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The 2004 Tour de France: History Comes Alive
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 00:00
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Junior Rider
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I've decided to use the 2004 DB by Sali, to recreate the 2004 Tour de France, only on the 2011 Tour de France course! We'll see how old riders would stack up on the most recent course. A full race preview will be coming out soon! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 00:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Voted for Ullrich  |
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| ventoux |
Posted on 05-07-2012 08:11
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Free Agent
Posts: 145
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Voted for Armstrong |
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| johannes-w |
Posted on 05-07-2012 08:17
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Breakaway Specialist
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Had to go with ullrich Nice idea - I'll follow if ullrich wins No I follow no matter what the result may be |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 11:44
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 16:31
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Junior Rider
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The 2004 Tour de Francce Preview
Can Armstrong form a league of his own?
The #1 story coming in is Lance Armstrong, coming off of 5 straight tour victories, his last being his closest. Whether he can repeat that for a sixth time or not is up for question.
The Favorites
LANCE ARMSTRONG
The strong Texan is as good a climber as there has ever been in cycling, and he is also one of the best time trialists of all of the contenders. Each year, no one else has been able to match him going uphill. This year he is helped by a very strong U.S. Postal Service team, completely devoted to him. Climbers such as Jose Asevedo and Benjamin Noval, as well as time trialists such as Viatcheslav Ekimov and David Zabriskie would guide him throughout the race.
Jan Ullrich
Ullrich has been Armstrong's greatest rival ever since Armstrong began his dominance. He won his own Tour in 1997, and since then has been beaten consistently by his American rival. He is a top time trialist and climber, better than most at both. Also, Ullrich has the advantage of a superior team to Armstrong, with the powerhouse T-Mobile, including Cadel Evans, Paolo Salvodelli, Andreas Kloden and Alexandre Vinokourov
Alexandre Vinokourov
Vinokourov isn't as strong as a time trialist as Ullrich, but he is almost unstoppable on the hills, and can descend like no other. Also one of the most aggresive riders there is. The only problem is that the team of T-Mobile will mostly be gunning for Ullrich, and they may not commit to helping Vinokourov unless he proves the stronger rider.
Tyler Hamilton
Another American who is thought to be in contention is Tyler Hamilton, who finished high up in the 2003 Tour de France. He is a very strong climber and can compete with the elite in time trialing. His team, Phonak, is also strong, containing other race favorite Oscar Periero, and strong climbers such as Oscar Sevilla and Alexander Zulle, who in his prime was one of Armstrong's top rivals.
Other Favorites
Ivan Basso - Team CSC
Andreas Kloden - T-Mobile
Iban Mayo - Euskaltel-Euskadi
Levi Leiphimer - Rabobank
Jorg Jaksche - Team CSC
Roberto Heras - Liberty Seguros
Oscar Periero - Phonak
Haimar Zubeldia - Euskaltel-Euskadi |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 16:32
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Junior Rider
Posts: 28
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I like the enthusiasm! thanks for the early support
green jersey preview next |
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| Schleck96 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 16:39
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1498
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Looking forward to this one  !!!! |
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| pcm2009fan |
Posted on 05-07-2012 16:44
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Protected Rider
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yay this looks fun (although it's before my time ).. I do remember my first memory of the Tdf being T-Mobile setting the pace up a mountain stage a few years back so I'll cheer them on! |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 18:14
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Junior Rider
Posts: 28
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Battle of the Sprinters
Robbie McEwen
McEwen was a contender for the green jersey last year, losing it to Baden Cooke on the last stage by a mere two points. This year McEwen will be out for revenge, gunning for stage wins, and most of all to wear green. His team will focus on achieving this for him, and he is considered the top favorite
Alessandro Petacchi
While Petacchi may not be as fast as we was last year, where he dominated the early stages of the Tour de France, many still consider him to be the one to challenge McEwen the most
Oscar Freire
Oscar Freire of Rabobank is the next favorite. He is one of the strongest sprinters, and can ride hills better than most sprinters, making him a favorite in some of the hilly sprints there are in this years edition. Rabobank will be split in supporting him and Leiphimer, but then again, he can always jump on another riders train.
Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel, like Oscar Freire, is pretty good on the hills, and is one of the top sprinters available. Last year he finished 3rd in the points competition, and this year many doubt his ability to keep up with McEwen and Petacchi, and it doesn't help him that his team is focused on getting Ullrich and Vino high on the podium.
