Tour De France 2018

They tried to push him off the bike and he whinged at Prudhomme.

He is the most grand tour winner biggest whinger.

Obviously, he was a pro.

More helpfully, he did well in the small South African scene, showed some promise and got a contract with Barloworld, which was essentially an Italian team with a South African sponsor. He rode the Tour in his debut season with them, finishing 83rd on GC. Most interestingly, he was in the front group on the stage to Alpe d'Huez, the one where Sastre broke away and won the Tour. For a neo-pro, which he was essentially, that was a strong ride, you don't expect neo-pros to be in the front group on a big mountain stage (similar to yesterday's) deep into the third week. British Cycling had some influence with Barloworld, I think they used to pay the wages of British riders who rode for them, like Geraint Thomas and they obviously saw something in Froome as they persuaded him to switch from his Kenyan license to riding on a British one.

When Team Sky was launched in 2010 he was on the roster, but was definitely heading for the exit door at the end of 2011 until his ride at the Vuelta.

There are many theories as to why he had a break out ride there, but the fact that since that race he's finished no worse than 4th in any GT he's completed, he clearly has an amazing engine.

Here’s another for you Andy how’s with all his merits he’s so unloved?

Because I’m not a woman and haven’t experience the issues first hand to understand what needs to be done.

I can sit on the outside and say it needs coverage, but I’m sure there are bigger issues.

You don't hear me shouting Twat! at the screen, do you?

no

He was doing alright in 2009 with Barloworld - I remember him challenging for the stage and cracking on that incredibly steep finish into Bologna in the Giro.

I really enjoyed that years Giro, despite it being won by deadly Denis. The ITT in the Cinque Terre has to be one of the most insane ever...63k, 1700+m climbing and some super technical descents. I rode the route in 2010 - highly recommended.

Have we had this yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jINsC_WUzvc&feature=youtu.be&t=767

12:47 in is where the fun starts - Twitter doping crusader Digger Forum disguising his identity because, well I don't know why. Or why you'd choose an Incredible Hulk mask and a Superman hat.

They were having an interesting discussion with Dani Rowe about ways to improve the status of women's cycling, and came up with the theory of mandating World Tour teams to have a women's team.

If they really want women's cycling to be high profile/equal then they need to make it so that the team's mens results are dependant on the team's womens results in some way.

E.g. one day of the men's TDF is ridden by women and Froome can't finish first if his female team mates lose loads of time for his GC position.

What a bellend. No mention that Thomas didn't even make the top 100 times for the Alpe.
Considering both Dumoulin and Froome have the Giro in the legs already, I'd be more surprised to see either dominating at this stage.

He's sad that Nibali has had to leave and then hopes that Froome will fade in the third week, though he "somehow" got better in the third week at the Giro. A bit like Nibali in 2016. These people are morons.

Yeah... coz Nibali did a solo 80 km escape to win a Grand Tour in the 3rd week... just sayin

Junior? He was grown full size in a lab in South Africa.

I think having to cling to "OI-OI Awright guvnah, It's The Full Oirish!" Dan Martin for GC results has finally wrecked Irish journos

That's David Walsh's nephew.

He's similar to Steve Davis in snooker when he was at the peak of his powers. People didn't warm to him either even though he dominated the sport like Froome. They actively wanted him to lose. After he retired, Davis opened up and showed his personality more, might be the same with Froome.

Tall Poppy Syndrome innit

He isn't brimming with personality or charisma, which I think does matter as he comes across a bit emotionless and unenthusiastic.

He came to prominence for a lot of people by challenging someone (Wiggins) who was generally quite well-liked.

His riding style is not pretty.

His tactics - power meter, tempo riding - have come across as boring (obviously not even close to valid after this year's Giro)

He rides for a very unpopular team.

He lives in Monaco.

He is a white Kenyan.

I think some or all of those have contributed to people finding him hard to warm to, and these are just the legitimate or semi-legitimate reasons.

The more I see of him, the more likeable I find him though.

combined with the Sky = US Postal dominance thing

Well, he never groped a podium hostess or fawned over the Pope so you can see why he's not well received.

Not a lad; no bants

Are you suggesting froome should get into techno?

Nibali who went from evanescent to effervescent when he joined Astana in 2013...

exactly :)