TdF Stage 11 – A Tough One [Spoilers]

I’d expect the headman to be able to pull away at the end of the race.

I’d expect the team to protect him til he plays his strong suit which is the TTs.

It’s clear Froome has a turn of speed that Wiggins can’t match

I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Wiggins doesn’t need to match it.

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Vlueta [ tour of Spain] showed Froome is a far superior climber than Brad and would race differently to win.

Wiggins has one climbing speed. He’s obviously worked to increase that speed, but the 2009 TdeF Ventoux stage and the 2011 Vuelta showed he can “only” ride a climb like a TT. Interesting to see him cresting the climbs in the saddle with everyone else out of it.

Wiggins doesnt need to match it now as they are on the same team and Froome is working for him, but if this was a tour where all the contenders had teams helping them and they had to fight it out in the mountains (could have been the case if Mandy Schleck was racing) it would be a different matter. Froome (and therefore Sky) not winning the Vuelta was down to poor decision making by team bosses not releasing froome from service to an obviously weaker wiggins.

Football analogy. Final score 4 – 1. Losing team had a goal dubiously disallowed when 2 – 1 down. One argument says didn’t matter, as winners won by 3 goals in the end. Counter is that a goal at that point would have made it 2 – 2 and changed the game.

Point is, if Froome was going for yellow and not working for Brad, the whole thing would be playing out differently, and we can never know what it would look like.

It’ll be really sad if wiggins wins this and everyone says Froome should have had it.

Even sadder if froome himself starts to believe that.

Currently everything is going to plan for Sky. Everyone is prpeared and trained for their roles. Why should they change the plan unless it’s not working?

I guess this is the unique and intriguing aspect of road racing – it’s a team sport, but individuals take the podium.

It’ll be really sad if wiggins wins this and everyone says Froome should have had it.

That sort of story creates controversy sells newspapers and magazines so it will almost certainly get printed.

Just seen the profile of the final climb on Sunday’s stage- GULP.

Much steepness, something that Wiggo has struggled with in the past.

Nibbo and crazyFrog will no doubt look to attack on that one, and probably drop Bradley. Will Froome-dog go with them or pace his man up?
Not sure there’s much pacing advantage that can be gained at the riding speed on those gradients…..

check the profile for final climb on sunday’s stage.

Not one that Wiggo will favour, and Nibbo/Crazyfrog will likely drop him at the end, perhaps putting into doubt sky’s 1-2 or will froome-dog be unleashed ? interesting.

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