Chris Froome

[Packerman]

Congratulations to Froome (first british double tour winner) and team Sky winning the tour for the third time in four years, the best tour for many a year and compelling viewing, hats off to Quintana too, a future winner for sure, i salute you all http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif

[jeepster]

Congratulations to Froome (first british double tour winner) and team Sky winning the tour for the third time in four years, the best tour for many a year and compelling viewing, hats off to Quintana too, a future winner for sure, i salute you all http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif He is amazing, superman http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/thumbup.gif

[gurkhablue]

Well done Froomey and hats off to Geraint and the other team members for their efforts!

[Packerman]

now its officially over, CHAPEAU Froome dog http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif Chapeau Team Sky http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif

[Loramski]

now its officially over, CHAPEAU Froome dog http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif Chapeau Team Sky http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/vuelta-a-espana/the-li neup-for-the-vuelta-a-espana-is-starting-to-look-incredibly- good-183680 (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/vuelta-a-espana/the-lineup-for-the-vuelta-a-espana-is-starting-to-look-incredibly-good-183680)

[Rob Jenkins]

I was lucky enough to be on Alpe d'Huez for Saturday's stage and the atmosphere was something special.

We wandered down the course from the finishing line before settling on 'Dutch Corner'. Utter chaos, but friendly chaos!

This video gives an idea, from about 2 minutes in it gets a bit crazy;
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de -france-analysis/watch-riders-eye-view-of-alpe-dhuez-mayhem- video-184537 (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-analysis/watch-riders-eye-view-of-alpe-dhuez-mayhem-video-184537)

I could not believe how fast these guys were going, even at the top of d'Huez after 3 weeks in the saddle! http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/bow.gif

It wasn't until I rewatched the stage last night that I realised that Quintana was in with a shout of overall victory at one stage. Great ride from him too.

[Pug]

I climbed Alp D'Heuz around 20 years ago. I was cycling around 200 miles a weeks, to try and break 2 hrs for 50 miles (failed 2hr 7minutes) and a load of friends come up with the idea to ride Alp D Heuz. Trained for about 3 months going up down various hills and mountains around around here, Maerdy road, Caerphilly repeatedly going up and back over and a load of other climbs which I cant remember. Our goal was to do the climb in under an hour. We did a 10 mile warm up and then made our way up to the mountain. The first 3-4K was nuts, it was so sodding step and it was hot, to be honest I was spent by 5k, I thought there's no way I'm getting up here. Then the switch backs start and to be honest I remember it being easier (relatively) as it seems to flatten out a bit. The problem at this point was the road just seem to go on forever, the bends never seem to stop. We eventually got to the summit and I was just about to jump off and die at the side of the road, when a local came up and pointed out that the summit was another 300 metres up the road. 1hr 12 minutes. Felt really rough for about another hour, bought an Alp d'Huez top (which I still have but I cant get anywhere near me).

[redjk]

I climbed Alp D'Heuz around 20 years ago. I was cycling around 200 miles a weeks, to try and break 2 hrs for 50 miles (failed 2hr 7minutes) and a load of friends come up with the idea to ride Alp D Heuz. Trained for about 3 months going up down various hills and mountains around around here, Maerdy road, Caerphilly repeatedly going up and back over and a load of other climbs which I cant remember. Our goal was to do the climb in under an hour. We did a 10 mile warm up and then made our way up to the mountain. The first 3-4K was nuts, it was so sodding step and it was hot, to be honest I was spent by 5k, I thought there's no way I'm getting up here. Then the switch backs start and to be honest I remember it being easier (relatively) as it seems to flatten out a bit. The problem at this point was the road just seem to go on forever, the bends never seem to stop. We eventually got to the summit and I was just about to jump off and die at the side of the road, when a local came up and pointed out that the summit was another 300 metres up the road. 1hr 12 minutes. Felt really rough for about another hour, bought an Alp d'Huez top (which I still have but I cant get anywhere near me). Humblebrag

[Jimmy the Jock]

