Spiderman photo: G. Watson
How can anyone be such a great cyclist and look so ungainly on a bike? Does this not violate a basic tenet of V-philosophy? Would he not be faster if his knees and elbows were tucked in neatly, aligned with his forward motion?
On riding style alone Quintana has a huge edge, he just looks good as he climbs. He should be able to summon some extra V just on the looking-good-is-feeling-good-factor.
Pinot versus Bardet: Pinot always looks like he is in a fight with his bike on the uphills. Again, wouldn’t less fighting and more souplesse translate into more speed? Like Tommy ‘man of a thousand faces’ Voeckler, his climbing style of off the back, sprint forward, out of the saddle, jersey open, drift off the back again…and repeat. It makes no sense but the guy gets it done.
Looking good on the rivet on the flats is easier: a flat back, everything tucked in, body pulled low over the bike, almost everyone looks pretty awesome going hard when the terrain is level. Put the road into double digit ascent and everything comes off the rails. One’s inner climbing monkey comes out and some monkeys just look better than others. It’s not a reflection of inner beauty or Hardness or a life more cleanly lived. To paraphrase Don ‘puddin’ face’ Rumsfeld, you climb with the monkey you got, not the climbing monkey you wish you had.
My monkey is a slothie, sweaty old beast with one paw in the grave. It’s always been my monkey and we have become good friends. Froome’s is a Sumatran spider monkey, hopped up on a diet of buffo toads and fermented bananas. When that monkey appears, everyone better get out of the way.
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Never really thought I'd see the name Rumsfeld inserted into a V-article...
I was chatting with a British DS at the Giro d'Italia a few years ago and I still remember what he said about him and his style: If cycling is a religion, he's the sin...
Sorry caption didn't work somehow. Anyone would look better on Contador's chrome bike. Better still if it was an Italian bike not a Specialized.
@VbyV
Love this - and it looks to be my size! I would indeed look better on it.
@Bespoke
I'm not a fan of the Pistolero salute, but I have to say the graphic design for that logo is pretty rad.
Can we have a new article? I'm fed up of looking at Froome's elbows.
@RobSandy
We're gonna be seeing a lot of those in a couple of days as it would sure seem that the Sky train is in great form soon to be in mtns. Stem staring, elbow flying, legs a spinning' mtn climbing.
Does Bertie always ride with double wrapped bars? They always seem to be in need of a diet, no matter what race he's in. Hmm.
Coppis style pedaling motion is flawless, however if we are criticising riders for their body, he always reminds me of an old man stooped over his walking cane when I see footage.
Yes it wasn't just Merckx either, in that error a heck of a lot of riders looked ungainly, but threshold riding on a high gear will do that. Most of us would step off the bikes they were riding on the mountains they were climbing. Fuentes was smooth though.
I can't get over the size of the man's thighs compared to the rest of his frame. It's like he strapped some steaks on his legs under his bibs. He looks shocking when he is going for it, so yeah, you can't admire the appearance really. Then it's a matter of opinion if you can appreciate the deeds accomplished with such a style.
@SamV
I went to a talk by Rob Elingworth a few months back. He was in Rio with Froome. I quote "I was on the beach with him, looked at him and thought 'no one is going to confuse him with a world class athlete' "
skinny, pale, razor sharp tan lines. Imagine the sight