Dauphine *spoilers*

okgo

Contador not trying? Playing it cool? Good lord, that most be the biggest steaming cable you've laid on here

He didn't show his nose to the wind, had nothing to go over the top, and couldn't even win the stage despite Froome being on the front for 7k closing down EVERY attack. I was surprised Bertie managed to stick with him, but I doubt he will be able to all week.

blazing_saddles

It's going to be quite funny when Bertie and Valverde start having a Spanish shoving match
to sit on Froome's wheel.
Maybe they should draw straws to take turns?

Percy Vera

It has been reported you can save 30% energy sitting behind someone, as they were going uphill the benefit is less, so we'll half it, say 15%.

So, Chris Froome is 15% better than Contador!

tom3

I almost want to the Dauphine to stop right now, to save the duals until the tour.

It is a mouth watering prospect. Froome/Contador 2014 may well be one to remember.

No_Ta_Doctor

frenchfighter wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

I wonder how sad Froome is that he did not drop Contador. Top marks to trying though.

probably not quite as sad as Contador is that he couldn't get past him at any point having been towed to the line.

As you would know if you had watch him race...he cannot sprint for toffee...possibly the worst GC sprinter of all...gets dropped on almost every MT sprint.

Whereas Froome is the King of the MT Sprints?

Please try not to be so condescending. Your man made a brave effort to stay with Froome and managed to do so. It wasn't a masterpiece of tactical racing or a stroke of genius, but he stuck in. That's fine, that's cycling, I have no issue with it, in fact I praise it. At times he looked like he might have a little more in reserve, but by the end he was fighting. But in terms of any show of strength, Froome pulled him for 7km, closed numerous attacks from others, put his own bursts in and still held on to take the stage and the time bonus. I know which rider will be happier with that.

inseine

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

This parcours is mouthwatering. Check this final one out...the 28% at the end is a bit much though:

Apparently the 28% is an error - it's nothing like that at the end.

I've seen quite a few articles that suggest it is.........

On peut prolonger la montée jusqu'au 2° barrage : Lac du Vieux-Emosson à 2204 m d'altitude. Goudron moyen, mais praticable. En fin de montée, rampe vertigineuse à 26% (!! oui, oui).

adr82

inseine wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

This parcours is mouthwatering. Check this final one out...the 28% at the end is a bit much though:

Apparently the 28% is an error - it's nothing like that at the end.

I've seen quite a few articles that suggest it is.........

On peut prolonger la montée jusqu'au 2° barrage : Lac du Vieux-Emosson à 2204 m d'altitude. Goudron moyen, mais praticable. En fin de montée, rampe vertigineuse à 26% (!! oui, oui).

I choose to trust inrng :P

dsoutar

frenchfighter wrote:

I have said nothing inflammatory, goading...

Ahem:

frenchfighter wrote:

Contador just played him nicely and wasn't on his limit. Froome looked like he was going 110%. If he wants to hop like a randy chicken then Contador is wise not to play with the ego. Contador may well take him out later this week

frenchfighter wrote:

I wonder how sad Froome is that he did not drop Contador. Top marks to trying though.

I'm afraid FF you were either watching a different race to everyone else or you need to try viewing in HD; the top six guys were all well in the red. The conclusion of your remarks above is that Contador gifted Froome the stage and one might acuse Bertie of many things but being stupid enough to give your main rival time is not something Contador's ever likely to do if he can avoid it

Good to see the kids (Kelderman, Talansky and Yates) at the sharp end of a pretty brusing finish

frenchfighter

No tA Doctor wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

I wonder how sad Froome is that he did not drop Contador. Top marks to trying though.

probably not quite as sad as Contador is that he couldn't get past him at any point having been towed to the line.

As you would know if you had watch him race...he cannot sprint for toffee...possibly the worst GC sprinter of all...gets dropped on almost every MT sprint.

Whereas Froome is the King of the MT Sprints?

