chris froome

jackstaff · 23-02-2014 4:59pm #1

A novice rider myself so go easy on me, but Chris appears to be a freak of nature with so much power but his body is so skinny even his legs .why ? How? Is my question

Beasty · 23-02-2014 5:03pm

Same as pretty much every other leading athlete in pretty much every other sport - some of it is natural ability the rest of it is sheer hard work

mitosis · 23-02-2014 5:07pm

A lot is natural talent, some hard work, we may not speculate what the remainder is.

godtabh · 23-02-2014 5:11pm

jackstaff wrote: »

A novice rider myself so go easy on me, but Chris appears to be a freak of nature with so much power but his body is so skinny even his legs .why ? How? Is my question

I think I asked the same question about Wiggins in 2012. Couldn't believe the size of his legs.

Reading Friels power Meyer book. He gives some detail on mussle type. As I remember you have two types of muscle finer. One for stamina one for power. Genetics determine the % of each. Training bulids them up

jackstaff · 23-02-2014 5:29pm

Maybe it's a Kenyan thing .
He has the same body frame as a Kenyan long distance runner.

Anyway I seen him win in Oman just there pulled away on the last climb after been riding for 4hrs, wins the race, then jumps back on the bike to go higher up the mountain to cool down

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 5:32pm

jackstaff wrote: »

Maybe it's a Kenyan thing .
He has the same body frame as a Kenyan long distance runner.

Anyway I seen him win in Oman just there pulled away on the last climb after been riding for 4hrs, wins the race, then jumps back on the bike to go higher up the mountain to cool down

apart from being born in Kenya has he and Kenyan blood in him?

Darkglasses · 23-02-2014 5:36pm

gordongekko wrote: »

apart from being born in Kenya has he and Kenyan blood in him?

No, his father is English born and his mother's parents are both from England.

jackstaff, are you wondering why he doesn't have bigger muscles like say Chris Hoy?

godtabh · 23-02-2014 5:40pm

Also Froome grew up at altitude

elnino23 · 23-02-2014 5:44pm

I think its just a stamina thing! He just keeps going when others can't. But the tour showed there are days he is human when he ran out of sugar and took the penalty for gels inside last 20. Sky's tactics have a lot to do with it as well.

redzerredzer · 23-02-2014 6:15pm

Beasty wrote: »

Same as pretty much every other leading athlete in pretty much every other sport - some of it is natural ability the rest of it is sheer hard work

There is a terrible preemptive tone in your answer.
I think his question is how can somebody who is so gruesomely unhealthy looking be so powerful.
Even by pro cycling standards he is terrifyingly skinny. He looks like he should snap on impact of a pedal yet he wins time trials which (I think) traditionally are won by bigger cyclists.
How can he generate such power when he is the skinniest athlete in the world?

jackstaff · 23-02-2014 6:22pm

Darkglasses wrote: »

No, his father is English born and his mother's parents are both from England.

jackstaff, are you wondering why he doesn't have bigger muscles like say Chris Hoy?

Well not like hoy exactly as I understand his cycling is more explosive sprinting.
I just seen him on the podium and he doesn't look well nourished, how can those skinny little things create so much power and endurance

godtabh · 23-02-2014 6:46pm

jackstaff wrote: »

Well not like hoy exactly as I understand his cycling is more explosive sprinting.
I just seen him on the podium and he doesn't look well nourished, how can those skinny little things create so much power and endurance

Consistency. He has become a smarter rider. He looks more at his cycle computer than the road. He knows how many watts he can sustain and doesnt use any more energy than requires

tomdempsey200 · 23-02-2014 6:49pm

godtabh wrote: »

Consistency. He has become a smarter rider. He looks more at his cycle computer than the road. He knows how many watts he can sustain and doesnt use any more energy than requires

lol..

godtabh · 23-02-2014 6:55pm

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

lol..

At what?

Max_Charger · 23-02-2014 6:57pm

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

lol..

Fantastic input to the discussion.

Darkglasses · 23-02-2014 6:58pm

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

lol..

Keep it constructive or don't bother, thanks.

Beasty · 23-02-2014 7:36pm

OK certain posters who should know better are attempting to turn this into a doping discussion. Continue down that route and not only will cards and bans follow, but the thread will be closed

Brian? · 23-02-2014 7:37pm

As a matter of interest, do Sky release power figures for their riders? I didn't think they did.

elnino23 · 23-02-2014 7:43pm

If you look at sky's line up they're very clever with their selection they really keep their gc man fresher than most.

Lumen · 23-02-2014 7:46pm

redzerredzer wrote: »

He looks like he should snap on impact of a pedal yet he wins time trials which (I think) traditionally are won by bigger cyclists.

