Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Off Topic => Sports Arena => Topic started by: TonyD on August 23, 2017, 08:39:37 PM

Title: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: TonyD on August 23, 2017, 08:39:37 PM
He's looking good so far.  And the Yates brother in the mix.  Going to be interesting.  Highlights as usual on ITV4 at 7pm each night.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: SteveN on August 23, 2017, 09:08:45 PM
You wouldn't want to bet against Froome.  He has had a good start and Sky have brought along a very strong team.  Long way to go though.
Should be a good watch, looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: brian green on August 23, 2017, 09:19:21 PM
Chavez is looking dangerous and Contador seems to have suddenly ridden himself into form.  Long way to go before Chris can relax.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: TonyD on August 23, 2017, 09:20:13 PM
The Vuelta is much more exciting but Le Tour has the grandeur......
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: TonyD on August 23, 2017, 09:22:06 PM
So many summit stages yet , ''tis any rider's tour.  Love it.   
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: TonyD on August 23, 2017, 09:25:48 PM
Chavez is looking dangerous and Contador seems to have suddenly ridden himself into form.  Long way to go before Chris can relax.
Nah, Contador has no chance if Froome stays in the  saddle.  Or if he cheats AGAIN
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: Keeno on August 23, 2017, 11:28:48 PM
Contador isn't going to trouble the GC, but the damage he could do when he inevitably picks a stage and goes on the offensive could be interesting, if Sky are forced to chase his break and others e.g. Chavez try to capitalise.

Can't see anyone but Froome winning it, bar crashes or bad luck. The team is as strong as it was in July and the contenders (bar Chavez, who I think looks great) aren't as good.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: brian green on August 27, 2017, 07:37:57 AM
I have still not entirely ruled out Alberto Contador.  If anybody is capable of pulling back three minutes on Chris Froome in the switchbacks it is Alberto.

Having said that if an Anglo Saxon rider had made the same transformation of performance in a few days that Contador has the media would be filled with speculation as to how it has happened.  Of course it is because Contador has shaken off his decline and wants to please his home supporters on his final race.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: TonyD on August 27, 2017, 11:58:00 PM
Sir CF.  great again today on a summit finish.   Majestic.

Contador left........
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: brian green on August 28, 2017, 06:54:02 AM
He had me on the edge of my seat right to the last 200 metres.  He got bushwhacked on that finish by Tom Demoulin and for a few seconds I thought Esteban Chavez was going to have history repeat itself.  I think Sky will go into what we have we hold mode and we shall not see Chris win another stage.  The time trial possibly.

Sad news about Canondale.  Perhaps bike racing needs FFP.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: UK Redsox on August 28, 2017, 11:02:37 AM
I think that finishing stretch yesterday was tougher than the Altiport finish in the TdF. Fecking steep and it just kept on going.

You're right about it being edge of the seat viewing Brian. Great TV sport
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: brian green on August 28, 2017, 11:23:13 AM
Yes.  I have terrible guilt pangs when I am not slaving my nuts off on some form of manual labour but I binge watched two very different British (I know) champions plying their trade yesterday afternoon.  Lewis Hamilton on the wrong tyres sticking it to Sebastian Vettel and Chris Froome doing something similar riding up a vertical slope.  Enjoyed both races immensely.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: TonyD on August 31, 2017, 11:47:57 PM
Two very different days but still enroute..   Although Nibali still in there.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: Dave Cooper please on September 01, 2017, 03:09:28 AM
Superb riding from Froome's team mates to bring him back to limit the damage today, the mechanical and then a fall could have been very costly otherwise.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: lovejoy on September 02, 2017, 08:20:04 AM
I went to see an intermediate sprint last week and it was a little disorganised. They only put the line down 3 minutes before the peloton arrived.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: SteveN on September 03, 2017, 11:02:06 AM
Big day today, some  monster climbs.  If Froome can maintain the gap, or improve it, over Nibili, with the time trial to come after the rest day then he will be in a strong position.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: SteveN on September 08, 2017, 06:58:53 PM
Last day that matters for the GC contenders tomorrow.  One horrible "wall", the Angliru, to climb safely to keep his lead and Froome, and Sky, have done the Tour and Vuelta double.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: JD on September 09, 2017, 03:22:25 AM
Last day that matters for the GC contenders tomorrow.  One horrible "wall", the Angliru, to climb safely to keep his lead and Froome, and Sky, have done the Tour and Vuelta double.

Looking forward to tomorrows stage. Reckon there will be attacks from the start, especially from Nibali and Contador.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: SteveN on September 09, 2017, 05:19:58 PM
Great day (apart from the Villa), Contador goes out in style winning the stage and Froome wins the Vuelta.
Whilst you can't overlook Contador's history he is old school in the way he races and will be missed.
Great achievment by Froome.
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: UK Redsox on September 09, 2017, 09:23:14 PM
One of only three to do the TdF & Vuelta double but I think that Froome is the only one to do it when the Vuelta has been a three week race and after the TdF
Title: Re: Vuelta....could Froome do it?
Post by: UK Redsox on September 09, 2017, 09:24:45 PM
Just watching the highlights. Fecking hell, it's steep
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