Congratulations Chris Froome

[ChillDoubt]

Though I doubt this will even register with most but hardened sports/cycling fans, congratulations to Chris Froome on all but winning (the last stage is a procession whereby places are not really fought over) La Vuelta a Espana.
Only 3 cyclists have completed the Tour de France and Vuelta double in the same season but Froome is the first to do it since the Vuelta moved to August.
IMHO this is one of the greatest sporting achievements in modern times, an unbelievable feat by a British athlete.

[malagabob]

How does a particular cyclist reach pole position. How is it scored. I was watching the first few stages of Vuelta, but couldn't see Froome passing over the line first in any of them.

[ChillDoubt]

It is whoever completes the whole course in the shortest time.
A rider may win one stage(flatish course, few undulations) on say a Monday but be 20 minutes behind a mountainous stage winner on Tuesday, a further 10 minutes back on Wednesday etc, whilst the overall leader in GC (General Classification) may be within 2 minutes on each day of each stage winner on those 3 days and thus has completed all stages so far in the shortest time.

Hope that helped!

[Garaman]

Yes, the overall winner is quite simply the person who takes the least time to cover the whole distance, which is just over 2,000 miles. However, there are lots of other things going on to make the race more interesting; competitions for each stage, points for intermediate sprints on each stage, points for reaching the top of a climb first etc, and therefore lots of winners of aspects of the race besides the overall winner. The early stages are generally selected to be ideal for a sprint finishes and none of those in contention to win overall would be capable of competing in a sprint with a pure sprinter like say Cavendish, so they just stay safe in the peloton. (To be able to win overall you have to be a good climber and a pure sprinter is unlikely to be a good climber.) In the old days, a great cyclist like Eddy Merckx would have tried to win every type of stage, but it has become much more specialised these days and it is unlikely anyone would be able to do that now.

Anyway, well done, a superb achievement.

[Togo]

Plus of course riders in the main group(pelaton?) are awarded the same time, hence team riding to help a team mate. Great achievement.

[Togo]

Just fully read your post Garaman. Peloton it is then. :)) I guessed.

[sapelesam]

I know I'm coming into this thread a bit late but have to add my voice. As an avid watcher of cycling, on the ground, Giro, TDF and Vuelta and on TV, Chris has been spectacular this year. I've met fans all over Europe who are now coming round to admiring Chris, it's taken a while.
When a footballer complains about too many games, they should try three weeks of over 100miles a day. Bring on Sir Christopher Froome.

[ChillDoubt]

The final (mainly processional) stage is over and the win is confirmed. What a sporting feat from a genuinely nice guy.

[Zacs-Master]

Yes, a remarkable achievement.

[Baldric]

Person rides Bicycle, gets in way of Vehicle Excise Duty paying

Motorists, and is a blooming nuisance generally.

[DTCwordfan]

and after we have built them a bloody cycle track, that really gets my goat, some .anker who thinks he has the right to hold up the commuter traffic into Truro at 8am (what traffic there is). Ultimately, it's his safety as well....bloody selfish nutter.

[gness]

Congratulations indeed, Chill.....and let's hope we're not cycling when grumpy, rude, name calling, impatient motorists are near us...... :-)

[sunny-dave]

Yes ChillDoubt - a fantastic achievement, which just won't register on the national psyche for some reason.

Froome isn't flashy or charismatic - but he is a great sportsman by any sensible measure.

[murraymints]

credit were credit is due... well done Chris !

[angie55]

//The final (mainly processional) stage is over and the win is confirmed//

I'm not sure what time zone you are in Chill, but as I type there are still 20km to go?

Still a great performance by Froome and his team.

[DTCwordfan]

think I'll wait until he is over the line....

[DTCwordfan]

all you need is some stroppy local 'supporter' or local on a bike who wants to take him out....

[DTCwordfan]

and gness, I hope you use the facilities provided for you, such as a cycle path alongside a busy road - and your safety.....having said that, there are maniacs in the lanes around here and there's one corner near here where the cyclists hurtle down the hill at nigh on 30 mph+, take a central racing line around the concealed bend and, one of these days, they are going to find themselves splat on somebody's front radiator, someone who isn't used to the lanes around here (commercial or tourist).

[Pete65]

Well done, Froome and team mates!

[DTCwordfan]

Now congrats, as he is over the line safely - AND, he has just won the green jersey too in coming in 11th.

[Baldric]

Grumpy, . . . . . . No.
Rude . . . . . . . . . Where?
Name calling . . Again. where?
Impatient . . . . . When held up by a bloody arrogant cyclist, yes.