Wiggins vs Froome vs Everyone Else?
Discussion
I got bored of this conversation last year during the TDF, but I'm going to re-ignite it in respect of the latest news that Wiggins isn't necessarily going to let the TDF title slip in 2013: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/13/bradle...
During the mountains of last year, I frequently heard the cry that Wiggins was holding Froome up. Well, I never really saw it like that. I saw Wiggins riding only as hard as he needed to to win in the mountains, which is the smart thing to do, right? When it came to the time-trials, where the TDF was won and lost, Wiggins' dominance was absolute.
That's not to take anything away from Froome, you have to be a supreme athlete to come second in The Tour, but Wiggins rode smart as well as hard, and that's clearly what it takes.
In other news: 2014 Tour to start in the Yorkshire Dales, with a stage in London too! http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/14/yorksh...
During the mountains of last year, I frequently heard the cry that Wiggins was holding Froome up. Well, I never really saw it like that. I saw Wiggins riding only as hard as he needed to to win in the mountains, which is the smart thing to do, right? When it came to the time-trials, where the TDF was won and lost, Wiggins' dominance was absolute.
That's not to take anything away from Froome, you have to be a supreme athlete to come second in The Tour, but Wiggins rode smart as well as hard, and that's clearly what it takes.
In other news: 2014 Tour to start in the Yorkshire Dales, with a stage in London too! http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/14/yorksh...
pablo said:
I am quickly getting the impression that there has been a breakdown of communication between certain parties at Sky over the last 6-8 weeks.... Sky need to either make some big decisions quickly or hope that natural selection takes control of the situation.
Well, the confusion is good in terms of throwing competitors off the scent.Mr Gear said:
In other news: 2014 Tour to start in the Yorkshire Dales, with a stage in London too! http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/14/yorksh...
So there will be two stages in Yorkshire on the 5/6 July then one "finishing in London"? Sounds great!
Mr Gear said:
pablo said:
I am quickly getting the impression that there has been a breakdown of communication between certain parties at Sky over the last 6-8 weeks.... Sky need to either make some big decisions quickly or hope that natural selection takes control of the situation.
Well, the confusion is good in terms of throwing competitors off the scent.Mr Gear said:
Well, the confusion is good in terms of throwing competitors off the scent.
Only if it is well scripted and choreographed by Sky... at the moment it looks shambolic and I would guess that the other teams will know exactly whats going on at Sky, the pro tour "family" is quite small so the teams will know if Sky are bluffing or if there is a real comms breakdown between Brailsford, Wiggo and Froome. Jimbo. said:
Bertie will tear Froome and Wiggins a new one I fear, made all the easier for him by the imminent implosion at Team Sky...
I think there will be a few surprises, Pinot, Rodriguez, Van Garderren all raised a few eyebrows on their way, then add the usual supsects, Froome, Wiggins, Schleck, Nibbles and Co, then the chancers like Sagan and Valverde..... and every year i say "this is the year Lars Boom will come good...." 
who knows, no one would have put money on Hesdejal winning the Giro so I think saying Bertie has yellow in the bag is a bit premature.
interesting little thread here: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1937...
This years tour Froome was chaperone to Wiggins, by team order, he couldve cleared off in the mountains and was told by Wiggins to go at his own pace but stayed with Wiggins.
Next year why not let them spur each other on and let them fight it out between the time trials and mountains?
Brailsford aint daft, he'll do the right thing.
Next year why not let them spur each other on and let them fight it out between the time trials and mountains?
Brailsford aint daft, he'll do the right thing.
B1G GK said:
This years tour Froome was chaperone to Wiggins, by team order, he couldve cleared off in the mountains and was told by Wiggins to go at his own pace but stayed with Wiggins.
Next year why not let them spur each other on and let them fight it out between the time trials and mountains?
Brailsford aint daft, he'll do the right thing.
All that'll do is take time out of each other, killing themselves whilst Bertie et al just get on with it.Next year why not let them spur each other on and let them fight it out between the time trials and mountains?
Brailsford aint daft, he'll do the right thing.
B1G GK said:
This years tour Froome was chaperone to Wiggins, by team order, he couldve cleared off in the mountains and was told by Wiggins to go at his own pace but stayed with Wiggins.
Next year why not let them spur each other on and let them fight it out between the time trials and mountains?
Brailsford aint daft, he'll do the right thing.
Are we still having this discussion? Ok, Froome could have made a few seconds on Wiggo at the top of a mountain. But Wiggo put a minute into him on the TT...Next year why not let them spur each other on and let them fight it out between the time trials and mountains?
Brailsford aint daft, he'll do the right thing.
Gizmoish said:
Are we still having this discussion? Ok, Froome could have made a few seconds on Wiggo at the top of a mountain. But Wiggo put a minute into him on the TT...
Agreed. He was nearly 3 and a half minutes ahead of Froome overall and i don't think he could have made that much back over the mountains. My money is on Bertie. That attack in the Vuelta was awesome. I for one want to see that type of attacking next year and I really hope the mountain stages encourage attacks like that.
I was really pleased to see Wiggins win this year but I found it a little lacking in attacks and next year's course should encourage them!
If Froome does get team lead, who's missus is going to play the role of annoying b
h for the tour? Obviously it could be wiggo's misses, but that just feels a little too tit for tat imo. Do you think they could draft in ben swift's aunt to beal on pointlessly in interviews? Surely the other teams wouldn't be expecting it, so it might be a tactical win for team sky...
h for the tour? Obviously it could be wiggo's misses, but that just feels a little too tit for tat imo. Do you think they could draft in ben swift's aunt to beal on pointlessly in interviews? Surely the other teams wouldn't be expecting it, so it might be a tactical win for team sky...Iceman82 said:
Gizmoish said:
Are we still having this discussion? Ok, Froome could have made a few seconds on Wiggo at the top of a mountain. But Wiggo put a minute into him on the TT...
Agreed. He was nearly 3 and a half minutes ahead of Froome overall and i don't think he could have made that much back over the mountains. My money is on Bertie. That attack in the Vuelta was awesome. I for one want to see that type of attacking next year and I really hope the mountain stages encourage attacks like that.
I was really pleased to see Wiggins win this year but I found it a little lacking in attacks and next year's course should encourage them!
As seen in the Vuelta, big time was taken with less than 1km to go on quite a few stages.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff