Should Froome be worried?

During last year's tour I wrote a blog post titled 'You are only as strong as your team.........leader' where I wrote about how Chris Froome almost tore the tour apart by almost upstaging his team leader and eventual winner Bradley Wiggins. Fast forward twelve months and this week we saw the brilliance of Chris Froome during stage 8, where he took a stranglehold on this years race, with amazing support of his team, notably Australian Richie Porte.

But....Stage 9 saw things take an unexpected turn and I could have very well titled this post 'You are only as strong as your....team.' Full Stop.

Poor Richie Porte had a tough day and couldn't keep the pace and ended up losing a huge chunk of time and team Movistar worked well to isolate Froome from his team and really test the waters of possibilities, although disappointingly not doing much more than that.

So the question needs to be asked...Should Chris Froome be worried?

Well, firstly it is the Tour de France and anything can happen. The race is three weeks long and there is so much to come.

Secondly, Chris Froome was, coming into this years race, a red hot favourite. The tour is Froome's ultimate goal this year and his form has been great. But is Team Sky the Team Sky we saw powerful and dominating at last year's race? On paper the answer would have to be no. And although they are certainly a strong team they have shown that they are far from unbeatable.

Stage 9 has certainly opened up the race once again. Katusha (Rodriguez), SaxoBank (Contador) and Movistar (Valverde) will all be bouyed by the events of yeserday which in turn will hopefully lead to some motivated attacks in the mountain stages to come.

All bodes for an exciting next two weeks, in which yes, Chris Froome should be worried right up until he is standing on that podium in Paris!

Wiggins, Sanchez & Cancellara. Olympic Time Trial Wrap.

As much as it pains me to say it, Wiggins is the best time trialist in the world right now. You know, I don't even know why it pains me to say it. I loved watching him ride the track but when he crossed over to road, for some reason he became unlikeable. Must be the sideburns.

But credit must be given where it is due and it is certainly due. Wiggins finished 42 seconds ahead of Tony Martin and 1.08 ahead of Bronze medalist and Sky team mate Christopher Froome. Wiggins was focused and no doubt spurred on by his home crowd. I don't think anyone could have stopped him.

Perhaps the podium may have been different had Fabian Cancellara not been injured due to his unfortunately crash in the road race. The thing I love about Fabian is his humility. He could have pulled out knowing he really wasn't in contention but he didn't. Instead he rode injured and he rode the best race he could - and he is content with that.

Here is part of what Cancellara had to say after the race (courtesy of Cycling News)

"I just took a step back, said I'm just an athlete. I gave so much for this, I have so much support from my family from the team, and the supporters all around the world. You don't have a chance to represent your country every day at the Olympics so I just said to myself that I had nothing to lose. I lost everything on Saturday when it was almost on a golden plate with the situation we had with the Swiss team, but that's how sport and life go. Even a seventh place is not that bad."

Brilliant.

The worst news of the day was for Luis Leon Sanchez who broke his chain as he launched off the start line. If you watch the vision he actually snaps it even before he crosses the start line at the top of the ramp. Now, the rules are the rules but surely this unfortunate event warranted a restart! I could feel his pain as he threw his hands in the air as he waited for the new bike. I would have picked up that bike and thrown it straight into the damn crowd! And it definitely wasn't Sanchez's day as not far down the road once he got going - he punctured! Bad, bad luck or sabotage?

And of course special mention must go to Australia's Michael Rogers. Mick, a three-time world champion time trialist, finished a credible sixth. Not a bad effort all Mick and we are undoubtedly proud.

What were your thoughts on the time trial?
 

Time Trial Not An Easy Pick - London 2012

Wednesday sees the time trial specialists head out on the road to race against the clock.And it is going to be a good one.

Unfortunately for the Aussie's we will only be represented by Michael Rogers due to Cadel Evans' withdrawal due to fatigue.

Many have said Luke Durbridge should be given a chance and I totally agree. I actually think he should have been selected in the squad. He is young, talented and capable, however many a selection in recent years has left me scratching my head.

The problem is that Olympic rules state that participants in the Time Trial must also be included in the Road Race squad, therefore leaving Durbridge, this time ineligible. With Goss, O'Grady and Gerrans certainly not time trialists unfortunately the fate of Australia's Gold medal hopes lies with Rogers.

The other topic of conversation is Fabian Cancellara. After crashing out of the road race with a suspected broken collarbone, Fabian has since been in doubt. Thankfully, it was not broken as poor Fabian tweeted:

"Looks like a hard night with a lots of pain.happy is not broken but the pain will be on!For the timetrial nothing is shure yet 50/50change"

As Spartacus is one of my favourite riders I surely hope that he is right to ride.

Along with Cancellara, the other top contenders each bring their own 'baggage' to the time trial. Tony Martin hasn't had the best preparation after a few untimely crashes and Bradley Wiggins comes off a tough Tour de France and also Sunday's Road Race.

I think that there are a few riders who can well and truly challenge the major favourites. Names like Taylor Phinney, Christopher Froome, Silvain Chavanel and Luis Leon Sanchez all come to mind.

All in all the 44km circuit will prove challenging and offer some great racing. I'm looking forward to it.

Who do you think will take the Gold?

Reflections of the 2012 Tour de France. Why I feel flat.

Well after a full nights sleep last night, the first in about three weeks I thought I would be refreshed and full of life today. But no, it seems the sleep account balance is still very much in debt.

But perhaps I am just a bit flat, much like Cadel in the Pyrenees. Usually at the end of the great race I am buzzing for days. I still get the 'tour blues' but that stems from coming down from such a high.

There were some great performances at this years tour Peter Sagan smashing the green jersey and with some pretty cool victory salutes, Thomas Voeckler's theatrics and determination to win the king of the mountains, the coming of age of riders such as Van Garderen, Pinot and Rollands, the anticipation of wanting to see Chris Froome break free, and of course the amazing sprint finishes of Mark Cavendish.

But I can't shake this feeling that this years tour was..... a disappointment. I missed the attacks in the mountains. I don't care who it is that is doing the attacking, the more the merrier, but for me that is what the tour is about. These guys pushing themselves to the limit, then pushing themselves even further over the edge. The guys cracking and falling off the back of the peolton with the explosive attacks. The grimaces, the pain, the triumph. It was missing. I sigh. I missed it.

Well, there's always next year isn't there? And an exciting few months of racing coming up with the Olympics road and track, the Vuelta and the Worlds. There is sure to be some excitiement amoungst all of that!

What did the tour lack for you this year? Or was it up to your usual expectations, just in a different way?

The Tour Blues - TDF 2012

Well the 2012 Tour de France is done and dusted for another year. The final stage along the Champs Elysees didn't disappoint with the fastest man on the planet Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) taking the stage win, his fourth on the famous Avenue.

TDF 12 will definitely be remembered as the year that Team Sky dominated, not only the General Classification with Bradley Wiggins taking yellow but also with Mark Cavendish finishing it off beautifully.

There has been highs and lows in this years tour, and that is a post for another day, right now I am trying ward off the 'Tour Blues'. Once the sleep bank is again in credit (remember I am here Australia and three weeks of 1am or later bedtimes), the tour blues will no doubt set in.

But not for long, with the London Olympics and the road and time trials only days away that will surely offset the withdrawals. And then it won't be long until the Veulta a Espana is ready to take off - and won't that be an awesome race!

For now though I am looking forward to an early night and processing the memories of this years edition.

Do you get the tour blues?

The Race of Truth becomes a non-event...or is it?

The Tour de France is about to reach it's climax for 2012. Today's stage, a 53.5km time trial, is the last before the grand race makes it way into Paris and the finale on the famous Champs Elysees.

There has been much criticism of Tour director Christian Prudhomme and his choice of route for this year's tour. In particular his placement of the first time trial prior to the mountain stages suggesting that there would have been more action in the Alps to gain time going into a time trial.

Everyone knows that Wiggins has an unbelievable talent for the time trial. And with positioning the first time trial before the climbs no doubt played into his hands more than any other this year.

But, the thing is each team has an opportunity to bring with them their game plan into the tour, knowing full well the race routes, layouts and opposition strengths and weaknesses. They prepare their teams accordingly to their own strengths and have detailed strategic plans on what their aims and goals will be.

Yes, possibly repositioning the first time trial may have resulted in a different race with teams attacking to gain a time advantage over the likes of Wiggins and Evans knowing what they are capable of in the time trial, but...

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and this year's tour has played out and cannot be changed. What is known though, is that the last time trial on the penultimate day of racing is most likely going to be a non-event.

Evans is out of contention. Nibali unfortunatley doesn't race well against the clock. Van den Broeck is too far down to make have an impact. Even the master time triallists are no longer in the race (Cancellara and Martin) to make for a decent showing.

