Spoiler : Tour of Oman. 11 - 16 Feb

[rich p]

Sounds good for Froome to be able to counter Contador's attacks - it could be an epic year at this rate.

 

[raindog]

Wish I could warm to the bloke, but I really dislike him.

Just checked out the CN race thread - the Berto fanboys are in a right panic.

 

[Crackle]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Y_4d4jd8Y&list=UUuTaETsuCOkJ0H_GAztWt0Q&index=1

"...Or will Froome go vroom, vroom...." oh dear, I hope too many others don't use that line.

 

[The Couch]

No need to worry anylonger for Purito, his team has just been granted Worldtour status.
I guess there will be 19 teams with World Tour status now, unless... they decide to go with 18 teams and still kick out a team.

But they can't be that cruel, right?

 

[Radchenister]

Thoroughly entertaining Stage 4 - looking forward to today's, this 1 day out of sync business is tedious.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Froome seals it with a stage win over Contador and Rodriguez. Well done that man!

 

[Mapster1989]

Go Froomy. Did well to win the stage with the red jersey too. Really took it to the rest of the field and showed what he has to offer.

 

[thom]

Bjarne Riis comment :
Asked if the result in Oman had any bearing on the Tour de France in July, Riis said: "If we have to read [into it] then right now we'd have to say that [Bradley] Wiggins is preparing to help Froome in the Tour. But he might not agree."

 

[smutchin]

Contador doesn't need to win these early races in the same way Froome does. It's like Wiggo last year - Sky used the early races to familiarise him with the extra pressures that come with being a team and race leader. This will be valuable experience for Froome, but Contador has more than enough of that kind of experience already.

 

[thom]

 

[rich p]

We don't know if Contador is as well-prepared as he will be in July. Horse steak on the menu?

 

[jifdave]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieXRXFgvCU&list=UUghTxvynMBnEnx7_SYQ6sGg&index=1
shows the finish and attacks a little better

 

[jifdave]

as expected, froome in the bunch for the gc win

 

[raindog]

Bouhanni won today's stage in front of Goss. Coming along very nicely is Bouhanni.
Sounded like a fast and furious last few ks - Nibali got dropped from the leading bunch.

 

[rich p]

Goss is becoming the Raymond Poulidor of sprinting