Greatest British Cyclist
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You didn't read the article, did you?
I can't gather any enthusiasm for Froome so he'll never be 'the greatest ever British Cyclist' no matter how many times he repeats it in the media.Froome seems confident he will be the greatest ever British Cyclist
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/33902784
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That's pretty inspirational stuff; obviously for very different reasons to his other youtube videos. Never realised he had an accident.Giant Trance X 2010
Specialized Tricross Sport
My Dad's old racer
Trek Marlin 29er 20120 -
Certainly not. In the first place you have the Beeb talking about cycle racing and then about Froome who seems to have won a second TDF . Not much interest to read the Beeb's conclusions after they still promote the Foul up of someone else and his invisible 7 wins.You didn't read the article, did you?
Why would I bother.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
Certainly not. In the first place you have the Beeb talking about cycle racing and then about Froome who seems to have won a second TDF . Not much interest to read the Beeb's conclusions after they still promote the Foul up of someone else and his invisible 7 wins.You didn't read the article, did you?
Why would I bother.
Not reading content must be a thing of yours: FJS was asking that question to Top_Bhoy.0 -
But I concur with Top_Bhoy so I posted my thoughts.Not reading content must be a thing of yours: FJS was asking that question to Top_Bhoy.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
For Froome, the thread title would need to be 'Greatest Cyclist with British Nationality'. I don't have a problem with someone gaining a UK passport (including, incidentally, many of the desperate who the the daily mail would happily condem to death), but I think a basic requirement of Britishness would be actually showing some affinity for the country. Putting in a few appearances at UK events might be a start ( doubtless someone will put me right on this). This, plus his total focus on GTs ( really the tour), mean he has a long way to go for me.0
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My holiday reading has been Moore's biog of Robert Millar. Can't help wondering what might have been in a different era and a DS/coach/analyst that could really connect with him.
The best British cyclist to miss GT /WC win (don't really know my history though)?0 -
Would that change my opinion on him?
You didn't read the article, did you?
I can't gather any enthusiasm for Froome so he'll never be 'the greatest ever British Cyclist' no matter how many times he repeats it in the media.Froome seems confident he will be the greatest ever British Cyclist
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/33902784
Actually I did...and it doesn't.0 -
A point of view from Ireland, on Robert Millar
http://www.irishpeloton.com/2014/06/the-great-british-enigma/0 -
Percy Stallard
"Percy Stallard... was the father of cycle racing on public roads in Britain."
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/aug/15/guardianobituaries.williamfotheringham
http://classicvikingcycles.com/articles/percy-stallard/
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/round-britain-cycle-race-aka-daily-express-tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlaZ0HRytMs0 -
Mick Ives
Still going strong
http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=52654
http://mickives.co.uk/about-me/0 -
Sean Yates
http://www.podiumcafe.com/book-corner/2013/12/2/5165706/its-all-about-the-bike-by-sean-yates
He was in Team Sky in 2012, so had first hand experience of David Brailsford's handling of Froome and Wiggins. So his comments about Brailsford might confirm Froome's side of the story in 2012.0 -
Tony Doyle for stopping the rot that was the BCF, leading to the current British Cycling
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/sproat-puts-a-spoke-in-cyclings-big-plans-1312454.html
The same Tony Doyle who sued the BCF and nearly bankrupted them?0 -
mmacavity, are you eventually just going to list all British cyclists? I think there are some interesting stories, maybe we need a whole historical section, but are any of these your real picks as a the Greatest British Cyclist?0
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Possibly.
Have we a criteria for deciding who is the Greatest British Cyclist?
Born in England, seems to be one suggestion but would exclude Mark Cavendish, Nicole Cooke, Chris Froome.
Competes in smaller domestic UK events, might exclude some pro-riders who have their race calendar decided for them by sponsors/ team managers, practicalities of a busy race schedule etc.
Do they have to be still alive?
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iKoKCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT136&lpg=PT136&dq=tony+doyle+bcf+president&source=bl&ots=yi6mKUKltt&sig=Qhqq6H1JqsMis54A3gClYxHQ_KY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBmoVChMIvMnYz_WvxwIVRVwUCh20hQvR#v=onepage&q=tony%20doyle%20bcf%20president&f=false
The BCF was in terminal decline before Tony Doyle was elected president.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/doyle-resigns-as-president-of-federation-1304172.html
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199697/cmhansrd/vo961121/debtext/61121-22.htm0 -
Born in UK also excludes Wiggins. Britis=UK passport, simple.Possibly.
Have we a criteria for deciding who is the Greatest British Cyclist?
Born in England, seems to be one suggestion but would exclude Mark Cavendish, Nicole Cooke, Chris Froome.
Competes in smaller domestic UK events, might exclude some pro-riders who have their race calendar decided for them by sponsors/ team managers, practicalities of a busy race schedule etc.
Do they have to be still alive?
Competes in smaller domestic races. Why? By definition this seems to exclude the best riders.
Alive=not necessarily.
I think your overcomplicating it.0 -
Oh good we can include Robbie McEwen then and others. ?Born in UK also excludes Wiggins. Britis=UK passport, simple.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
I always find the distinction between what is a British athlete or otherwise curious.
Mo Farrah was born in Somalia, moved to the UK aged 8 and now lives in the US. He’s considered British as he was raised here and learned his trade here.
