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Surprise Rider TDF 08'
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| ruben |
Posted on 06-06-2008 22:11
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Grand Tour Champion
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SotD wrote:
OK OK tough one here... Most people has already voted on riders who aren't surprises. Valverde, Popovych, Dekker are all World Class riders, who aren't surprising if they do well imo...
I think we will have something like this:
1. Alberto Contador
2. Cadel Evans
3. Carlos Sastre
4. Denis Menchov
5. Alejandro Valverde
Thus, none of those can surprise... Like a couple of other I could see Moreau as a revelation this year, though i'm believing in Markus Fothen!
Mountain jersey between:
John Gadret
Sylvain Chavanel
Fabian Wegmann
Damiano Cunego
Yaroslav Popovych
None of those would be a real revelation if that happened, thus my guess here is Tadej Valjavec!
Of the youngsters following riders should do well:
Thomas Dekker
Andy Schleck
Alberto Contador
Why none of these would be surprising I believe Marco Marzano could prove a point!
No claim, no game!
Where is Soler in your mountain jersey list. Honoustly. How can people still forget Soler after last year??? |
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| zkkyby |
Posted on 14-06-2008 02:46
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Under 23
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Juan Jose Cobo Acebo, he'll be the shock of "le tour".
20th last year, a sold climber and decent time trialler. I'm expecting a top 10 from the Saunier Duval rider if not better. Maybe a shock win? No-one was seriously predicting Contador to win a year ago. Well, I remember ITV's Gary Imlach choosing him, but that's about it. So Cobo is an outsider for me.
I also quite like the chances of Frank Schleck. What happened last year after such high expectations, I do not know. However, not only did he win, he destroyed Cunego over L'Alpe D'Huez 2 years back. Something tells me, this is his year.
In all seriousness though, what's the betting against a "shock" call up for Astana. How can they deny Contador the privilege of retaining his title. If they're allowed in, expect the Spaniard to be climbing onto the top step of the podium in Paris again.
Top 10
1st - A.Contador Velasco
2nd - F.Schleck
3rd - D.Cunego
4th - C.Evans
5th - A.Valverde Belmonte
6th - J.Cobo Acebo
7th - M.Rogers
8th - H.Zubeldia Agirre
9th - C.Sastre Candil
10th - T.Dekker |
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| Xavier |
Posted on 14-06-2008 11:27
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 933
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I think Kirchen might be the 'surprise', and that Astarloza guy from euskatel can also do well imo
Top10
1st - C.Evans
2nd - A. Valverde
3rd - D. Cunego
4th - K. Kirchen
5th - D. Menchov
6th - A. Schleck
7th - M. Astarloza
8th - C. Sastre
9th - S. Devolder
10th- O. Pereiro
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| lagetcher |
Posted on 14-06-2008 11:39
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Sprinter
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My Top 10 Prediction:
1st - Sastre
2nd - Valverde
3rd - Cunego
4th - Evans
5th - Menchov
6th - S.Sanchez
7th - Soler
8th - Rogers
9th - Popovych
10th - Pereiro
Edited by lagetcher on 14-06-2008 11:41
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| Stijn_vranken |
Posted on 14-06-2008 11:59
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Sprinter
Posts: 1638
Joined: 28-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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why do y'all put cunego on place
he could finish 1st you know
prevent hangovers --> stay drunk
pozzato, basically the most stupid cyclist around
RIP WW. Gone but not forgotten
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| popkorn |
Posted on 14-06-2008 12:32
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 307
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1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Damiano Cunego