Individual time trials are steady-state aerobic. Aerobic muscle is thin.

I've no strong opinion about Froome's performances though. They are what they are until they're not.

Fr D Maugire · 23-02-2014 7:47pm

Brian? wrote: »

As a matter of interest, do Sky release power figures for their riders? I didn't think they did.

No they don't, they have this idea that the other team's might learn something. What that might be I am not sure. If Froome is putting out X amount of watt's and kicking everyone's butts, what are the other teams going to learn?? You learn you need X amount of watts to match Froome but how do get your athlete to reach that level if they are currently unable to do so. That is the SKY secret.

Beasty · 23-02-2014 7:47pm

elnino23 wrote: »

If you look at sky's line up they're very clever with their selection they really keep their gc man fresher than most.

Like Team GB they seem to have basically taken their professionalism to a new level and are reaping the rewards

Lumen · 23-02-2014 7:50pm

Beasty wrote: »

Like Team GB they seem to have basically taken their professionalism to a new level and are reaping the rewards

Absolutely. It's all about spaceboots and pillows.

BadCharlie · 23-02-2014 7:54pm

Does sky have the biggest budget?

elnino23 · 23-02-2014 7:55pm

Beasty wrote: »

Like Team GB they seem to have basically taken their professionalism to a new level and are reaping the rewards

A lot of other teams have the odd training camp but generally in the off season riders are left to train alone, Sky changed that and are a much more professional outfit riders are left to train to a degree but they have very precise programs to complete and in turn they win simple!! Hard work and tactics = win

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 7:55pm

Beasty wrote: »

Like Team GB they seem to have basically taken their professionalism to a new level and are reaping the rewards

how come they are pretty crap outside of the tour?

Fr D Maugire · 23-02-2014 7:59pm

gordongekko wrote: »

how come they are pretty crap outside of the tour?

How come they were so crap at the Tour after Aix-3-Domaine last year. Porte came around a bit again but the rest were invisible.

Beasty · 23-02-2014 8:02pm

gordongekko wrote: »

how come they are pretty crap outside of the tour?

Maybe winning the biggest race on the planet was their priority;)

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 8:05pm

Beasty wrote: »

Maybe winning the biggest race on the planet was their priority;)

hardly a professional attitude to have just one race in mind a feck the rest of the races

Beasty · 23-02-2014 8:10pm

gordongekko wrote: »

hardly a professional attitude to have just one race in mind a feck the rest of the races

They didn't though - as I said the Tour was their priority. They won other races as well and failed to win some. The last thing you can accuse Sky of is a lack of professional attitute!!

BadCharlie · 23-02-2014 8:12pm

Maybe they don't have a strong enough team to win other tours. Some peeps here think they should win all tours cause they won tour de frace two in a row.

I feel apart Crome Porte and froome, the team was weak in last years tour.

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 8:12pm

Beasty wrote: »

They didn't though - as I said the Tour was their priority. They won other races as well and failed to win some. The last thing you can accuse Sky of is a lack of professional attitute!!

I would expect every professional cyclist to have a professional attitude. Can you point me in the direction of the unprofessional teams and cyclists?

Beasty · 23-02-2014 8:16pm

gordongekko wrote: »

I would expect every professional cyclist to have a professional attitude. Can you point me in the direction of the unprofessional teams and cyclists?

I said they's taken professionalism to a new level - simple as that

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 8:17pm

Beasty wrote: »

I said they's taken professionalism to a new level - simple as that

And im saying their results outside the tour suggest this is not the case - simple as that.

Lumen · 23-02-2014 8:20pm

Beasty wrote: »

I said they's taken professionalism to a new level - simple as that

You don't know it's as simple as that, because you don't work for Team Sky. You're just speculating.

Beasty · 23-02-2014 8:25pm

Lumen wrote: »

You don't know it's as simple as that, because you don't work for Team Sky. You're just speculating.

Absolutely, hence my insertion of the words "seem to" in front;)

Chips Lovell · 23-02-2014 8:39pm

Why is Wayne Rooney so good at football?

wirelessdude01 · 23-02-2014 8:42pm

Reason why they 'peak' for the Tour is quite simple, it really is the only race that matters in professional cycling. The other grand tours are like the national leagues in Ireland. Nice to win either of them but really they are only considered a stepping stone for later in the season or the following season depending on the grand tour involved.

Raam · 23-02-2014 8:42pm

I think Chris Froome is entirely made out of elbows. Just look at him pedalling... elbows everywhere.

