This is turning out to be a real battle. The Saxo boys turn to turn the heat up in a stage I thought would see no change in the GC. There's some increadible stages still to come. Froome drifting to 1/4, Contador in at 4/1 Quintana 3rd favorite (needs to make one of the big mountain stages his own).
Really looking forward to today. Going to have to slip away from a function after lunch to get the finish at the top of Mont Ventoux. Movistar and Saxo will be looking to break Froome and each other. I reckon there will be some movement in the top 10 GC today.
Now I'm a fan of cycling and I want to believe it is clean. However, when you read this analysis of Froome's recent performance, it does make you wonder...
I'be wary of anything you read that looks at one or two stages as that is tantamount to cherrypicking data and comparisons with riders who have doped is guilt by association. Froome has had a couple of strong stages but undoubtedly has struggled in other stages. That is what I'd expect from a clean rider albeit one at the top of his game as being consistently strong is usually the mark of someone with outside assistance. It could also be part of the strategy - to have several effort stages where he gives it the proverbial 110% but then pays for it the next day.
I know what you're saying but there were times when Armstrong and Contador were dropped on climbs when dopping. Admittedly by others who were probably doping, so I don't think that stands up on it's own. Personally I think he's clean, but then I thought Lance was clean.
I suspect there will always be that area of doubt but cycling fans will argue it goes on in all sports but unlike their sport others don't test as much...
A bit late as I've only just caught up with le tour on catch up.
But I think Froome will have to have an absolute mare in the alps to lose now after Ventoux, he did Simpson proud. He is head and shoulders above the opposition and its obvious he's pretty much uncatchable whenever the road goes up. Also hats off for Sky again setting a great tempo when Quintana got away, really put Froome in a top position.
Plus on that stage where Saxo put in a great ride along with Cav (best flat stage I've ever seen IMO) I think Belkin were very unclassy in riding at the front at the point of Valverde's mechanical, breaking one of the key unwritten rules of le tour. Its a shame to as it would've been nice for Movistar to continue their two pronged attack against sky.
As much as I like cycling, I doubt that any other sport is as bitchy in the way it handles success.
Who knows if Froome is doping - Armstrong was heavily tested and got away with it for years - but if you look at the Tour as a whole Froome has had poor days and good days, something that you didn't get with doped riders who tended to be very consistent in their performances.
Froome put in a big shift up Ventoux on Sunday, but he could afford to do that as yesterday was a rest day.
so based on what froome is doing now would it be fair to say that if he were allowed to race properly last year he would've beat wiggins
I think so. There were 2 mountain stages last year where Froome had to wait for Wiggins. If he was allowed to go, he would've had a good chance of overall victory.
so based on what froome is doing now would it be fair to say that if he were allowed to race properly last year he would've beat wiggins
I think so. There were 2 mountain stages last year where Froome had to wait for Wiggins. If he was allowed to go, he would've had a good chance of overall victory.
Tough to say, as Wiggins put a lot of time into Froome on the TT and I don't think Froome would have put the time into Wiggins on the hills, as there weren't any massive mountain stages of the type we're seeing this year.
no troll just wondering how froome feels , reading on here he is ripping the arse out of it this year but could well be known as the bloke who won it after wiggins when really he should have won it last year
When many Spanish riders do so well in a Tour TT, you wonder what they've been doing in training.
As for Froome it's right that his performances should be under constant pressure and questioning. Shame the British journalists are not willing to do the same. Especially when it came to Sky's long list of dopers, and a doping doctor in their backup staff.
It's the first year that I've really tried to get into the tour, and it's awesome. Never really understood how the stages worked with breakaways and team working together, but I've really enjoyed it this year. Froome is so far ahead of the other riders that as long as he's legal, I can see him winning quite a few tours in the future.
When many Spanish riders do so well in a Tour TT, you wonder what they've been doing in training.
