I_Mayo wrote:
I love that always the most heated discussion is not about the winner or podium places, but 4-10th spots.
Thats in many cases also the most interesting, no? I would say its pretty given that Contador and Froome takes 1-2 bar any crashes and many of the riders right under him (at least some of them) are considered to be next generation of stage racers (Talansky, Tejay, Rui Costa, Bardet, Kwiatek and to a certain extend Mollema). At least to me it is. And of course, as one of the biggest Valverde fanboys, I hope he finally can get a decent overall this year which might be his last Tour, at least as a captain
Edited by Riis123 on 27-06-2014 09:36
I wouldn't say that when watching stage 2, and stage 1, stage 7 & stage 8 have other crucial performances in a different way and to a (much) lesser degree. However I don't think that neither Froome nor Contador will "feel negatively" the Dauphine at le Tour.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Yeah, these were pretty exhausting attacks from Contador/Froome (mainly), but I still refuse to belive they gave their all at that point. That's just not smart. I am sure these guys knows how hard is to recover (even from one week race) and they definitely know how to ride Le Tour, save themselves for 3rd week and some hardest cycling mountains in the world.
Edited by admirschleck on 27-06-2014 10:48
Bernhard Eisel, Chris Froome, Vasil Kiryienka, David López, Mikel Nieve, Danny Pate, Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Xabier Zandio.
No Kennaugh.
Surprised by the exclusion of Kennaugh or Henao in favour of Pate (enter all Pate fans). Surely Anything that Froome needs on the flat and cobbles will be provided by both Thomas and Eisel, so I'm not sure what the need is for Pate.
6 of the 9 riders are over 30, so there's no lack of experience, so again, whilst Pate does have a good level head, but so does Eisel, Zandio, Lopez, Kiryienka and Nieve.
I dont see the schlecks in almost any of your top tens. Andy had a terrible season last year and finished 20th overall without fraänk by his side. This season wasn't really good either, but better. So maybe he could improve and get a top ten result, especially with fränk riding next to him. Now I know, that he is lined up as a domestique, but that might change as soon as he shows a good form (maybe better than zubeldia). Fränk on the other hand had a decent season so far and could as well finish among the top ten. As everybody knows, the schlecks thrive in tour, especially Andy, who is pretty much just motivated for the tour.
So here is my top ten.
1. Contador (he is smarter and abetter climber then froome)
2. Horner (just for fun )
3. Froome (will have a really bad day)
4. Mollema
5. F. Schleck
6. Talansky
7. Costa
8. Pinot
9. Bardet/TVG
10. A. Schleck
Plus: the schlecks got cnacellara, rast and irizar who could help them gain some time in the cobble-stage..
Edited by StevenGreen on 27-06-2014 18:31
StevenGreen wrote:
I dont see the schlecks in almost any of your top tens. Andy had a terrible season last year and finished 20th overall without fraänk by his side. This season wasn't really good either, but better. So maybe he could improve and get a top ten result, especially with fränk riding next to him. Now I know, that he is lined up as a domestique, but that might change as soon as he shows a good form (maybe better than zubeldia). Fränk on the other hand had a decent season so far and could as well finish among the top ten. As everybody knows, the schlecks thrive in tour, especially Andy, who is pretty much just motivated for the tour.
So here is my top ten.
1. Contador (he is smarter and abetter climber then froome)
2. Horner (just for fun )
3. Froome (will have a really bad day)
4. Mollema
5. F. Schleck
6. Talansky
7. Costa
8. Pinot
9. Bardet/TVG
10. A. Schleck
Plus: the schlecks got cnacellara, rast and irizar who could help them gain some time in the cobble-stage..
When one of the closets friends and allies says that Schleck has lost the drive, the spark, the thing that makes a winner out of decent rider. You know the train has gone and it won't come back so yes Schleck might go to start but i am betting that this friend isn't wrong and Schlecks will not even be in the top 20 at the end.
Also don't let Daphunie fool anyone, Froome has a bag of tricks and he will open it and show that his froomstrong juice isent over. Unfortunately.
Because i like Contador a hell a lot of more then team crapski.
imho there are no safe bets for top 10, win or anything.
The 1st week is after all a lottery. Even Froome and Contador could be victims of a crash. History learns us that at least 50% of the potential top 10 candidates crash out or at least get injured and don't perform at 100% after that anymore.
