2017 Vuelta a España

[Pure Savage]

If I've learnt anything from the couch about cyclists it's that there are not too many bright one's in the bunch but this Froome fella is a cut above the rest. He slowly accumulates seconds as he pedals his way around various countries. Just the other day he picked up 3 bonus seconds at a sprint point while his rivals were all fast asleep in the bunch! So I think you are spot on, he has put a lot of thought into this double act, doing just enough to win TDF leaving the TV commentators to speculate that he's being hard pressed meanwhile he's been saving himself for the Vuelta.

 

I can't help but admire the man, I'm a fan.

 

Agree, not once did in the TDF did he panic, he knew how much time he had and how much he would gain in the TT. I think he is going to do the same at the Vuelta. He knows with the big TT he will smash 90 seconds it Chaves etc. 

 

Let the others attack you and once they have played their hand throw down some furry. 

 

Have to laugh about those that were commenting that he had poor performances in the pre TDF events. Also, shows that he is human, unlike some Spanish old toppies that peak the entire year round. 

[Pure Savage]

You can be as passionate as you want. If the results are not there you are just another backmarker.

 

Ask TJ...

He will have you know he is sitting second on GC. 

[s14phoenix]

He will have you know he is sitting second on GC. 

 

so 1st of the losers...  

 

Surprise of form from Tj lets see if he can sustain it.

[ScottCM]

He will have you know he is sitting second on GC. 

 

The rest day is still to come...........

[Slowbee]

Not having much time on my hands, it has been great to watch the highlight packages

[Imploder]

Agree, not once did in the TDF did he panic, he knew how much time he had and how much he would gain in the TT. I think he is going to do the same at the Vuelta. He knows with the big TT he will smash 90 seconds it Chaves etc. 

 

Let the others attack you and once they have played their hand throw down some furry. 

 

Have to laugh about those that were commenting that he had poor performances in the pre TDF events. Also, shows that he is human, unlike some Spanish old toppies that peak the entire year round. 

 

Guilty as charged.... But I still think Porte was in the form of his life.

 

*Grammar

[Imploder]

The rest day is still to come...........

Hope he takes LA's advice and flippin' rides himself and the team into the ground on rest day.

[Shebeen]

If he was to go on and win the Giro in 2018, Would that make it a Triple? Or is the cycling community pedantic and require it to all be in the same cycling calendar year?

yes, it needs to be in the same year, just like in tennis.

 

to hold all three concurrently, I think this is the only way. a giro/tour double is nigh on impossible, so needs to be split by a year

[WR 1.0]

He will have you know he is sitting second on GC. 

 

If his record is anything to go by, he'll blow up spectacularly in the second or third week. By his own admission a while back, he just doesn't have the kudos to challenge for GC in a grand tour.

But miracles happen, so maybe he has changed his mind and surprises us 

[Shebeen]

I have been glancing at the teams here and I dont really see anyone / team who can challenge Froome and Sky.

 

Without the big guns at Movistar and 'Berto pretty much out of it, realistically its up to Nibali, Bardet and Aru,... no matter how good Nibali may be, his team is not up there and consequently I really dont think he stands a chance, Aru, much the same,...Bardet has a fairly strong team and to me he is the only real challenger, he seems to have recovered well from the Tour, but honestly it would be very surprising to see him win,.....Frankly, I think its going to be a cake walk for Froome and SKY.  

I have to admit I agree with you here, but we need to remember that with all the summit finishes this race is way harder to control than the Tour. Cake walk it won't be.

 

Chaves is looking good, and we've never seen such a solid group of three GC contenders work together. I don't think Orica will settle for a second place and three guys in the top 10, they will not die wondering. A big issue is the TT, so they do need to attack.

 

Another option is that all the other top GC guys get a bit irritated with Froome's dominance and start working together, kind of like how Porte lost the dauphine.

 

 

edit: added in chaves in TT going to lose time

[Vetplant]

Four Cat 3's and one Cat 2 spread across 204kms today.

 

Another day for the breakaway?

 

Could we see a GC breakaway group forming? We can only hope...

[Jase619]

Four Cat 3's and one Cat 2 spread across 204kms today.

 

Another day for the breakaway?

 

Could we see a GC breakaway group forming? We can only hope...

 

Looks like pain central

[Vetplant]

Everybody wants to be in the break and nobody wants to miss the break, guys must be bleeding through their eyes thusfar:

 

Back together

13:00

Oss and Clarke are caught. Attacks keep flying.

 

Oss and Clarke try to go

12:59

Daniel Oss (BMC) and Simon Clarke (Cannondale-Drapac) are riding just ahead of the peloton.

 

The peloton gets back

12:56

The battle keeps raging and the bunch gets back to Terpstra and Agnoli at km 24.

 

Terpstra and Agnoli at the front

12:52

Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) and Valerio Agnoli (Bahrain-Merida) have opened a small gap with the peloton after 20km.

 

15km, all together

12:46

There are many attacks but none has been successful so far.

[Thor Buttox]

yes, it needs to be in the same year, just like in tennis.

 

to hold all three concurrently, I think this is the only way. a giro/tour double is nigh on impossible, so needs to be split by a year

in golf you had a Tiger slam when he held all four at the same time (or was that at the strip club? I forget...)

[scotty]

If I've learnt anything from the couch about cyclists it's that there are not too many bright one's in the bunch but this Froome fella is a cut above the rest. He slowly accumulates seconds as he pedals his way around various countries. Just the other day he picked up 3 bonus seconds at a sprint point while his rivals were all fast asleep in the bunch! So I think you are spot on, he has put a lot of thought into this double act, doing just enough to win TDF leaving the TV commentators to speculate that he's being hard pressed meanwhile he's been saving himself for the Vuelta.

 

I can't help but admire the man, I'm a fan.

True and when other's are struggling he gives them a helping push to keep up. 

['Dale]

There's a 40 individual TT somewhere

Froomey Dawg's to lose hey

And the Skybots look seriaasly motivated