Contador vs Froome

[staalburger]

Stupid question, where are you guys watching this?

 

+1

[zuludog]

Tour tactics is one thing, but boring viewing is boring viewing. Wiggins rode a boring tour, it was too easy to sit third wheel day after day while the team did the work. I'm sure in this tour, AC is spending more time pissing in a cup than in a toilet, so there will be no steak excuses in three weeks time. There are enough great riders in the Vuelta who can do it on their own, Froome is definitely one, but my man AC will end on top.

 

 

with you there - AC is the MAN.

[kosmonooit]

Rodriguez and Valverde were on Contador's wheel at every acceleration. Froome wasn't. I think Froome was being smart though. This race is going to be super good. There were more attacks in yesterday's stage than in the whole of the TDF.

 

What Sky was saying in the TdF was that its better to keep going at a known sustainable pace rather than rise to every attack challenge, because those high power levels cant be kept up.

 

That was without el Berto in the equation though.

 

http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/08/20/1/bettiniphoto_0118946_1_full_600.jpg

['Dale]

What Sky was saying in the TdF was that its better to keep going at a known sustainable pace rather than rise to every attack challenge, because those high power levels cant be kept up.

 

That was without el Berto in the equation though.

 

http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net//2012/08/20/1/bettiniphoto_0118946_1_full_600.jpg

 

On a more aesthetic note,

 

 

Those are the newest Spez shoes.

B)

Very nice.

Edited August 21, 2012 by ' Dale

[Cyclewizz]

Contador is looking a little thin (compared to me) :whistling:

['Dale]

Contador is looking a little thin (compared to me) :whistling:

 

['Dale]

Familiar dancing on the pedals by 'Berto.

 

http://velonews.competitor.com/files/2012/08/rodriguez-alberto-426x421.jpg

[nochain]

Really don't think it will be a fair fight this....would have loved to see a fresh Froome go up against Conto on this route!!

I hope Froome proves me wrong but I don't think it is fair to ask him to go up against the best stage racer of the last 5 years when he has done a tour and Olympics less than a month ago.

It is bound to catch up with him during a hard tour like this but yes there is always hope.....I will say this if he gets even close that will be one hell of an effort .Two 3 week tours and a Olympics in less than 10 weeks??

I did love the way Conto attacked and Froome just closed him down taking his time,with Conto looking back alla Shlecks the whole time.One thing to make the gap if you have that type of power.....complete different thing to sustain it if the guy chasing you is a world class climber.

Makes for some very good racing!!!

['Dale]

HOLD YOUR LINE, 'BERTO!!

 

Froome Dog off the leash, mixing it up with some of the world's best climbers.

 

Hope he had good rest between now and le Tour to demonstrate his superpowers as a GC leader.

 

http://velonews.competitor.com/files/2012/08/leading-four-632x421.jpg

Edited August 21, 2012 by ' Dale

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Pal,the only reason the tour seemed so "boring" was that Wiggo and his team were so dominant,he never needed to attack,and no other riders could attack,he dominated like Indurain used too, he took time in the TT and made the pace so hard that no one dared attack on the climbs!! He is a very smart and calculating rider........... Sure as hell not boring!!

 

Hmm, different race, different competitors, different course.

 

Its hard to say what would have transpired had 'Berto or even Andy been there, Wiggins may have still won because he is so dominant in the TT but the race in the mountains would have been different for sure.

['Dale]

Just watched the highlights package.

Geeez, my HR spiked as I watched the final breakaway of Valverde, 'Berto, Froome Dog and Rod fly up the final ascent.

[koukie]

Just watched the highlights package.

Geeez, my HR spiked as I watched the final breakaway of Valverde, 'Berto, Froome Dog and Rod fly up the final ascent.

where did you watched this? I see stage 4(is that todays stage) is on SS2 at 16:00 or 16:30

[Daideron]

For what its worth I dont think Froome was in too much trouble. Different riders have different styles, and Contador to me is a lot like a Golf GTi, super fast bursts of speed break up the pack and wreak havoc. Froome on the other hand is like a big V8 Range Rover, it takes a while to wind up, but once its wound up its very very effective and fast!

Yes Froome has ridden the Tour prior to this, and Contador is on fresh legs per say, but if you really think about it that little Spaniard will have been riding a lot in his time off. Its not like he has been sitting at home sulking.

In the same light, Froome was sidelined for most of the first part of the year due to sickness. So I think its quite fair to say it is a fair fight.

Yes, Le Tour was boring, but at least here we have two riders capable of taking the fight to each other in very different styles. It should be good viewing and a true test of these guys in a grand tour.

 

My only concern would be the Spanish patriotism amongst the top Spanish contenders vs Froome. Contador, Valverde and Rodriguez were very vocal with each other during the final ascent, which in my opinion suggests there is some collusion going on.

 

All said and done, I hope Froome does well, I hope at the end of the year Richie Porte gets a huge bonus from SKY, as he certainly deserves it.

[dracs]

For what its worth I dont think Froome was in too much trouble. Different riders have different styles, and Contador to me is a lot like a Golf GTi, super fast bursts of speed break up the pack and wreak havoc. Froome on the other hand is like a big V8 Range Rover, it takes a while to wind up, but once its wound up its very very effective and fast!

Yes Froome has ridden the Tour prior to this, and Contador is on fresh legs per say, but if you really think about it that little Spaniard will have been riding a lot in his time off. Its not like he has been sitting at home sulking.

In the same light, Froome was sidelined for most of the first part of the year due to sickness. So I think its quite fair to say it is a fair fight.

Yes, Le Tour was boring, but at least here we have two riders capable of taking the fight to each other in very different styles. It should be good viewing and a true test of these guys in a grand tour.

 

My only concern would be the Spanish patriotism amongst the top Spanish contenders vs Froome. Contador, Valverde and Rodriguez were very vocal with each other during the final ascent, which in my opinion suggests there is some collusion going on.

 

All said and done, I hope Froome does well, I hope at the end of the year Richie Porte gets a huge bonus from SKY, as he certainly deserves it.

good point - and we saw in France that Valverde is not shy of making deals on the fly - queue the nibali handshake...

[Daideron]

Yes Dracs, the unwritten agreements seemed on the table yesterday!

It is also interesting to see a Vuelta which in my opinion has been tailor made for a guy like Contador! The Spanish are not shy to favour their own!

But that is not a crime!

I was also going to say that in those bursts of Contador's, had Froome not been up to the challenge, he would not have got back on. Yes Contador was gapping him, but it was only a gap for a short while. That Kenyan/South African/Brit has a lot of power in those legs!

[dracs]

Yes Dracs, the unwritten agreements seemed on the table yesterday!

It is also interesting to see a Vuelta which in my opinion has been tailor made for a guy like Contador! The Spanish are not shy to favour their own!

But that is not a crime!

I was also going to say that in those bursts of Contador's, had Froome not been up to the challenge, he would not have got back on. Yes Contador was gapping him, but it was only a gap for a short while. That Kenyan/South African/Brit has a lot of power in those legs!

Ja think yesterday's attacks were all about Contador testing Froome, and its a test he passed, as contador will have realised that if he wants to take time out of him these little 3 second burst are not going to cut it. that said its EARLY days....