Tour de France and Chris Froome

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Tour de France and Chris Froome

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Pete53 Hassocks 20 Jul 17 5.37pm
Come Sunday Chris Froome could notch up his 4th win in the Tour. I note though that this year he hasn't won a stage during the course of the race. Now I am not a bike racing oficionado so I was wondering whether people who know more about the sport than me think that it would detract a bit from his victory - should it transpire - if he doesn't win a single stage of the event? Or is it something that has happened regularly in the past and not considered of great significance? I appreciate that cycling is a team event and that part of the art is to consistently stay ahead of your rivals rather than be first past the post. However, to me, it would be a bit like a driver winning the F1 World Championship without winning a race. Edited by Pete53 (20 Jul 2017 5.40pm)
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Pete53

Hassocks 20 Jul 17 5.37pm

Come Sunday Chris Froome could notch up his 4th win in the Tour.

I note though that this year he hasn't won a stage during the course of the race. Now I am not a bike racing oficionado so I was wondering whether people who know more about the sport than me think that it would detract a bit from his victory - should it transpire - if he doesn't win a single stage of the event? Or is it something that has happened regularly in the past and not considered of great significance?

I appreciate that cycling is a team event and that part of the art is to consistently stay ahead of your rivals rather than be first past the post. However, to me, it would be a bit like a driver winning the F1 World Championship without winning a race.

Edited by Pete53 (20 Jul 2017 5.40pm)

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glazedallover Allier 20 Jul 17 6.00pm
It is not exactly like F1 in that Le Tour is won by the rider who completes in the fastest overall time, so if you can do that without actually winning a stage so be it. I dont think it is that usual and certainly over here, the french wont be that impressed. They do like their 'grimpers' and brefer riders who are aggressive and go it alone for victory. They dont seem to like Froome or team sky much anyway, and keep asking him if he is going to try and win a stage. Tough titty, i say.
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glazedallover

Allier 20 Jul 17 6.00pm

It is not exactly like F1 in that Le Tour is won by the rider who completes in the fastest overall time, so if you can do that without actually winning a stage so be it.

I dont think it is that usual and certainly over here, the french wont be that impressed. They do like their 'grimpers' and brefer riders who are aggressive and go it alone for victory. They dont seem to like Froome or team sky much anyway, and keep asking him if he is going to try and win a stage.

Tough titty, i say.

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Mr_Gristle In the land of Whelk Eaters 21 Jul 17 2.42pm
Originally posted by Pete53 Come Sunday Chris Froome could notch up his 4th win in the Tour. I note though that this year he hasn't won a stage during the course of the race. Now I am not a bike racing oficionado so I was wondering whether people who know more about the sport than me think that it would detract a bit from his victory - should it transpire - if he doesn't win a single stage of the event? Or is it something that has happened regularly in the past and not considered of great significance? I appreciate that cycling is a team event and that part of the art is to consistently stay ahead of your rivals rather than be first past the post. However, to me, it would be a bit like a driver winning the F1 World Championship without winning a race. Edited by Pete53 (20 Jul 2017 5.40pm) Agreed. Froome and his team are reducing the Tour to a tactical exercise (a bit like modern F1). Froome is a formidable pro cyclist without a doubt, but is he the best racer? The battle for the stage win on the mountain on Thursday was proper sport. It's no wonder that Froome and his team are a long way from being universally popular despite their Yellow Jersey achievements. Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)
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Mr_Gristle

In the land of Whelk Eaters 21 Jul 17 2.42pm

Originally posted by Pete53

Come Sunday Chris Froome could notch up his 4th win in the Tour.

Edited by Pete53 (20 Jul 2017 5.40pm)

Agreed.

Froome and his team are reducing the Tour to a tactical exercise (a bit like modern F1). Froome is a formidable pro cyclist without a doubt, but is he the best racer?

The battle for the stage win on the mountain on Thursday was proper sport. It's no wonder that Froome and his team are a long way from being universally popular despite their Yellow Jersey achievements.

Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)

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lefty27 ipswich 21 Jul 17 3.37pm
Team Sky are not popular because they are on the whole boring. They do not ride with feeling or panache they ride based on watts and power metres, tech and data. Someone flys up the road and their director sportive watching in a car analyses the effort required to bring him back over a certain distance and the Sky domestiques gradually drag fromme back up to the wheel. It's dull. It's not cycling, however Fromme has ridden with panache in previous tours and done some fantastic attacks so it's not just that. For me they need to ban watt metres in race and data being used in race, maybe even ban radios to make the sport more exciting rather than a battle of number crunchers. The French also believe fromme is a doper and team sky is dodgy, big scandal re tue's over the past 12 months. Fromme will definitely want a stage win, he has always won a stage even when riding for wiggins. He will win the time trail on Saturday, which the French will hate.
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lefty27

ipswich 21 Jul 17 3.37pm

Team Sky are not popular because they are on the whole boring. They do not ride with feeling or panache they ride based on watts and power metres, tech and data.
Someone flys up the road and their director sportive watching in a car analyses the effort required to bring him back over a certain distance and the Sky domestiques gradually drag fromme back up to the wheel. It's dull. It's not cycling, however Fromme has ridden with panache in previous tours and done some fantastic attacks so it's not just that.
For me they need to ban watt metres in race and data being used in race, maybe even ban radios to make the sport more exciting rather than a battle of number crunchers.
The French also believe fromme is a doper and team sky is dodgy, big scandal re tue's over the past 12 months.
Fromme will definitely want a stage win, he has always won a stage even when riding for wiggins. He will win the time trail on Saturday, which the French will hate.

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Username Horsham 21 Jul 17 3.45pm
Froome normally does win stages, and has done in dominating and impressive fashion in the past. Difference is here, he isn't as strong and his competition is (arguably) better. It's not like he hasn't tried, he clearly wanted to win yesterday, it just didn't happen. I've seen a few complaints that the race is boring because 'nothing is happening' in the GC race, but I think it's been brilliant. 'Nothing is happening' because these guys are so well matched. Look at yesterday, Bardet had a go, Froome brought him back. Froome had a go, Uran brought him back. Landa went up the road and was caught. You could tell by the way Froome crossed the line behind Bardet that he had given absolutely everything. Could Uran have attacked a bit more? Maybe, but it's been fascinating to watch these guys slugging it out, with Dan Martin trying his hardest and Aru having a great tour up until the Alps. Aside from that though, Warren Barguil's performance in this tour might be my sporting highlight of the year. Absolutely magical to watch. Employee of the month is a good example of how someone can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.
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Username

Horsham 21 Jul 17 3.45pm

Froome normally does win stages, and has done in dominating and impressive fashion in the past. Difference is here, he isn't as strong and his competition is (arguably) better.

It's not like he hasn't tried, he clearly wanted to win yesterday, it just didn't happen.

I've seen a few complaints that the race is boring because 'nothing is happening' in the GC race, but I think it's been brilliant. 'Nothing is happening' because these guys are so well matched.

Look at yesterday, Bardet had a go, Froome brought him back. Froome had a go, Uran brought him back. Landa went up the road and was caught. You could tell by the way Froome crossed the line behind Bardet that he had given absolutely everything. Could Uran have attacked a bit more? Maybe, but it's been fascinating to watch these guys slugging it out, with Dan Martin trying his hardest and Aru having a great tour up until the Alps.

Aside from that though, Warren Barguil's performance in this tour might be my sporting highlight of the year. Absolutely magical to watch.

Employee of the month is a good example of how someone can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.

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Lyons550 Shirley 21 Jul 17 3.48pm
Originally posted by Mr_Gristle Agreed. Froome and his team are reducing the Tour to a tactical exercise (a bit like modern F1). Froome is a formidable pro cyclist without a doubt, but is he the best racer? The battle for the stage win on the mountain on Thursday was proper sport. It's no wonder that Froome and his team are a long way from being universally popular despite their Yellow Jersey achievements. clearly he is the best racer if he completes the tour quicker than anyone else The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World
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Lyons550

Shirley 21 Jul 17 3.48pm

Originally posted by Mr_Gristle

Agreed.

Froome and his team are reducing the Tour to a tactical exercise (a bit like modern F1). Froome is a formidable pro cyclist without a doubt, but is he the best racer?