Please try not to be so condescending. Your man made a brave effort to stay with Froome and managed to do so. It wasn't a masterpiece of tactical racing or a stroke of genius, but he stuck in. That's fine, that's cycling, I have no issue with it, in fact I praise it. At times he looked like he might have a little more in reserve, but by the end he was fighting. But in terms of any show of strength, Froome pulled him for 7km, closed numerous attacks from others, put his own bursts in and still held on to take the stage and the time bonus. I know which rider will be happier with that.

What are you talking about? I commended Froome. I commended Contador also as in this circumstance he did the best thing. Yes as it happens Froome is a better sprinter than Contador.

frenchfighter

Chaps let's face it. It was exciting but ineffectual and not very tactical. Personally I love that. However he put no time into Contador and 4secs into 3rd. You could argue he got tired of Contador not helping so sat up a touch...who knows.

Also those saying he tried to come round at the end - he didnt do that once. Re-watch it. Moving half a metre to the left with no change in cadence or attempt to come past does not constitute an attack.
Also, to call Contador a wheelsucker or opportunist is ignorant. Re-watch the last five years of racing. He is a master tactictian into the bargain.
He wouldnt come round anyway as he is a gentleman - you can be sure even if he could come round he wouldnt have.
Contador has gifted stages before - you dont do that if you are a dickhead.

adr82

Carry on Frenchie

above_the_cows

It doesn't look like 28% on googlemaps.

https://www.google.nl/maps/place/Lac+d%27Emosson/@46.0617874,6.9357756,494a,35y,77.95t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x478eb1836fe2eee7:0xe1222adb64b43b33

Oh well we shall see...

TheBigBean

Percy Vera wrote:

It has been reported you can save 30% energy sitting behind someone, as they were going uphill the benefit is less, so we'll half it, say 15%.

So, Chris Froome is 15% better than Contador!

Science aside - the resistance is proportional to the velocity squared, so at lower speeds there isn't much of a saving.

Daz555

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

frenchfighter

dsoutar wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

I have said nothing inflammatory, goading...

Ahem:

frenchfighter wrote:

Contador just played him nicely and wasn't on his limit. Froome looked like he was going 110%. If he wants to hop like a randy chicken then Contador is wise not to play with the ego. Contador may well take him out later this week

frenchfighter wrote:

I wonder how sad Froome is that he did not drop Contador. Top marks to trying though.

I'm afraid FF you were either watching a different race to everyone else or you need to try viewing in HD; the top six guys were all well in the red. The conclusion of your remarks above is that Contador gifted Froome the stage and one might acuse Bertie of many things but being stupid enough to give your main rival time is not something Contador's ever likely to do if he can avoid it

Good to see the kids (Kelderman, Talansky and Yates) at the sharp end of a pretty brusing finish

What are you talking about.
Randy chicken is inflammatory or goading to other forum members? No.
Second point - well what about it. Here we go: I gave everything today (Froome)...so if he did that and didnt drop Froome yes he would be disappointed...why would he be happy?
Third point - if he could have dropped Froome for 30secs he would have done it...he couldnt and as described he wouldnt come through in the last 100m. That much effort to get 4 secs on Wilco and 45secs on 10th is not great and there are tough stages to come. Froome got a bit carried away and wanted to stamp his authority...fine, great for the fans but not the best move for the bank balance.

You need to think before you post stuff as easy to counter.

mroli

Interesting though - all the dicking about did allow riders to come back to them. Froome didn't do anything like the effort that he did at Ventoux last year when he launched "solo" with 8km to go. He just failed to drop Contador this time round/Contador bravely hung on and then eased off to recover and have another go, which would also have allowed Contador to recover. If Contador wasn't "full gas", I don't think Froome was either.

frenchfighter

mroli wrote:

Interesting though - all the dicking about did allow riders to come back to them. Froome didn't do anything like the effort that he did at Ventoux last year when he launched "solo" with 8km to go. He just failed to drop Contador this time round/Contador bravely hung on and then eased off to recover and have another go, which would also have allowed Contador to recover. If Contador wasn't "full gas", I don't think Froome was either.

