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SP - You only need to see Froome's interviews and you would disregard the notion that he will drop Wiggins. He's doing his job as part of a well organised machine and he is *very* cognisant of that. I do hope he is rewarded for his efforts in the future, at Sky or elsewhere. However, unless Wiggins situation became impossibly helpless, he will drop back to help him until told otherwise.
In fact, from what I can make of his character it's more likely Sky would be more ruthless than him in this regard. That said, a Froome attack would ignite the race but it's a fanciful scenario at best. |
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Interesting thread this, helps make up for an as-ever-fascinating but seemingly very predictable tour from here on. The remaining stages provide very limited options for serious attacks on Wiggins by the remaining very few GC contenders. Odds look about right to me, if anything I'd have Wiggins shorter as I tend to agree with Sir Denis that Froome won't attack Wiggo, so the difference in their prices is all about Wiggo dropping out, serious crash or being very very ill. If this did happen, I suspect that Froome would become favourite over Evans as he would be free to attack and drop Evans without fear of dropping Wiggo (which I suspect is holding him back at present). However, for this scenario to occur Wiggo's collapse needs to be early enough to give Froome the chance to make up time on an uphill finish.
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Can we please drop this silly notion that Froome is a far superior climber to Wiggins and that given a free rein he could shoot off and drop Wiggins. Its simply not the case. Wiggins is at least the equal of Froome as a climber and probably better. The reason Froome beat him in last years Vuelta was coz Wiggo wasnt at 100% having broken his collarbone a few weeks earlier. Breaking bones is a serious business and takes it out of you, especially when u are an elite athlete. And on stage 7 Wiggo wasnt the slightest bit bothered about winning the stage, he was quite content to drop most of the GC contenders and let Froome take the glory. The fact that Froome put 2 secs on him on the run-in is virtually meaningless.
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My guess is that Froome might be better on shorter, steeper climbs with Wiggins better on longer, flatter climbs. The rest of the Tour should provide some answers to this
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thats probably the case but i wouldnt think there's much in it either way, a few seconds here and there
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BB - Very interesting to hear your incisive thoughts - that's really all I was working toward. Instead of telling me I'm an idiot, you decided to address the heart of my theory. Thanks! Now, if Froome felt hard done by in the Vuelta, I'm confident he may have found an opportunity to join another team, and the fact is he didn't, and there's no possible way you finish 2nd in a climbers' Grand Tour and not gain interest from other teams. And well, that is consistent with your reading of his character, that he may just feel that if he goes about his humble domestique role - his opportunity will come his way sometime in the future and he'll only get better for it when it presents itself.
Enjoy the Tour folks, SP |
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...meanwhile, another comfortable day in the armchair - i mean saddle - for Wiggo
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I'm on the Lower North Shore of Sydney -- if anyone is visiting Australia than I'm happy to show you some of the sites of my home City, may even lend you my old fixed-gear and you can see Sydney the way I enjoy best!
Best city in the world Swinging Pick. Got loads of mates there, probably largely around where you are. Spent three weeks there last spring. Whereabouts are you exactly? I stayed with various friends in Cremorne Point, Neutral Bay, Kirribilli, Northbridge and in an amazing house in Balgowlah Heights. Absolutely love the place. |
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Can we please drop this silly notion that Froome is a far superior climber to Wiggins
Long live silly notions!! |
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calm down - just coz froome made an attack hardly makes him a superior climber does it? nibali went off the front when froome was in the group - does that make nibali a better climber than froome?!
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