The only thing would be interesting, provided he was let off the leash, would be the potential performance of Christoper Froome.

Froome showed in the first time trial that he quite capable of an amazing performance. Surely Sky will tell him to give it all he has got? He is just over two minutes behind Wiggins, so is no threat to taking the jersey, but I'm sure many would love to see Froome ''beat" Wiggins, but would team Sky?

I for one would love to see Froome given the opportunity at least, otherwise yes indeed this race of truth will be a non-event.

Would you love to see Froome take on Wiggins tonight?

Team Work, Loyalty & Sacrifice TDF 2012

Last night's final high mountain stage of the 2012 Tour de France has all but sealed the victory of the general classification yellow jersey for Bradley Wiggins and team Sky.

Alejandro Valverde of Movistar redeemed himself after a disappointing tour, leaving his breakaway comrades behind and taking the stage win in the Pyrenees.

With Cadel out of contention it was left to Vincenzo Nibali to attack the Sky team and try and make up some ground on the podium. Nibali's team Liquigas-Cannondale set the pace for quite a bit of the stage however it was evident that Nibali didn't have the gas to successfully attack Sky who again rode brilliantly to protect their team leader.

Sky's dominance in the peloton, and indeed Wiggins' impending victory has been quite the topic of this years tour.

Like him or not, Wiggins must be respected for his win.

Yes, he may well have been 'towed' across France, yes, his style of riding may be boring, yes, he has no idea on how to handle the media and yes, those sideburns..... but all that aside he is going to be a winner of the greatest bike race on the planet - and that is no mean feat.

It may be obvious that Wiggins certainly isn't the strongest rider in the peloton or his team for that matter, but he is the selected team leader. Congratulations and much respect must go to Christopher Froome for sacrificing himself and offering 100% loyalty to the team and Wiggins'.

We know, as does he, that he could have won the tour himself. And he certainly could have won the stage last night which is something that I don't' understand. With no doubt that the yellow jersey was secure why didn't team management let Froome go to chase down Valverde for the stage win? Is Wiggins that fragile? I cannot understand why Team Sky wouldn't want a stage win when the yellow jersey was safe. But that's another story, for another day...

When all is said and done, Team Sky came to the tour with the best team. Australians Mick Rogers and Richie Porte worked tirelessly, day after day for Wiggins. True workhorses and two of the finest domestiques on the road. Then of course there is Froome, Boasson Hagen, Eisel, and Knees. They have all done their job and deserve the yellow jersey as much as Bradley Wiggins. It has been a text book team victory.

Would things have been different if Cadel was on form? If Andy Shleck hadn't have been injured? If Contodor was available? Maybe. But 'What ifs' aren't acknowledged in the record books.

Are you a 'Wiggins' Fan? What do you think of Team Sky's dominance?

Dream Tour Result - Tour de France 2012

I had a few topics running around in my head to blog about tonight. There's the Frank Schleck shame, Team Sky's dominance, and of course the anticipation of the next two stages but....

Let's forget all that 'stuff'  I want to blog about my dream 2012 Tour de France result. Something fantasy, something written from the heart and something to add a bit of excitement to the tour.

Here are where things stand today at the beginning of Stage 16. We have good old Bradley 'one pace' Wiggins in first, Christopher 'biding my time' Froome in second and Vincenzo 'waiting to the last minute' Nibali in third and of course Cadel 'Aussie Fighter' Evans in fourth.

From here how would my dream tour evolve?

Firstly of course I would love to see Nibali, Van Den Broeck and Evans and their teams work in successful collusion to destroy Team Sky. Not that I dislike Bradley Wiggins or Team Sky. In fact I think that they have riden a perfect text book tour to protect Wiggins (apart from Froome's little 'moment'). But I want to see some action!

They would work them over and take back time leaving the top five riders all within a minute of each other by the end of the stage tonight. Then of course Cadel would break loose and attack on tomorrow's hill top finish smashing them all and taking a three minute lead into Stage 18 where he can rest up ready to have the time trial of his life the next day. The rest of the podium can work itself out.

No? Wishful thinking? La la land?

Possibly. Okay, most likely.

Apart from that I would love to see Wiggins faulter and Froome be able to be let loose and really show us what he is capable of.

And the ultimate finish would be a Sagan, Greipel, Goss dead heat on the Champs Elysees!