I gave everything today
-Froome

RichN95.

Daz555 wrote:

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

I think they'll select him for the Tour regardless. But the needs to show something next weekend I feel or he'll doing the Danny Pate role.

greeny12

frenchfighter wrote:

He wouldnt come round anyway as he is a gentleman - you can be sure even if he could come round he wouldnt have.
Contador has gifted stages before - you dont do that if you are a dickhead.

Oh please FF, it's no secret I can't stand Froome and I'd have loved Contador to have duffed him up today (any port in a storm etc.) but even I can't deny that was a super strong and deserved win.

Don't make yourself look silly with this 'gifting' talk

dsoutar

inseine wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

This parcours is mouthwatering. Check this final one out...the 28% at the end is a bit much though:

Apparently the 28% is an error - it's nothing like that at the end.

I've seen quite a few articles that suggest it is.........

On peut prolonger la montée jusqu'au 2° barrage : Lac du Vieux-Emosson à 2204 m d'altitude. Goudron moyen, mais praticable. En fin de montée, rampe vertigineuse à 26% (!! oui, oui).

Strava (and yes, it isn't known to be totally reliable but that's a discussion on another forum) has it below, only has about 14% max at the finish in one segment and less in others

http://www.strava.com/segments/4550486
http://www.strava.com/segments/7243502
http://www.strava.com/segments/5130173
http://www.strava.com/segments/5224588

frenchfighter

greeny12 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

He wouldnt come round anyway as he is a gentleman - you can be sure even if he could come round he wouldnt have.
Contador has gifted stages before - you dont do that if you are a dickhead.

Oh please FF, it's no secret I can't stand Froome and I'd have loved Contador to have duffed him up today (any port in a storm etc.) but even I can't deny that was a super strong and deserved win.

Don't make yourself look silly with this 'gifting' talk

I've commended Froome a few times. Few others have.
I am not suggesting Contador gifted Froome the stage at all. Re-read what I said.

frenchfighter

@albertocontador · 16m
Hot and busy day in Dauphiné,engine at high rpm,but getting better day by day. Tomorrow more! @tinkoff_saxo

above_the_cows

RichN95 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

I think they'll select him for the Tour regardless. But the needs to show something next weekend I feel or he'll doing the Danny Pate role.

Yes back to Toblerone Boy. He is not looking very super at all. He talks like he knows he's going to the Tour, but...

The most positive spin one can possibly put on it is that it was a calculated decision as he knew his services were not required and so he sat up rather than burn himself out early in the race trying to cling on to Froome's coat tails like he did a few times last year (stage 8 TDF? and then the Stage 9 mare). Time will tell, there's nowhere to hide out there on the road.

Paulie W

Froome looked very strong and so did Contador. On the day, Froome looked slightly the stronger but that is today and not in July - it would be easy for both men to take great heart from today or to allow it to sow some seeds of doubt as a case could be argued that Froome's failure to gain more than the time bonus was poor return for all that effort or that while Contador was able to go with Froome he didnt have the strength to go past him when logic dictated he was in the stronger position to do so. All that is certain is that this was top notch racing and we should focus on that.

Percy Vera

I gave everything today to sit on Froomes wheel.
-Contador


My Spanish isn't so good, but I'm guessing that's what he said.

No_Ta_Doctor

Above The Cows wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

I think they'll select him for the Tour regardless. But the needs to show something next weekend I feel or he'll doing the Danny Pate role.

Yes back to Toblerone Boy. He is not looking very super at all. He talks like he knows he's going to the Tour, but...

The most positive spin one can possibly put on it is that it was a calculated decision as he knew his services were not required and so he sat up rather than burn himself out early in the race trying to cling on to Froome's coat tails like he did a few times last year (stage 8 TDF? and then the Stage 9 mare). Time will tell, there's nowhere to hide out there on the road.

