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and can't believe people want to see Valverde and Contador gone!
I suspect that might be their drug habits in the past.
I suspect that might be their drug habits in the past.
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Meh, they're just old aren't they, they're like slightly bigoted grand parents, you just have to accept things were different back then. People moan about Froome and riders riding to numbers, you don't get that with the Spanish doping duo, they love to ride on feel and makes for exciting racing.
Aru is back for the tour as well isn't he?
Hard to see past Froome, but hopefully Porte will make a race of it. My outside bet would be Bardet. He is improving all the time and has looked not bad so far this season.
Difficult to know about Quintana. Was he really ill at the Giro was was that his default excuse mechanism kicking in.
Nibbles and Bertie are too old now. Would like to see Bertie go out in style at the Vuelta rather than struggle in the Tour.
Could be a good year for Yates, especially if his brother recovers from the Giro and rides as his main support.
As for G, I still think his future lies in the one day Classics, but Sky and himself obviously want to try out over three weeks, and to be fair they know far, far more than any of us about his potential.
Aru, in the Tour ?
Good, I want to see him give his all like a few years ago. I like him, I think he's got a lot of class.
What is all this talk of Adam Yates also riding the TDF? Simon was only quite late on switched to TDF (having originally been down to ride with Adam at the Giro) following ongoing concerns around Chaves' fitness after his injury.
From what I have read Orica Scott plan to race all three in the Vuelta?
I thought it was all 3 in the Tour (before Chaves injury at least)? Just had a look on Cycling Weekly and it does indeed now look like Simon + Chaves at the Tour. Dunno what the Vuelta plan is now though
I'm another who's not sure what more Froome can reasonably be expected to attempt.
Riding without looking like a bag full of spanners?
Can someone explain to me where all the Quintana hate is coming from? I quite like him, but I know I'm biased (Colombian wife).
People moan about Froome and riders riding to numbers, you don't get that with the Spanish doping duo
You do, but they ride to Hematocrit rather than power.
[quote=jimoiseau ]Can someone explain to me where all the Quintana hate is coming from? I quite like him, but I know I'm biased (Colombian wife).
attacking during DuMoulin's poo stop didn;t win him a lot of admirers. I did like him before but he's certainly gone down in my estimation
He's not very media-friendly 🙄where all the Quintana hate is coming from?
His riding isn't as explosive as some think it could/should be 🙄
He rides for Movistar, who've some dodgy riders and a reputation for unsporting behaviour (not the only ones for either, but mud sticks) 😕
Riding without looking like a bag full of spanners?
I thought the consensus was "an octopus falling out of a tree".
nope it's like a daddy long legs getting into a hot bath.
according to my rather overpriced, yet free sock edition of the TdF guide, neither of the Yates brothers are riding the tour?
If G can stay on his bike, then hopefully he could get a podium place.
Another favourite is Sagan. An entertaining, talented rider.
G's problem is he will be riding for someone else, as will Landa unless he gets excused boots to do the Vuelta.
Haters:
Froome - he's an exciting rider at times but his team always end up throttling the race in the mountains in order to defend his lead. I think he ends up shouldering the blame for the dull racing that ensues. He also looks funny on a bike, but I like seeing the 'legs of fury' he does when he accelerates, personally.
Quintana - Doesn't do many (any?) English language interviews and looks unflappable when racing so he appears to be a bit of a personality vacuum - I suspect he's more shy than aloof. He's a fairly conservative racer as well, often profiting from other's attacks rather than animating the race himself.
There's almost certainly a bit of tall poppy syndrome with them both too, with them being proven talents on well-funded teams. It just feels a bit more exciting when a plucky youngster comes along to challenge them, isn't it?
attacking during DuMoulin's poo stop didn;t win him a lot of admirers. I did like him before but he's certainly gone down in my estimation
I enjoyed his gutsy ride up alpe d'huez very nearly cracking Froome, but some of Moviestars antics have certainly put a blot in his copybook
as will Landa unless he gets excused
Not really expecting Landa at the TDF myself, they've plenty of other strong climbers and he can realistically have a strong go at the vuelta.
Froome
Thomas
Poels
Henao
Nieve
Lopez
Kwiatkowski
Stannard
Rowe
I would love Contadour to win again this year , he's the most exciting of the GC contenders by far . Always prepared to attack to try and win rather than hold on to what he's got . Crashed the other year and rode on to the finish of the stage with a broken leg , how can you not like him ? ( I think I know the answer to that question ) .
Crashed the other year and rode on to the finish of the stage with a broken leg , how can you not like him
No he didn't, he gave up a few miles down the road. Impressive nonetheless but he didn't finish the stage. Couldn't have had steak for breakfast that day...
Why does anyone think Porte will do well, he always does a Teejay.
Porte has great tendency to loose time in the daftest of places. If he is going to get on the podium he needs to right much nearer the front, be attentive, and have a bit of luck.
Ah, I thought there were 8 per team this year, not 9.
[quote=Bunnyhop ]Ah, I thought there were 8 per team this year, not 9.
