Is Froome becoming a cycling legend?

[YellowCar]

So, as he looks set fair to march further into history along the Champs Elysee on Sunday, I think he is. Before Wiggins and Team Sky and more funding for British Cycling came along a British winner of the Tour was but a dream, and now we're looking at a 3 times winner.

He made one mistake yesterday and went down (as did many others) but his bravery and ingenuity on this Tour have been unrivalled, as has his stamina, endurance and style. His performance in the 2nd time trial was something special, and with many years ahead of him he's sure to be chasing records set by Mercx and others. Plus, he's done it all clean.

Sure Team Sky is mighty and puts the fear of God into most of the Peleton, but he's shown this year he can also use his intelligence to build the GC gap himself. In his previous Tour wins I've felt he was defending somewhat precariously after a couple of big stage wins, but this year he has attacked, built it up and almost played with the opposition at times.

Not taking away from great performances of others: Cav, Sagan, Yates, Bardet but in terms of GC there has been no match. Quintana has been nowhere and Froome has marched on. Today is surely a formality as 2nd to 6th squabble over the podium and Frome takes a watching brief, and Sunday will be a very special day for British sport. We're getting a few of these lately and much of the time I'm disappointed that we play it down or still find something to moan about...but that's perhaps for another thread, another time, for now though COME ON FROOME, love it!

Edited 23 July, 2016 by YellowCar

[mattyboy334]

No where near, when you concentrate your efforts on one race per year that doesn't make you a legend. May be when he has won multiple grand tours in the same year such as Eddie Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi, Marco Pantani, Miguel Indurain, etc then he can be classed as a legend.

[CholmondleyWarner]

Froome is an incredible talent. If not for his wins, his legendary status has been attained in the memory of the maillot jaune running up Mont Ventoux! That and his bizarre and amazing descent at the end of Stage 8, after making the peleton think he was going for moutain points on the previous col to edge a lead over the summit of the Col de Peyresourde. Not planned my a*se

With the combination of Brailsford's mastery of strategy, Froome's endurance and the dedication of some very talented domestiques (Poels has put in some incredible efforts on the climbs), the Sky train have looked unstoppable. I could see him up there with Merckx et al in another couple of tours and, dare I say it, equalling the now defunct records of Armstrong.

Speaking of Armstrong, while it was right and proper that he should have been stripped of his wins for his doping, I think people are too hard on him. When I was on drugs, I couldn't even find my bike! Sorry, I couldn't resist
 

[Oldgits]

In recent years the criteria for becoming a "legend" has changed, an easier title to attain in this world of instant global media. Yes CF is now a legend with three TDF wins and as already commented should he go on to dominate other great tours he will become a "legend" in what I regard the true sense of the meaning.

[YellowCar]

In recent years the criteria for becoming a "legend" has changed, an easier title to attain in this world of instant global media. Yes CF is now a legend with three TDF wins and as already commented should he go on to dominate other great tours he will become a "legend" in what I regard the true sense of the meaning.

Not sure it's instant global media that does it, perhaps it's more that everything is so more competitive with the top people in most sports being closer matched than ever, and there being more of them. Particularly with improvements in technology, nutrition and more funding being given to professional development. So to win 'only' 2 or even 3 grand tours or world championships or Olympic golds or whatever it is begins to set people apart these days. There is rarely anybody who is streets ahead of the competition for long anymore. However there is no doubt that Froome was untouchable this year.

[YellowCar]

Job done anyway, I see 3 more coming, and if he does win 6 tour de France I won't really care if he never wins a vuelta or giro

[CholmondleyWarner]

Job done anyway, I see 3 more coming, and if he does win 6 tour de France I won't really care if he never wins a vuelta or giro

 

Amen to that.

 

FWIW, I think that riding the Le Tour all the way to the Champs-Elysees requires almost superhuman endurance and every one of those gentlemen are legends.

[YellowCar]

Amen to that.

