Ride On
Posts:537
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| 06/08/2014 10:25 PM |
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Froome .... He kicked some ass today. If he does that again tomorrow, July will be a bore. |
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stronz
Posts:447
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| 06/09/2014 11:44 AM |
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| well this should be the Dauphine spoiler, no? Anyways -- I think AC is sizing him up. I didnt see the stage so not sure if AC was on the limit. I think AC is trying to measure his outputs -- he's riding the Dauphine, tour and vuelta. So he either couldnt attack or didnt want to. In any case he seems closer to Froomey this year than last. Froome may still be the best, but the tour is a beast. I could easily see Valverde and Contador trying to work over Froome at the tour. Sky's tour team will probably not be as strong as saxo or movistar. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 06/09/2014 01:20 PM |
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If Contador is on his usual schedule, Froome should be worrying. Contador hasn't raced in two months. Typically he aims to peak for the third week in July. Froome attacked Contador 5 times if I read the written live account correctly and managed to get 4 bonus seconds. This on a climb that doesn't really play into Contador's hand
I say, let Froome kick all the a** he wants this week. He probably needs to win this to show the world who is boss, especially inside Sky. Contador needs this week for quality speed work but he doesn't need to win. (I'm betting that if he finishes each stage within 5 seconds of Froome, he will be sleeping very soundly and Froome will be worried.)
Ben |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 06/09/2014 01:37 PM |
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| If I am Contador, I am not panicking. He will have some time to touch up the form before July. Alberto is losing, but he is not being spanked. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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CERV
Posts:151
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| 06/09/2014 01:56 PM |
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SPOILER POST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRXcCOip7Dk
T wouldn't call this morning a spanking. Those were some crazy accelerations, reminiscent of contador and the chicken in 2007. Contador never came around, but also never looked in real difficulty matching him.
At the finish it didn't look like Contador quite had it in him to come around, but like others have said, if Contador is back on his old pre-tour build schedule, Froome should be concerned about the 3rd week of the tour. Nibali, on the other hand didn't look so hot.
Tough to draw too much from it. Fresh legs for both with no recent race days, first day jitters, psychological games, all that. Nice to see some other unexpected younger guys up there holding their own too.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 06/09/2014 01:59 PM |
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Didn't we establish Froome won't make it past the cobbles :-)
I like how Kelderman rides coming off a solid Giro. I think the Orange have finally got one for the future. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 06/09/2014 03:09 PM |
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Posted By CERV __ on 06/09/2014 01:56 PM
SPOILER POST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRXcCOip7Dk
Those were some crazy accelerations, reminiscent of contador and the chicken in 2007.
Ugh...those were the most violent attacks and counterattacks I have ever seen in a Grand tour. Dudes were throwing haymakers. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 06/09/2014 05:38 PM |
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| The original post was after the TT, not today's climbing stage. Froome just needs to hold his own in the mountains, he can gain time in the TT. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 06/09/2014 07:22 PM |
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Ride On, even in the TT Frome should have a little concern. He got what, 5 seconds in 10k? So 20 seconds in 40k. And he got a lot of that on the corners late. That's not going to happen in July!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 06/09/2014 09:25 PM |
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| Remind me how often the dauphine winner wins the Tour vs rides the Tour but does not win. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 06/09/2014 10:12 PM |
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You guys,
Froome has got his 2nd win in the bag. I'll tag this thread and post it up at the end of the tour. I do hope I'm wrong, but this thread is the most fun we will have. Once it starts it will be over before we know it. |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 06/10/2014 06:55 AM |
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| Ride on - We all hope you are wrong. R Port didn't look that good and if that continues throughout this week then BW maybe going to the Tour after all. So once all the planets are in line then Froome will suffer on the cobbles or test positive and BW will take over. Now that would be an epic tour otherwise it's going to suck. |
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stronz
Posts:447
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| 06/10/2014 09:28 AM |
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Pin0 -- that scenario is soooo delicious and crunclhy - sweet and savory all at once! And it could happen. I watched yesterdays climb on steephill and would make the following observation. Both AC an Froome were in the big ring the whole way up. Not really an indicator if what they'll be doing in July. The climb later this week is much steeper and it remains to be seen which rider it will favor.
My feeling from actually watching it is that Contador has the upper hand. I think he really was sizing up Froome and holding some powder back. Yeah he couldnt go around him in the end but I think had he wanted to win he would have tried earlier. Froome was clearly on the limit I did not sense that AC was. In terms of racing savvy and strength of team I still give the edge to Contador and Saxo. Lets not forget AC has been been stripped of more GTs than Froome has won and even so AC still has more GT wins after that. You dont do that without being a sneaky assassin. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 06/10/2014 10:40 AM |
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Q: What will be a good result for you in Dauphiné?
AC: To analyze my performance, have a good physical recovery, and especially in the 10 days following the end of the race. I can use the feedback I get from Dauphiné to alter and add the final details to my shape. Like I said upthread, and apparently Contador is thinking the same, this race is a perfect chance to test the form and follow up with some last minute training changes to prepare for the TdF. One slip up by Sky and Alberto is going for the throat.
Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/06/news/two-dauphine-stages-clear-alberto-contador-back-form_331213#UpKpr3Y2RCvgOIOI.99 |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/10/2014 10:56 AM |
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I agree that AC doesn't really care about the DL......that said, I kinda doubt he can beat Froome come July.
Honestly, this all kinda sounds like everyone talking up the Spurs against the Heat. Sorry, it just ain't gonna happen (unfortunately).
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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