Froome thinking about leaving Ineos

RichN95.

Harry182 said:

My point is that the speculation/debate regarding whether Ineos will or won't select Froome is moot as I reckon they've already guaranteed him a ride.

I agree. It's most likely in his contract. If he's really not up to speed I imagine he will withdraw and target the Giro or Vuelta.

dannbodge

Didn't brailsford all but confirm that he'll be riding the TDF when they announced the contract non-renewal?

robnewcastle

RichN95. said:

Harry182 said:

My point is that the speculation/debate regarding whether Ineos will or won't select Froome is moot as I reckon they've already guaranteed him a ride.

I agree. It's most likely in his contract. If he's really not up to speed I imagine he will withdraw and target the Giro or Vuelta.

That’s a good shout, I can’t imagine he’ll go unless he feels 100% or at least be able to compete at the highest level. Giro and Vuelta would give more training time.

bobmcstuff

I reckon there is something in Froomes contract about riding the tour. I think that's why he didn't transfer mid season.

Harry182

That sounds right (and familiar.)

andyp

bobmcstuff said:

I reckon there is something in Froomes contract about riding the tour. I think that's why he didn't transfer mid season.

I think he took one look at ISUN's current roster and realised any hopes of winning the Tour were fanciful.

bobmcstuff

You don't think he wouldn't still have gone if Ineos wouldn't give him a ride at the Tour? Surely better to ride effectively solo than not at all.

Like I said I reckon his contract has something about riding the tour in it. This would have supported a mid season transfer as well since if Ineos had said he wasn't riding it, that would have made it easier for him to leave.

gsk82

Or maybe he's just fit and they want him in the team, because he's the best gc rider in world by a country mile.

blazing_saddles

Ineos technical director casts doubt on Froome's ability to win a 5th Tour.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/team-ineos-technical-director-doubts-whether-chris-froome-can-win-the-tour-de-france-2020-460230

rick_chasey

I mean, they can see his numbers...

DeVlaeminck

I'm not convinced more training time for the Giro/Vuelta would help - he's already had a lot of training time and if it were just a question of form he's still got a month to find it.

If his numbers are down then it seems likely to be something more deep seated - whether that is just his age, a physical problem from the crash or even something psychological if perhaps he feels unhappy in the team or he's lost his hunger to really push his limits - that is not going to be fixed by waiting for the Giro. I know these days it is said you don't need to race to prepare for a race but perhaps Froome has missed so much that top level racing is what he needs to get race fit. I'm trying to think if riders coming off long bans have come straight back on top form - the likes of Valverde ?

redvision

Didn't contador win the vuelta on his return from his ban?

Regarding the comments yesterday on froome, I took them more as a motivational tactic from the TD than anything. He basically confirmed froome is riding but suggested at this moment in time he wouldn't win. He still has a month and the 3 weeks to train and to peak and I still think he will turn up stronger and far more competitive than possibly expected - although don't expect any amazing form or results in the races before the tour, he will only be focused on getting ready for that.

TheBigBean

redvision said:

Didn't contador win the vuelta on his return from his ban?

Yes, but he probably wasn't the best rider on numbers alone.

RichN95.

rick_chasey said:

I mean, they can see his numbers...

I don't know if Jeppesen will though. He's the logistics guy, not a coach or DS.

takethehighroad

This is so unlike Team Sky's usual mantra that I'm starting to think it's a deliberate move to throw people off. Usually its' "The road will decide" but now it's changed. Seems fishy to me

robnewcastle

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

redvision

robnewcastle said:

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

Don't expect to see him do well. He won't be competing for the win, just as another step in his prep for the tour - he won't be aiming to peak until the 3rd week of the tour.

That said, i did hear an interesting question yesterday which could make the racing full on from day one - given the circumstances, what happens if the Tour is cut short? If there is an outbreak of the virus it's already been confirmed the race will stop, but will whoever is in yellow at the time be classed as the winner? Or would the race be null and void?

pblakeney

robnewcastle said:

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

Stage 7 on the 4th September and is not a summit finish goes over the Port de Bales?
I hope they've fixed the drain pothole at the bottom of the Peyresourde descent. 😱

robnewcastle

redvision said:

robnewcastle said:

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

Don't expect to see him do well. He won't be competing for the win, just as another step in his prep for the tour - he won't be aiming to peak until the 3rd week of the tour.

That said, i did hear an interesting question yesterday which could make the racing full on from day one - given the circumstances, what happens if the Tour is cut short? If there is an outbreak of the virus it's already been confirmed the race will stop, but will whoever is in yellow at the time be classed as the winner? Or would the race be null and void?

Completely aware he’ll be aiming to peak tour 3rd week but I guess it’s more to see how much he struggles really. Still be interesting to see. He’s probably better than anyone at knowing where he is and timing form.

takethehighroad

pblakeney said:

robnewcastle said:

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

Stage 7 on the 4th September and is not a summit finish goes over the Port de Bales?
I hope they've fixed the drain pothole at the bottom of the Peyresourde descent. 😱

I think August 3rd is Route d'Occitaine

pblakeney

takethehighroad said:

pblakeney said:

robnewcastle said:

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

Stage 7 on the 4th September and is not a summit finish goes over the Port de Bales?
I hope they've fixed the drain pothole at the bottom of the Peyresourde descent. 😱

I think August 3rd is Route d'Occitaine

Ah! The training recce? I wouldn't draw too many conclusions.
Still hope they've sorted the pothole. 😉

RichN95.

I know it's not proper racing but he was going OK in that Ineos Zwift race up the mountain and that was two months ago, so I doubt he's going to be struggling

RichN95.

Slightly connected, 'reports say' that Ineos have put in an application to the UCI to have a special light blue 'Grenadier' kit for the Tour

blazing_saddles

redvision said:

robnewcastle said:

I’m still interested to see how he gets on on August 3rd with Port de Bales and summit finish

Don't expect to see him do well. He won't be competing for the win, just as another step in his prep for the tour - he won't be aiming to peak until the 3rd week of the tour.

That said, i did hear an interesting question yesterday which could make the racing full on from day one - given the circumstances, what happens if the Tour is cut short? If there is an outbreak of the virus it's already been confirmed the race will stop, but will whoever is in yellow at the time be classed as the winner? Or would the race be null and void?

Peaking in the 3rd week, this year, would be folly, regardless of whether the Tour is cut short or not.
There's a whopping big mountain on stage two and summit finishes on stages 4 and 6. The big Pyrenean stages are done and dusted by stage 9.

DeVlaeminck

The other issue is do they decide team leadership before week 3. It's one thing letting the road decide and another letting Froome attack when Bernal (or Thomas) is the man leading the race.

RichN95.

RichN95. said:

Slightly connected, 'reports say' that Ineos have put in an application to the UCI to have a special light blue 'Grenadier' kit for the Tour

Now confirmed.

https://twitter.com/TeamINEOS/status/1285893499855024129

RichN95.

Welcome to Aqua Blue, Alpecin.... Grenadier

pblakeney

Looks kinda dark for a light blue top?
I nearly made that mistake once with an Italian national jersey that looked nothing like the fetching promo.

RichN95.

Apparently that’s not an official jersey, it’s a social media mock up

gweeds

That sounds like a rubbish American Football college team