Tour de France

[landshark sa]

That's correct, Sean is ultimately the guy who call the shots and just because Froom's partner doesn't like him working for someone else, doesn't mean that he will attack his team leader. I'm pretty sure Froom knows and agrees with this.

Some or other time he'll find himself in same position as team leader and then he'll hope for the same team dedication.

 

[eDiver]

GO NIBALI

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[ReefTroll]

The American TV coverage this morning quoted bitchy tweets by the girl friends/wives? of Froome and Wiggens, and then the team director was quoted as saying he wasn't a marriage counselor.

But maybe it makes sense to protect Wiggens because he'll be so much better in the time trial?

But stuff like this happens pretty frequently. I recall reading many years ago that the team director had to go up to Greg Lemond and tell him to wait for Bernard Hinault. Lemond broke into tears. I believe he switched teams the next year.

Wiggins isn't that much better. Not when if Froome was left to his own devices Wiggin's would die in the mountains and most likely have been beaten by (my estimate only) 10+ mins to Froome who is far stronger. They lost the Vuelta because of this too. If Froome was leader they'd have cleaned it up. It's Sky, it's media, and nobody really knows Froome. If Froome becomes a poster boy, he'll be allowed to lead. he needs to leave. So does Michael Rogers, both would destroy wiggins in a one on one tour effort.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

The commentators today quoted Bernard Hinault as saying that Sky was defending the wrong man- Froome should be the team leader.

 

[ReefTroll]

No doubt about it. Wiggins is pure media in his choice over Froome. Froome is brilliant. I believe it'll be Froome conquering multiple tours in one year before any other rider.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I wish they could catch the guy who threw the tacks on the road today and put him in the dungeon of that castle overlooking the finish line. But at least Wiggins showed some class by waiting for Evans to catch up.

 

[landshark sa]

I fully agree. It takes a special kind of stupid to do such a thing. :head

 

[ReefTroll]

Yeah what a total twat. They think it may have been a Spanish fan. Goes hand in hand with the behaviour that gets reported about the Euskatel fans sadly. (Spitting on other teams GC riders etc)

Poor old Evan's wasn't in it this year.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Poor old Evan's wasn't in it this year.

Yeah, it was sad to see him dropped today, but its over. It looks like it would take an act of God to keep Wiggens from winning this year.

 

[ReefTroll]

Apparently he had a stomach upset. Possibly due to riding the tour so out of form, he only looked good on the flats this year poor bugger.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

It looked like Froome could have easily won today's stage if he hadn't waited for Wiggins, and probably could have won the Tour.

 

[fcallagy]

On the whole froome/Wiggins thing it does look like Froome is better but the mental pressure of wearing the yellow should be factored in as well especially for such a long period.

 

[ReefTroll]

Froome would have won last year's veulta if he didn't have to support Wiggins so much. Interesting that bernard Hinault say's Sky is supporting the wrong rider also. I doubt Froome will be at Sky much longer. He's a tour winner waiting to happen.

 

[IsaacND]

I have a feeling that if they can get Wiggins in yellow, future races might start making more sense re. focus man. They want Wiggins to be the first British person to win the tour, after that, they can focus on just winning!

 

[ReefTroll]

Doubt it, as said, Froome would have won the Vuelta, it's tabloid rather than talent.
Unlike (can I say ALL) prior tour winners, Wiggin's team 100% won it for him, where-as all the others have been able to do their own work. Sure, he won the time trial but you don't see Tony Martin winning the GC. Wiggins would NOT be in the top ten if it wasn't for Froome (who should have won this tour and would have whilst giving the rest of the team greater freedom) Porte (who could have challenged for his own stage wins this year) Boassen Hagen (who has something like 10 top 5 finishes but could have converted these into a few podiums) and Rogers who is also capable of winning the TDF (he was riding himself into a basically unasaillable lead a few years back when he crashed on the descent). Wiggins seriously gets made look good by a wonderful team. Wiggins IS a good rider, but as Hinault said, Sky are protecting the wrong rider. Wiggins Vs Nibali Vs out-of Form Evans? Wiggins wouldn't even finish on the same hill.

Pity Andy wasn't at this race. Froome would definitely have been changed to leader of Andy would be in yellow. He would have been on the 1st day of the Alps.

 

[IsaacND]

Meh, I'm a Cav man, he just happens to ride for Sky now; nothing else really concerns me!!

 

[ReefTroll]

I've tried to follow Goss, given he's in GreenEdge and an Aussie etc, but he's riddin terribly this tour. Launching in the wrong spot, losing his lead out's wheels, riding agressive more than once. Not professional this year.

 

[fcallagy]

N Roche did all right was hoping he would make the top ten but there you go still a good result and maybe in the future

 

[ReefTroll]

Was talking to the guy who runs the "Cycling Fans" website about the possibility of next years tour being :
Wiggins
V
Evans
V
Nibali
V
Froome
V
Schleck
V
Contador

and possibly Rogers.

Monstrous.

 

[landshark sa]

The possibility of that sounds tintalating!

Unfortunately this years tour was at best average. Having the two strongest riders in the same team makes for boring racing.