As for Froome it's right that his performances should be under constant pressure and questioning. Shame the British journalists are not willing to do the same. Especially when it came to Sky's long list of dopers, and a doping doctor in their backup staff.
Sometimes Brailsford is not as clever as he makes out. Sean Yates has a biography out in September, will be interesting to see what he says.
As interesting as Sean Yates never having met or know Motoman? Yet there's a picture of him and the alleged Motoman, on Motoma's twitter account, out on a ride together.
Yates' biography will be a pack of lies. Like the guy, but am not going to believe his accounts of the emergent EPO years when he raced and his time driving cars and supporting Team CSC then Discovery: At this time it' quite easy to believe that few staff were involved in organised doping, like at Festina, not so easy to believe they weren't well aware of the realities. Do I blame him? Not really, he must have earned well as a Tour rider, and he won a few stages, but not huge amounts. I remember an article on him when he'd retired, he was working as a carpenter. Knowing the peloton and it's reality, I think I'd take the life of a reasonably paid support staff and working in some of the most beautiful places in the world. It will be interesting to see what he says about his 3 month ban in '89.
Comments
Great day for Cav.
There's some increadible stages still to come.
Froome drifting to 1/4, Contador in at 4/1 Quintana 3rd favorite (needs to make one of the big mountain stages his own).
Movistar and Saxo will be looking to break Froome and each other. I reckon there will be some movement in the top 10 GC today.
Also apparently he needed an oxygen mask for a few minutes after yesterdays stage.
Personally I think he's clean, but then I thought Lance was clean.
But I think Froome will have to have an absolute mare in the alps to lose now after Ventoux, he did Simpson proud. He is head and shoulders above the opposition and its obvious he's pretty much uncatchable whenever the road goes up. Also hats off for Sky again setting a great tempo when Quintana got away, really put Froome in a top position.
Plus on that stage where Saxo put in a great ride along with Cav (best flat stage I've ever seen IMO) I think Belkin were very unclassy in riding at the front at the point of Valverde's mechanical, breaking one of the key unwritten rules of le tour. Its a shame to as it would've been nice for Movistar to continue their two pronged attack against sky.
Can't wait for the rest of it either!!!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cycling/tour-de-france-chris-froome-2055497
Who knows if Froome is doping - Armstrong was heavily tested and got away with it for years - but if you look at the Tour as a whole Froome has had poor days and good days, something that you didn't get with doped riders who tended to be very consistent in their performances.
Froome put in a big shift up Ventoux on Sunday, but he could afford to do that as yesterday was a rest day.
The doubters never put the fucking context
I think so. There were 2 mountain stages last year where Froome had to wait for Wiggins. If he was allowed to go, he would've had a good chance of overall victory.
no troll just wondering how froome feels , reading on here he is ripping the arse out of it this year but could well be known as the bloke who won it after wiggins when really he should have won it last year
The Eurostar journey to Avignon is far better than flying down, very stress free.
Had the Lotto Belisol team staying at our hotel on Sunday and spoke to Henderson and Greipel.
Tried to drink the Belgians under the table, but gave in at 1am (I think) after 3 bottles of wine.....suffered big style yesterday.
Can't recommend the trip highly enough.
As for Froome it's right that his performances should be under constant pressure and questioning. Shame the British journalists are not willing to do the same. Especially when it came to Sky's long list of dopers, and a doping doctor in their backup staff.
Yates' biography will be a pack of lies. Like the guy, but am not going to believe his accounts of the emergent EPO years when he raced and his time driving cars and supporting Team CSC then Discovery: At this time it' quite easy to believe that few staff were involved in organised doping, like at Festina, not so easy to believe they weren't well aware of the realities. Do I blame him? Not really, he must have earned well as a Tour rider, and he won a few stages, but not huge amounts. I remember an article on him when he'd retired, he was working as a carpenter. Knowing the peloton and it's reality, I think I'd take the life of a reasonably paid support staff and working in some of the most beautiful places in the world. It will be interesting to see what he says about his 3 month ban in '89.