Wiggo AND Froome in next year's TdF Sky team?

[Slaav]

Just heard on the Sports news that Sir DB doesnt see why Wiggo and Froome cannot race together in next year's TdF.... apparently there are plenty of teams where there isn't complete harmony within the ranks

I assume there will be a few changes in the major teams between now and then but the Vuelta may well be a cracking watch also - with Uran leaving Sky, with DB still want the win with him?

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

Hopefully both will be workhorses for Richie Porte next year

 

[Tribanite]

Richie has earned the right to be GC for next year,but as it's starting in Yorkshire,in honour of Wiggo's historical win last year .... i see Wiggo being the team leader

 

[thom]

Richie has earned the right to be GC for next year,but as it's starting in Yorkshire,in honour of Wiggo's historical win last year .... i see Wiggo being the team leader

Really, Richie has earned the right above Froome to be leader in the TdF ?

Sky care about results based upon performance and merit. When plans are put in place for what races individual riders will target, Richie may get a primary focus on the Giro or Vuelta, in particular if Wiggo is set to be Froome's super-dom in the TdF next year but the reality is next year's form and circumstances will dictate who goes into which race as leader.

Remember, Richie has not been on the podium of any grand tour, whereas Froome and Wiggins have won them. Richie had off days in the past 2 TdFs as well - he didn't last long as plan b in this TdeF. Froome had 2 2nd place finishes before he was the TdF leader, Wiggins had 2 3rds.

 

[Peteaud]

Do Sky know the route?

They must have a good idea of it surely.

 

[jdtate101]

Thing is Brad needs the support of the whole team, yet Chris has shown he is capable of going solo when the need arises. If they were both to ride as joint GC contenders it creates a fundamental split in the team tactics which others will exploit ruthlessly. There should always be a defined leader who the team will rally behind, then a clear order of succession if the leader bombs for any reason.

Imagine a scenario where the team is climbing at the front of the peloton. Brad starts to struggle so all the domesiques fall back to pace him letting chris go up the road with the lead riders, at that point he is isolated and the rest go hammer and tongs attacking one after the other to break him. Potentially both GC riders lose time.

I'd say you need a minimum of 2 super doms / doms for a GC rider (think porte and kennaugh) to pace and look after them, leaving only 3 other guys to do the flat donkey work and early stage pacing. Thats doesn't leave a lot of room for unforeseen incidents if you have to split the team in half for each GC guy.

Better to have one unified team all pulling for the same purpose. I can't see why, given the vast amount of events on the calendar, they can't both lead teams or even ride together as long as the rules are clearly defined by Sir Dave and each rider agrees to tow the line.

 

[lay]

I'd bet dam good money on BW being in Yorkshire next year ! as for Froome...? (thinks hard) lol

 

[thom]

I'd bet dam good money on BW being in Yorkshire next year ! as for Froome...? (thinks hard) lol

 

[Rob3rt]

I don't think Team Sky will give a toss about "Yorkshire" being included in the Tour in the grand scheme of things!

 

[asterix]

Thing is Brad needs the support of the whole team, yet Chris has shown he is capable of going solo when the need arises. ..

No disrespect for his achievement, but I thought Froome also got quite a bit of support and also nearly conked out near the summit of the Alpe?

 

[jdtate101]

No disrespect for his achievement, but I thought Froome also got quite a bit of support and also nearly conked out near the summit of the Alpe?

Yes...they both had support, but arguably Chris had to fight solo a lot more than Brad did. That may have just been due to the different makeup of the respective fields of the different tours (ie key rivals missing during Brads tour), but Brad never really got isolated and had to fight solo, whereas Chris did on a number of occasions.
Arguably Chris is the more rounded rider capable of matching and beating the worlds best climbers and holding his own on a TT bike. Whereas Brad, whilst arguably one of the worlds best TT'ers, is a good climber, but more of a diesel type who does not respond well to high pace attacks like Contador and Purito (and now Quintana) can deliver. Everytime someone attacked him he used his team mates to pace back up, but should he become isolated this might be very hard for him to do.
Neither is the right way or wrong way, just different styles that place different loads on the team structure, and having the two approaches in the same team at the same TdF (IMHO) would be bad for both GC riders.

 

[VamP]

[QUOTE 2561662, member: 259"]I think they'll consider anyone who's been knighted. An OBE's ust not going to cut it any more. [/quote]

 

[BarryBonkers]

My read is that for Sky Team Leader, form on the day will be the most important factor. That said, the Tour was particularly mountainous this year. Look at the way climbers filled the podium places. A flatter route, with longer TT sections and less mountains, would suit a specialist time-trialist. The last stage of 2012 was a TT, in 2013 it was a mountain top finish. Whichever way the Tour organisers plan it, Sky are spoilt for choice with Froome and Wiggins.

 

[VamP]

View attachment 26648

Hah in fact he's already been trying out with them

 

[User169]

My read is that for Sky Team Leader, form on the day will be the most important factor. That said, the Tour was particularly mountainous this year. Look at the way climbers filled the podium places. A flatter route, with longer TT sections and less mountains, would suit a specialist time-trialist. The last stage of 2012 was a TT, in 2013 it was a mountain top finish. Whichever way the Tour organisers plan it, Sky are spoilt for choice with Froome and Wiggins.

Short of Froome joining the Foreign Legion, I can't see anyway that Wiggins will be Sky leader for the tdf. He's only going to be there if he agrees to ride for Froome.