Other Favorites
Thor Huschovd - Credit Agricole
Tom Boonen - QuickStep
Stuart O'Grady - Cofidis
Baden Cooke - FDJ
Danilo Hondo - Gerolsteiner
Mario Cipollini - Domina Vacanze
Jann Kisipuu - Ag2r Prevoyance
Jean Patrick Nazon - Ag2r Prevoyance |
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| jseadog1 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 18:15
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 9595
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I voted for Lance
PCM.Daily Survivor Season 2 Fan Favorite Winner
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PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
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| Mr_Monk |
Posted on 05-07-2012 18:23
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Domestique
Posts: 718
Joined: 02-08-2011
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Sounds cool 
GL |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 19:18
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Junior Rider
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looks like Lance is the early crowd favorite. Im a bit surprised, considering all of the people out there that believe he doped
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 19:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
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Alex977 wrote:
looks like Lance is the early crowd favorite. Im a bit surprised, considering all of the people out there that believe he doped
Well, I have the DB, and based on stats, Lance is the best stage racer, so he is the favorite in PCM
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| lluuiiggii |
Posted on 05-07-2012 19:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8542
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Alex977 wrote:
looks like Lance is the early crowd favorite. Im a bit surprised, considering all of the people out there that believe he doped
Well, I have the DB, and based on stats, Lance is the best stage racer, so he is the favorite in PCM
The pool though is to know who, from the 2004 TdF favorites, do you prefer (is your favorite)
For alex: yes, people can believe he doped, but look at the other options (except for "other" ).. not the cleanest pool huh
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| ricotero_uy |
Posted on 05-07-2012 19:49
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Domestique
Posts: 610
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I think a major challenge would be beating Lance instead of playing with him.
If you have Lance... we probably be sure of the end of the story... If you try to beat him... will be more interesting (talking about the results and not about the content of the story).
But... its up to you! |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 20:08
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Junior Rider
Posts: 28
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oh yeah i'm definately not going to be Lance. Who I am going to be is a secret, but I'm going to try and focus on what happens and not how I do. |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 20:09
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Junior Rider
Posts: 28
Joined: 04-07-2012
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lluuiiggii wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
Alex977 wrote:
looks like Lance is the early crowd favorite. Im a bit surprised, considering all of the people out there that believe he doped
Well, I have the DB, and based on stats, Lance is the best stage racer, so he is the favorite in PCM
The pool though is to know who, from the 2004 TdF favorites, do you prefer (is your favorite)
For alex: yes, people can believe he doped, but look at the other options (except for "other" ).. not the cleanest pool huh
Yeah, you got a good point
although I do know a lot of Armstrong haters, although I'm not one of them |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 20:09
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Junior Rider
Posts: 28
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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King of the Mountains Competition
Richard Virenque
Richard Virenque is the defending King of the Mountains, and is one of the most determined pure climbers there is. He is past his prime, which is why there are many doubters, but most poeple think his sheer force of will could carry him into another year in the polka dots.
Gilberto Simoni
Simoni is one of the best climbers in the Tour this year, and espite his disappointing results last year, he has many supporters to finish high up in the overall and to grab the King of the Mountains. He will have Danilo Di Luca and Damiano Cunego to support him as well.
Roberto Heras
Roberto Heras is another great climber, and a former teammate of Lance Armstrong. This year he now commands his own team, Liberty Seguros, and will likely go for the King of the Mountains jersey, or a high place overall.
Iban Mayo
The Spaniard had a great Tour last year, finishing in 6th place overall, including a stage win over Alpe d'Huez. While the same success is not predicted for this year, he could contend for the King of the Mountains, despite the fact that Euskaltel-Euskadi's leadership will be split between him, Zubeldia, and Samuel Sanchez.
Other Favorites
Michael Rasmussen - Rabobank
Francisco Mancebo - Illes Ballears-Banesto
Damiano Cunego - Saecco
Christophe Moreau - Credit Agricole
Lance Armstrong - US Postal Service
Carlos Sastre - Team CSC
Edited by Alex977 on 05-07-2012 20:11
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 20:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 10438.70
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When i did this, no teams cooperated with chasing a break and Simoni got 13 minutes to lead by 8. Lance and Ullrich can only do so much cause I feel that there are a lot of overated riders in the DB. Simoni had 84 in mtn, so he didn't lose much time and won by 1:00 ove Armstrong and 1:54 on Ullrich. Let's hope the ai is good here.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Alex977 |
Posted on 05-07-2012 21:20
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Junior Rider
Posts: 28
Joined: 04-07-2012
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Best Young Rider Competition
After a dominating win last year by Denis Menchov, this year will likely prove to be a closer battle, with Menchov out of the running.
Vladimer Karpets
This could be the second Russian from Illes-Balears in a row to win the White jersey. Karpets is a strong overall rider, although he is under the role of domestique for his teammates Menchov and Mancebo.
Damiano Cunego
Whether Cunego will compete in the Tour or not is in question. If he does, he is surely the top climber amongst the young riders, although his time trialing is definately in question. If he does compete, he too will be a super domestique for his team leader, so whether or not he can go for the white jersey and win it will be interesting to see.
Sandy Casar
Sandy Casar is one of France's hopes for a white jersey. Although he is not as strong as someone like Cunego in the mountains, he is the superior time trialist, and he has no contender on his team to pull for. Casar will be the leader of FDJ in the mountains, which is an advantage over the likes of Karpets and Cunego.
Michele Scarponi
Scarponi is an Italian puncher, who, like Cunego, is great on hills but struggles in the time trials. He also isn't so great on the steeper mountains. Whether he will compete is in question, too. However, he has no team leader in the mountains, so he will likely be able to go off on his own.
Other Favorites
Thonas Voeckler - Brioches La Boulangere
Sylvain Chavanel - Brioches La Boulangere
Michael Rogers - QuickStep-Davitamon
PatrickSinkewitz - QucikStep-Davitamon
Iker Camano - Euskaltel-Euskadi
Jerome Pineau - Brioches La Boulangere |
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