Is Chris Froome a big meanie?
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Is Chris Froome a big meanie?
Ok so I could have cared less about Froome before yesterday but that finale rubbed me the wrong way. Is the Green Jersey in the Vuelta really that big of an accomplishment that Froome felt he needed to defend it in both the intermediate sprint (which didn't work) and the final sprint? He denied Trentin the Green Jersey and all of what may go along with it (standing on the podium to receive it, any cash from the race for winning it, any bonus from his team for winning it, the ability to put that on his palmares and thus boost future contract negotiations). It seemed to me that there were several instances where Froome/Team Sky could have let certain things happen and yet they pressed unnecessarily in order to stomp on the field. I've heard it speculated that they let Contador go on Angliru but IMO that chase at the end was pretty serious and for no reason other than to win the stage. All Froome had to do to win was not let Contador get a 4 min lead and stay with the other challengers...but he attacked and was reeling Alberto in at the end of stage 20. Then he goes out to contest a sprint he has no chance at winning in order to secure the Green Jersey and prevent Trentin from winning it.
Seemed rather unsportsmanlike to me. Am I just looking at this wrong?
Seemed rather unsportsmanlike to me. Am I just looking at this wrong?
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#2
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I'm not a CF fan, but if a competitor is in the position of winning both the yellow and green, I don't see why they have to back off and let someone else win the green. I'd rather have every jersey be fully contested by anyone in the position to win it. To do otherwise dilutes the competition and makes the jersey seem more of a pre-arranged ceremonial thing.
Now the dominance of CF/Sky is a problem but that needs to be solved by other teams becoming more competitive, not by brow-beating Sky to take it easy and be charitable.
- Mark
Now the dominance of CF/Sky is a problem but that needs to be solved by other teams becoming more competitive, not by brow-beating Sky to take it easy and be charitable.
- Mark
Last edited by markjenn; 09-11-17 at 02:26 PM.
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I think it's the nature of the sport. Riders want to win, period. If Froome could have won both points and KOM jerseys, he would have done it. He said he wanted Poels to win stage 20, on Angliru. That's as much of a "gift" as any of these guys give, and often they won't even give the gift to a teammate. Froome and Poels weren't concerned about Contrador having his fairly tale ending, and I don't think Contrador would have wanted it that way.
Remember when Armstrong "gave" Pantani a gift in the TdF? It was actually an unforgivable insult to Pantani, and Pantani took it that way.
And Trentin won 4 stages, and had two seconds. He had a few minutes on some podiums in this race.
Remember when Armstrong "gave" Pantani a gift in the TdF? It was actually an unforgivable insult to Pantani, and Pantani took it that way.
And Trentin won 4 stages, and had two seconds. He had a few minutes on some podiums in this race.
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Even if none of the charges you level are true, Froome is probably not a lovable generous soul. Few of the people who have that kind of drive and achievement are. I admire his abilities, though I root against him, and I hope he's not a criminal cheat, but it's too much to ask to expect our sports heroes also to be model citizens and good will ambassadors.
Yeah, it would be nice if our champions were heroes in every way, but it's quite something to be that kind of winner, and few who win like that also manage to be well-adjusted and humble.
Yeah, it would be nice if our champions were heroes in every way, but it's quite something to be that kind of winner, and few who win like that also manage to be well-adjusted and humble.
#5
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Racing should be exciting to watch, that's what the teams need to deliver to their sponsors. If everyone always does the predictable least risky thing, then not so exciting. Good for Froome.
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Unsportsmanlike?
Defending a jersey you hold isn't unsportsmanlike, it's being competitive.
Defending a jersey you hold isn't unsportsmanlike, it's being competitive.
#7
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I just don't like that he is dominant and boring to watch (when he has a lead).
#9
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Ok so I guess it's just me...thanks for the feedback.
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Well, it is a race between very competitive people. As the Eurosports commentators were pointing out, it is the way that the green jersey points are awarded that causes the problem.
#11
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Just shocked me that the green jersey meant enough to Froome that he'd potentially risk the overall to get it. SO I know the 3k rule...but you still have to finish right? What if Froome crashed so badly in the sprint that he couldn't cross the line?
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That's the breaks. It's a sport.
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