Does anyone else fast forward through Froome-bot's interviews on the highlights show?
Conversely I've been disappointed with Froome this year. He was epic in last years tdf, attacking downhill, into crosswinds with Sagan... this year has been back to a duller model.
He didn't need to excite, his job is to beat everyone.
Froome being interviewed is enough to send anyone in to a deep sleep, no matter what the question he will role out the exact same answers. He clearly follows what he has been taught in his media training class so as not to say anything that can be skewed or taken out of context which means its just plain boring. He is one heck of a rider though, tough as teak. The bonus is his style of riding is as bad as mine so at least in those terms we are equals which thus means i am also a brilliant rider.
Spot on blader, he's been media trained to death.
The tipping point for me was when he flat out lied about the argy bargy with Aru in the tour.
The second most interesting thing he's ever done and he wouldn't even acknowledge it. Must be saving it for his next riveting autobiography.
There's one problem with Bertie going mental every day - everyone expects other riders to do the same. But Bertie has nothing to prove in this race, and he has nothing to lose. If he goes off on some mental attack and ends up losing 20 minutes, it makes no difference to him next week, next year. He's a millionaire, he has no contract to worry about next year, it's simple for him.
You have to love watching it though. Can't wait to see what unfolds this afternoon.
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[quote=matts ]There's one problem with Bertie going mental every day - everyone expects other riders to do the same. But Bertie has nothing to prove in this race, and he has nothing to lose. If he goes off on some mental attack and ends up losing 20 minutes, it makes no difference to him next week, next year. He's a millionaire, he has no contract to worry about next year, it's simple for him.
Any team would snap up a rider riding the way he is, whether or not they lose 20 minutes. The reason nobody else is doing it isn't because they're worried about their contract but because they can't. I suppose for those aiming for the podium there's some merit in riding conservatively to maintain that position, but I doubt a top 10 place is worth sitting in the bunch for. Mind you there are a few others who've been on the attack occasionally, and we come back to the reason others haven't attacked as much is because they can't.
You armchair pundits make me laugh, such a lot of negativity towards Froome, he is the best rider of his generation..yet he still isn't good enough for you dullards, boring? take a long hard look at yourselves.
Sorry to burst you're bubble but he has won the vuelta and quite convincingly in my eyes, bravo a true gentleman.
Sorry to burst you're bubble but he has won the vuelta and quite convincingly in my eyes, bravo a true gentleman.
Has it finished though?
I reckon that little weasel nibs wins this afternoon, by a minute or so.
He's probably topping up on a blood bag as I type.
Don't get the hatred for contador on here really. He's no worse than Millar for example, and noone had an issue when he was riding towards the end of his career.
I like Froome he does ride conservatively but he can because he's winning the really boring riders are Woods and Zakarin et al. Bertie being behind meant he can ride like he is. He has niwt to lose and isnt too bothered if he blows up. Nibbles has tried to attack to. Froome is pretty dull on interview but he does seem like a decent bloke.
I like Froome's interviews. Comes across as a decent guy, employed for his legs and lungs not his gob. And his team mates seem to genuinely like him - which helps. The interview with Thomas talking about Wiggins and Froome a year or two ago was enlightening. Thomas did the mrdia trained response about Wiggins, but really started to come alive talking about Froome - not what he said but the way he said it.
Right eyes down, look in. This should be good. One way or another.
Oh and pleased to see a De Gendt win yesterday.
See the weathers come out to play as well
Eurosport player is down - can anyone recommend a Stream?
lashing it down at the moment
Ha ha - Eurosport player is back.
Crikey no dramas please Mr Froome...
72 kph 😯 they are nuts
What's the point of nibbles team going so hard and giving sky a free ride up to the bottom of the final climb?
Surely that's just setting the sky train up to neutralise the last 13 k with fresh legs?
I really don't understand road riding tactics!!
What's etiquette say about what Froome should do while Nibali is down?
Anybody else who used to dislike the steak eater cheering on Contador for the win (and possible podium) here? You couldn't say he doesn't deserve it.
Yep, I am. It is a pleasure to watch him stretching his legs on a climb.
[quote=tpbiker ]Don't get the hatred for contador on here really. He's no worse than Millar for example, and noone had an issue when he was riding towards the end of his career.
