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I love Geraint Thomas, and am glad he’s doing so well, but I can’t help but feel sorry for Froome.
He has faced a lot of shite this Tour, and much of it seems to be born of jealousy (or something).
Anyone else?
borne
Nope he has pushed himself too hard and too far. Racing has been better and there are people who will know they can beat him now.
Not seen the highlights but seen the headlines. I think Froome has looked tired all tour, so just think he's pushed himself too far this year. Not a bad year for him though with 3 back to back tours...not sure we'll see that again for a while. I do feel a bit sorry for him...you don't know what toll the Salbutamol case has taken on him, then coming into the abuse he's getting for those who claim to be fans of the sport can't be easy for anyone, and any lesser person would have lost it long before now. But he know's his limits now and I'm sure he's got another grand tour win in him, maybe two...He's made it look easy and winning a grand tour is never easy.
Racing has been better and there are people who will know they can beat him now.
Well only after winning 3 grand tours back to back. If he goes back to his usual trick of specialising on one event a year then he'll be back to his unbeatable ways.
Well......no!
I'm not at all convinced that Froome's case was dismissed for the right reasons. The might of the Sky machine and it's access to legal challenge seems to have played a part in it not being taken further - UCI/WADA just could not afford the financial consequences of preventing him riding. Was he guilty of twisting the rules- no idea, but imo it never got resolved properly. I think it is good for the sport that it was not him that has won. Just an irony that it appears it will be another Sky rider!
borne
Nope. Borne as in carried; born as in given birth to.
I’m not at all convinced that Froome’s case was dismissed for the right reasons.
Didn't we have a spare thread for all of this 😉
Potential spoilers in the thread title?
Can't feel too sorry him. 3 GT's in a row, even if carrying over from 1 season to the next, and to be up there in the top 3 is still mighty impressive.
It was a big ask and in some ways it shows he's mortal and not some drug-addled machine as some would have you believe. I expect that with Comcast's take-over of Sky, there's probably a break-clause to be exercised and James Murdoch happy to take the pay-out and the sponsorship ceasing which will probably be a bad thing for pro-cycling.
Yup, he's been treated like crap just for being an excellent rider and jealousy. I despise the majority of humans these days
the sponsorship ceasing which will probably be a bad thing for pro-cycling
Will it though. Sky are too dominant. Not just in terms of GC wins over the last 6 years but also the quality of the team they have now. Not convinced it's healthy.
I don't feel sorry for him regarding probably not winning the TDF. Four wins, going for four GT titles in a row 😮😮. Something had to give somewhere, and I think he'll be genuinely pleased for Geraint if he holds on to Paris.
But he's a proper gentleman and a great champion, nobody deserves the abuse he's taken not given the sweat an effort he's put into the race. I certainly feel sorry for him over that. There really isn't words I can use on here to describe the boo boys 😠
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Tour_(cycling)
They have been dominating the TdF yellow not other jerseys or races so much, in fact not that many stage wins either.
There does need to be something happen to balance things out but other teams seemed less interested in chasing down sky more recently.
Those saying 'Sky's dominance isn't healthy', lol at the riders in other teams, who came through the Sky Train who are now good enough (or close to good enough) to lead other teams. Porte Pethe earliest example but look at Nieve and Landa this year. While yes, they have a bigger budget, Tinkoff Saxo weren't that far behind them in monetary terms but got much less success. Sky have concentrated on developing people, Geraint now being a massive example, to able to lead, to have people in the 1-2 positions they've had (Wiggins-Froome, Froome-Porte, Froome-Geraint now somewhat reversed, but you get the point). The only other team that did that was BMC with Tejay and Richie, and they got it hugely wrong. And then Porte crashed.
If Sky keep developing people them letting them move on, the peloton gets stronger, bit by bit.
Isn't the OP - as Weeksy alludes to - talking about his general treatment not his performance?
On the coverage today, you could clearly see a bloke in sunglasses steep out from the crowd and spit on Froome when he went off the front a little. A bit later, there was a liquid thrown at G also, that could have been water yet...
Does any rider deserve to be abused, spat on, punched, piss thrown on them or there signeurs abused , threatened and so forth?
Genuine question - did this happen to Contador when he returned? Nibs? Aru?