 

FWIW, I think that riding the Le Tour all the way to the Champs-Elysees requires almost superhuman endurance and every one of those gentlemen are legends.

Indeed. As Millar was saying Le tour is what really matters and brings everything out of the riders. You don't often hear of full on professionals who just want to finish. Makes you realise that to win it 3 times, or even king of the mountains requires something very special.

[KenONeill]

It was something else entirely seeing Team Sky riding down the Champs Elysée line abreast and arms linked.

[YellowCar]

It was something else entirely seeing Team Sky riding down the Champs Elysée line abreast and arms linked.

Great scene and they were more awesome than ever this year which made it more poignant. Still the full squad as well, don't think they've ever done that. Sky now won 4 out of 5 tour de France, amazing really

[Brimma]

No where near, when you concentrate your efforts on one race per year that doesn't make you a legend. May be when he has won multiple grand tours in the same year such as Eddie Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi, Marco Pantani, Miguel Indurain, etc then he can be classed as a legend.

Not sure how you can mention Pantani in the same breath as the others

[P6bJOHN]

Pantani might be mentioned with Armstrong.......

But who knows about the others, the anti doping wasn't as active back then, look at what happened to Tom Simpson. Watching Il Pirata climb was exciting though.

[YellowCar]

At least we know Froome is doing it clean, didn't he release his data and tests from training against Brailsford's better judgement to quash the inevitable rumours? Shame it was so widespread that many can't look at a top level cyclist now without a suspicious eye. No doubt the situation is now so much better though, thanks to people like Wiggins, Cav and Froome being so vocal and frank about it when any accusation goes anywhere near them.

Isn't it strange (or not) that Contador doesn't win much these days...

Edited 26 July, 2016 by YellowCar

[kilted]

TBH i think the success of Froome says a lot about him but probably more about Team Sky.

 

They have a number of riders acting as domestiques who could be in contention for leading on some of the other teams.

 

Worth noting though that Froome is to race the Vuelta 10 days after the Olympics. IIRC that is one of the main events that he is still to win and if he does manage it in the same year as Le Tour and the Olympics I think that will say a lot more about him.

[Chorlton]

A legend for running on Ventoux if nothing else.  That clip will make him legendary for decades.

[YellowCar]

TBH i think the success of Froome says a lot about him but probably more about Team Sky.

 

They have a number of riders acting as domestiques who could be in contention for leading on some of the other teams.

 

Worth noting though that Froome is to race the Vuelta 10 days after the Olympics. IIRC that is one of the main events that he is still to win and if he does manage it in the same year as Le Tour and the Olympics I think that will say a lot more about him.

I would have agreed pretty much wholeheartedly with that before this and the last tour, and Froome was probably better all round the year Wiggins won. But Froome proved this year he not only draws on the strength of the team, but can also do it himself when he senses the time is right. What sets him apart from the rest of the team (and same for Wiggins in his year) is the individual time trial. Climbing ability alone is not enough to win the tour (just ask Quintana), gaps have to be grown on the time trial too. Pretty sure Geraint didn't give it the full beans on the 2nd one but even so, Froome was well ahead of the rest of the team. Of course Geraint and Powls could be team leaders, but win it 3 times I'm not so sure, they would be more reliant on the team and would struggle to defend or grow a lead without a podium in the TT and finish above all GC rivals.

[KenONeill]

Great scene and they were more awesome than ever this year which made it more poignant. Still the full squad as well, don't think they've ever done that. Sky now won 4 out of 5 tour de France, amazing really

Very few teams have ever finished with the entire squad intact (although some losses have been due to injuries rather than abandons).

[YellowCar]

Very few teams have ever finished with the entire squad intact (although some losses have been due to injuries rather than abandons).

True that, that's the advantage of always being at the front especially with crosswinds. They're seemed to be less narrow roads and dodgy bends before the finish this year which helped, and there was no cobbles stage. Still it shows the strength and racing knowledge of the squad, there was only just room for them all on the Champs Elysee!