Criterium Du Dauphiné

[francovendee]

Heard the ISN manager saying Froome has improved enormously but not at the exponential rate they'd hoped for.
Froome isn't in it just to get round.
I'd think it would be better to wait until the 2022 race. By then we'll all see how well he's managed to recover from his awful crash.

[Hellhound]

He needs to race in 3 week tours though to see how he reacts if nothing else.
Maybe waiting until the Vuelta would be a better idea but no doubt the sponsors would like to see him there.

[Colin63]

He needs to race in 3 week tours though to see how he reacts if nothing else.
Maybe waiting until the Vuelta would be a better idea but no doubt the sponsors would like to see him there.

I think that's right, both as a way of monitoring his progress so far and getting in a big block of competitive riding. However, even though the Tour is bigger and faster than the Vuelta it's probably a better training race as the Vuelta is so tough that it could do more harm than good. His ambition and ISNs ambition is to win another grand tour. I suspect he will be allowed to use this tour a s a fitness block and they'll continue to focus on stage wins with other riders. It's also important that he does a Grand Tour because he'll need a stronger team around him when he's fit enough – other riders will need to feel that a move to ISN as a domestique is a worthwhile career step. If they see him up to such a test their inclination to do so might be greater.

[francovendee]

Agree about 3 week tours but I'd prefer to see him on the podium on lesser tours on a regular basis before attempting the TDF.
He's been world class and may be again. I just hate seeing him at back.

[mjr]

He needs to race in 3 week tours though to see how he reacts if nothing else.
Maybe waiting until the Vuelta would be a better idea but no doubt the sponsors would like to see him there.

I suspect they will take him, as leader in name but really using it as training/data-collection/testing to see if a comeback next year looks possible, letting him do most of the pre-race media engagements, getting ISN some publicity and taking some pressure off their likely leader-in-waiting, Michael Woods. I will be astonished if Froome is on the leaderboard at the end of Saturday 3 July.

[Hellhound]

Confirmed today that Froome will race the Tour.
He will be team captain to Woods' team leader.
This might take some of the pressure and spotlight off him and allow him to just ride
I for one am glad he's there.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
We all wish to see Froome at the tour......................but they will only mention him when...?

OK so I like Froome and he's always a good communicator when they interview him post / before ride.

So lots of interesting info from him...................or we won't see him at all and remember that the camera work is not under itv4 control.

Worth having him to a team of course.

[mattheus]

True ... but might Dan Martin or Michael Woods be better bets? Give Froome time to prepare for a Vuelta and/or Worlds bid?

Possibly but it's political isn't it?Froome will have been told he is TL and if he is any type of form or fitness he'll be TL.I'm sure he would be a Super-Domestiqué for either Woods or Martin but ISN are going with Froome.

Hindsight is the best sight, don't you think?

[Hellhound]

True ... but might Dan Martin or Michael Woods be better bets? Give Froome time to prepare for a Vuelta and/or Worlds bid?

Possibly but it's political isn't it?Froome will have been told he is TL and if he is any type of form or fitness he'll be TL.I'm sure he would be a Super-Domestiqué for either Woods or Martin but ISN are going with Froome.

Hindsight is the best sight, don't you think?

A logical not emotional decision from ISN

[853]

NB Date

Starts tomorrow, highlights on ITV4 19:00 - 20:00

[mattheus]

NB Date

Starts tomorrow, highlights on ITV4 19:00 - 20:00

Thanks, 8.

Not my favourite race of the year, but will be nice to get back to decent quality coverage. Including hopefully the delightful intros from Mr Imlach

[mig]

a bit out of touch with the typical set ups on TT bikes now.

most riders last night seemed to have a huge 1x 'ring with an accompanying wide ratio cassette at the rear.

anyone know what typically they use size wise?

[cycleruk]

I wondered why the Dauphine wasn't on TV this afternoon :-
"Critérium du Dauphiné stage five neutralised with no winner after mega crash
More than 30 riders fall in slippery conditions".

[Paulatic]

You can always depend on Matt Stephens for a stupid comment. 30 cyclist go down on a straight road after touching their brakes and he says, Tyres nowadays have the best grip they’ve ever had Looking at my TV I don’t think that’s right.

[Pendodave]

I wondered why the Dauphine wasn't on TV this afternoon :-
"Critérium du Dauphiné stage five neutralised with no winner after mega crash
More than 30 riders fall in slippery conditions".

I was watching while doing a few jobs about the house.
Was very awkward conditions - light rain on dry, newly resurfaced roads. Like black ice. The breakaway was tiptoeing down, and I just put it down to one of them being a poor descender.
Then the peleton hit it. Riders were falling down just applying the brakes on straight road.