Talldog

Must have the Sky brass stressing a bit. The Froomster definetly made a statement today. And Wiggins looked so vulnerable without him during said statement. The Froomster, on the other hand, looked almost invincible, so much so that he had to be reigned back in via team orders. Embarassing ... if you are Wiggins.

Surely Wiggo must love the terms of his signed contract .... LOL.

thechemist

I loved nibali's commentary afterwards. Any mention of wiggins was followed by froome carrying wiggo. Especially when nibali gave the two the final stare down before his second attack knowing that froome would reel him in but wiggins was suffering. Not to take away from wiggins as he is in great form but I wish it was a role reversal between the two.

Hezz

No, Wiggins and the team knows that Froome is a better climber than Bradly is. But Wiggo is a better at ITT. So this is a gamble. Froome does seem to have a edge with endurance and recovery to Wiggo. Imagine if Froome improved just 1 percent. He would perhaps be as dangerous in a GC as Contador. If Froome had not punctured in an earlier stage he would probably only be down about 30 seconds.

The issue with Froome and perhaps his frustration is that if allowed to go on his own during the last 10k of the big climbing stages he would possibly put enough time on Wiggins to beat him. But it's nice for Sky to have two individuals out in front because it's easier for two people to shoulder the pressure of the yellow jersey during the race. The kind of racer Wiggins is. He will likely have to wear the yellow jersey for the rest of the race because he is not explosive enough in the big climbs to take major time on anyone. So he can't afford to loose it to anyone but Froome and that be only a couple of seconds.

MinnMan

Froome looks great - he gets the respect of the whole world for being the best GC rider out there and he still gets props for being a team player. He's a stronger climber than Wiggins and he may be almost as good at time trialing. After all, he came in second on Monday. If it weren't for the time he lost in stage 1 and his self-restraint, he'd be winning now.

But his time will come. Some other year.

seanthebear

It's pretty exciting to have two guys, Sagan and Froome, in their first tours, showing such explosive talent. I'd love to see Froome and Contador go head to head next year, presuming Contador can get his form back.

Ooh, just realized, we got Froome vs Contador in the Vuelta no?

cthenn

I can't believe Froome is willing to give up his opportunity to win the Tour de France. Clearly...it's crystal clear...that Froome is by far and away the best GC rider in this race. Next year, you are gonna have AC back, Andy Schleck (though his TT'ing is a joke) who will be riding with Frank, and a host of other guys who can win the race. To just say "some other year"...it's not that simple. He could win the race, you do it. Screw orders. You don't think he could find a team if he wins the tour?

All of a sudden, I'm back into this race, after being lulled to sleep for so many days! Wiggins had better pray he doesn't have a bad day. One bad moment, Froome is gonna pounce. I bet it happens.

otter1833

I think Froome and van Garderen should be unleashed! Loyal as they are, their Captains are holding them back from some truly amazing results! BTW, glad to have seen Wiggo pat Nibali on the back while crossing the line....no more bad blood.

MinnMan

Dream on. Froome has made it 100% clear that he is not going to pounce on Wiggins. Unless Wiggins gets eliminated by a crash or something similar, Froome is just the best domestique in France.

cthenn

If Wiggins has any kind of bad day, and Nibali et al gap Wiggins, Froome will go. I have no doubt. It's entirely up to Wiggins. If Wiggins can hang with the elite riders, you are right. But if Wiggins has a bad day like Evans, and is behind the race, Froome is not gonna ride like Teejay. He's not letting the 2011 Vuelta happen again, regardless of how much Sean Yates yells at him. He'll bolt away from Wiggins, and right past everyone else. I hope it happens. Sky is so boringly robotic. Their racing, their interviews, everything...stiff Brits! Unleash Froome and he'll put 6 minutes on the field by the end.

MinnMan

I don't think so. Wiggins has about 2 1/2 minutes on Nibali and is better at time trials. If Nibali drops Wiggins, Froome is going to stay with his team leader, pull him up the mountain if he has to, and thereby limit the damage.

Jamesw2

There was a report about the wives and girlfriends of the SKY riders on Twitter. wiggins wife did not include Froom in the congratulations on the twitter messages . And Froom wife noticed

found it
https://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/201...rs-on-twitter/

Now we have drama

gear

I had a hard time explaining to a friend (who doesn't follow pro cycling) how the team mate of the guy winning the race is the strongest rider in the race. Froome will have have fun picking his new contract and team for next year, cha-ching!

chasm54

Froome signed a new three-year contract with Sky after the Vuelta. That doesn't make it impossible for him to move, but Sky pay better than pretty much anyone else at the moment, which is why they have such a super-strong bunch of domestiques.

It's actually quite usual for the up-and coming star to support a rider weaker than himself. Think Riis and Ulrich, for example. Froome's time will come.

jmccain

It was one day.

Keith99

Not for Froome. He has had a few great days.

But in a way the position he is in is his own fault. He is 2 minutes back because he got caught in a crash early, not becaseu he set the tempo in the mountians and blew up.

That he made that early mistake counts against him twice. The actual time and the team confidence.

Personally I think the team should give him a bit more freedom late in stages. Depending a lot on how Wiggins is feeling and what other riders are there. (including teh non-contenders for the teams of contenders).

Of course it is far easier to be more agressive when you are just a fan.

chasm54

No, he punctured too late to be able to get back on. The crash in the subsequent stage wasn't a problem, it was within the last 3km.

gsteinb

Sky has a lot invested in winning the tour. Froome winning stages does not factor into that. In fact, it can be argued it could very well hurt that goal.

YMCA

This is actually Froome's second run at the Tour.
Rode for Barloworld in 2008.

Definitely his French coming-out-party though.

reef58

The bottom line is Wiggins has 2:23 on Nibali, and Froome has :18 on Nibali. Most agree barring some major incident the race for GC is all but done. What purpose would there be in messing with that now?

gpsblake

If Froome isn't called back, Froome becomes Nibali's domestique instead of Wiggins.

colombo357

The queen stage is Stage 16, just a few days away. Froome could easily make up 2 minutes if he were unleashed and held his form.

This year is his big chance. AC will be back next year dominating the race until 2018.

eja_ bottecchia

Glory, plus the fact that no one knows what the future holds. A lot of things could happen to Froome that would keep him from returning to the Tour int he shape he is now. Remember LeMond's hunting accident?

If I was in Froome's place, I would be looking out for myself. Contador did it to Armstrong a couple of years back.

reef58

Glory for who Team Sky? They are already 1 & 2. If you mean individual glory by going rouge I doubt he does that.
I think Armstrong did it to Contador not the other away around, as AC was the team leader.

chasm54

In everyone's mind but Armstrong's, Contador was the team leader.

Froome will do what he's paid to do. Especially since he will know better than anyone that he may not be able to beat Wiggins even if he tried. Riding solo, with Sky against him rather than with him? Good luck with that.

Andy_K 

So I can understand why Froome would sit up and wait when he got the call on the radio, but why in the world would Nibali wait with him? Either Wiggins was coming back pretty quickly anyway or Nibali was suddenly impersonating Evans.