The battle for the stage win on the mountain on Thursday was proper sport. It's no wonder that Froome and his team are a long way from being universally popular despite their Yellow Jersey achievements.

clearly he is the best racer if he completes the tour quicker than anyone else

The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World

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glazedallover Allier 22 Jul 17 10.14am
Originally posted by Pete53 Come Sunday Chris Froome could notch up his 4th win in the Tour. I note though that this year he hasn't won a stage during the course of the race. Now I am not a bike racing oficionado so I was wondering whether people who know more about the sport than me think that it would detract a bit from his victory - should it transpire - if he doesn't win a single stage of the event? Or is it something that has happened regularly in the past and not considered of great significance? I appreciate that cycling is a team event and that part of the art is to consistently stay ahead of your rivals rather than be first past the post. However, to me, it would be a bit like a driver winning the F1 World Championship without winning a race. Edited by Pete53 (20 Jul 2017 5.40pm) There have been six previous winners of the race who did not win a stage , seven if you count Contador in 2010' who was later stripped of the title for doping. Froome will almost certainly win the GC this year., but I would not bet on him on winning the time trial today. He only managed sixth in the first one and i think apart from Geraint Thomas who won the first one but later crashed out, the other four are still riding, including the world champion Tony Martin. PS. I googled and wikied all this. None of it was stored in my head and I ireceived no texts, phone calls or postcards from any previos friends or acquaintances that i met on holiday, or that i cannot name reasons that i wont divulge. Edited by glazedallover (22 Jul 2017 10.17am)
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glazedallover

Allier 22 Jul 17 10.14am

Originally posted by Pete53

Come Sunday Chris Froome could notch up his 4th win in the Tour.

Edited by Pete53 (20 Jul 2017 5.40pm)

There have been six previous winners of the race who did not win a stage , seven if you count Contador in 2010' who was later stripped of the title for doping.

Froome will almost certainly win the GC this year., but I would not bet on him on winning the time trial today. He only managed sixth in the first one and i think apart from Geraint Thomas who won the first one but later crashed out, the other four are still riding, including the world champion Tony Martin.

PS. I googled and wikied all this. None of it was stored in my head and I ireceived no texts, phone calls or postcards from any previos friends or acquaintances that i met on holiday, or that i cannot name reasons that i wont divulge.

Edited by glazedallover (22 Jul 2017 10.17am)

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hedgehog50 Croydon 22 Jul 17 11.05am
Cycling - the most boring sport in the world? Riddled with drug abuse and now I read that many rider have had engines concealed in the frames! On top of that they all look like escapees from an episode of Thunderbirds. We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. [Orwell]
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hedgehog50

Croydon 22 Jul 17 11.05am

Cycling - the most boring sport in the world? Riddled with drug abuse and now I read that many rider have had engines concealed in the frames! On top of that they all look like escapees from an episode of Thunderbirds.

We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. [Orwell]

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gerry theagle newbury 22 Jul 17 11.44am
How these guys compete day after day is amazing,Froome and Sky just happen to be better than the rest. Certainly not boring to watch the French scenery especially in the Alps alone is brilliant,TV coverage on Chanel 24 is excellent. Well done Chris great ride.
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gerry theagle

newbury 22 Jul 17 11.44am

How these guys compete day after day is amazing,Froome and Sky just happen to be better than the rest.
Certainly not boring to watch the French scenery especially in the Alps alone is brilliant,TV coverage on Chanel 24 is excellent.
Well done Chris great ride.

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Pussay Patrol 22 Jul 17 3.29pm
Anything that pisses the frogs off gets my vote Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah
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Pussay Patrol

22 Jul 17 3.29pm

Anything that pisses the frogs off gets my vote

Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

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Username Horsham 22 Jul 17 4.12pm
Originally posted by hedgehog50 Cycling - the most boring sport in the world? Riddled with drug abuse and now I read that many rider have had engines concealed in the frames! On top of that they all look like escapees from an episode of Thunderbirds. Thanks for that contribution. Employee of the month is a good example of how someone can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.
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Username

Horsham 22 Jul 17 4.12pm

Originally posted by hedgehog50

Thanks for that contribution.

Employee of the month is a good example of how someone can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.

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