2012 Froome = 2007 Rasmussen ?

[GuyGadois]

Watching the unbelieveable TT ride Foome did made me think, is this a repeat of Michael Rasmussen of the 2007 TDF. Both guys really known for hill climbing absolutely tear it up in the time trial beating TT specialists. Maybe it's all the doping over the years that has made me now suspect all standouts and not believe the unbelievable. I now a cycling cynic. Long live the race for the last respectable competition in cycling. Vive le Lanterne Rouge!

GG

[firerescuefin]

Watching the unbelieveable TT ride Foome did made me think, is this a repeat of Michael Rasmussen of the 2007 TDF. Both guys really known for hill climbing absolutely tear it up in the time trial beating TT specialists. Maybe it's all the doping over the years that has made me now suspect all standouts and not believe the unbelievable. I now a cycling cynic. Long live the race for the last respectable competition in cycling. Vive le Lanterne Rouge!

GG

Froom has been for real for awhile. Had he been Sky's first option... He would have won the Vuelta last year instead of towing Wiggins around. He is not long (will be leaving)for team Sky...at this point, if I were drafting riders for my new team, I would take Froom

[jpw]

Froome was 14th (or 16th depending on which source one believes) in a TT at the 2008 TdF. That's four years ago. He's improved. He looks incredibly conditioned, or do you think he still needs to lose more body fat?

Rasmussen's behavior was indicative of a drug user. He lied about his whereabouts to avoid the testers (he said he was away in Mexico), when in fact he was doping it up in the Italian Dolomites.

[jpw]

Froom has been for real for awhile. Had he been Sky's first option... He would have won the Vuelta last year instead of towing Wiggins around. He is not long (will be leaving)for team Sky...at this point, if I were drafting riders for my new team, I would take Froom

I can't see Wiggo beating Bertie next year, but I can see Froome giving him a run for his steak.

[Spicoli]

No surprise, he's always been a great TT'r. Course suited him perfectly too. Just coming into his own as a pro IMO... I think he will get even better in the next two years, no doubt racing for himself on another team. Which if I had to bet will not workout well for him unless it is a bigger budget team that can support him properly. Garmin or if the Shack get's rid of JB as a DS and get's someone credible, that would be a great place for him to land. Schlecks would take issue aswell but ya never know. If he ends up on a Belgian team or smaller sqaud he will fade into the sunset. Guy's like him need the year round support with one goal in mind. The Sky program is second to none and is bringing out the best in alot of those guy's, I think that has alot to do with it.

[Grant McLean]

Froom has been for real for awhile.

Yeah, Froom(e) beat both Fabian and Wiggo in the 47km TT in the 2011 Vuelta, that was even longer
than yesterdays stage. Froome has always been a solid TT guy, he was
runner up to Wiggo in the brit TT national championships in 2010.

I'm not sure how much people pay attention to races other than the Tour,
but it does seem that certain riders don't get any mainstream attention until
some result in the Tour.

http://www.steephill.tv/2011/vuelta-a-espana/#10-results-2011

[Onno]

I had exactly the same thought at OP, in part because Froome just looks so darned skinny to be that fast in the tt. I had remembered that he'd had some good results before, but good to read more details here, that it is possible for him to be this good now.

[GuyGadois]

I had exactly the same thought at OP, in part because Froome just looks so darned skinny to be that fast in the tt. I had remembered that he'd had some good results before, but good to read more details here, that it is possible for him to be this good now.

Agreed, at 6'1" 73 lbs he even looks like a Chicken. Even the Chicken was a world champ before the tour. I hope Froome is clean and it's good to see he hasn't risen to the top in a suspicious way like others. But I remain a cycling cynic :help:.

GG

[54ny77]

http://evostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Super-Chicken.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKss2pBYQ6Y

[Grant McLean]

But I remain a cycling cynic

GG

I think we're all pretty cynical these days, but it doesn't take much effort
to google a rider and have a look at some of their results before tossing
the doping hand-genade. At the very least, the discussion will be more
informed.


-g

[christian]

The Sky program is second to none and is bringing out the best in alot of those guy's, I think that has alot to do with it.Let's hope this isn't as prescient as it sounds.

[Fixed]

No wonder few kids want to be pro cyclist ,if you win people think you cheated ..
cheers

[harlond]

i think we're all pretty cynical these days, but it doesn't take much effort
to google a rider and have a look at some of their results before tossing
the doping hand-genade. At the very least, the discussion will be more
informed.


