smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Yeah, unlike that other great young hope Tejay, who played a much more sensible game tactically and... oh...
Tour de France 2013 *spoilers*
- Thread starter Noodley
- Start date
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Yeah, unlike that other great young hope Tejay, who played a much more sensible game tactically and... oh...
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
If you are aiming for a top ten finish then it was a sound tactic. If you want podium then it was poking the bear.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
...but a lot less time than nearly everyone else.
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
TJ don't climb like Quintana.
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
I actually think the first two places on the podium will be near enough set in stone, barring incident. Such is the superiority of Porte and Froome.
The rest may or may not be aware that they are racing for 3rd to 10th.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Well, at least now they know how strong the bear is!
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
threebikesmcginty
Corn Fed Hick...
- Location
- ...on the slake
You're flogging a dead horse, metaphors are for nobbers.
Strathlubnaig
Guru
- Location
- Alberta
Well that's my afternoons freed up for the rest of July now.
mrbadexample
Senior Member
- Location
- Walsall
Sorry, but it was desperately important that the Lions gave the Shackledraggers a pasting. Set the day up nicely for main event in the afternoon.
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
Froome's performance was, I'm afraid, well into suspicious territory according to the Science in Sport analysis, so some scepticism is justified. However, the most important part of that articles is this:
"Ax-3-Domaines offers the same "qualified hope" - the top 12 performances pre-date this era (and then it is Menchov), though the climb is too new and infrequent to have the strength of history to really support any historical comparisons. That's why I'd caution against isolating today's performance, whether it is super fast or slow, and using it as "proof" of anything. Aside from the fact that performance will never prove clean vs doped, it's important to let the whole Tour unfold, with dozens of mountains, and then look at the climbs in context, with a big picture view."
We will have to wait and see. If Froome does this kind of thing regularly in the rest of the Tour and looks this easy, then the suspicions will get stronger. Wiggins last year certainly did not look easy at all; he was practically being dragged by the hair up some climbs by Froome.
"Ax-3-Domaines offers the same "qualified hope" - the top 12 performances pre-date this era (and then it is Menchov), though the climb is too new and infrequent to have the strength of history to really support any historical comparisons. That's why I'd caution against isolating today's performance, whether it is super fast or slow, and using it as "proof" of anything. Aside from the fact that performance will never prove clean vs doped, it's important to let the whole Tour unfold, with dozens of mountains, and then look at the climbs in context, with a big picture view."
We will have to wait and see. If Froome does this kind of thing regularly in the rest of the Tour and looks this easy, then the suspicions will get stronger. Wiggins last year certainly did not look easy at all; he was practically being dragged by the hair up some climbs by Froome.
Strathlubnaig
Guru
- Location
- Alberta
SiS also mentions the possibilty that Froome put so much time into everyone else on this first big climb that all he needs to do now is hold off any attacks, so there will perhaps not be any 'collection of climbs' to analyse. I sure hope all is squeaky clean in sky, and everyone eslse too, but as FM says, with only Froome and Porte clocking up > 6.3 w/kg then suspicions will always be aroused, sad to say.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
Well, if they are not clean my guess is they have discovered something that is as yet (and for the foreseeable future) undetectable / unknown to the rest of the peloton.
Most of the second week might not have much excitement, but if Froome & Porte carry only the same time gaps there are places where they might be isolated/vulnerable later. Ventoux is a very long (242km) stage to control, especially if they've lost any of the "big diesels" before then. And the descent between the two ascents of Alpe d'Huez is maybe a place for a brave/foolhardy man to go on the attack. Froome is not the greatest descender in the peloton, may not want to take risks with yellow on his shoulders, especially if most of his domestiques have been used up on the first ascent?
Most of the second week might not have much excitement, but if Froome & Porte carry only the same time gaps there are places where they might be isolated/vulnerable later. Ventoux is a very long (242km) stage to control, especially if they've lost any of the "big diesels" before then. And the descent between the two ascents of Alpe d'Huez is maybe a place for a brave/foolhardy man to go on the attack. Froome is not the greatest descender in the peloton, may not want to take risks with yellow on his shoulders, especially if most of his domestiques have been used up on the first ascent?
SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
If the yellow has slipped from his shoulders he may attack, and win it back again.
I don't see why Sky may not have looked at this stage and thought "This is our big chance to take some time out of everyone else, one huge climb followed by another, let's do this" meaning they could go all guns today and then just stay with everyone else for tomorrow and then playing the rest by ear. I understand that could be viewed as naive, but if that works then you can't blame them.
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
On another note, is everyone who comments on the Cyclingnews Tour coverage a troll or an idiot or both?
