2021 PRO thread

[OnTheRivet]

In other news, the racist Moscon has one a bicycle race.

Im not a Moscon fan but I'm also big on giving people a chance. He was/is young and clearly has anger issues (been there) I'm wondering how he feels about the situation now. It would be an interesting interview for sure.

If it was just one incident I would agree, but Moscon has had lots of them. There was an interesting episode of the German podcast Besenwagen. They always ask their guests (often pro riders) about their favorite and least favorite riders in the peloton and I think it was a the episode with Haussler where he said that he hopes that Moscon just goes away, because pretty much every rider in the peloton had some run in with him (I think he said Moscon pushed him deliberately of the road). He was also saying that he'd been given second changes left and right but still the incidents happen.

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That's interesting. It makes me wonder what Ineos are thinking keeping him on, he's just a liability at this point regardless of results.

[maquisard]

The Sir Ratcliffe and Sir Brailsford effect - they don't care about perception of the Team. Results are everything

[Kjetil]

Maybe winning a scripted post-Tour crit.

Mean you!

[MichaelB]

I think that's as good as it gets for Froome, he shipped another 8 minutes today. He has shown no progress since last year so I don't see him progress much in 2.5 months for the Tour.

Severe injuries + his age + no more access to the Sky/Ineos drug cabinet + disc brake rub according to him, he should consider it a success if he can just reach Paris on the same day as the others. He might not even be able to hold onto nobodies' wheels from small teams in a successful breakaway that the peloton allows to go for a win.

He was better at the few races he did last year. He's getting slower?

It's not like he's even close at the end of the stage, he slips off the back even on the early climbs before they really go for it.

Hope ISUN didn't lay out too much cash ...

[Karvalo]

It's not like he's even close at the end of the stage, he slips off the back even on the early climbs before they really go for it.

Hope ISUN didn't lay out too much cash ...

Erm....

https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-new ... s-peloton/

[maquisard]

Hard to see the justification of Froome's salary. Even when Sagan isn't winning races (which he still is) - he is a big media presence and worth the $5M for Specialized as a brand ambassador. Sagan has personality and people like to talk to him. Froome has no personality or media presense at all.

Also a shock at how little Roglic is paid!

[TobinHatesYou]

Sylvan Adams is worth around $2B so even a risky $5.5M bet isn't a risky bet.

[saldegracia]

Hard to see the justification of Froome's salary. Even when Sagan isn't winning races (which he still is) - he is a big media presence and worth the $5M for Specialized as a brand ambassador. Sagan has personality and people like to talk to him. Froome has no personality or media presense at all.

Also a shock at how little Roglic is paid!

I find that a little harsh...he is not a showman like Sagan but that doesn't mean he hasn't got a personality. Indeed, if you ever watch an interview with him he comes across as a very down to earth and likeable guy. I watched a documentary about him some time ago (can't remember the title) and I find it now even more impressive what he has achieved knowing where he came from. I did not know much about him before that but I certainly find him even more likeable now knowing his back-story....

[jasjas]

I find that a little harsh...he is not a showman like Sagan but that doesn't mean he hasn't got a personality. Indeed, if you ever watch an interview with him he comes across as a very down to earth and likeable guy. I watched a documentary about him some time ago (can't remember the title) and I find it now even more impressive what he has achieved knowing where he came from. I did not know much about him before that but I certainly find him even more likeable now knowing his back-story....

Yes maybe but he isn't a shadow of his former self and in many ways, that tarnishes his past performances, he should have retired after his accident or certainly by the end of 2020.
Now it just looks like he is there just for the money.

[saldegracia]

well, I'd assume he's working hard to get back to where he once was...if he'll get there he probably doesn't even know himself but he certainly has all the right in the world to try. His team certainly knew about the risk when they signed them, I am sure they have calculated that into their decision. Should he have rejected their contract offer? I can't think of anyone who would have done that...at the end of the day it's all about supply and demand...he's still a multiple grand tour winner and will attract media attention just for that...

[maquisard]

I think Froome is doing good work to be back at his current level. His injuries in his crash were very severe. I don't think he will ever get back to winning a Grand Tour. Even without his injury recover his age would be too great. However I think ISN signed him for the kudos of a big name to get some attention, ISN also does not seem a team with money issues. It reminds me of Andy Riis signing big names to BMC when he started the team. Names that were a little too old to still be competitive, Cadel Evans being exception.

[jasjas]

Well Contador could have got another lucrative contract but chose to retire at 35, same age as Froome now, he could no longer challenge for GC wins, so retired with dignity.
I like froome but its sad to see a fantastic rider getting dropped and finishing so far back.

I'd love to proved wrong and Froome is on a path to peak in July.

[smartyiak]

The salary is certainly a bonus, but maybe he likes riding his bike and competing. <shrug>

Probably just my US-centric view, but I'm surprised by Pogacar. Sagan is Sagan...and guys like Froome, Valverde are stalwarts, even if they aren't what they used to be, everyone knows them as champions. But does anyone really know Pogacar...I mean, as someone who moves product.

Full disclosure: I was a Froome hater until his bike-carrying and descending escapades in the last few Tours. His riding was the thing of patrons past. Fully converted to fanboy, so I'm giving him a pass on ISN.

[spud]

^ Froome is a little different from Contador - he didn't wither on the vine, he got injured badly. Part of this may be a voyage self discovery, maybe also just a pay day. I don't know the guy so I don't know if he'll pull the plug if he doesn't make good progress this year, but the market will speak, and evenutally he'll have to listen. 'til then, good on him.

[bikewithnoname]

Yates looked a cut above on the Alps. French coverage was fixated by Pinot as usual...