I climbed Alp D'Heuz around 20 years ago. I was cycling around 200 miles a weeks, to try and break 2 hrs for 50 miles (failed 2hr 7minutes) and a load of friends come up with the idea to ride Alp D Heuz. Trained for about 3 months going up down various hills and mountains around around here, Maerdy road, Caerphilly repeatedly going up and back over and a load of other climbs which I cant remember. Our goal was to do the climb in under an hour. We did a 10 mile warm up and then made our way up to the mountain. The first 3-4K was nuts, it was so sodding step and it was hot, to be honest I was spent by 5k, I thought there's no way I'm getting up here. Then the switch backs start and to be honest I remember it being easier (relatively) as it seems to flatten out a bit. The problem at this point was the road just seem to go on forever, the bends never seem to stop. We eventually got to the summit and I was just about to jump off and die at the side of the road, when a local came up and pointed out that the summit was another 300 metres up the road. 1hr 12 minutes. Felt really rough for about another hour, bought an Alp d'Huez top (which I still have but I cant get anywhere near me). Any issues that might be affecting your demeanour?

[Penarth Blues]

I climbed Alp D'Heuz around 20 years ago. I was cycling around 200 miles a weeks, to try and break 2 hrs for 50 miles (failed 2hr 7minutes) and a load of friends come up with the idea to ride Alp D Heuz. Trained for about 3 months going up down various hills and mountains around around here, Maerdy road, Caerphilly repeatedly going up and back over and a load of other climbs which I cant remember. Our goal was to do the climb in under an hour. We did a 10 mile warm up and then made our way up to the mountain. The first 3-4K was nuts, it was so sodding step and it was hot, to be honest I was spent by 5k, I thought there's no way I'm getting up here. Then the switch backs start and to be honest I remember it being easier (relatively) as it seems to flatten out a bit. The problem at this point was the road just seem to go on forever, the bends never seem to stop. We eventually got to the summit and I was just about to jump off and die at the side of the road, when a local came up and pointed out that the summit was another 300 metres up the road. 1hr 12 minutes. Felt really rough for about another hour, bought an Alp d'Huez top (which I still have but I cant get anywhere near me).
I have just read your post and for the first time ever, I dont feel depressed , I actually enjoyed reading it. http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif My exact thoughts too http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/Dsmile.gif

[Packerman]

I climbed Alp D'Heuz around 20 years ago. I was cycling around 200 miles a weeks, to try and break 2 hrs for 50 miles (failed 2hr 7minutes) and a load of friends come up with the idea to ride Alp D Heuz. Trained for about 3 months going up down various hills and mountains around around here, Maerdy road, Caerphilly repeatedly going up and back over and a load of other climbs which I cant remember. Our goal was to do the climb in under an hour. We did a 10 mile warm up and then made our way up to the mountain. The first 3-4K was nuts, it was so sodding step and it was hot, to be honest I was spent by 5k, I thought there's no way I'm getting up here. Then the switch backs start and to be honest I remember it being easier (relatively) as it seems to flatten out a bit. The problem at this point was the road just seem to go on forever, the bends never seem to stop. We eventually got to the summit and I was just about to jump off and die at the side of the road, when a local came up and pointed out that the summit was another 300 metres up the road. 1hr 12 minutes. Felt really rough for about another hour, bought an Alp d'Huez top (which I still have but I cant get anywhere near me).
I have just read your post and for the first time ever, I dont feel depressed , I actually enjoyed reading it.
Is everything ok with you? http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif

[Packerman]

I was lucky enough to be on Alpe d'Huez for Saturday's stage and the atmosphere was something special.turns out froome had a chest infection for the last two alpine stages, did remarkably well to hang on to his lead,

[Pug]

http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif[/IMG] Jimmy the Jock wrote on Mon, 27 July 2015 11:27] I climbed Alp D'Heuz around 20 years ago. I was cycling around 200 miles a weeks, to try and break 2 hrs for 50 miles (failed 2hr 7minutes) and a load of friends come up with the idea to ride Alp D Heuz. Trained for about 3 months going up down various hills and mountains around around here, Maerdy road, Caerphilly repeatedly going up and back over and a load of other climbs which I cant remember. Our goal was to do the climb in under an hour. We did a 10 mile warm up and then made our way up to the mountain. The first 3-4K was nuts, it was so sodding step and it was hot, to be honest I was spent by 5k, I thought there's no way I'm getting up here. Then the switch backs start and to be honest I remember it being easier (relatively) as it seems to flatten out a bit. The problem at this point was the road just seem to go on forever, the bends never seem to stop. We eventually got to the summit and I was just about to jump off and die at the side of the road, when a local came up and pointed out that the summit was another 300 metres up the road. 1hr 12 minutes. Felt really rough for about another hour, bought an Alp d'Huez top (which I still have but I cant get anywhere near me).
I have just read your post and for the first time ever, I dont feel depressed , I actually enjoyed reading it. http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...

