paperbackwriter

Froome's a fighter but a monotonous one. I mean, if he really only cares about the victory - and that should be the case for someone who was already 2nd in La Vuelta and who won the Tour - he probably needs/needed (not sure if there are enough stages left) to try something different. Recently time differences in the Vuelta aren't very big, just like time gaps on particular stages. In that sense, Contador's advantage is huge. Horner won by 37 seconds, Contador by 1'16", Cobo by 13", Nibali by 41", Valverde by 55" and Contador again by 46". That could tell you that making up 1'18" on the stage to Ancares plus the short TT against a guy who's equal to you on the climbs (if not better) and only a bit worse in the TT (this season at least) won't be done by a conventional Froome strategy - put your team at the front and attack on the last few kms of the mountain. He needs to make up around 50 secs before the TT (and even that will make it a lotery); and for this he has to do a Fuente De... though it may well be too late.
(I hope so But I also hope he tries)

chasm54

Well, he claims he wasn't at his best in the early stages of the race, and certainly his performance yesterday was easily his most convincing so far. Contador didn't look great at the end. So it might just be possible, though I agree it's unlikely.

On the more general point, I agree that the Froome/Sky strategy is too one-dimensional. They don't seem to me to have learned enough about racing. Froome should have won the Vuelta a couple of years ago, but Sky effectively burned themselves out - on the front all day, every day, trying to ride Contador and Rodriguez into the ground, and in reality giving the other teams a free ride. By the time they got to the sharp end of the race Froome was more or less alone, his team exhausted, goodnight Vienna.

Anyway, he has no option now. He has to attack on the road to Ancares, and do so early enough to give himself a chance of putting a minute into Contador. Expect the Sky train to kill itself keeping the pace as high as possible and then Froome to launch from several kilometres out. I don't think he'll make it, but it will be animated...

diphthong

contador as a gc contender reminds me of robbie mcewen as a sprinter did. never a really strong team that could tow either up the hill or to a sprint finsh so each always improvised and picks a rider or riders wheel/wheels to follow and is usually pretty successful. doesn't win every applicable stage but occasionally does and is always in the running.

chasm54

Well, that's that. Brave effort from Froome but with the predictable result. Contador unquestionably the best rider in the field.

paperbackwriter

I felt sorry for Froome but Sky and Froome himself are as bad tacticians as it gets

Caretaker

Yeah, losing almost a minute to Contador on stage ten was bad tactics.

B. Carfree

Fantastically entertaining stage. Contador and Froome were fun to watch even if the outcome seemed almost pre-ordained. Purito showed great guts and gusto. Valverde even appeared to have some heart and the Italian kid is going to be something in the Giro next year.

Leinster

I hope we see all these guys, and Nibali, and Quintana, in form, at Le Tour next year. It could be epic.

Giacomo 1 

I think Froome missed having Richie Porte.

Team Sky is just not the same freight train it normally is when Porte is leading them out. I know a lot of guys don't like Porte, but he might be the best and most effective team leader in the peloton.

sprince

The Tour is a snore, how about the Giro where they have to race every day.

diphthong

and deal with ridiculous routes and snow...

sprince

Yes, please

diphthong

yes please indeed. it's a looong wait from the vuelta to the giro.