Chris Froome.

Froome seems to have been directly accused by some as a cheat, insinuated by others and mumbled by even more. No smoke without fire???????

There is always smoke around cycling because of the history. Don't read too much into it. Team Sky set out with an anti-doping stance and there is NO evidence or suspicion to the contrary other than snidey comments when they perform well.
 
Froome earned his shot as team leader this year. Last year he was still breaking through, wiggins was established team leader and in the yellow jersey, best tt'er in the race in a tour with lots of tt kms. You don't switch your team leader in that scenario, why would you?
Wiggins proved his class when he bossed the final tt. Lets not forget he smashed Froome (and the rest of the field) in the tt's.
Froome, and more obviously his fiancée, smacked of sour grapes last year. He wasn't there to be leader and he shouldn't have expected to be promoted above sir brad especially not when wiggo had yellow. Was very petulant. Yes he could have won it, he came second behind Brad so that much is obvious. But it was wiggins' year. This year (and future years) is froome's year.
This year he is a deserved team leader and favourite. I hope he continues to smash it and wins, lots of hard stages to come so let's not anoint him champ just yet.

Spot on.
 
Can I say that having biked back from the pub the other night which is about 1 mile at most up hill, I have so much respect for them when they go up hills at that speed. As I was puffing a bit, but that may have been partly down the the fact I was doping with beer. You do not realise how fast they are going until you see someone running and failing to keep up with them.

Excellent point made by Stuey in that there will always be accusations about drugs when anyone does a fantastic performance. The fact that Froome's on Mont Ventoux was very reminiscent of how Lance used to do it did not help. Very interesting comments by David Walsh (who exposed Lance) and Brailsford on the ITV4 highlights show last night.

Brailsford said he would like people from the UCI to effectively live with the teams and have access to all the data and blood samples over a long time. As that is the only way to detect if someone is doping.
 
If he loses many more and Contador's team start pressing, things could get a bit squeaky bum.

He's got it sewn up. Today is a time trial with 2 decent climbs, so if anything he will extend his lead. Then there's only a couple of stages to go. And as long as he can get to any climbs in the same group as the other GC contenders, which he will, they won't drop him.
 
He's got it sewn up. Today is a time trial with 2 decent climbs, so if anything he will extend his lead. Then there's only a couple of stages to go. And as long as he can get to any climbs in the same group as the other GC contenders, which he will, they won't drop him.

Well he won the time trial and extended his lead but by only a matter of seconds - still - top man
 
Well he won the time trial and extended his lead but by only a matter of seconds - still - top man

Unless there's an inquest. Chris Boardman was suggesting some degree of dodginess regarding the bike changeover; how long before Contador, who didn't change bikes, puts his complaint in?

Personally I don't think the change should be allowed. Would you be permitted to change drivers at the turn because the inward 9 is downwind & you want more loft to use it? Of course not, same should go for changing bikes (unless for a mechanical defect, but then like for like).
 
I know Froome wasn't the only one but he chose to change on a climb and received a very good push from the mechanic & Boardman alluded to the rules allowing for a change for mechanical defect, but not because he fancied a change.
 
Biggest stage of the tour today! Twice up alpe d'huez, this could be one of the great and most iconic stages in the tour.

Come on Froome-dawg!
 
How good was that. Can't believe I have to wait another year for it - I thin kthe TdF is actually my favourite sporting event of the year - preferable in many ways to The Open or indeed any golf tournament.

Tour of Poland coming up soon though...and on 14th September Stage 7 of the Tour of Britain comes through my town :thup:

In fact it passes about 100yds from my front door :)
 
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