Spoiler : Tour of Oman. 11 - 16 Feb

[raindog]

Wish I could warm to the bloke, but I really dislike him.

Just checked out the CN race thread - the Berto fanboys are in a right panic.

 

[Crackle]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Y_4d4jd8Y&list=UUuTaETsuCOkJ0H_GAztWt0Q&index=1

"...Or will Froome go vroom, vroom...." oh dear, I hope too many others don't use that line.

 

[The Couch]

No need to worry anylonger for Purito, his team has just been granted Worldtour status.
I guess there will be 19 teams with World Tour status now, unless... they decide to go with 18 teams and still kick out a team.

But they can't be that cruel, right?

 

[Radchenister]

Thoroughly entertaining Stage 4 - looking forward to today's, this 1 day out of sync business is tedious.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Froome seals it with a stage win over Contador and Rodriguez. Well done that man!

 

[Mapster1989]

Go Froomy. Did well to win the stage with the red jersey too. Really took it to the rest of the field and showed what he has to offer.

 

[thom]

Bjarne Riis comment :
Asked if the result in Oman had any bearing on the Tour de France in July, Riis said: "If we have to read [into it] then right now we'd have to say that [Bradley] Wiggins is preparing to help Froome in the Tour. But he might not agree."

 

[smutchin]

Contador doesn't need to win these early races in the same way Froome does. It's like Wiggo last year - Sky used the early races to familiarise him with the extra pressures that come with being a team and race leader. This will be valuable experience for Froome, but Contador has more than enough of that kind of experience already.

 

[thom]

 

[rich p]

We don't know if Contador is as well-prepared as he will be in July. Horse steak on the menu?

 

[jifdave]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieXRXFgvCU&list=UUghTxvynMBnEnx7_SYQ6sGg&index=1
shows the finish and attacks a little better

 

[jifdave]

as expected, froome in the bunch for the gc win

 

[raindog]

Bouhanni won today's stage in front of Goss. Coming along very nicely is Bouhanni.
Sounded like a fast and furious last few ks - Nibali got dropped from the leading bunch.

 

[rich p]

Goss is becoming the Raymond Poulidor of sprinting

 

[thom]

Excellent - really pleased for Froome. Sure this is early season and unimportant in the large but this is the first stage race victory for Chris who has demonstrated the talent to get close in the past. It looks like there can be a fun year ahead with Froome, Contador, Rodriguez and perhaps others getting in the mix of some pretty aggressive and exciting cycling. It augurs well that Froome has shown he can come out on top on his day.