Raam · 23-02-2014 8:42pm

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Reason why they 'peak' for the Tour is quite simple, it really is the only race that matters in professional cycling. The other grand tours are like the national leagues in Ireland. Nice to win either of them but really they are only considered a stepping stone for later in the season or the following season depending on the grand tour involved.

Eh, no.

elnino23 · 23-02-2014 8:47pm

Seems like plenty of wins to me?

Date Race Competition Rider Country Location
23 January Tour Down Under, Stage 2 UCI World Tour Geraint Thomas (GBR) Australia Rostrevor
27 January Tour Down Under, Sprints classification UCI World Tour Geraint Thomas (GBR) Australia
15 February Tour of Oman, Stage 5 UCI Asia Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Oman Boshar
16 February Tour of Oman, Overall UCI Asia Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Oman
16 February Tour of Oman, Points classification UCI Asia Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Oman
16 February Volta ao Algarve, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Sergio Henao (COL) Portugal Alto do Malhão
8 March Paris–Nice, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France La Montagne de Lure
9 March Tirreno–Adriatico, Stage 4 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Italy Prati di Tivo
10 March Paris–Nice, Stage 7 UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France Col d'Èze
10 March Paris–Nice, Overall UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France
23 March Critérium International, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France Porto-Vecchio
24 March Critérium International, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Col de l'Ospedale
24 March Critérium International, Overall UCI Europe Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France
24 March Critérium International, Points classification UCI Europe Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France
3 April Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 3 UCI World Tour Sergio Henao (COL) Spain Trapagaran
5 April Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) Spain Beasain
16 April Giro del Trentino, Stage 1b UCI Europe Tour Team time trial[N 1] Austria Lienz
17 April Giro del Trentino, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) Italy Vetriolo Terme
23 April Tour de Romandie, Prologue UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Switzerland Bruson
28 April Tour de Romandie, Overall UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Switzerland
28 April Tour de Romandie, Teams classification UCI World Tour [N 2] Switzerland
5 May Giro d'Italia, Stage 2 UCI World Tour Team time trial[N 3] Italy Forio
14 May Giro d'Italia, Stage 10 UCI World Tour Rigoberto Urán (COL) Italy Altopiano del Montasio
18 May Glava Tour of Norway, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Norway Lillehammer
19 May Glava Tour of Norway, Overall UCI Europe Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Norway
19 May Glava Tour of Norway, Points classification UCI Europe Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Norway
26 May Giro d'Italia, Trofeo Fast Team UCI World Tour [N 3] Italy
4 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 3 UCI World Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) France Tarare
6 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Valmorel
9 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Overall UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France
9 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Teams classification UCI World Tour [N 4] France
6 July Tour de France, Stage 8 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Ax 3 Domaines
14 July Tour de France, Stage 15 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Mont Ventoux
17 July Tour de France, Stage 17 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Chorges
21 July Tour de France, Overall UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France
3 August Tour de Pologne, Stage 7 UCI World Tour Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Poland Kraków
17 August Eneco Tour, Stage 6 UCI World Tour David López (ESP) Belgium La Redoute–Aywaille
12 September Vuelta a España, Stage 18 UCI World Tour Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) Spain Peña Cabarga
17 September Tour of Britain, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Great Britain Knowsley
22 September Tour of Britain, Overall UCI Europe Tour Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Great Britain
22 September Tour of Britain, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 5] Great Britain

wirelessdude01 · 23-02-2014 8:48pm

Raam wrote: »

Eh, no.

Do you see Froome doing even two grand tours in a calendar year? He did well in The Vuelta one year and then The Tour becomes his only focus.

Raam · 23-02-2014 8:50pm

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Do you see Froome doing even two grand tours in a calendar year? He did well in The Vuelta one year and then The Tour becomes his only focus.

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

it really is the only race that matters in professional cycling. The other grand tours are like the national leagues in Ireland. Nice to win either of them but really they are only considered a stepping stone for later in the season or the following season depending on the grand tour involved.

This is the bit that I am disagreeing with.

wirelessdude01 · 23-02-2014 8:50pm

Raam wrote: »

This is the bit that I am disagreeing with.

Fair enough. What other races really matter though? I watched The Armstrong Lie yesterday and he said when he recovered from the treatment that the one day events were worth nothing, that the tour was all that mattered. Think the same applies to the likes of Wiggins/Froome. Everything else is just a stepping stone.

Look at Wiggins last year. The Giro was supposed to be his focus but his heart didn't ever really appear to be in it. He had reached the top of the sport.

elnino23 · 23-02-2014 8:52pm

Quintana is focusing on another grand tour and not doing the tour de france! Seems like if you want to win a grand tour you can only really focus on one? Sky choose the tour cos it has better media coverage would be my guess. Money and sponsors rule!