I'm not sure there is much hatred for him. 5 years ago maybe - I'd have joined the haters - but I think most like me have really warmed to him, and I'll certainly miss him, particularly after his performance here. Realistically he was one bad day away from being a serious overall contender. Millar is a really good analogy - yes I'm prepared to give Bertie the benefit of the doubt in the same way I was Millar.
Contador on the virtual podium...
someones going to offer him a large bag of cash after this.
Nibali in bother now.
Wow, Poels drops everybody but Froome!
Suitable ending for Contador - final race stage for the Vuelta and for him and hopefully a win. He's a great cyclist steak issues aside, chapeau and Salute to the man.
Gap's going down fast now though.
[quote=aracer ]Wow, Poels drops everybody [s]but Froome![/s]
fixed
Just Contador and Kruijswijk up the road? Letting Poels go means if Nibali attacks and keeps away then he doesn't get any time bonuses.
Wow
Enorme, Alberto!
Proper emotional watching him ride those last five kilometres.
Haven't felt like that watching a race since Zubeldia crossed the line of his last Clásica (alumnus of our youth cycling club).
That looked brutal, riders just coming apart at the seams.
Bertie sure earned that stage win.
Almost perfect result, would have liked Bertie to make the podium (which would have been pretty amazing from 30th on GC with lots of GC contenders minutes ahead).
In other news Poels may have just denied Froome the points jersey - by my calcs if Froome had finished 2nd he'd have secured that whatever Trentin does tomorrow. As it is Trentin has to pick up something at the intermediate and then win the final sprint to avoid the indignity of racing in the jersey tomorrow but not winning it.
And Poels gets 6th in GC.
Get in you little ripper!!!
Froome is class
Brilliant. Who will play Bertie in the movie?
Excellent ride by Bertie, thank the Lord he did his last race with a proper win.
I'll be sad to see him go (as I was about Fabian) but Bertie's career has been fabulous and he should feel very proud.
Wonder if that will be enough for Froome to get knighted like that nobber Wiggins
Amazing achievement!
Almost perfect result, would have liked Bertie to make the podium
nah, more poetic that the only GT podium step he's every inhabited is the top one. Races to win, boom or bust, go big or go home etc. I can't quite believe he managed to pull it off today when everyone knew he was going to try, and after the efforts of yesterday. I also genuinely think Froome and Sky raced today wanting Contador to win, they marked Nibali (the bigger threat) rather than leading the chase until Nibz popped, and only attacked when it was too late to challenge Contador for the stage win.
Also a nice symmetry with Poels getting second - he came second (to overall winner Cobo) on the Angliru in 2011 (when Froome was released from serving Wiggins too late).
Froome is class
Wonder if that will be enough for Froome to get knighted l
Been a long time in the running to receive comments like that. Only 3 riders ever to do this double, people should start recognising him as a seriously talented rider and not a Team Sky pretender that accidentally pushed Bradley off the pedestal.
(secondhand froome anecdote).
Friend lives on Tenerife. Bought a copy of froome's autobio, hung around outside Mirador when sky were there, froome came back from a ride, signed it and spent ages chatting before heading out on second ride of day. friend and soigneur chat further, end up exchanging contact details.
Fast forward several months to this spring. Sky decide on a second last-minute training camp in Tenerife. Mirador is booked out. Soigneur contacts friend, her and her partner do a fair amount of digging and chasing, and come up with accommodation Sky are happy with.
She get's a signed yellow jersey as a thank-you. Pretty cool, huh? Except it's not dropped of by courier, or even a soigneur or Sky staffer. Froome's popped around to personally say thanks for the effort, with a jersey in hand to sign and dedicate personally to them.
Everything I've heard suggests he's a genuinely classy gentleman of a guy, and I think his natural racing style is more aggressive and attacking than the Sky template usually allows for, and that he'll be appreciated more after he retires (doping/motors speculation can go in a different thread). I also think if he was on just about any other team he'd be far more well-liked and probably as successful.
Anybody else who used to dislike the steak eater cheering on Contador for the win (and possible podium) here? You couldn't say he doesn't deserve it.
Oh i can and I will, he doesnt deserve his place in the peloton. He is walking proof that doping pays dividends and that its ok to be a drugs cheat in cycling. He is still getting the benefit of his doping whilst still trying to pretend it was the cows fault and nothing to do with him. How many other races did he win thanks to the drugs?
