Is Froome the Greatest British cyclist?

Is Froome the Greatest British cyclist?

No! not a fan and never will be.
I personally don't believe in the GREATEST tag because technology/physique/training etc is constantly evolving. Its like comparing Messi with Best, different training attitudes, pitches were different, equipment was different but both probably the best of their era. At present Wiggo is probably the best of the current era (imo) with Cav a very very close 2nd. Boardman probably was the best of his era as his performances kicked off the current era (imo)

I had a delightful experience concerning the female cycling royalty that was Beryl Burton, and one of the only two times I have struggled for words, the other concerning actual royalty - Princess Diana. I was coming down the tunnel at Herne Hill - it was probably Easter time, 1960, and being a mouthy junior, like most of the others at that time, I was shouting at one of my Old Kent Team mates on the track. My rude "Oi" was suddenly followed by an utterance from what appeared to be a typically permed housewife speaking in the broadest Northern accent; "who, me love". I was dumb stuck, just about managing a word or two of apology as I realised it was 'The Queen', no, not that queen, but the queen of cyclists. The down to earth, wonderful, female world and everything else champion, who was Beryl Burton.

Beryl Burton and Nicole Cooke.

Succeeded despite the system. In Cooke's case, in spite of BC.

Froome et al don't even come close.

Yes, sadly!

In the currunt TdF fervour, Wiggins' 3rd place 2009 result is often overlooked (OK 4th at the time).
Froomy has a way to go yet to match Wiggins achievements but "Best" or "Greatest" over different generations is always difficult to determine.

Is this not a daft question?? How can you possibly compare?

Hoy's record over the timescale is the best, to be at the top of his game for 4 successive olympics is huge.

Wiggins's record across track AND road is the best, over the timescale.

Cav no doubt is the best road sprinter we've ever had.

Froomey is the best GC stage racer we've ever had. His record over 4 years in the biggest stage race in the world, 2 wins, 1 x 2nd, and 1 x DnF. Lets be honest about Froome, the year he was 2nd he basically towed Wiggins around the mountains, and had it not been for a puncture early on (with an unsupported chase back), and team orders, he may well have won that year too. Wiggins will always be the 1st TdF winner for the UK, but who did he beat, Evans, with the long time trials that year playing to Brads strengths! Froome has had to do it against much more able competitors (e.g.Contador, Nibali, Quintana). Wiggins's 3 week GC record against Nibali and Contador is not good. Plus, this year they put a course out specifically to stop Froome winning, e.g. Cobbles and 6 x high moutain finishes with next to no time trials = Quintana favourite. Froome did it the hard way!

Will be interesting to see what course they pick for next year? The French believe that the 'Race of Truth' is the ultimate test, but they know that Quintana is useless at it. If they put long time trials in, they know this may play to Froome (and Sky's) strengths. Will they do that, knowing that Sky are unpopular, and they are possibly creating a new modern day US Postal dominance??

For me, this years TdF shows Froome is THE current best stage racer over grand tours. Will they pick a course that favours Froome for next year, then throw the gauntlet to Quintana? I doubt it. It is similar to Sagan, they altered the sprint rules to try and make it harder for him to win Green, but he did it again. What for next year, more flat stages, and a more traditional course??

Robert Millar......Chris Hoy......Beryl Burton?

The guy swapped sides from Kenya so in my mind is a bit less British than Wiggins, who always competed for the UK.

I can't take to Froome, his arms are on upside down for a start, though I was impressed at his handling progress this year as it was awful before.

Anyway, my kids say it's Charline Joiner, who came back after a proper broken back and is the 2nd highest rated UK series road rider this year.

For now I'd say Wiggin's TdF plus World and Olympic TTs (plus the track stuff - and hour record) probably trumps Froome.

Would be difficult to argue against Wiggins as it stands, and if he gets Gold in Rio, even more so..

No. But not for the reason you might expect.

I firmly believe that no sportsman/woman's career can be judged whilst it is still ongoing.

A sportsman/woman must retired and their career must survive the test of posterity before it can properly assessed. For example you can't compare Vos with Burton as Vos is still competing.

What's the best fruit, apples or oranges?

He has to be up there, he has a great talent. My opinion of him has changed immeasurably on this tour with the way that hes handled himself and the decorum hes shown.

Simon E - exactly, we have quite a selection of great riders now, including the women.

If we were to say is he the greatest Grand Tour rider then its probably yes although some might have Cav above him.

However the achievements of Cav, Wiggins, Thomas and even Kennaugh should not be ignored and they all deserve a great deal of recognition. To be honest the list could go on and on with Cummings, Stannard all doing great things in cycling as well.

How do you define "greatest"?

Can you (should you) compare Mark Cavendish's wins etc or Chris Hoy's track kilo/sprint career with a Grand Tour? Seems a bit pointless.

The "is he really British?" question is just an insult.

I can't see how you can really compare the achievements of Beryl Burton or Nicole Cooke with the men. They deserve their own list, and it's great to be able to say that we have a growing number of great female athletes.

Phew, good job Saint Wiggins wasn't born in Belgium to an Australian father, Oh...

Nope, he's a pretty good Kenyan though