tour regardless of the situation imo.

 

[SeriousSam]

If he can return to his 2013 level, or his first 2 days of the dauphine in 2014 level, there is no reason not to go ALL IN for the Tour. Froome is certain to be a top 2 climber and might still be the best with his 2013 form.

 

[damian13ster]

If he returns to his 2013 level or beginning of 2014, there is no reason for him not to do Giro and Tour double. As long as Contador does the same, only Nibali will be able to match those two in Tour

 

[SafeBet]

I'd be happy to welcome him at the Giro and give us a show with Contador. It's been a while since we haven't had a proper fight between he best over here.

Tour route is an insult really.

 

[MellowJohnny]

I bet Sky are glad they have Konig to throw at the Tour route now.

 

[ferryman]

I voted Giro/Tour double. Alberto is in. Nibs has alluded to it today also. We now need a message from Colombia

 

[Parker]

He should do the Tour. It's still by far the biggest race in terms of profile and he's still a match for anyone else on the climbs.

However, if he fancies doing the Giro instead of the Tour sometime, then 2015 would be as good a time as any (due to not only the parcours but also Sky's current commercial interests).

 

[Jazasz]

I'd love to see a Contador and Froome treble but voted for Giro/Vuelta because I think it is the best option for Froome.

 

[Afrank]

If Nibali just went to support Aru or not go at all we would have wound up with easy Contador domination. Hope that Froome does go so we get some good battles.

so...this.

I voted Giro/Tour double. Alberto is in. Nibs has alluded to it today also. We now need a message from Colombia

And then have all 4 follow it up with the Vuelta.

 

[contador977]

If Nibali just went to support Aru or not go at all we would have wound up with easy Contador domination. Hope that Froome does go so we get some good battles.
a.

Ill hold my reservation on Nibali for now. Tour winner, yes but if u look at the 2014 Dauphine, he was instantly dropped by Froome in the early going. Sure he was stronger at the Tour but I can not see him closing that massive gap that Froome and Contador had on him 1 month before the Tour. U can assume both Froome and Contador were stronger at the Tour, so thats an even further gap to close in 1 month's time. So basically to me, there is no way Nibali could have held Froome or Contador's wheel in the high mountains of the tour in 2014. The tour lost 2 of its strongest riders, the door was wide open for someone, kudos to Nibali, I loved his ride on the cobbles and his stage win before that.

 

[nhowson]

Ill hold my reservation on Nibali for now. Tour winner, yes but if u look at the 2014 Dauphine, he was instantly dropped by Froome in the early going. Sure he was stronger at the Tour but I can not see him closing that massive gap that Froome and Contador had on him 1 month before the Tour. U can assume both Froome and Contador were stronger at the Tour, so thats an even further gap to close in 1 month's time. So basically to me, there is no way Nibali could have held Froome or Contador's wheel in the high mountains of the tour in 2014. The tour lost 2 of its strongest riders, the door was wide open for someone, kudos to Nibali, I loved his ride on the cobbles and his stage win before that.

Don't forget this tour has cobbles again. However, we haven't actually seen Froome on the cobbles. I think you may be underestimating Nibali's improvement, however, considering Bardet finished ahead of him at the Dauphiné. Still more sensible than some people though.