Geraint Thomas to win the tour?
#1
Geraint Thomas to win the tour?
It would appear that Froome is riding for Geraint Thomas? I don't understand what is going on, or is this part of the strategy for Froome to win. I just tuned in to the hill stages and it appears that Sky is riding for Thomas instead of Froome. Can Thomas time trial as good as Froome or is the time trial stage where Froome gets yellow?
#2
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It's interesting, I think it was Greg LeMond who had to fight off his own teammate at one time. And Thomas is a very good time trialist winning the British Time Trail championships.
I did find it a shame that the French were booing Thomas. I can see booing Froome but I guess Thomas is guilty by association.
I did find it a shame that the French were booing Thomas. I can see booing Froome but I guess Thomas is guilty by association.
#3
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Thomas said after the finish that he was still riding for Froome, now whether that is true or not we will see. Froome could have attacked when Bardet went but he could not
in the Lemond/Hinault battle, Lemond thought that Hinault was trying to win his 6th Tour, and Hinault constantly said that he was riding for Lemond, but everyone questioned that (even though Lemond did win). There is a book about it called "Slaying the Badger: Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault, and the greatest Tour de France". It's a great read and really helps in understanding tactics in the tour
in the Lemond/Hinault battle, Lemond thought that Hinault was trying to win his 6th Tour, and Hinault constantly said that he was riding for Lemond, but everyone questioned that (even though Lemond did win). There is a book about it called "Slaying the Badger: Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault, and the greatest Tour de France". It's a great read and really helps in understanding tactics in the tour
#6
Sky is so dominant that they can typically get both Froome and Thomas into the final group on mountain stages, so there is no need for either to ride for the other or choose who is the "lead" rider; they can get both of them out front near the end and then just let them attack each other if they choose. It's a dream scenario for Sky. They do need for Froome to get some separation from a couple of riders, but that will come in the next mountain stage.
It is painfully obvious no other team has the strength to contend for the GC. So other teams will be left to fight over stage wins and getting in breakaways. While I would prefer to have someone from a non-Sky team contending, at least this way we might get at least an intra-squad battle for the top GC spot.
- Mark
It is painfully obvious no other team has the strength to contend for the GC. So other teams will be left to fight over stage wins and getting in breakaways. While I would prefer to have someone from a non-Sky team contending, at least this way we might get at least an intra-squad battle for the top GC spot.
- Mark
Last edited by markjenn; 07-20-18 at 12:57 AM.
#7
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For obvious reasons.
The situation that now exists is an interesting one, if Sky's strategy is for a Froome win, then how are they going to deal with Thomas's time advantage when clearly Thomas has the form he has ?
If you were Thomas and confident that you could win in Paris would you follow team orders ? Team Sky care little for the well being of cycling, yet Thomas may - who knows ?
I'm not a Team Sky fan.
John.
Last edited by hobbs1951; 07-20-18 at 01:48 AM.
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It would appear that Froome is riding for Geraint Thomas? I don't understand what is going on, or is this part of the strategy for Froome to win. I just tuned in to the hill stages and it appears that Sky is riding for Thomas instead of Froome. Can Thomas time trial as good as Froome or is the time trial stage where Froome gets yellow?
#10
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He had the yellow jersey in the bag on Stage 11 once GvA was dropped early on and Stevan Kruijswijk was caught on the final climb. That he was leading on GC after Stage 11 had nothing to do with Froome who was trailing GT by 00'59" from Stage 10. The only way Dumoulin would have taken yellow would have been if he had finished over 01'20" ahead of GT.
#11
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It looked like Froome was fading a bit at the end of the Alpe d' Huez climb and GT had the legs over everyone. I could almost see there being a ITT battle between Froome and GT.
Thought puzzle...what would happen if Froome had a mechanical with no other team support than GT? Would he be ordered to give his wheel or bike to Froome or would Sky allow him to keep riding to protect his jersey? Hummmm?