As mentioned by Brailsford, the Worlds Greatest Bike Race is very close to becoming disputed by disrespect by many a top tier riders and teams. The (French mostly) public are seeing to that. Frankly I think its shameful and its turning the TdF into something quite nasty.
I felt sorry for him when he had to lose a tour in order for Wiggins to win. This is just racing, so no. As to his treatment by the fans, I think that's poor but no worse than Brailsford.
Genuine question – did this happen to Contador when he returned? Nibs? Aru?
Get your defence in first
Agree that the thread title is slightly spoilery.
As to his treatment by the fans, I think that’s poor but no worse than Brailsford.
What do you mean ?
She may be warming up, fo'shure but there's still the small matter of the tours not finished yet, so I don't think she's quite begun to sing...
tours in the past have been won and lost on mere seconds...
If he has put in his best, and found to be not the strongest this year, which is completely understandable, and has worked for the overall success of a loyal team mate, I think he will consider that significant success.
It's a team sport with one winner. Nothing else like it.
She may be warming up, fo’shure but there’s still the small matter of the tours not finished yet, so I don’t think she’s quite begun to sing…
Yep though there may be deeper forces at work here
https://twitter.com/raykerckhoffs/status/1022182484035989504
What do you mean ?
I think the treatment of Froome is poor by the fans, and think Brailsford is a man without worth or morals.
Still not sure what that has to do with Froome and being mistreated?
Personally I think Brailsford should be a national hero, irrespective of his treatment of people.
Brailsford is a man without worth or morals.
A big statement, obviously your entitled to an opinion, but I can't think how it's in the slightest a thoughtful opinion.
He by any measurable stantard has a great deal of worth. His morals are his own, obviously different from yours ( or you perceive them to be different) as are everybody's.
Will it though. Sky are too dominant. Not just in terms of GC wins over the last 6 years but also the quality of the team they have now. Not convinced it’s healthy.
Unhealthy for us as fans perhaps. I'd guess it was pretty healthy for the sport of pro cycling and the riders, though. Sky's budget is estimated to be around 35million. The smallest teams are shoe-stringing it on less than 5, whilst most hover around 12. What do you think the effect of taking 35million out of the pro-Tour would be, if you replaced it with a normal sponsor who could muster 10 million or so?
7th or 8th domestique on a GT squad is a world class cyclist but they ain't footballers - they'll get a generous wage in societal terms but it's probably in line with what the centre forward for Fleetwood Town is taking home. Sky upping sticks seems like it would be hugely deflationary in that respect.
i have never seen or even heard of Froome being anything other than a polite fella; he may not come across as an exciting or charismatic type of guy like Sagan - but he certainly don’t come across as no nobber like Wiggins either.
its jealousy by the French.
Unhealthy for us as fans perhaps. I’d guess it was pretty healthy for the sport of pro cycling and the riders, though. Sky’s budget is estimated to be around 35million. The smallest teams are shoe-stringing it on less than 5, whilst most hover around 12. What do you think the effect of taking 35million out of the pro-Tour would be, if you replaced it with a normal sponsor who could muster 10 million or so?
See that's the thing. Unhealthy for the fans is unhealthy for the sport of pro cycling. Pro cycling teams and the races they ride and financed by sponsorship/advertising and tv revenue. ASO are reporting significant drop in numbers in both viewing figures and road side supporters. What do you think that'll do to the chances of the small teams finding a sponsor? Exciting and unpredictable and close racing makes for bigger crowds makes for better contracts for all.
Sky upping sticks seems like it would be hugely deflationary in that respect.
Brailsford hinted at that yesterday re the treatment of his team in the TdF.
I don't think Geraint Thomas will win the Tour De France this year.
ASO are reporting significant drop in numbers in both viewing figures and road side supporters.
First year in 30 or so that I've not bothered watching it bar a few bits of the highlights. Weather's too nice and the Tour's just a bit weird these days. I think that's part of the problem for many - it's got too grey and murky and 'who knows... ' and you just stop watching it, or you watch the scenery and WGAS about the GC. Brailsford's media games or the TUE stuff, it's all the same kind of gamesmanship or outright BS, every year.
