2017 Tour de France

[Patchelicious]

Ja, agreed but even with the best domestiques they just haven't seemed to have had a complete team for some reason. I had my doubts about Landa since the beginning and I am still not convinced he is a team man (but TBF, if I was top 5 in the pinnacle event of my sport, my ear piece might ccchhh also shhrrrtt go kgahgs wrong). Henao and Nieve have both had off and on days. Gee was obviously a loss but even on Planche he wasn't as much help as I thought. Kwiat has been a legend.

 

Just think ja, they were nowhere near the team they have been in the past and if AG2R were going to go for it, now is the time.

This is the conundrum you sit with when you buy big names as domestiques.

 

When 4 of your SuperDoms are top10 contenders themselves, you will see some of them be a bit selfish.

 

It's like Real Madrid who have to deal with super stars who must be benched.

 

The Sky haters often ignore this really big part of the team, the depth and the importance of said depth, that big cash can buy.

[Kranswurm]

By modified, I meant by a fist.

Another rude fan

[coppi]

This is the conundrum you sit with when you buy big names as domestiques.

 

When 4 of your SuperDoms are top10 contenders themselves, you will see some of them be a bit selfish.

 

It's like Real Madrid who have to deal with super stars who must be benched.

 

The Sky haters often ignore this really big part of the team, the depth and the importance of said depth, that big cash can buy.

I think we should start a football thread........I am a massive fan and I'm sure there are many on here too 

FORZA JUVE 

[Bonus]

Where you this week?

 

Back at home in Spain now :-(

 

I'm having "road-side withdrawls"

[Pure Savage]

Back at home in Spain now :-(

 

I'm having "road-side withdrawls"

shame

[Bonus]

shame

 

South East France is not that far away . . . but . . . .

[Pure Savage]

This is the conundrum you sit with when you buy big names as domestiques.

 

When 4 of your SuperDoms are top10 contenders themselves, you will see some of them be a bit selfish.

 

It's like Real Madrid who have to deal with super stars who must be benched.

 

The Sky haters often ignore this really big part of the team, the depth and the importance of said depth, that big cash can buy.

 

Think a lot of people forget how strong sky really are, especially in the mountains. 

 

Gone are the troopers, Kennagh, Stannard, Lopez, Pate, Sioutsou and Poels

 

Replaced with kwiato, Landa, Nieve and  Henao

[Bub Marley]

I have a cousin that works in Dubai and the pictures he has sent from the rides they have done looks amazing. Also getting top equipment there is easy and much cheaper apparently - especially if you earn tax free.

Buying online is fantastic. I buy everything from Wiggle and CRC and so far i havent paid any customs yet. Most expensive item was a wheelset for 600USD and they charged me no customs which is just fantastic.

 

If you buy locally though its moer expensive. Bikes, accessories, clothing everything is expensive. Much more expensive than South Africa.

[s14phoenix]

South East France is not that far away . . . but . . . .

 

Until the Vuelta is on your door as well....   still neon green...

[Imploder]

I figured out why Froomey declined all the pressers yesterday. He's booted his mech and decided to work on his own bike!

[kosmonooit]

Froome def. has an A+ grade Team to help him - but that what they are good at putting together, and also no-problem-with-the-budget-thanks-to-the-Murdock-empire-money surely sure helps.

 

I was puzzled why Pete was left out after he did well in the Dauphiné, but I think it has something to do with a baby arriving.

 

Will be interesting to see if they let that Basque man go up the road if Froome falters (again) and has no hope in redemption, i think he has the legs and form and frame of mind, but would they give it to someone who is leaving the team? (so it is said)

[Bonus]

Will be interesting to see if they let that Basque man go up the road if Froome falters (again) and has no hope in redemption, i think he has the legs and form and frame of mind, but would they give it to someone who is leaving the team? (so it is said)

 

 

Surely then it would be a no brainer?

 

If you def can't get the man a win then get the team a win.

[kosmonooit]

Surely then it would be a no brainer?

 

If you def can't get the man a win then get the team a win.

 

 

One would think so but is there bad blood? .

[splat]

Agreed.

 

Also, Naaier being silly with "The Double" attempt also didn't help.

 

I'm sure "Peaks all Year" Valverde must be wonder "what if" when he watched his little Columbian friend getting dropped. Surely Movistar would have switched GC guys....

 

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

[Bub Marley]

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

Agree with this.

 

Would be nice though if Froome could target another Grand Tour just one year. Like the Giro.

 

Personally I think having won all 3 grand tours on your CV looks better than multiple Tour De France. Each to their own though.

[Shebeen]

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

AFAIK it used to be

vuelta- april

giro -  may

TDF - july

 

 

with so much focus on the TdF, I don't think the Giro/Vuelta double is impossible (Berto did it in 2008).

 

from the 91' TdF Indurain won 5 of the 6 Grand Tours (with a 2nd at a Vuelta to warm up and a DNC at another vuelta)