Chris Froome was born in Kenya, learned his trade in South Africa and lives in Monaco. Yet he is British because his parents were.
The two views don’t seem very compatible. The logic that would make Chris Froome British would make Mo Farrah Somalian. And vice versa.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
I always find the distinction between what is a British athlete or otherwise curious.
Mo Farrah was born in Somalia, moved to the UK aged 8 and now lives in the US. He’s considered British as he was raised here and learned his trade here.
Chris Froome was born in Kenya, learned his trade in South Africa and lives in Monaco. Yet he is British because his parents were.
The two views don’t seem very compatible. The logic that would make Chris Froome British would make Mo Farrah Somalian. And vice versa.
Isn't Mo considered British because his father is British? So they're effectively the same?Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
Mo Farah's father is British. He's from Hounslow.I always find the distinction between what is a British athlete or otherwise curious.
Mo Farrah was born in Somalia, moved to the UK aged 8 and now lives in the US. He’s considered British as he was raised here and learned his trade here.
Chris Froome was born in Kenya, learned his trade in South Africa and lives in Monaco. Yet he is British because his parents were.
The two views don’t seem very compatible. The logic that would make Chris Froome British would make Mo Farrah Somalian. And vice versa.Twitter: @RichN950 -
They both consider themselves British.0
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You've got to appreciate the deeper lineage: Froome's family name comes from the Somerset town near where Kevin McCloud lives (albeit that place has gone for a quirky spelling, despite the pronunciation) and Farah's name comes from the standard issue trouser wear for any self-respecting British schoolboy from the 80's.I always find the distinction between what is a British athlete or otherwise curious.
Mo Farrah was born in Somalia, moved to the UK aged 8 and now lives in the US. He’s considered British as he was raised here and learned his trade here.
Chris Froome was born in Kenya, learned his trade in South Africa and lives in Monaco. Yet he is British because his parents were.
The two views don’t seem very compatible. The logic that would make Chris Froome British would make Mo Farrah Somalian. And vice versa.
Doesn't get more British than that.
They might as well be called Chris Cupoftea and Mohamed Beansontoast.0 -
You've got to appreciate the deeper lineage: Froome's family name comes from the Somerset town near where Kevin McCloud lives (albeit that place has gone for a quirky spelling, despite the pronunciation) and Farah's name comes from the standard issue trouser wear for any self-respecting British schoolboy from the 80's.I always find the distinction between what is a British athlete or otherwise curious.
Mo Farrah was born in Somalia, moved to the UK aged 8 and now lives in the US. He’s considered British as he was raised here and learned his trade here.
Chris Froome was born in Kenya, learned his trade in South Africa and lives in Monaco. Yet he is British because his parents were.
The two views don’t seem very compatible. The logic that would make Chris Froome British would make Mo Farrah Somalian. And vice versa.
Doesn't get more British than that.
They might as well be called Chris Cupoftea and Mohamed Beansontoast.
Brilliant It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
Robbie travels into and then around Europe with his United Kingdom Passport because it's quicker at the borders but don't try to tell him he is anything but Australian.(and has a passport to prove he's OZ)
Oh good we can include Robbie McEwen then and others. ?Born in UK also excludes Wiggins. Britis=UK passport, simple.
Everybody is British these days but Froomy speaks English whereas many cannot.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
By his own admission Froome doesn't do things for popularity - so he (and Brailisford) cannot be shocked to find he isn't terribly popular. 0
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There is no single definition of what it is to be British - I know some stick dogmatically to the legal definition but there are other aspects - cultural, place of birth, allegiance, parentage etc.
I don't know why it's a big deal for some people - I don't consider Froome as a British rider - he didn't come through the UK system, he has never lived here - just because some bureaucrats decided that he is eligible for a UK passport doesn't mean I have to view him as a British rider any more than it does for McEwen. Did anyone view Zola Budd as British ? People might have cheered her on because she was young, because she ran without shoes, because they didn't like Mary Decker but I doubt many did it because they thought she was British. Same with Froome, I suggest most people in the UK feel the same, they don't dislike him he just doesn't get that automatic bit of support that he would get as a Brit that the likes of Wiggins, Cav etc get.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
There is no single definition of what it is to be British - I know some stick dogmatically to the legal definition but there are other aspects - cultural, place of birth, allegiance, parentage etc.
I don't know why it's a big deal for some people - I don't consider Froome as a British rider - he didn't come through the UK system, he has never lived here - just because some bureaucrats decided that he is eligible for a UK passport doesn't mean I have to view him as a British rider any more than it does for McEwen. Did anyone view Zola Budd as British ? People might have cheered her on because she was young, because she ran without shoes, because they didn't like Mary Decker but I doubt many did it because they thought she was British. Same with Froome, I suggest most people in the UK feel the same, they don't dislike him he just doesn't get that automatic bit of support that he would get as a Brit that the likes of Wiggins, Cav etc get.
Zola Budd got a British passport because of a grandparent. Froome's parents were British so there's a significant difference. I was born to British parents in another country and I've always considered myself British first and foremost so I find Froome's position quite normal.
TBH, I think no one will ever really be satisfied with who he declared for - If he said he was Kenyan it would be "the white Kenyan" etc etc.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0