That was the plan of ASO who own the Tour De France, but it's [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-team-sizes-to-remain-the-same-in-2017/ ]been put on hold[/url] so still 9 riders this year
Why does anyone think Porte will do well, he always does a Teejay.
He did look very strong in the Romandie but of course that's not 3 weeks. Then again, is it just me or does the tour not look quite as climby this year?
Porte doesn't always do a TJ. TJ usually runs out of legs, Porte usually runs into bad luck - punctures, errant camera motorbikes, inappropriately helpful riders on other teams, team leaders going AWOL and having to cuff the leadership despite illness etc.
Just excuses. TJ and Porte track records at the TDF are remarkably similar. In fact if anything TJ's is slightly better and he is 3 years younger.
Sorry I just don't get the Porte love in, he completely under delivers for all the hype.
Sorry I just don't get the Porte love in, he completely under delivers for all the hype.
Decent result in the Dauphine TT today. Still to be convinced he can win over 3 weeks though.
Good result for Valverde too. More headaches at Movistar!
Good result for Valverde too
Obviously, he's not had an off day for 3 years.
Not sure what brand of energy drink he uses, but I need some!
On similar lines, see De Gendt has got into a spot of bother over his use of a hypoxic altitude tent.
Tricky one. Says he gets to spend more time with his family at home and it's just less of a hassle than going to altitude. But then so is taking EPO. Not explicitly banned by WADA but “probably contrary to the spirit of sport” apparently.
On similar lines, see De Gendt has got into a spot of bother over his use of a hypoxic altitude tent.
That's an interesting excuse for being caught with a high haematocrit...
But the "spirit of the sport" is basically doing as much as you can within the rules. Failing that, as much you can without getting caught.
On similar lines, see De Gendt has got into a spot of bother over his use of a hypoxic altitude tent.
I thought these were pretty much accepted in sport.
Ritchie looking good today.
Oh dear. L'Equipe is reporting rumours that Froome is looking to leave Sky and has offered his services to BMC for £5m/yr
Certainly links well with the showing that TJvG made, he may have got a stage win in the Giro but is he a genuine Grand Tour contender? I'm by no means an expert but he's never impressed me
Certainly links well with the showing that TJvG made, he may have got a stage win in the Giro but is he a genuine Grand Tour contender? I'm by no means an expert but he's never impressed me
well the BMC team seem to have a good shot this year so would be a big risk paying over the odds for Froome
slowoldman - MemberOn similar lines, see De Gendt has got into a spot of bother over his use of a hypoxic altitude tent.
I thought these were pretty much accepted in sport.
Likewise. In the Sven Nys documentary I'm sure they talk openly about using them?
An altitude tent seems pretty reasonable, its just applying an external stress to your body to get it to adapt to the demands of the event. Its training.
Oh dear. L'Equipe is reporting rumours that Froome is looking to leave Sky and has offered his services to BMC for £5m/yr
Is he out of contract at the end of this season? Trying to get a bit of leverage?
I'd be surprised if he left. Though possibly had enough of the "controversies" surrounding Sky and BC. I can't see BMC dumping a marketable TVG despite the miss-fires, and I can't see Porte being too happy about being Froome's no 2 again.
Wiggo talked openly about using an altitude tent a few years back, I didn't realise they were frowned upon at all. But not as good as the real thing, you can't ride up a mountain in one.
Apparently the tents are banned in some countries, didn't know that. Controversial in other sports too, Djokovic got into trouble over discussing his use of one too I believe (bit ironic considering what else goes on in tennis!)
But not as good as the real thing, you can't ride up a mountain in one.
Most these days seem to advocate the "sleep high, train low" approach anyway.
re altitude tents, it just shows that cheating is not black and white and there's a huge grey area where we chose to mark the boundary and its all entirely arbitrary. e.g. The measure of athlete health never comes into it.
Floyd Landis at about an hour in
with his [i]altitude chamber[/i].
didn't Boardman have some sort of home-made altitude room in his house when he was riding?
As for Froome leaving Sky, it seems quite probable unless they've given him answers in private to the whole Wiggins-paper bag debacle. He's being asked loads of questions related to BC/Team Sky doping that are nothing really to do with him and I'd imagine after a while it becomes too much.
Can't say whether or not BMC would make sense but if they let TvG go as seems likely as they supposedly agree about him as a Grand Tour leader, they have a spot for a 2nd GT rider. The fight over who gets the TdF would be interesting though. Maybe he could go to Trek though, Contador can't be THAT far off retiring.
All that said, Froome says the BMC story is bollocks. Maybe BMC are trying to push down TvG's salary requirements. They must be paying a lot for Greg van Avermaet as well as Porte.
Can't say whether or not BMC would make sense but if they let TvG go as seems likely as they supposedly agree about him as a Grand Tour leader, they have a spot for a 2nd GT rider.
Yeah TJ is gone really as a leader with Porte there, sole leader of the team for the main races so I think it will depend on what happens at the TdF this year. Thomas is primed for No1 at Sky next so the shuffle continues. Will it be Contador's last go?