Sky TdF team...

[bicycling_nurse]

Why would it backfire on froome and sky?

Froome has no need for wiggins in the team, simple really

Well we'll see, won't we? I'm not necessarily saying Froome has need of Wiggins - but if anything happens to him (or his main back up) Sky don't have another "obvious" podium finisher. Don't get me wrong, I hope Sky do it, I like both of them - I just hope they don't live to regret not including Wiggins. It's the TDF - it's difficult and things don't always go to plan, surely including two recent winners who are in form is better than just taking one? Sometimes, in all walks of life, people have to put personal feelings aside and take one for the team - which you could argue Brad is doing. I'm just saying Froome could take one for the team and it might work better. But then again it might not!

Edit - beaten by Roscoe, I was thinking of Porte!

 

[Beebo]

Why they cant just start the TdF on equal terms and whoever is ahead on GC after week 1 is then declared team leader? Surely that would be fair?

But the big mountains dont start until later in the race, where Froome is clearly the better rider. So wiggins could be ahead at the end of the first week, with no chance of holding the lead.

 

[Louch]

Wiggins hasn't said he's going to lead, He has stressed he would be going in a support role. The role Froome felt too good for in 2012 even though that was his job......

 

[Crackle]

... anyone care to speculate, just for fun?
Stannard is sadly out due to the Gent-Wevelgem accident.
Froome
Porte
Wiggins
Kennaugh
Kirylenko
Lopez
Siutsou
Knees
dunno...

So going back to this, the startlist for the Dauphine is


FROOME Christopher
KIRYIENKA Vasil
LOPEZ David
NIEVE Mikel
PATE Danny
PORTE Richie
THOMAS Geraint
ZANDIO Xabier

Which is looking like the backbone of who's going to the Tour and then we have


41.CATALDO Dario
42.DEIGNAN Philip
43.DOMBROWSKI Joe
44.KENNAUGH Peter
45.KNEES Christian
46.WIGGINS Bradley
47.ROWE Luke
48.SWIFT Ben

For the Tour De Suisse. So who's going to be added in to the first list and who may come out. Dombrowski rode well in California but he may not be up to a GT yet. Knees in, Kennaugh in? Wot's Kiriyenka done this year. He had a mare last TdF didn't he after a good early showing but he's taken a different path this year.

 

[jowwy]

how many times last year was froome left to fight on his own - porte, kirienka had to bury themselves too early as the team wasn't strong enough - YES froome still won the TDF, but i do feel personally the team was weak

 

[RobNewcastle]

I think Knees and Kennaugh in is a great shout by Crackle. If you remember Sky lost Sitsiou early in the tour in 2012 and Knees took up a lot of extra work, he rode brilliantly. I remember him doing a good bit of the work on the early parts of climbs including the Port de Bale. If Kennaugh rides well in the tour of Swiss they already know he can do a job on the climbs.

I could see both of them being drafted in with a ? over Kiryenka.

 

[SWSteve]

Porte has to do some serious work in the Dauphine to justify his 'guarenteed' status in the tour squad.

I can understand Froomes reasoning for not allowing Wiggo to go (if there really is that much animosity it's between them) but Froome must feel pretty insecure to block someone who he *should* be able to beat over the climbs

 

[The Couch]

Wiggo could win the tour ....... If there was no such thing as Chris froome.

Euhm...Have you seen Contador (and Valverde in a smaller extent) riding this year? This year he would/will not only have to deal with Froome.
(And if Nibali would find 2013 form back you definitely have to throw him in as well)

p.s. I'll leave the discussion aside whether or not Ten Dam should be named with these guys as well

So an in form rider not being picked due to the fact they don't get on? Hope this doesn't backfire on Sky as Porte has not had a good 2014 so far.

This I agree... If they just make sure that Wiggo (once more?) clearly states he will fully ride for Froome this year, I believe Sky (and therefore Froome) can use him
(especially if you also throw in the team-performance they had in last year's Tour)

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Sky are a weaker team physically without Wiggo, but one could argue they will be mentally stronger without him.

In terms of the "team" i think it is probably the right decision, no matter how much i would like to see him ride this years Tour.

 

[tug benson]

I think we would all like to see him ride the tour, his ego is just to big for the team to handle.

 

[montage]

Euhm...Have you seen Contador (and Valverde in a smaller extent) riding this year? This year he would/will not only have to deal with Froome.
(And if Nibali would find 2013 form back you definitely have to throw him in as well)

p.s. I'll leave the discussion aside whether or not Ten Dam should be named with these guys as well

This I agree... If they just make sure that Wiggo (once more?) clearly states he will fully ride for Froome this year, I believe Sky (and therefore Froome) can use him
(especially if you also throw in the team-performance they had in last year's Tour)

tighter controls at the tour though innit

Ten Dam just got a KOM on strava - he is on for a podium!

 

[montage]

Swift is peaking for the tour de Suisse - he might be in flying form but given last year Brailsford et al will be very worried about fatigued riders. Kennaugh was pencilled in for the Giro so wasn't originally a contender for a tour place. Dombrowski climbing well but a bit of an unknown.

Knees is the safe bet.

Lopez / Thomas, Nieve, Richie is strong enough in the mountains. Obviously Wiggo would slot in well as the man before Porte - he literally could have done half of each climb. Nieve was strong last year though, one of the better climbers in the peloton.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Swift is peaking for the tour de Suisse - he might be in flying form but given last year Brailsford et al will be very worried about fatigued riders. Kennaugh was pencilled in for the Giro so wasn't originally a contender for a tour place. Dombrowski climbing well but a bit of an unknown.

Knees is the safe bet.

Lopez / Thomas, Nieve, Richie is strong enough in the mountains. Obviously Wiggo would slot in well as the man before Porte - he literally could have done half of each climb. Nieve was strong last year though, one of the better climbers in the peloton.

As Yates said "Knees could pull the Peloton for 100k on his own". I think he is a must have rider for SKY if they are to try and control the race whilst/if in possession of the Maillot Jaune.

Unless SKY are worried about Froome being isolated again, hence thinking about adding another climber, i can't see past Knees as the 9th rider.

Still think the 2012 SKY team was stronger, even with Cavendish.

 

[claver58]

Slightly off topic, but assuming Wiggo doesn't ride the TdF, he may leave Sky at the end of his contract (this year).
Then there must be some good ProTour teams that would relish having Wiggo for 2015.
Maybe OPQ?

EDIT : Just seen how many other Wiggins/Froome threads there are.....I'll pack my bags.......

 

[SWSteve]

Slightly off topic, but assuming Wiggo doesn't ride the TdF, he may leave Sky at the end of his contract (this year).
Then there must be some good ProTour teams that would relish having Wiggo for 2015.
Maybe OPQ?

EDIT : Just seen how many other Wiggins/Froome threads there are.....I'll pack my bags.......

And have him go against Boonen in the classics?