Will SKY make this ToF the most boring ever?

[cineteq]

If Wiggins bonks/has mechanical, what do you think Froome will do? What do you think Team Sky orders will be?

1. Froome will pace or give his bike to his leader
2. Froome will ride for himself

Did you see his interview yesterday? He seemed constrained, and seemed to want to really say something different, but chose to say some PR lines.

NBC: You thought you could win it?
Froome: No...I mean..Yeah...obviously you want to go as fast as you can...

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/48123108#48123108

I guess this answers my question.
"We’re here to win the Tour. We set out on this journey with a mission to win the Tour with a British rider."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sky...&ns_source=cyclingnews&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

Is Froome considered British by the Brits?

 

[movingtarget]

The route does not help. Hopefully it will pick up this week.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

Exactly, this is pretty much a repeat of last years vuelta - it was wildly obvious there that Froome was massively better there & Sky could've got it (won).

No it is not. Thats your wishful thinking. Wiggins has not just returned from a broken collarbone.

To date

Wiggins chased down Evans no problem
Wiggins closed gap when Nibs and Evans attacked
Wiggins beat everyone in the TT

So in every way this is nothing like the Vuelta. Froome will work for Wiggins, he is a mature professional, thats what professional cycling is about. If Wiggins blows Froome will take over, and Sky will still win, thats what professional cycling is about.

All this what if rubbish is just nonsense.

PS: Sky have a problem? They are 1 and 3. BMC have no climbers and Nibali can only attack down hill. Dems problems

 

[Winterfold]

So far the weekend past has been the most aggressively ridden weekend I recall seeing in recent tours.

This. There seems to be a lack of objectivity (but then, it is July) and people confusing their dislike for Sky with boring racing.

Sunday's stage showed Sky can be put under pressure, but Sky are also prepared to take the risk of racing hard and trying to force a selection - this worked on Belle Filles but it can backfire (eg 2010 ). The race is undecided and we are in for some exciting stages.

Of course if Wiggins extends his lead through the high Alps, then it may become 'boring'* but don't write it off yet.

*(boring as in we know the winner a long way from Paris - although as a Brit I never thought this would be possible so I will take boring at least once)

 

[maxmartin]

Stage 10 will give us an idea how SKY is going to ride the high mountain and how other teams going to handle SKY. EXCITING stuff

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Hell no its been exciting.. arrest on rest day and the days our lance finally coming to a certain end with Mantova investigation decision likely on friday ... **** yeah cycling!

 

[maxmartin]

Hell no its been exciting.. arrest on rest day and the days our lance finally coming to a certain end with Mantova investigation decision likely on friday ... **** yeah cycling!

didn't Mantova investigation is dismissed a few days ago with no charges?

 

[rickshaw]

I close my eyes and I travel back in time...

Its 1992 ( I think) Olympics, American basketball... the "Dream Team". I think the first year they allowed pros in. Absolutely boring, and for me as an American, embarrassing. It was like we sent in a gang of thugs to beat up on 90 pound weaklings. No competition = boring.

Hope that does not happen in the TdF this year.

 

[maxmartin]

Its 1992 ( I think) Olympics, American basketball... the "Dream Team". I think the first year they allowed pros in. Absolutely boring, and for me as an American, embarrassing. It was like we sent in a gang of thugs to beat up on 90 pound weaklings. No competition = boring.

Hope that does not happen in the TdF this year.

we will know as soon as tomorrow

 

[Zam_Olyas]

didn't Mantova investigation is dismissed a few days ago with no charges?

No. According to this http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/preliminary-hearing-date-fixed-for-mantova-case its july 3, there is a possibility that the date may have been moved but havent heard anything about it.

thank you dogs&cycling.

 

[T-Rav.]

Here's how I see it: Lots of people are saying that other contenders need to work together in the mountains, attack from way out, and take it in turns to attack, wearing down Sky and isolate Wiggins and Froome until they crack. And I think all those people are correct.

The problem is, there's too many guys who'd rather ride conservatively and go top-10 or top-15 then ride with complete abandon and go for the win. For example, RSNT has enough guys in position on GC to really do damage to Sky with early and repeated attacks in the mountain stages, but they're not likely to do that.

Evans and Nibali will have no choice but to ride with reckless abandon if they want to win the Tour, but there aren't enough other guys in the same position and more importantly, with the right attitude to keep the pressure on Team Sky. VDB and Gesink, maybe. One can only hope, I guess.

 

[maxmartin]

Here's how I see it: Lots of people are saying that other contenders need to work together in the mountains, attack from way out, and take it in turns to attack, wearing down Sky and isolate Wiggins and Froome until they crack. And I think all those people are correct.

The problem is, there's too many guys who'd rather ride conservatively and go top-10 or top-15 then ride with complete abandon and go for the win. For example, RSNT has enough guys in position on GC to really do damage to Sky with early and repeated attacks in the mountain stages, but they're not likely to do that.

Evans and Nibali will have no choice but to ride with reckless abandon if they want to win the Tour, but there aren't enough other guys in the same position and more importantly, with the right attitude to keep the pressure on Team Sky. VDB and Gesink, maybe. One can only hope, I guess.

yep, tomorrow should give us some guidance. Even people want to attack, but under SKY 'non-human" pace, they have no choice but to follow. let's see how it goes tomorrow.

 

[Cimber]

https://twitter.com/inrng/status/222943196878094336/photo/1

Yes pls do!

 

[pkreed71]

No, it will be entertaining for some periods, but the outcome will be inevitable. Sort of like the 1999 Tour which was actually pretty entertaining, but Armstrong won by 7 minutes with 3rd place over 10 minutes back.

That's the tour I was thinking of, too. Long and Boring.

 

[maxmartin]

That's the tour I was thinking of, too. Long and Boring.

yep if today is any sign, a boring TOF under tight control of SKY is ahead of us

 

[maxmartin]

It’s getting boring. And that’s just the way Sky wants it.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/can-the-sky-fall_229121

 

[guilder]

I thought stage 11 would be an interesting race but as it's turning out I can't even follow it. Between broken up broadcast and all over the place coverage and little real excitement from eurosport.
I voted no. It's not Sky's fault it is so boring.

 

[cineteq]

It’s getting boring. And that’s just the way Sky wants it.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/can-the-sky-fall_229121

You may want to take your words back.

 

[jens_attacks]

it seems like this tour was not boring at all and it won't be

 

[Bavarianrider]

I don't like Sky at all.
But this is the best Tour in years!!!

 

[Forunculo]

I don't like Sky at all.
But this is the best Tour in years!!!

+1 I think the parcours are really good, the only problem it's the lack of a team with equal power or a supertalent like Andy or Contador.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't like Sky at all.
But this is the best Tour in years!!!

Only today was good.

 

[MonteZoncolan]

I'd love to be sitting here saying it's boring as sadly for me reality is Evans is going to struggle big time to win. with my cycling fan chapeau on it has been awesome and today was nothing short of amazing. I'm looking forward to the highlights even. BMC...why you not bring more mountain guys?!

 

[User Guide]

+1 I think the parcours are really good, the only problem it's the lack of a team with equal power or a supertalent like Andy or Contador.

NOOOOOO it would be even more boring, im not his biggest fan but Bertie would destroy this field.

 

[LaFlorecita]

NOOOOOO it would be even more boring, im not his biggest fan but Bertie would destroy this field.

How awesome would that be.