I missed the bit where he sat up. Did he take a turn before dropping? If so, it's also interesting that it was early and not last man.

Paulie W

Above The Cows wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

I think they'll select him for the Tour regardless. But the needs to show something next weekend I feel or he'll doing the Danny Pate role.

Yes back to Toblerone Boy. He is not looking very super at all. He talks like he knows he's going to the Tour, but...

The most positive spin one can possibly put on it is that it was a calculated decision as he knew his services were not required and so he sat up rather than burn himself out early in the race trying to cling on to Froome's coat tails like he did a few times last year (stage 8 TDF? and then the Stage 9 mare). Time will tell, there's nowhere to hide out there on the road.

You'd have to assume that Porte's 'numbers' are telling the story that he is on course for the Tour and either that will become more apparent over the next week or more likely those numbers just arent translating to the road.

dsoutar

I do think Froome was tactically a bit naive today in allowing the other GC contenders to come back when him and Contador had put in attacks; he didn't necessarily look like he was slowing for recovery although I guess appearances can be deceptive as it was only in the last 500m that he looked like he was going full bore

He potentially could have just confined the GC battle to him and Contador (or at least made that more likely) which would have reduced the need to cover attacks by the others in later stages

above_the_cows

No tA Doctor wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

I think they'll select him for the Tour regardless. But the needs to show something next weekend I feel or he'll doing the Danny Pate role.

Yes back to Toblerone Boy. He is not looking very super at all. He talks like he knows he's going to the Tour, but...

The most positive spin one can possibly put on it is that it was a calculated decision as he knew his services were not required and so he sat up rather than burn himself out early in the race trying to cling on to Froome's coat tails like he did a few times last year (stage 8 TDF? and then the Stage 9 mare). Time will tell, there's nowhere to hide out there on the road.

I missed the bit where he sat up. Did he take a turn before dropping? If so, it's also interesting that it was early and not last man.

They didn't show it, or if they did I missed it, I just saw him out the back. But as you say it is interesting he was that far down the pecking order, he was riding either behind Froome or ahead of Nieve and sometimes Thomas for the second to last climb and the run in to the last climb for what it's worth.

Or perhaps Alan the mechanic just put too many weights on his new bike to make it legal?

Richie Porte ‏@richie_porte

New Dogma F8 is pretty lean! My mechanic Alan has to find some weight to make it legal #dilemmas http://instagram.com/p/o_NCJ_CiCG/

https://twitter.com/richie_porte/status/475655701105082369

above_the_cows

Paulie W wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

So, Porte.

Not looking very super-domestique is he?

I think they'll select him for the Tour regardless. But the needs to show something next weekend I feel or he'll doing the Danny Pate role.

Yes back to Toblerone Boy. He is not looking very super at all. He talks like he knows he's going to the Tour, but...

The most positive spin one can possibly put on it is that it was a calculated decision as he knew his services were not required and so he sat up rather than burn himself out early in the race trying to cling on to Froome's coat tails like he did a few times last year (stage 8 TDF? and then the Stage 9 mare). Time will tell, there's nowhere to hide out there on the road.

You'd have to assume that Porte's 'numbers' are telling the story that he is on course for the Tour and either that will become more apparent over the next week or more likely those numbers just arent translating to the road.

He says his numbers are there, well not actually he says he thinks they're there. This is what he says: "I’m not massive on the whole numbers thing, but I think my numbers are better than they were this time last year. It’s not ideal to have missed all the racing that I did. But if there’s one thing that’s of benefit, it’s that I’ll be going into the Tour much fresher this year than I was last year."

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/54720/richie-porte-on-wiggins-the-tour-transfers-and-missing-the-giro

(I've come over all RR).

But as I was just discussing on the twatters, numbers cucumbers if it isn't there on the road when it matters.