Renart Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 With Chris Froome going so well in the Criterium du Dauphine, do people think that we might have our 2nd British winner of Le Tour in 2 years? Who might challenge him? Evans didn't look that great in the Giro. Nibali looks in great form but is taking a break after winning the Giro and won't ride in this year's event. I though that Contador would be his nearest rival but he hasn't looked that great in the warm-up event (especially the TT) - maybe that will change?. Rodriguez? Schleck? Van Garderen? I don't see it really.
Renart Posted 7 June 2013 Author Posted 7 June 2013 ....waiting for someone to point out that Froome isn't actually British!
Trav Le Bleu Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 He's as British as Zola Budd, Manu Tuilagi and Mo Farah!
Guest MattP Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 He's as British as Zola Budd, Manu Tuilagi and Mo Farah! He does have an English father so he does have the bloodline at least. He has a great chance, definitely between him and Contador, great shame Wiggins isn't Sky's leader but the drive was never going to be there to put yourself through hell again like last year.
Renart Posted 7 June 2013 Author Posted 7 June 2013 He's as British as Zola Budd, Manu Tuilagi and Mo Farah! All Great British atheletes - just as long as they are winning! - although even I find the Zola Budd one a bit difficult. At least Farah and Tuilagi have lived here since they were Children - the formative years when your own identity is created. If they consider themselves British? Admitedly this is a bit of a difficult area...
Renart Posted 7 June 2013 Author Posted 7 June 2013 He does have an English father so he does have the bloodline at least. He has a great chance, definitely between him and Contador, great shame Wiggins isn't Sky's leader but the drive was never going to be there to put yourself through hell again like last year. I don't know, I am kind of happy that he isn't riding (controversial). Don't get me wrong, I think that he is great and what he has achieved is amazing but I think Froome deserves a shot; he worked hard for Wiggo last year -selflessly) and it sat a little uncomfortable with me that both would be riding for SKY without the clarity of who was the leader. I thought that the team had got it right with Wiggo targeting the Giro and giving Froome a shot at Le Tour but then there was a lot of rumblings about Wiggins also targetting a defence of Le Tour and for the first time I thought that Wiggins should have pulled his neck in.
MrsJohnMurphy Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 When I was watching Le Tour last year I thought Froome seemed to be holding back and could have easily overtaken Wiggins if he wasn't following team orders.
marko Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 When I was watching Le Tour last year I thought Froome seemed to be holding back and could have easily overtaken Wiggins if he wasn't following team orders. Whilst he could have undoubtedly gained some time on some of the mountain stages, there's no way he could have recovered the amount of time Bradley took out of him in the TT's. As for this year's Tour, I can't see past Froome. His main rival will be Contador, but on a couple of occasions this year Froome has dropped Contador like last period maths and I'd imagine it'll be the same in the Tour. Team Sky will have a very strong squad with domestiques likes of EVB, Porte, Siutsou & Knees, so Froome will be well looked after.
Guest MattP Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 When I was watching Le Tour last year I thought Froome seemed to be holding back and could have easily overtaken Wiggins if he wasn't following team orders. That doesn't tell the whole story though, Froome had a couple of rest days so he was bound to be fresher, Wiggins had to be there every day. Wiggins did 3 minutes over Froome in the end and he couldn't have taken that out of him.
Renart Posted 7 June 2013 Author Posted 7 June 2013 That doesn't tell the whole story though, Froome had a couple of rest days so he was bound to be fresher, Wiggins had to be there every day. Wiggins did 3 minutes over Froome in the end and he couldn't have taken that out of him. I agree with this but I am not sure that it would be the same this year if Wiggo was riding. The course for Le Tour 2013 suits Froome more than Wiggins (moot point really as he is not riding) and I think with a strong SKY team behind him he has a very good chance. Nothing is a certainty but I think he is worth a couple of quid.
Guest MattP Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 I agree with this but I am not sure that it would be the same this year if Wiggo was riding. The course for Le Tour 2013 suits Froome more than Wiggins (moot point really as he is not riding) and I think with a strong SKY team behind him he has a very good chance. Nothing is a certainty but I think he is worth a couple of quid. Completely agree on that
marko Posted 7 June 2013 Posted 7 June 2013 I agree with this but I am not sure that it would be the same this year if Wiggo was riding. The course for Le Tour 2013 suits Froome more than Wiggins (moot point really as he is not riding) and I think with a strong SKY team behind him he has a very good chance. Nothing is a certainty but I think he is worth a couple of quid. Last year's course was perfect for Wiggins as it had 101km of ITT, as opposed to this year's which only has 65km of ITT. So as you say, Froome will likely fare even better than last year. I think you might need more than a couple of quid as he's currently around 8/13 to win.
Renart Posted 7 June 2013 Author Posted 7 June 2013 I think you might need more than a couple of quid as he's currently around 8/13 to win. Damn it! I only have £2.50 and that will only give me back... er....some beans!
Renart Posted 9 June 2013 Author Posted 9 June 2013 Froome wins the Criterium. With the race usually being a good indicator for Le Tour it all seems to be slotting in to place for SKY and Froome. Fingers crossed.
Amin Posted 29 June 2013 Posted 29 June 2013 That time of the year again. Hoping for Froome and Cavendish to bring back the Yellow and Green jerseys.
marko Posted 29 June 2013 Posted 29 June 2013 Annoying there was a crash which stopped Cav, otherwise he'd likely have been in the yellow jersey tomorrow.
Renart Posted 1 July 2013 Author Posted 1 July 2013 Nice to see Froome 'have a go' yesterday (even if it didn't come to anything). good sign for the rest of Le Tour; shows that he is willing to go on the attack!
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 1 July 2013 Posted 1 July 2013 Great Maiden win by Orica-Green Edge in the the tour, Only their 2nd season and keep piling on some great performances. All credit to Gerry Harvey, Matt White and Neil Stephens who have put the team together and done it their way. Simon Gerrans another Victory at the tour an outstanding ride and well deserved he is a fighter.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 1 July 2013 Posted 1 July 2013 That doesn't tell the whole story though, Froome had a couple of rest days so he was bound to be fresher, Wiggins had to be there every day. Wiggins did 3 minutes over Froome in the end and he couldn't have taken that out of him. Disagree with this, Between Froome and Richie Porte they did a power of work for team sky which allowed Wiggins to just sit on the back of there wheel conserve energy. It's alot easier being the team leader and gettting all the support as opposed to being the work horse. It's Froomes race to lose this year, he has the runs on the board and the best team to support him.
Renart Posted 2 July 2013 Author Posted 2 July 2013 Great Maiden win by Orica-Green Edge in the the tour, Only their 2nd season and keep piling on some great performances. All credit to Gerry Harvey, Matt White and Neil Stephens who have put the team together and done it their way. Simon Gerrans another Victory at the tour an outstanding ride and well deserved he is a fighter. You must be even more happy today
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 2 July 2013 Posted 2 July 2013 Surprised and Delighted, didn't even think top 5 was possible in the team tt. Only really had Cam Meyer and Svein Tuft who are decent tt riders, so to win and have Gerrans in yellow is incredible
Renart Posted 3 July 2013 Author Posted 3 July 2013 Cavendish off the mark. Got another chance tomorrow as well!
Amin Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 Great ride from Froome today to take the yellow. Blew everyone else away.
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