As I said, dream tour results. More chance of happening in my head than in France right now.



So what would you love to see happen over the last five days of racing? (Be as outlandish or as realistic as you like!)

Time for some action

After a brilliant, action packed stage yesterday which saw yellow jersey leader Bradley Wiggins turn into a lead out man (anyone else thought he looked like he was back on the track?), today's stage sees the riders head for the first time into the Pyrenees. Although not classed as the Pyrenees proper, with two category one climbs I think we will finally see some action for GC podium contenders.

Team Sky have controlled the peloton and protected the yellow jersey since Stage 7, and although we have had some exciting sprint finishes to excite us, and some gallant attacks from Cadel Evans, really there hasn't been much 'action'.

I for one am hoping for an attack not only from Cadel yet again (and let's hope he has the legs and luck to pull it off), but also Vincenzo Nibali. Perhaps the yellow jersey position is comfortable, almost, but the podium is still to be decided.

Wiggins' team mate Froome who is currently in second position in the GC, will of course sacrifice all to support Wiggins, which really leaves the final two podium spots up for grabs.

Evans, Nibali and perhaps Van den Broeck need to attack Wiggins - repeatedly. This is the stage they need to make him finally work hard for his jersey, in an effort to tire his legs heading into the final stages of this race to have any chance of dislodging him. And then the battle for this years tour will really be on.

So who do you think will attack? And will they succeed?

You are only as strong as your team .... leader that is.

An eventful stage in this years Tour de France yesterday has seen the tour take on new shape. And has also raised a few questions.

Bradley Wiggins' competitors attacked and lead to some interesting action on the difficult climbs of the French Alps. Most notably was the performance of Wiggins' Team Sky itself, which I am sure will be a hot topic. Firstly Aussie Mick Rogers has been fantastic staying strong on the front for most of the day protecting his team leader and pouring everything he had into it - he has most definelty earned his pay packet this week, and then some.

Poor Ritchie Porte didn't last too long after Rogers had done his job and then it was up to Chris Froome to work and protect Wiggins.

Vincenzo Nibali (Liquidgas) threw some interesting attacks into the mix and along with Lotto's Jurgen Van Den Broeck made for some exciting climbing. Team Sky however, never looked phased. Never panicking, bit by bit they were able to bring back Nibali and Van Den Broek although by this stage the tempo had made for a surprising casualty in Cadel Evans (BMC).

Cadel, after attacking on the second climb of the day, although not convincingly I might add, was supported well by his fellow team mate in TeJay Van Garderen. TJ was selfless as he worked with Cadel and could have even gone on with it however sacrificed himself to try and draw Cadel back into the race as he faultered under the intenstity on the final climb of the day. As patriotic as I am, I am very much a realist and afraid that Cadel last night, lost the Tour and possibly even a podium finish.

The most interesting part of the race was the power and strength of Christopher Froome of Team Sky. He eventually neutralized the attack of Nibali and Van Den Broek and could have single handedly smashed the race to bits including his own Team Leader in Bradley Wiggins. As he poured on the pace Wiggins faultered for the first time in this years tour and was almost dropped of the back of the group as Froome punched his way up the mountain. If not for Team Sky management no doubt yelling in Froome's ear to remember who his team leader and yellow jersey holder was, Wiggins may have been left isolated and losing time at the hand of his own team mate.

But Froome slowed the pace for Wiggins and became once again the domestique, but we have seen what this guy can do - win the tour de France. I really think he can but obviously not this year. Froome still had plenty left in the tank attacking the final 'sprint' at the line once Wiggins was safe.

So with TJ Van Garderen looking stronger than Evans and Froome undoubtedly over Wiggins, it makes it clear that you are only as strong as your team leader.

Lets hope that Wiggins can repay the efforts and sacrifices of his team mates by holding onto the yellow jersey all the way to Paris. He will owe it to his team, lets hope he appreciates how much.

As for attackers Nibali and Van Den Broek there is no doubt that these guys make for an exciting race. Nibali in particular looks in amazing form and has the ability to attack re-attack and could indeed be a real threat currently sitting in third position only 2:23 down off Wiggins. He will need to continue to attack on the climbs as he will never match Wiggins in the time trial.

Let's also not forget today was a great day for France with a 1, 2 finish with Pierre Rollands (Europcar) taking the stage after a great show of stamina and young rider Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) a courageous second.