Thought puzzle...what would happen if Froome had a mechanical with no other team support than GT? Would he be ordered to give his wheel or bike to Froome or would Sky allow him to keep riding to protect his jersey? Hummmm?
#13
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thomas is just as competent in the penultimate stage tt as froomie-if not more so currently. unless one of them has un jour sans between now and then, that will be their mano y mano
battle for the maillot jaune. my bet is on thomas. still many difficult stages and scenarios between now & then. if thomas gets through the pyrenees ahead, even or slightly behind froomie,
i think he dropes the hamer (my apologies to the road forum) ftw.
battle for the maillot jaune. my bet is on thomas. still many difficult stages and scenarios between now & then. if thomas gets through the pyrenees ahead, even or slightly behind froomie,
i think he dropes the hamer (my apologies to the road forum) ftw.
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as for great britain to come from nowhere to being the biggest player in track and road cycling in the last decade says something. akin to the chinese
swimmers in the same time frame. not expecting it to end well. twere i the queen, i wouldn't be so hot to trot on knighting cyclists...
swimmers in the same time frame. not expecting it to end well. twere i the queen, i wouldn't be so hot to trot on knighting cyclists...
#15
Even though the tdf is quite one sided again the new rivalry between the two sky teammates is providing some much needed drama. Hinault and Lemond comes to mind...but also Contador/Armstrong rivalry comes to mind as well. In this case however froome and Thomas are around the same age I think and both are at their peak level. I’m sure both cheat but to me that doesn’t matter any more. As long as they cheat responsibly and do not endanger their health.
#16
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Even though the tdf is quite one sided again the new rivalry between the two sky teammates is providing some much needed drama. Hinault and Lemond comes to mind...but also Contador/Armstrong rivalry comes to mind as well. In this case however froome and Thomas are around the same age I think and both are at their peak level. I’m sure both cheat but to me that doesn’t matter any more. As long as they cheat responsibly and do not endanger their health.
I'm not a Sky fan (not a hater either) so Thomas possibly winning the overall is better than Froome but only.....marginally......so.
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I agree that Froome and Thomas are both riding for themselves at the moment. I also feel they will until the end unless one has a bad day and loses fairly significant time. If that occurs, then the rider who loses time will work for the other I'm sure. I believe it's actually advantageous for Sky to have both riders in contention.
#19
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Now there's talk of Nibali suing the tour... I guess for lack of crowd control, given he's out of the race because a fan's camera strap took him down on Alpe d'Huez a couple of days ago. No one mentioned LA being yanked off his bike-- I guess it was the drugs and not the straps on the woman's musette bag that was at fault...
#20
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Now there's talk of Nibali suing the tour... I guess for lack of crowd control, given he's out of the race because a fan's camera strap took him down on Alpe d'Huez a couple of days ago. No one mentioned LA being yanked off his bike-- I guess it was the drugs and not the straps on the woman's musette bag...
I'm not sure what anyone ASO or not could do on the Alpe. You'd need police interlocking arms to stop them. Which, on a 13.8km mountain means you'd need about 20,000 police thereabouts. Which, isn't realistic or attainable.
Lunatics will always get through...what the police should do is arrest anyone who lights up a road flare. That crap needs to stop.
#22
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Froome is in a low pressure situation. He can basically noodle his way to the podium at this point (relatively speaking).
Or, when Dumoulin attacks, Froome can chase down Dumoulin and counterattack. If GT is able to keep up, great. If not, Froome will be in yellow.
Froome will win the Stage 20 ITT.
Or, when Dumoulin attacks, Froome can chase down Dumoulin and counterattack. If GT is able to keep up, great. If not, Froome will be in yellow.
Froome will win the Stage 20 ITT.
#23
Senior Member
What's the TdF rule on that? It seems that team leaders borrow team mates' bikes in a crash, yet I recall a rider being sanctioned for this recently. What am I misremembering/confusing?