Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[alecstilleyedye]

the tour is sky's to lose now. wiggins and froome will take time in the final tt, so it's up to the others to take time off the pair of them in the mountains. only cuddles could risk attacking and taking froome with him, but given their performances in the time trial, it would be risky to say the least.

i'd be tempted to let froome attack on the final climb, force the others to go with him. let the attack come to nothing after a few hundred meters and then get wiggins to go. doesn't matter who finishes on wiggins' wheels, or even a few seconds ahead…

 

[Smokin Joe]

It isn't just about climbing or TTing ability, but good days and bad days. If you were Froome and you were on fire and you could see your team-mate just about hanging on, what would you do? It's the biggest race on the planet and ultimately no one in GB or indeed in Sky will give a monkeys about which of the two takes the top step in Paris. The only thing nobody wants is to see them become openly hostile and let someone else in.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If you were Froome and you were on fire and you could see your team-mate just about hanging on, what would you do? It's the biggest race on the planet and ultimately no one in GB or indeed in Sky will give a monkeys about which of the two takes the top step in Paris. The only thing nobody wants is to see them become openly hostile and let someone else in.

Interesting strategic choice for the team isn't it? On one hand you have Wiggins' couple of minutes of advantage over the opposition to defend, on the other you have the option of allowing Froome not only to take over and keeping the jersey in house, and (at a much lower priority) also securing another position on the podium. I wonder if the team's decisiion might be for Wiggo to do the calculation and decide (e.g. whether he thinks he will lose more than the couple of minutes he has even if Froome burn himself out to tow him along), after all he will be right up there knowing the competition and his own condition better than anybody in the team car.

For sure they will do everything they can to keep the jersey in the team.

 

[Noodley]

That is not a fact, but merely speculation.

Nope, deffo a fact. As can be seen from the above posts

 

[PpPete]

Not looking good for Cofidis and Di Gregorio - arrested on the rest day re. doping enquiry ?
http://www.cyclisme-dopage.com/actualite/2012-07-10-lejsl.htm

That whole website looks well researched and put together over a long period of time. Certainly opened my eyes to a lot of the history - but I can read and speak French quite adequately.
Anyone know if there is an English equivalent at that level of detail and thorough cross-referencing?
Would be "required reading" for any remaining LA fanboys....

 

[Steve H]

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm pleased it's a rest day today. I'm exhausted from all this watching!

 

[Dave Davenport]

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm pleased it's a rest day today. I'm exhausted from all this watching!

Yep, I might not have any fingernails left in a couple of weeks.

 

[thom]

Anyone know if there is an English equivalent at that level of detail and thorough cross-referencing?

These guys might have some interesting stuff - not sure if it's exactly what you are looking for though
http://www.sportsscientists.com/

 

[Willo]

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm pleased it's a rest day today. I'm exhausted from all this watching!

Yep, a combo of a relatively exciting / dramatic first week coupled with a strong British interest in GC is making it tense stuff for me.

Re the general gist of the thread, I can't see Sky going through the entire Tour without a bad day or 2 - it's just a case of limiting any losses when that happens. As a very nervy descender myself, I find the descents tough to watch. I know it's part of cycling, but I much prefer the mountain top finishes. I hope Sky measure carefully any risks they take on those stages or else look to attack on the up to offset Evans and co. making time back up on the descent.

Whatever, it's a good dilemma for Sky to be in. I couldn't help but worry that they got Yellow too early but given how things have gone difficult to know how they could have remained poised to hold off until the final TT. And with a strong team, you'd hope that there will be someone each day able to mark the rivals and/or pull Wiggins along at the front. Wished I'd had an e/w flutter on Froome now!

 

[Isla Valassi]

Do Sky have a bit of a dilemma with Froome now being a realistic podium chance, or even a Sky and British 1-2?

With Froome seemingly being Brad's last man in the mountains after EBH, Barry and Porte have done their shifts, will there be a temptation to look to protect him a bit more, and thus allowing BMC or Liquigas to take advantage of Sky not being in full control?

I don't know if i'm looking for problems that don't exist, and whilst it would be awesome for Froome to end up on the podium, the main objective of Brad ending up in yellow shouldn't be lost.

That said, i'm sure Davey B has it all in hand!

How predictable! Suddenly Froome is British........just like Zola Budd was 'British' I suppose?!. Froome is only as 'British' as the rest of the foreigners on Team Sky. The only slight difference I suppose is that he holds a British race licence.

 

[beastie]

Sky should look at the threats of attacks in the mountains as an opportunity also. If Evans, Nibali or even VDB attack from a long way out and Sky bring it back even as late as the final climb, Froome should be well suited to counter.

 

[400bhp]

Sky should look at the threats of attacks in the mountains as an opportunity also. If Evans, Nibali or even VDB attack from a long way out and Sky bring it back even as late as the final climb, Froome should be well suited to counter.

Inevitable he is going to go for a long way out isn't it? Just a matter of when.

Can't wait for the racing to start again tomorrow.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

How predictable! Suddenly Froome is British........just like Zola Budd was 'British' I suppose?!. Froome is only as 'British' as the rest of the foreigners on Team Sky. The only slight difference I suppose is that he holds a British race licence.

Because his father was British. In other words he's just as 'British' as Wiggins. He is allowed to decide which country he rides for... just like my son would be. You got a problem with that?

 

[Chuffy]

Because his father was British. In other words he's just as 'British' as Wiggins. He is allowed to decide which country he rides for... just like my son would be. You got a problem with that?

Don't ever spill Flying Monkey's pint.

 

[zimzum42]

I'm looking forward to FM's part in the new ITV series, Ross Kemp on Academics