Lumen · 23-02-2014 9:00pm

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I watched The Armstrong Lie yesterday and he said when he recovered from the treatment that the one day events were worth nothing, that the tour was all that mattered.

...to Lance.

Raam · 23-02-2014 9:03pm

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Fair enough. What other races really matter though? I watched The Armstrong Lie yesterday and he said when he recovered from the treatment that the one day events were worth nothing, that the tour was all that mattered. Think the same applies to the likes of Wiggins/Froome. Everything else is just a stepping stone.

Look at Wiggins last year. The Giro was supposed to be his focus but his heart didn't ever really appear to be in it. He had reached the top of the sport.

Different races matter to different riders.

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 9:09pm

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Look at Wiggins last year. The Giro was supposed to be his focus but his heart didn't ever really appear to be in it. He had reached the top of the sport.

That's rubbish sir Bradley was busy living the pop star lifestyle and had not done the work pre season

AstraMonti · 23-02-2014 9:11pm

Even if he still checks out in 10 years he still is one of the most uninteresting and uninspiring people that have ever won the tour.

gordongekko · 23-02-2014 9:13pm

elnino23 wrote: »

Seems like plenty of wins to me?

Date Race Competition Rider Country Location
23 January Tour Down Under, Stage 2 UCI World Tour Geraint Thomas (GBR) Australia Rostrevor
27 January Tour Down Under, Sprints classification UCI World Tour Geraint Thomas (GBR) Australia
15 February Tour of Oman, Stage 5 UCI Asia Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Oman Boshar
16 February Tour of Oman, Overall UCI Asia Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Oman
16 February Tour of Oman, Points classification UCI Asia Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Oman
16 February Volta ao Algarve, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Sergio Henao (COL) Portugal Alto do Malhão
8 March Paris–Nice, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France La Montagne de Lure
9 March Tirreno–Adriatico, Stage 4 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Italy Prati di Tivo
10 March Paris–Nice, Stage 7 UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France Col d'Èze
10 March Paris–Nice, Overall UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France
23 March Critérium International, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France Porto-Vecchio
24 March Critérium International, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Col de l'Ospedale
24 March Critérium International, Overall UCI Europe Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France
24 March Critérium International, Points classification UCI Europe Tour Richie Porte (AUS) France
3 April Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 3 UCI World Tour Sergio Henao (COL) Spain Trapagaran
5 April Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Richie Porte (AUS) Spain Beasain
16 April Giro del Trentino, Stage 1b UCI Europe Tour Team time trial[N 1] Austria Lienz
17 April Giro del Trentino, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) Italy Vetriolo Terme
23 April Tour de Romandie, Prologue UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Switzerland Bruson
28 April Tour de Romandie, Overall UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) Switzerland
28 April Tour de Romandie, Teams classification UCI World Tour [N 2] Switzerland
5 May Giro d'Italia, Stage 2 UCI World Tour Team time trial[N 3] Italy Forio
14 May Giro d'Italia, Stage 10 UCI World Tour Rigoberto Urán (COL) Italy Altopiano del Montasio
18 May Glava Tour of Norway, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Norway Lillehammer
19 May Glava Tour of Norway, Overall UCI Europe Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Norway
19 May Glava Tour of Norway, Points classification UCI Europe Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Norway
26 May Giro d'Italia, Trofeo Fast Team UCI World Tour [N 3] Italy
4 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 3 UCI World Tour Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) France Tarare
6 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Valmorel
9 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Overall UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France
9 June Critérium du Dauphiné, Teams classification UCI World Tour [N 4] France
6 July Tour de France, Stage 8 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Ax 3 Domaines
14 July Tour de France, Stage 15 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Mont Ventoux
17 July Tour de France, Stage 17 UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France Chorges
21 July Tour de France, Overall UCI World Tour Chris Froome (GBR) France
3 August Tour de Pologne, Stage 7 UCI World Tour Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Poland Kraków
17 August Eneco Tour, Stage 6 UCI World Tour David López (ESP) Belgium La Redoute–Aywaille
12 September Vuelta a España, Stage 18 UCI World Tour Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) Spain Peña Cabarga
17 September Tour of Britain, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Great Britain Knowsley
22 September Tour of Britain, Overall UCI Europe Tour Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Great Britain
22 September Tour of Britain, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 5] Great Britain

your know people are struggling to make a point when they start talking about stage wins in the UCI Europe Tour

wirelessdude01 · 23-02-2014 9:16pm

gordongekko wrote: »

That's rubbish sir Bradley was busy living the pop star lifestyle and had not done the work pre season

Exactly. His heart wasn't in it. Be interesting to see if he gets anywhere near achieving his stated targets for this year.

chris froome

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