Giro Stage 18+19 (spoilers, of course)

[Cloozoe]

I think Floyd Froome has a nice ring to it.

[soulspinner]

how do you let Froome stay away 80km????

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by soulspinner

how do you let Froome stay away 80km????

ooopps.

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by John H.

If a rider is not an international level rider as a junior- that is how they come up. Lower level teams.
Look at guys like Michael Woods, Sven Tuft, etc..
These guys paid their dues on domestic teams too. Doesn't make them donkeys-

The switch that you talk about took many years-

I do agree with you that a team like Sky grows tour champions- But there has to be some talent to work with.
Success in cycling has many components.
Talent is only one of them.
Drive, focus, motivation, luck, crash avoidance, ability to assimilate huge training and racing loads without injury or illness...
Also drug use. But more than that- how one responds to PED's. Some are terrific responders, some are not.

And if we remove Froome from the equation- Is their a clean successor? Hardly-

Do you think 3 stage wins, a great prologue and a bunch of days in yellow by Simon Yates was clean?
Why did he crack? Likely couldn't risk taking the final blood bag.

Sven Tuft isn't currently the reigning winner for every Grand Tour on the calendar.

And your argument is Froome's doping is better than everyone else's doping? That's twisted.

[John H.]

Is your argument that all the guys who are behind Froome are behind him because they are clean?
Yes- his doping program is well developed. Developed for max benefit without testing positive (D'oh).
Also- he is a terrific responder. Maybe more than most. The same was true for Armstrong.

You also said that you felt like Froome was a "donkey who became a race horse"?
Don't you think a team like Sky does extensive testing to know what they are getting?
I agree that he may not be the best of the best in terms of natural talent- But I am sure that Sky runs extensive testing.
Basically they want to know what they are getting.
Teams don't want to sign guys if there power numbers are coming from doping- Two reasons for that.
1.) Possibility of positive tests. Look at how Horner couldn't find a top contract after a grand tour victory.
2.) If they guy is already doping, he is likely closer to his ceiling than a clean or relatively clean rider.

I would say that they tested Froome before they signed him- And came to the conclusion that he holds really good power, has not yet used a really good medical program, and has relatively high body fat (compared to where he could take it).
So they signed him and got about molding the perfect beast.

And Barloworld not being a good team to come from?
Past Riders:
Chris Froome
Daryl Impey
Robert Hunter
Geriant Thomas
Mauricio Soler
Steve Cummings

Not exactly donkeys either-

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

Sven Tuft isn't currently the reigning winner for every Grand Tour on the calendar.

And your argument is Froome's doping is better than everyone else's doping? That's twisted.

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by soulspinner

how do you let Froome stay away 80km????

Sky weakened the field. He is a better climber than the other riders left. He is a better descender than the other riders left. And the riders left did not want to work together. They made it easier for Froome.

On the descents he was in more aero positions, taking better lines and taking more risks. He looked like he wanted to win the race and the others looked like they were protecting their positions - poorly.

Jeff

[dieonthishill]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

sky weakened the field. He is a better climber than the other riders left. He is a better descender than the other riders left. And the riders left did not want to work together. They made it easier for froome.

On the descents he was in more aero positions, taking better lines and taking more risks. He looked like he wanted to win the race and the others looked like they were protecting their positions - poorly.

Jeff

+1

[weisan]

[cadence90]

.... ..
.

[ultraman6970]

What looks weird to me is that some riders left sky for other teams and none of them have even talked about what's the secret marginal gains sky pulls up with the riders.

[cadence90]

.... ..
.

[bobswire]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

Sky weakened the field. He is a better climber than the other riders left. He is a better descender than the other riders left. And the riders left did not want to work together. They made it easier for Froome.

On the descents he was in more aero positions, taking better lines and taking more risks. He looked like he wanted to win the race and the others looked like they were protecting their positions - poorly.

Jeff

That is exactly how he won that day, plus the fact no one really wanted to challenge his initial break with 80km to go probably thinking it was a ruse. Froome's eyes were glued to his PM for the most part and knows his limits, more than most. I began appreciating Froome as racer and rider ever since he joined forces with Sagan on a stage in the 2016 TDF, Sagan won that stage but Froome took time from his challengers that day. Also in that same TDF Froome won a stage by taking a daring downhill attack. I don't understand why he's belittled for his style and disliked so much beyond the TUE suspicions.

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by cadence90

...


Got it.

.

We all have got what you think - over 15 negative Froome posts in this thread seems pretty clear. I don't have to agree with you though.

Jeff

[SleepyCyclist]

It was a really exciting race! Loved it.

This was an interesting watch:
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/990908893730656257

Some interesting analysis of the key stage:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dekk...-transparency/

As many have pointed out, seems the audacity of the attack, risks on the descent, lack of teamwork among the chasers were the keys. The times of the actual climbs were similar.

[ultraman6970]

Interesting what decker says, thats how I feel too. You read or hear Sky they are saying nothing.

Looks like we will never know.

Good racing tho.