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Sky's decisons (and one by Froome) (spoiler)
Last Post 07/10/2014 08:33 PM by Michael Carbajal. 17 Replies.
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 07/09/2014 10:44 PM |
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Sky has, IMO, made a whole series of very questionable decisions. Each as been a "no big deal", but they have cascaded. These decisions run from the front desk management level to calls made from the car to a really small one by Froome himself. But reversing just one of any of these decisions could have made a big differences. So, the choices made:
1) Request a potentially very controversial TUE for a drug known to enhance performance, take that drug throughout that stage race and win it decisively. And this for a minor race when that rider was the defending Tour champ. Burning matches that could have been far better used yesterday to get Froome enough painkiller (the good stuff) to be able to ride in some comfort. And had the TUE not been requested, an overnight TUE here would have been easy, as easy as it was last spring.
2) Alienating and not including Wiggins. I won't say more than that I believe the Sky management should have sat those two down a while ago and said "There may be a time in the future you two will have to work together. You don't have to like each other, but work together and do it well." Then, when the Tour course was announced, they could go to both and say, "Well, it's decided. Sky would be a fool not to have both of you given that there will be a Roubaix stage. So, look each other in the eye, shake hands and agree you will do your best for each other."
3) Not placing a phalanx of riders around Froome yesterday Postal/Discovery style. There's no excuse. P/D demonstrated for 7 years how that is done. Why wasn't there a Sky rider there to be taken out instead of Froome.
4) Minor point, but why was Froome concerned with swapping his computer from his crashed bike to the new one after he crashed? He had bigger concerns! He dropped it on the far side of his bike and had to pick it up. That cost him seconds and meant his team had to drop further back to join him. As I said, minor, but being a few seconds up the road translates to being a little farther in the action and a better chance of staying upright. Again, minor choice. But if meant that the second fall today didn't happen, a very big one.
Had the Sky management/Braille made different choices on the first 3, some sponsors would be feeling a lot better right now.
Ben
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 07/09/2014 10:55 PM |
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| Porte is a good 2nd option. Would Wiggins really been a better one ? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/09/2014 11:17 PM |
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I think #2 is really the big issue at play.
Not taking Wiggins, when they knew this stage was in the parcours, was just stoopid. A) they would have had another rider to help pilot Froome through the cobbles and B) they would have had a proven back-up (ummm....2012 TdF champ. Hello?) if disaster struck.
I get that Froome and Wiggo don't like each other, but Brailsford allowed himself to get controlled.
Wiggo must have laughed himself to sleep tonight.....even though it was likely cold comfort. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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PC_Rider
Posts:9
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| 07/09/2014 11:27 PM |
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1. Agreed. Bizarre. It's almost like they are making the rules up, a la team Postal.
2. I would think that it would be best for the sponsor to have had both in the race, and I would be curious to know how they felt about all of that drama. How often does an English media backed team, with a gold medal wearing knighted Englishman who has raced-- and won-- the very race that is starting on English soil, let an African get him kicked off?? That decision maker should be in a real hot seat right about now.
3. Movistar was able to pull that move off for a few moments, but it would have been treacherous to try that all stage long. Visions of Garmin's TT in the Giro dance in my head.
4. Froome looked completely out of it, almost like he was drugged or something, which could have been the case. The long, languishing moments standing there with a firm grasp on his broken bike while the mechanic is brandishing the new one for him, cajoling him to get on... that was just odd in my book. Too much stem staring? Tramadol anyone? |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 07/10/2014 03:57 AM |
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I thought about the decision not to include Wiggo all day today, big mistake IMHO, but Porte is bringing it for sure.
Froome is all about his computer, power numbers etc, the guy is just a robot really, not too sure if he knows how to read a race without it.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/10/2014 08:02 AM |
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I disagree with those who feel Froome is a slave to his power meter. His attacks in the 2012 and 2013 races were hardly the work of a guy who is watching his numbers.