[qccfc]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...He is a generation closer to being British, than Ashley Williams is to being Welsh.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...
He is a generation closer to being British, than Ashley Williams is to being Welsh. And who remembers Zola Budd?

[jon1959]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...
He is a generation closer to being British, than Ashley Williams is to being Welsh.
And who remembers Zola Budd? Is the answer Mary Decker?

[Des Parrot]

turns out froome had a chest infection for the last two alpine stages, did remarkably well to hang on to his lead, It's ok, I'm sure he took some medication to help him with it! http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hardhat.gif

[Mario Miethig]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British... No and Wiggins was born in Belgium with an Australian father and English mother. He did come over here at an early age though, unlike Froome.

[tommy31]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...it makes me laugh, the media are so desperate to claim achievements, even by others. bbc wrote how this tour win was '100% british'. even though the bloke who won it is from kenya http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif

[The Bloop]

I thought Teklahaimolot was the first African to wear a leaders jersey in the tour. Turns out it waa Froome all along

[TruBlue]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...
it makes me laugh, the media are so desperate to claim achievements, even by others. bbc wrote how this tour win was '100% british'. even though the bloke who won it is from kenya http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif Froome himself said it was a British win so a bit harsh blaming the BBC.

[Packerman]

not long ago having a british rider in the pelaton was rare, now a british team dominate unbelievable Jeff

[surge]

Froome is Kenyan British, or British Kenyan, but it would be disrespectful to his African roots to describe him as 100% British.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Froome is Kenyan British, or British Kenyan, but it would be disrespectful to his African roots to describe him as 100% British. I think he was resident in the UK for no longer than 4 years - and when he was in his early twenties.

[The Bloop]

Froomes Britishness to me is reminiscent of both Lennox Lewis's and Greg Rusedski's.

Whilst representing Britain they never quite gained the same affection with the British public as others in their sport. We had Tim Henman and Frank Bruno, and similarly for Froome we've had Bradley Wiggins, whereas the others were never quite ours to fully get behind.

[tommy31]

Froomes Britishness to me is reminiscent of both Lennox Lewis's and Greg Rusedski's.seems people are happy to get behind Geraint.

[Jimmy the Jock]

So where is Chris froome......

[The Penguin]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...Fantastic athlete, deserved winner but Sky's team leader is African. End of, no arguments.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Chris Froome: magnificent achievement but he's not really British...
Phil Ligget even said on Sunday "Froome is the first Englishman to win two Tour de France's"And it should have been two Tours de France, of course http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/getmycoat.gif

[Ray Mears]

Fantastic athlete, deserved winner but Sky's team leader is African. End of, no arguments.He's got a British passport and races for Britain, but he was born and raised in Kenya. He's kind of British and African at the same time.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Fantastic athlete, deserved winner but Sky's team leader is African. End of, no arguments.
He's got a British passport and races for Britain, but he was born and raised in Kenya. He's kind of British and African at the same time.And 8 years of his formative life in South Africa, of course.

[Ray Mears]

Fantastic athlete, deserved winner but Sky's team leader is African. End of, no arguments.
He's got a British passport and races for Britain, but he was born and raised in Kenya. He's kind of British and African at the same time.
And 8 years of his formative life in South Africa, of course.He's also been in France for 3 weeks.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Fantastic athlete, deserved winner but Sky's team leader is African. End of, no arguments.
He's got a British passport and races for Britain, but he was born and raised in Kenya. He's kind of British and African at the same time.
And 8 years of his formative life in South Africa, of course.
He's also been in France for 3 weeks.Some of that time was in The Netherlands and Belgium.

