Where does Froomes Power come from?!

[smutchin]

[QUOTE 2559903, member: 259"]Lots of Belgians eat chips with piccalilli. I don't know what that's all about! [/quote]

Ooh, I've never tried that but it sounds good to me. Yum!

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I said that his training has made the most of a natural advantage, that it is a combination of both of these factors, that it is not simply the result of training

Yeah that's how training works. It's why there are people who can climb hills all day long, and those who can do silly speeds for 200m at the end of a race.

that not everyone could do what he has done

Take away the crowds,the team support, the cameras and the monetary reward. What he did ultimately was ride a bike up some hills, the same hills are accessible to anyone to ride up.

I am assuming that he has a genetic advantage in terms of his muscle composition, as everyone else on the Tour has trained just as hard as he has, yet he still has that substantial advantage.

Again, you don't know how hard everyone else trained in comparison(nor relatively) - as you don't know precisely how each of the riders trained.

Training is vital, but it is not everything, some people's bodies are simply better equipped for this kind of competition than others and I am surmising that he has a particularly high slow:high twitch ratio.

The balance is pretty clear. Still not sure why you think this "He must have an even greater tendency towards anaerobic"

 

[smutchin]

Marginally lower wind resistance - according to the ITV4 commentators - ditto seated, consistent position when climbing. Aero dynamics don't make much different to mortals like us when climbing but at the speeds they are going the marginal differences can be the key difference.

And there's me thinking he was just looking at his power meter!

 

[smutchin]

I don't know of any research, but I remember reading a while ago...

You'd have been wise to stop there.

No offence meant, but these discussions tend to get a bit tiresome when they descend into armchair experts flinging bits of half-understood and/or half-remembered pseudo-science at each other. I'm certainly not suggesting you're the only culprit though.

 

[araapatlio]

Yeah that's how training works. It's why there are people who can climb hills all day long, and those who can do silly speeds for 200m at the end of a race.

Take away the crowds,the team support, the cameras and the monetary reward. What he did ultimately was ride a bike up some hills, the same hills are accessible to anyone to ride up.

The question was about his power relative to the other riders. So yes, anyone could ride up those hills, but not at those speeds or with the acceleration that Froome produced, pulling away from a highly talented field. Mark Cavendish is a top rider who trains incredibly hard, but his body type is different and he is more suited to sprints. I could train all my life for the 100m, but I would never be any good at it, because my body is suited far more to long-distance, endurance events.

Again, you don't know how hard everyone else trained in comparison(nor relatively) - as you don't know precisely how each of the riders trained.

The balance is pretty clear. Still not sure why you think this "He must have an even greater tendency towards anaerobic"

FFS. I think you need to check the definition of the word "assumption" - it means a belief, held without proof. I stated on numerous occasions it was an assumption. At no point did I suggest this was the definitive opinion on Chris Froome or his muscle composition, it was just my opinion. I'd have thought my train of though was abundantly clear, but if not, let me try one last time:

I assume all riders are training just as hard for the biggest race in the world, Chris Froome has shown a substantial advantage over the others, ergo, I assume that there is something particular about his body that enables him to do that - such as living at altitude or having a genetic advantage in terms of his muscle composition.

I hope that satisfies your curiosity, because I'm done with this.

 

[araapatlio]

You'd have been wise to stop there.

No offence meant, but these discussions tend to get a bit tiresome when they descend into armchair experts flinging bits of half-understood and/or half-remembered pseudo-science at each other. I'm certainly not suggesting you're the only culprit though.

I never pretended to be an expert, nor do I have particularly intimate knowledge of Chris Froome's legs The question was asked and that is my two pennies worth, that is all.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I'm done with this.

About time

 

[smutchin]

I never pretended to be an expert, nor do I have particularly intimate knowledge of Chris Froome's legs

None the less, your personal observations on Froome's legs may well be a more interesting contribution to the discussion. I mean this as encouragement.

 

[Zofo]

Mind he is not elegant on the bike, looks like a demented spider at times! Compare Quintana, very stylish, lovely pedal stroke, terrific power, and great poker face for a young rider.

I agree, Quintana never gives anything away or looks at all like he's on the limit. Very cool definitely my type of rider, would be great to see him get out the saddle a bit more-although he probably doesn't need to-I like to see climbers dance up the road.