Yeah, SKY has a closely monitored program and they know, as a team, what they are doing. But Froome attacks and surges when he feels the moment is right.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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jrt1045
Posts:363
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| 07/10/2014 09:31 AM |
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the situation is the result of being over confident as an organization, doubt the Tour will get much better for Sky as it progresses. Kudos to Prudhomme for bringing in the stage, it was needed
Brailsford is such a douche that I must admit, watching the train wreck that is Sky this Tour makes me a little giddy. Its like watching the Dallas Cowboys implode...every year. Romo-licious anyone? It will be a better race to watch, too. The anglo-philes on the Cycling News forums must be in meltdown mode...lots of fat dudes in England in their mother's basement lashing out in their disappointment. First England in the World Cup and now this. Might have to take a peek today
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 07/10/2014 10:50 AM |
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Agree with jrt. Sky has oozed overconfidence for a good while now. I find it to be a major turn-off personally.
Overconfidence sometimes leads to poor decision making.
#2 from above is IMO the biggest blunder of the four. Brailsford has the authority (and should have the respect from his riders) to make sure these guys act in the best interest of the team. If that means racing together, so be it. These guys are professionals and being paid very large salaries. I would expect them to act like the grown men they are and conduct themselves accordingly. Not trying to de-value Porte, but I think Wiggins would be the better #2 guy; and I'm no Wiggins fan.
#3 is the second biggest error. As mentioned Lance & Co. had that drill down to a science and how many race-ending crashes was he involved in?
#1 is third for me. More of a strategy move than anything, I would have saved that card to be played at the Tour or Vuelta. Then again, maybe they did what they thought was right at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20.
#4 I'm up in the air on this one. Seems to me like Froome is a normally slave to the numbers, but he does attack and animate in the mountains so not really sure what to think. Then again are those attacks his own decision or is he taking orders from the car? Nothing wrong with data, and I know for a fact it can be used as an asset. You still have to know how to read a race - and how to read your competitors. That my friends can't be accomplished with numbers. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 07/10/2014 11:12 AM |
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Red, I"m not arguing Froome's use of the computer. Just the complete loss of seeing what is important. Right now (after that crash yesterday) that computer isn't important. I (Froome) just need to chase and get back in this race. Noting else matters. And if Froome was dazed, than his trainer/mechanic with the new bike should be telling him that.
Ben |
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 07/10/2014 01:15 PM |
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| I agree with you regarding the computer. Nice to have it, but in that situation get back on the bike & get going! I was more-or-less thinking out loud about his computer use in general. He can ride just fine without the computer getting info from the car and help from teammates. |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 07/10/2014 03:11 PM |
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Posted By Ride On on 07/09/2014 10:55 PM
Porte is a good 2nd option. Would Wiggins really been a better one ?
Absolutely he is. Porte is has no experience what so ever leading a team. Not to bash Porte but he has a long way to go.
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/10/2014 03:14 PM |
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| How would wiggins do with so many mountain top finishes this year? Better than Porte maybe, but a fair question. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/10/2014 03:23 PM |
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I don't think Wiggo could have won this year, but a top 5 or even podium would have been fairly realistic (assuming he could ride freeely). AS I have said before, Wiggo hit the perfect storm in 2012 with the course, AC being out and SKY being 100% committed to him vs. splitting the team betweem him & Cav.
For this course, I don't think he could have won, but he could have controlled his losses in the mountains and palced well overall. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Oldfart
Posts:511
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| 07/10/2014 03:24 PM |
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| I think that the Froome Wiggins relationship is worse than we know and bring both to the race would have been a tough thing to control. Like Hinault LeMond, Contador and Armstrong. I think in the modern age of Stage races a team has to decide from the get go to have one rider for the win and all others to support that one rider. yeah a backup plan with the next best rider is logical but you can't have two stars at the same race. Especially when they have both been back stabbing in print. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/10/2014 03:38 PM |
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The way Wiggins decision was made was questionable but then Suisse showed it was the right decision. Wiggo wouldn't have made a dent in the lap around France.
All the other points in the OP, sure, but they're all unconnected, there's not a pattern.
Froome and the powermeter, that just shows you where his mind is. Pretty telling. |
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