So as far as safe bets go, there are none, if you ask me. Could be anyone in the top 10. I expect at least 3/4 'unexpected' names in this years top 10 again
StevenGreen wrote:
I dont see the schlecks in almost any of your top tens. Andy had a terrible season last year and finished 20th overall without fraänk by his side. This season wasn't really good either, but better. So maybe he could improve and get a top ten result, especially with fränk riding next to him. Now I know, that he is lined up as a domestique, but that might change as soon as he shows a good form (maybe better than zubeldia). Fränk on the other hand had a decent season so far and could as well finish among the top ten. As everybody knows, the schlecks thrive in tour, especially Andy, who is pretty much just motivated for the tour.
So here is my top ten.
1. Contador (he is smarter and abetter climber then froome)
2. Horner (just for fun )
3. Froome (will have a really bad day)
4. Mollema
5. F. Schleck
6. Talansky
7. Costa
8. Pinot
9. Bardet/TVG
10. A. Schleck
Plus: the schlecks got cnacellara, rast and irizar who could help them gain some time in the cobble-stage..
When one of the closets friends and allies says that Schleck has lost the drive, the spark, the thing that makes a winner out of decent rider. You know the train has gone and it won't come back so yes Schleck might go to start but i am betting that this friend isn't wrong and Schlecks will not even be in the top 20 at the end.
Also don't let Daphunie fool anyone, Froome has a bag of tricks and he will open it and show that his froomstrong juice isent over. Unfortunately.
Because i like Contador a hell a lot of more then team crapski.
well, correct me if i am wrong, but i think that close friend of andy said that in 2012/beginning 2013. andy finished 20th in 2013. fränk got a top ten in crit. international. and they are always 50% better at the tour
ruben wrote:
imho there are no safe bets for top 10, win or anything.
The 1st week is after all a lottery. Even Froome and Contador could be victims of a crash. History learns us that at least 50% of the potential top 10 candidates crash out or at least get injured and don't perform at 100% after that anymore.
So as far as safe bets go, there are none, if you ask me. Could be anyone in the top 10. I expect at least 3/4 'unexpected' names in this years top 10 again
Its a lottery, but I wouldnt go as far to say 50% of GC contenders are crashing and are affected by it. When there are cobbles I guess it would be closer this year, but take 2013 as an example. I hardly remember any GC contenders crashing badly, losing time and get hurt. Maybe 1 or 2? The only edition which come close to 50% i remember (or even was 50%) was 2011, but as far as i remember, that was in the second week in Massif Central..
75% 'unexpected' names again? Take 2013 as an example again: There are 4 you CAN argue is kinda unexpected, but I guess thats how you define it, cause I wouldnt say fx. Mollema was a surprise or even Navarro as 9th. Fuglsang, maybe. Talansky, maybe. Rest of the guys where expected to stay near the top of the GC (Rodriguez, Valverde, Contador, Quintana, Kreuziger ad Froome).
Of guys this year you CAN categorize as unexpted are the following imo: Bardet, Kwiat, Taaramae, Fuglsang, Bardet, Peraud, Rodriguez, Horner, Frank. These guys are kinda expected to get in the top 10: Froome, Contador, Nibali, Van den Broeck, Porte, Kreuziger, Valverde, Costa and Tejay. I would say 2 names AT BEST can make it into the top 10 that I havent mentioned, and the other guys which you can argue is unexpted really arent that imo. But thats all about how you define it
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Valverde
4. Nibali
5. Rodriguez
6. Talansky
7. Costa
8. Porte
9. Mollema
10. Van Garderen
I didnt get to touch upon the Sky-squad, because holy crap, I expected a lot stronger team from them. I guess they prioritized the flat/cobbles over the mountains. I definetely think Nieve will be big for them, but out of Lopez, Vasil and Thomas, I dont see any top-30 climber potential. I really expected them to pick Kennaugh (especially since Henao crashed), but I guess he got a very bad cold, alltho Im pretty sure he would be if they really wanted him. Its especially odd since his performance last year where he performed fantastically. Seems weird. Saxo can definetely take advantage of this on the stage to Risoul (14th) or Pla d'Adet (17th) if Contador feels better than last year. ALOT weaker Sky-squad than I expected, which I guess afterall is good for the race
Edited by Riis123 on 27-06-2014 21:35
