Froome says he's still the boss
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Froome says he's still the boss
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chr...our-de-france/
But he said this before the 2020 TdF route was announced today. He and (Ineos) may reconsider. It looks to me that the course is optimized for Bernal.
But he said this before the 2020 TdF route was announced today. He and (Ineos) may reconsider. It looks to me that the course is optimized for Bernal.
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I'd like to see Froome do well, but I'm doubtful. He's always had sketchy bike handling skills. Concussions, injuries and the psychological damage will make it that much harder for a guy whose main attribute was an incredible engine, not balance, reflexes and all the stuff that goes into bike handling. He even manages to crash fairly regularly in practice, recons and time trials. I don't see him coming back from that in only a year.
And if he puts all of his eggs in the French basket, to minimize the risk of crashing in pre-TdF races, he'll miss opportunities to regain his bike handling and peloton savvy.
I'm betting he'll do well within his strengths -- time trials, climbing -- but will struggle in flat stages. I'd be surprised if he actually finishes the next Tour de France.
Personally, if I were him, I'd focus on getting in as many lower pressure stage and one day races as possible to hone those skills and regain confidence, and not worry so much about the 2020 TdF.
But I wouldn't count him out for 2021. He's still young for his calendar age.
And if he puts all of his eggs in the French basket, to minimize the risk of crashing in pre-TdF races, he'll miss opportunities to regain his bike handling and peloton savvy.
I'm betting he'll do well within his strengths -- time trials, climbing -- but will struggle in flat stages. I'd be surprised if he actually finishes the next Tour de France.
Personally, if I were him, I'd focus on getting in as many lower pressure stage and one day races as possible to hone those skills and regain confidence, and not worry so much about the 2020 TdF.
But I wouldn't count him out for 2021. He's still young for his calendar age.
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Froome, Bernal, Thomas...whoever the course favors it seems that sky/ineos wins again. How many in a row is that?
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For now the best way to somewhat level the playing field is for stage race tour organizers to rig the parcours to upset the Ineos game plan.
The 2020 Tour de France will again force Ineos to be non-commital about who will be the team leader, and play it by ear throughout the race. Even if Froome is ready for 2020, there's no guarantee he'd be the favorite to win even with full team support.
Same with Bernal, who's interested in the next Giro but admits the three time trials and final stage time trial will work against his strengths. And I kinda suspect Bernal is talking up his plans to ride the next Giro so he'll have an excuse for not going all-in to win the TdF. If Froome is the designated winner, Bernal can play the support role and legitimately claim he wasn't fully recovered from the Giro. But Bernal is exceptionally mature and media savvy for a youngster.
The 2020 Tour de France will again force Ineos to be non-commital about who will be the team leader, and play it by ear throughout the race. Even if Froome is ready for 2020, there's no guarantee he'd be the favorite to win even with full team support.
Same with Bernal, who's interested in the next Giro but admits the three time trials and final stage time trial will work against his strengths. And I kinda suspect Bernal is talking up his plans to ride the next Giro so he'll have an excuse for not going all-in to win the TdF. If Froome is the designated winner, Bernal can play the support role and legitimately claim he wasn't fully recovered from the Giro. But Bernal is exceptionally mature and media savvy for a youngster.
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Kids around me with coughs are being given inhalers by the doctors to (open their lungs more).
Things that make you go hmmm
Things that make you go hmmm
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