[Ray Mears]

Fantastic athlete, deserved winner but Sky's team leader is African. End of, no arguments.
He's got a British passport and races for Britain, but he was born and raised in Kenya. He's kind of British and African at the same time.
And 8 years of his formative life in South Africa, of course.
He's also been in France for 3 weeks.
Some of that time was in The Netherlands and Belgium.He's basically Belgian IMO.

[The Penguin]

not long ago having a british rider in the pelaton was rare, now a british team dominate unbelievable Jeff Its about time we got our act together. Ireland have nothing like the conditions and terrain yet constantly turn out top cyclists - its nice to see Wales finally showing what we can do. The next big thing in cycling in this country is an Irish lad ironically trained in the mountains of North Wales where he was brought up from a young age.

[Packerman]

not long ago having a british rider in the pelaton was rare, now a british team dominate unbelievable Jeff
The thing we cant lose sight of is that SKY have a £20m per annum budget for that team. It is comfortably more than twice that of their competitors, even the likes of Garmin and Giant.don't forget Luke Rowe, also Welsh and one of the 9 TDF Sky riders

[Mario Miethig]

not long ago having a british rider in the pelaton was rare, now a british team dominate unbelievable Jeff
The thing we cant lose sight of is that SKY have a £20m per annum budget for that team. It is comfortably more than twice that of their competitors, even the likes of Garmin and Giant.I moved to Caerphilly a few years ago and everyone seems to ride bikes up here, whether that be road bikes or mountain bikes, there are some great trails up here. I've even now got a bike myself, which is the first bike I've had since I had a Grifter in the early 80s. If you can't beat them, join them. http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif

[The Penguin]

not long ago having a british rider in the pelaton was rare, now a british team dominate unbelievable Jeff
The thing we cant lose sight of is that SKY have a £20m per annum budget for that team. It is comfortably more than twice that of their competitors, even the likes of Garmin and Giant.
It is the big money that got them Brailsford and he is an absolute genius in terms of modern sporting development.i didnt http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/hehe.gif

[The Penguin]

A big thing for me would be to see a change in motorists attitudes to cycling but thats a two-way conversation.

It is true that some cyclists behave like ***** and that applies equally to motorists.

Cyclists ARE allowed to ride two-abreast (its in the highway code) but sensible bunches should always have someone shouting "line-out" from the back if traffic is being held up on country lanes.

SOmetimes motorists are confident enough to get past two-abreast but sometimes not, and again, that should see the cyclists "line-out".

Im a motorist and a keen cyclist and ive seen car-drivers behave like dangerous murderous ***** towards cyclists. Ive seen cyclists screaming and threatening motorists too.

Neither side is totally at fault, rather the 'go-fast' culture we live in. Motorists might get held up for 2/3 minutes at most but to them it seems like their whole world will end as a result.

I dont blame one side or the other, i blame both but it will take a cultural change in this country, or a law change to make cycling safer. Law changes should affect both parties though.

[BlueWales]

I was in France from Saturday til yesterday and watching French TV coverage of the tour.

That was fair to Froome but on follow up sports shows they wheeled out a load of old French tossers who were saying he was a cheat.

Sour grapes as the French get more and more desperate for a winner of their own race after 30 years or more.

Oh and the Anglo Welsh army beat the frogs at the re - enactement of Agincourt as well. http://www.ccmb.co.uk/images/smiley_icons/thumbup.gif

[Taunton Blue Genie]

I was in France from Saturday til yesterday and watching French TV coverage of the tour.By the way, let's not tar all the French with the same brush or we would be equally bigoted.

[BlueWales]

I was in France from Saturday til yesterday and watching French TV coverage of the tour.
That was fair to Froome but on follow up sports shows they wheeled out a load of old French tossers who were saying he was a cheat.Pretty fair except for the ( old tossers bit ) I thought.

[tommy31]

I was in France from Saturday til yesterday and watching French TV coverage of the tour.
That was fair to Froome but on follow up sports shows they wheeled out a load of old French tossers who were saying he was a cheat.The talk of doping all came from stage 17 (or something like that) where he destroyed all the climbers by well over a minute. He's a good climber, but he's no Quintana. Great cyclist mind, although I doubt he could do it without Thomas and Porte. (Fwiw I think they all dope, I've done alp d'huez and I don't believe they can do it so much quicker than me without boosters, especially after 100 miles already!)