Brad to support Froome for the 2013 tour

[Flying_Monkey]

Looks like wiggo is suggesting his goal is harder than Froomes, is this bitterness creeping in? As he made no reference to tour being easier than the Giro last year

"Wiggins said he felt it would be harder to win the Giro than it had been to take victory in the Tour de France,"

I think he's being realistic about the proportion of TT versus tough mountain stages: last year's TdF parcours favoured him whereas it will be harder for him in the Giro this year. Nothing necessarily to do with Froome at all.

 

[thom]

Nice interview in the guardian with Chris Froome

 

[ColinJ]

Nice interview in the guardian with Chris Froome

Yes, but it would also be nice if they learned how to spell 'pedal'!

 

[Crackle]

Nice interview in the guardian with Chris Froome

I'm warming to Froome.

 

[thom]

I'm warming to Froome.

yeah - he has plenty of time to get more experience, bags of talent and a great attitude.
In terms of Grand Tours, he has a great chance to win more than Brad over his career.
Parts of his story as told here I did not know. I hope the "team tension" stories at Sky are left behind and both he and Brad have great years.

 

[dragon72]

I'm still confused about the thinking behind Wiggo doing the TdF at all.
Okay, the winner of the previous year should be there to defend the jersey, but he's said he won't be going for the win. So what's the point?
Then there's the argument that he'll "repay" Froome for last year's support in the TdF by supporting Froome for the win. But is he the best person to do this? Wiggo, although more and more an all-rounder, is really a time-trial specialist and (except for TTTs) you can't support somebody else with your TT skills. Yeah, he can pull well in a lead-out train, as we saw him doing for Cav last year, but Froome will just be looking for safety in the bunch in the flat stages. And as for the mountains, we've all seen that Froome is the better grimpeur by quite a way. I reckon Froome will be looking for mountain specialists to help him. Don't the team selectors at Sky have other options for support for Froome?

 

[ColinJ]

I'm still confused about the thinking behind Wiggo doing the TdF at all.
Okay, the winner of the previous year should be there to defend the jersey, but he's said he won't be going for the win. So what's the point?

Especially if he is knackered after a really hard ride in the Giro!

 

[raindog]

I'm warming to Froome.

I'm not.

 

[Crackle]

I'm not.

What do you not like?

Initially, I thought that what he was saying didn't match what he was thinking, which was probably true. I thought he was naive tactically and a little immature. I think I'm starting to see those things change in him. That article also filled in a bit more about him, what makes him tick, what drives him and I liked what I read. There's definitely a selfish side to him, which has the potential to make him a bit ugly, hence my early dislike but that seems to be driven by him being a little uncomfortable with himself and I think that's changing, he seems more at ease.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Wiggins has mentioned before that he only targets the races he can win now. Do you think there is the possibility that Brailsford/Sky have decided that Contador and JRod will be too much for Wiggins in the mountains. Especially considering the amount of climbing in this years Tour??
Maybe they are thinking that they have two potential leaders/winners and are splitting the team in order to win more or accumulate more team points.
I agree with Dragon72. I can understand Froome pulling Wiggins up climbs so that Wiggins can then either bring back time or gain more time in TT, but Wiggins could not do that for Froome. Especially with the likes of Jrod and AC around.
I believe Sky will try to win both but Wiggins will miss the Tour. IMO.

Oh and as for Froome, i really liked him but after the 2012 Tour where he disobeyed orders, something about him just doesn't sit right. Just my opinion again tho.....

 

[montage]

Wiggo is still the 2nd best climbing in Sky.... the Colombians are hot on his heels though. Besides, he's a pretty formidable plan b.

 

[rich p]

I think you're underestimating Wiggins. He's no Contador climber but he beat everyone bar the doper Valverde and Froome up the mountains. In theory he could lead Froome to the last few kms but I doubt that will happen somehow.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

It is such a strange scenario. how many tour winners would then go on (in their prime) to support a team mate the following year?? I mean does Froome really have the beating of Wiggins?? Does Froome even have the beating of Contador or JRod?? Wiggins could put minutes into JRod in the TT's and maybe some decent time into Contador too. Froome might not even beat Contador in the TT.

Does Wiggins not seem like the better option with Froome as the pace maker again? At least this way they would have 2 options.
Seems an odd scenario but if they win both the Giro and Tour then i suppose it will be regarded as another Brailsford masterclass.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

Especially if he is knackered after a really hard ride in the Giro!

Maybe the point is he is a member of a team, and as such would be there to support the team's ambitions, which dont need to be his own solely.

 

[fozy tornip]

Nice interview in the guardian with Chris Froome

I read that. Perhaps you can all help clear something up for me which I think I may've missed in the article itself: Froome's MTB riding mentor David Kinjah, did he have a number 1, or dreadlocks?