I feel for Froomey constantly getting booed and people trying to hit him, someone else ran out today at him. That should all be directed at the team management not him.
the Tour’s just a bit weird these days. I think that’s part of the problem for many – it’s got too grey and murky and ‘who knows… ‘ and you just stop watching it,
Wouldn't it be ironic if you stopped watching it now because you think people are cheating when it's clearly the cleanest for decades; presumably you watched it in the 90s when they were doped up to the eyeballs but no-one knew or was that bothered?
Don't you think the Froome/Thomas thing is all just stage managed by sky, I mean they have two incredible GC contenders, the other challengers don't know who to chase. It's tactical genius.
Was he guilty of twisting the rules- no idea
why don't you go and find out, then? It's all pretty easy to find, WADA, UCI and Sky have made plenty of evidence available to the public.
I think it’s just one tour too many, 3 on the bounce and wins! The giro was immense, maybe he is planning that again to just take 5 mins back in the last possible stage.
He is like one of the guys at work, no humour not loud, never off sick but just gets to work and gets the job done, I doubt he will get any other rewards for his efforts like Wiggins, I mean 1 tdf and BBC sports personality of the year and a knighthood (yes I know he did other stuff) but 4 tdf wins is immense! Got to wonder what does he need to do!
G deserves the win and team sky do for the crap they have had to put up with in this tour!
Does any rider deserve to be abused, spat on, punched, piss thrown on them or there signeurs abused , threatened and so forth?
Clearly they don't but what is being done about it? In football the club would be in trouble but what can you to about people on the roadside? Should at least be charging them with things though, is it legal to spit at people and throw urine at people in France ?
Got to wonder what does he need to do!
I know it's a well trodden path but if it's all about the K maybe he needs to a least once in his life live in the UK. He has never had a home in the UK, even a 2nd home.
Don’t you think the Froome/Thomas thing is all just stage managed by sky, I mean they have two incredible GC contenders, the other challengers don’t know who to chase. It’s tactical genius.
Yep I think they knew Froome was overdone but thought the race might come back to him in the last week but they hedged their bets and let G gain easy time under the radar as a back up.
I also wonder if Froome realised the race was done yesterday and that he couldnt really chase Quintana without harming G so knocked it off to try and win a stage later. Fridays stage and the TT must be targets for him.
why don’t you go and find out, then?
I assume you have. Can you give us a quick summary. I would imagine the number of people who read all 1500 pages of Team Sky's document are pretty small.
Froome is amazing. A fantastic athlete, gentleman and all round good sportsman. However I don't feel sorry for him.
I do however think the way he's been treated in this tour has been outrageous. No athlete in the hardest sporting event of any year should have to put up with being spat at, punched, booed and treated with distaain by many foreign fans.
Geraint is the rightful leader of sky atm and I've been wanting him to win a tour for years now. Go 'G'.
it’s got too grey and murky and ‘who knows… ‘
Lol, are you for real? Yes there will be cheats in this year's Tour but compared to the 90's and noughties it's not even close. Or do you mean in the past you just knew everyone was cheating so didn't need to speculate?
A lot of people criticised Brailsford for what he said about the abuse the riders were getting but I reckon he was spot on. No issues in Spain or Italy but in France it’s constant booing, and very regular spitting, pushing, taunting, throwing liquids over the Sky team. It does not reflect well on the TDF at all. I wish some other teams would back him up on that stance as surely they wouldn’t want it to happen to their team?
French riders seem to be great this year and have shown great riding skills and sportsmanship as well as being quite nice blokes too, pity their countrymen seem to be the complete opposite on the sides of the roads.
Froome v gendarme? I bet the policeman is being heralded as a hero in France today and I’m not buying the “mistaken identity” excuse one little bit. He’s policing the biggest cycling event in the world and he doesn’t recognise the most recognisable rider in the whole race. Sorry no, I’m not believing that for a second.
<div class="bbp-reply-author">theboatman</div>
<div class="bbp-reply-content">I think the treatment of Froome is poor by the fans, and think Brailsford is a man without worth or morals.
</div>
I think judging someone you don’t know at all, apart from what you’ve seen on TV or read on the internet, in such disgusting tones tells us all we need to know about your “worth” and how much we should all care about your opinion.
The French of course are without fault when it comes to drugs. I think Froomey is tired but can't help wondering how much the abuse is affecting his state of mind.
Just found this Wiki page and I'm shocked to see how much is still happening: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_doping_cases_in_cycling