-g+1.

[GuyGadois]

I think we're all pretty cynical these days, but it doesn't take much effort
to google a rider and have a look at some of their results before tossing
the doping hand-genade. At the very least, the discussion will be more
informed.


-g

Great point.

1999
1st, Mountain Bike World Champion (cross-country)

2002
1st, Giro dell'Emilia
1st Stage 4, Tour of Burgos

2003
7th Overall, Vuelta a España
1st Stage 7

2004
1st Stage 6, Dauphiné Libéré
14th Overall, Tour de France
3rd King of Mountains Classification
Combativity Award, Stage 13, Stage 15

2005
7th Overall, Tour de France
1st King of Mountains Classification
1st, Stage 9
Combativity Award, Stage 9

2006
18th Overall, Tour de France
1st King of Mountains Classification
1st, Stage 16
Combativity award, Stage 16

Those were Rasussen's results before being caught in the 2007 TDF while wearing the yellow jersey. My point wasn't to accuse Foome it was to point out that in today's cycling (or any sport for that matter) its hard to be a believer.

[Grant McLean]

My point wasn't to accuse Foome it was to point out that in today's cycling (or any sport for that matter) its hard to be a believer.

Fair enough. I suppose I was responding more to the characterization
that Froome is only a climber, or that it was somehow 'unbelievable'
that he rode well in a TT, he's rode good TT's before. Not that he can't
be a doper.

-g

[torquer]

If he ends up on a Belgian team or smaller sqaud he will fade into the sunset. Guy's like him need the year round support with one goal in mind. The Sky program is second to none and is bringing out the best in alot of those guy's, I think that has alot to do with it.
Where would you locate BMC in that continuum?
They've got the deep pockets, and could bring Froome on board to bridge the generational gap between Cadel (sorry, but past his prime) and Tejay.

[rice rocket]

Where would you locate BMC in that continuum?
They've got the deep pockets, and could bring Froome on board to bridge the generational gap between Cadel (sorry, but past his prime) and Tejay.

One year after he wins the TdF GC, he's past his prime? :eek: He must ripen faster than a banana!

[jpw]

Froome signed a three year contract at the end of last year. He's not leaving Sky. Wiggins will decline inside of that time frame.

[Fixed]

One year after he wins the TdF GC, he's past his prime? :eek: He must ripen faster than a banana!

Evans is old for a t.d.f. Champ
But you know what ? growth Hormone makes 35 the new 29
Cheers

[Nooch]

Evans is old for a t.d.f. Champ
But you know what ? growth Hormone makes 35 the new 29
Cheers

Fixed: "Bazinga!
Cheers"

[Spicoli]

Let's hope this isn't as prescient as it sounds.

HAHAHA:eek: cant really argue with ya on that:)

"Where would you locate BMC in that continuum?
They've got the deep pockets, and could bring Froome on board to bridge the generational gap between Cadel (sorry, but past his prime) and Tejay."
....Tour is far from over and even if Cadel does not win this year, he will be back to try again the next few years. Very hard to repeat, whether it's motivation or the body needing a break. I believe Cadel is still hungry and capable of winning it or another Grand Tour in the next few years. Tejay will watch, learn, and work his ass off while he does his time. Hopefully they bring him along properly and he takes over from Evans in 3-4 years. That would be awesome for the USA! Especially because Phinney will be winning Roubaix by then too!:)

"Froome signed a three year contract at the end of last year. He's not leaving Sky. Wiggins will decline inside of that time frame."
....If Froome grabs a second or third place podium at this years Tour, someone will buy him out and he will be more than willing to strike out on his own IMO. That said...they still have two weeks to go, alot can happen! Wiggo can crash out...Froome wins it, Cadel has a great last week, so much can happen. It aint over till it's over. But if he goes top three I'd bet someone buy's themselves a GC guy. Also if Wiggo wins and Froome is top three, Wiggo will be Knighted and become a National hero. He will be able to lead Sky into his 60's at that point and no one will question it;)

[pdmtong]

Recall the chicken ran into a ditch on the final TT five years ago. I hope that Froome stays upright in a few weeks. happy to see him have a moment in the sun. maybe he'llpull what horner did to levi (see ATOC 2011 sierra road) on wiggo if lamb chops cant hang in the high mtns.