Froome KA BOOOM

redvision

Rick Chasey wrote:

Slightly hilly TTs actually create bigger time gaps for TT specialists over climbers than super fast flat TTs, save for ones with monster headwinds.

Sometimes.

I still maintain though that Froome would have been disappointed not to take more than 1'45 out of Pozzovivo on a 34km TT route which suited him. Therefore that his performance yesterday was not an indication that he is back on form, or that Pozzovivo is tiring.

blazing_saddles

redvision wrote:

Pozzovivo has never been good at TT's. And apart from the one stage (which Froome won) he has never looked like he was struggling on any of the climbs. So i don't see where this confidence that he may be about to fall apart is coming from.

I don't Pozzovivo will fall apart. I haven't said that.
Just that to me, he and Pinot don't look to be going quite as well as they in the first ten days of the race.
Both were dominant in the Tour of the Alps, which was a month ago, now.
I hope that I am wrong and that both are able to attack in the high Alps.

blazing_saddles

Looks like Froome's climbing crew for the Tour might be getting a significant boost, or is it time for Rich to wheel out that photo again?

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racin ... nce-380919

RichN95.

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Looks like Froome's climbing crew for the Tour might be getting a significant boost, or is it time for Rich to wheel out that photo again?

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racin ... nce-380919

No, not yet. According to somewhere I can't remember they want protect him from hype and expectation by having him make his GT debut with no pressure in Froome's shadow rather than being seen as a potential winner at the Vuelta.

(Edit: Having read the article rather than just the URL that's exactly what it says)

shipley

Unless he’s banned

No_Ta_Doctor

Froome's real form is still pretty much unknown. You don't win on Zoncolan without having something in your tank - even given how deep he went for it. The TT was decent but not incredible, though he's said he was maybe a touch cautious on the corners. It's well within the bounds of possibility that he's the strongest rider this week.

It's entirely feasible he can catch Pozzovivo on racing alone, though far from a given.

Anyone in the top 3 or 4 can win a GT in the third week, just by bad luck for those ahead of them. Might not be very likely, but it only takes a dose of the shits and a crash or two and you're in pink. It's never done until you're safe in Rome.

rick_chasey

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Aye I’d suggest it’s less likely than it is.

Pozzovivo has been around the block and he’s not normally any worse in week three.

He’s outclimed Froome significantly (hence still being ahead after two TTs) and even on the day Froome put everyone (including tomorrow’s Froome) to the sword Poz wasn’t all that far behind.

I get Froome is #1GT rider of his generation and Pozzovivo is at best a top 10 Giro rider but last 2 weeks say Pozzovivo is OK.

Yeah, but the short fast climbs that Pozzovivo has taken time on are behind them. The final climbs from now of the steady 10km type which favour Froome. Plus Pozzovivo's team isn't that strong.

Also early in this Giro (and in the Tour of the Alps) Pozzovivo looked in the form of his life. He's looking a lot more normal recently.

Seemed alright today..!

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Aye I’d suggest it’s less likely than it is.

Pozzovivo has been around the block and he’s not normally any worse in week three.

He’s outclimed Froome significantly (hence still being ahead after two TTs) and even on the day Froome put everyone (including tomorrow’s Froome) to the sword Poz wasn’t all that far behind.

I get Froome is #1GT rider of his generation and Pozzovivo is at best a top 10 Giro rider but last 2 weeks say Pozzovivo is OK.

Yeah, but the short fast climbs that Pozzovivo has taken time on are behind them. The final climbs from now of the steady 10km type which favour Froome. Plus Pozzovivo's team isn't that strong.

Also early in this Giro (and in the Tour of the Alps) Pozzovivo looked in the form of his life. He's looking a lot more normal recently.

Seemed alright today..!

He did. But that was just a bit of anti-pasta before two heavy main courses. I was surprised any of the top four dropped anything.

rick_chasey

surely his successful attack shows it’s not necessarily the knee?

After all, I thought we all felt _____/ profiles really suit Froome?

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

surely his successful attack shows it’s not necessarily the knee?

After all, I thought we all felt _____/ profiles really suit Froome?

The knee is probably getting better. He's not wearing the blue tape anymore. He still took time to respond to the first big acceleration (by Dumoulin, I think)

bobmcstuff

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

surely his successful attack shows it’s not necessarily the knee?

After all, I thought we all felt _____/ profiles really suit Froome?

The knee is probably getting better. He's not wearing the blue tape anymore. He still took time to respond to the first big acceleration (by Dumoulin, I think)

Doesn't he always take time to respond to big accelerations?

RichN95.

bobmcstuff wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

surely his successful attack shows it’s not necessarily the knee?

After all, I thought we all felt _____/ profiles really suit Froome?

The knee is probably getting better. He's not wearing the blue tape anymore. He still took time to respond to the first big acceleration (by Dumoulin, I think)

Doesn't he always take time to respond to big accelerations?

These days, yes. But he's usually better than in the first half of this race.

m.r.m.

Tactically it isn't always sensible to respond. Not responding cajoles others into responding. It's all part of the dance.

twotoebenny

KA BOOOM Indeed

joey54321

Wow, just wow.

topper_harley

Greatness...that's all

Pross

Froome is finished

blazing_saddles

So, I got Pozzo right after all....

chuuurles

Now that was a performance i can believe in !

rick_chasey

Yeah can’t say Froome’s Lazarus efforts hold my predictions in good stead.

chuuurles

Rick Chasey wrote:

Yeah can’t say Froome’s Lazarus efforts hold my predictions in good stead.

what were your predictions?

above_the_cows

Vino? Vino are you there?

tonyf34

redvision wrote:

I think all this talk that Froome is going to have a magnificent final week and could sweep everyone aside is very premature and almost amusing.

Absolute gold and very amusing

No_Ta_Doctor

Can we please have a moment's silence for Richmond Racer 2?

above_the_cows

No tA Doctor wrote:

Can we please have a moment's silence for Richmond Racer 2?

I worry for London's gin reserves or wherever she is this weekend.

bobmcstuff

tonyf34 wrote:

redvision wrote:

I think all this talk that Froome is going to have a magnificent final week and could sweep everyone aside is very premature and almost amusing.

Absolute gold and very amusing

Haha, brilliant.

To be fair, while I think everyone thought Froome would try to attack, they didn't think it would be like this!

tim000

it`s not over yet though .

bobmcstuff

tim000 wrote:

it`s not over yet though .

Even if he doesn't win, that was still a remarkable performance (magnificent, you could say...)

topper_harley

tim000 wrote:

it`s not over yet though .

you are right, he could collapse tomorrow but lets all just admire that ride he done today

larkim

If Froome doesn’t win, TD will be a most undeserving victor.