3. Cadel Evans
4. Michael Rogers
5. Carlos Sastre
6. Fränk Schleck
7. Menchov
8. Cristophe Moreau
9. Markus Fothen
10. Thomas Lövkvist (I have hopes!)
Points:
1. Thor Hushovd
2. Heinrich Haussler
3. Robbie McEwen
Mountain:
1. Bernhard Kohl
2. Soler
3. Kim Kirchen |
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| Stijn_vranken |
Posted on 14-06-2008 12:34
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Sprinter
Posts: 1638
Joined: 28-03-2008
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1st - Evans
2nd - Valverde
3rd - Cunego
4th - Sastre
5th - Menchov
6th - S.Sanchez
7th - Soler
8th - Rogers
9th - Kirchen
10th - Devolder (  ) (hoping)
prevent hangovers --> stay drunk
pozzato, basically the most stupid cyclist around
RIP WW. Gone but not forgotten
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| Immortal |
Posted on 14-06-2008 14:15
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Stagiare
Posts: 223
Joined: 21-05-2007
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My short prediction:
Valverde peaks way to early and (as allways) has huge problems with his recovery in the last weak of le tour. He becomes the huge flop of the tour, and after finishing more than 15min. behind the winner on a crucial mountain stage he quitts in frustration.
Sastre looses bucketloads of time on the first time trial. He does well in the mountains, but not well enough. Barely manages top 10.
Cunego looses much time on the TT`s, and, like Valverde, has large problems with his recovery in the final week of the tour.
Rogers and Kirchen has to take the role as helpers as Gerdemann shines in the le tour, winning the queen stage up to Alpe d`Huez and seccuring a strong top 10 finish
Evans and his team is taken for doping, originaly all the spanish teams are involved in the same doping scandal, but all proof linking them to the scandal "magically" dissapears and the Spanish Gouvernment demands the case closed.
DEKKER WINS!!!... the lanterne rouge competition...
As all the 10-15 riders that could easily have beat him in this race are eighter out because of doping (Vino, Ullrich, Rasmussen etc) or simply not invited to the race (Contador, DiLuca etc...) Menchov becomes the winner of the tour!
Oscar Freire wins the sprinter jersey infront of Hushovd. Zabel does like he allways does, comes out of nowhere and takes 3rd. Steegman takes 4th. McEwens is really starting to feel the age on his body. The best he get`s is a 4th place on one of the sprinter stages. The Australian finishes outside the time limit on stage 9.(in what will later prove to be his last Tour) Zubeldia wins the mountain jersey supremely infront of Menchov. Soler struggles with sickness and injuries...
A.Shleck takes the white jersey.
All in all, the tour is the most boring in years, as all the favorites just watch each other and noone dears to go before there is 2-3km left of the stages.
With the notable ecception of Euskaldi-Euskaltel who attacks like madmenn, which results in 3 stage wins and two Top 10 finishes for the team.
Edited by Immortal on 14-06-2008 14:26
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 14-06-2008 14:21
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Team Leader
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I think the big suprise of the tour will be Kohl, who if he races, I think may win a stage |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 14-06-2008 16:14
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
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eddy merckx would be a surprise
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| Setzel |
Posted on 14-06-2008 16:16
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3692
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Okey my guess will be Rogers i am a fan of him and just loved what he did in Dauphine when he escaped but not for a top 3 ....a top 10 will be decent for him !
Eating my daily Breakfast at 9 pm
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 03:56
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| zkkyby |
Posted on 14-06-2008 21:37
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Under 23
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Is Samuel Sanchez riding 'Le Tour'?. I read somewhere he is targeting it. If he is, I think he is a rider with the balls to attack early. Great acceleration, a third place in the Vuelta, went well on Time Trials. I know I've already gave my top ten higher up the page, but with the introduction of Sanchez it could all very well change.
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| Dankan |
Posted on 14-06-2008 21:46
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Mark my words: Sammy Sánchez is saving everything he's got in his legs for this year's Tour de France. Considering the amount of downhills in the 08 edition, he's properly destined to a stage win... or sth else, should I expect.
Anyway, my bets on top-ten:
1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Cadel Evans
3. Carlos Sastre
4. Haimar Zubeldia
5. Mikel Astarloza
6. Denis Menchov
7. Robert Gesink
8. Yaroslav Popovych
9. Sammy Sánchez
10. Kim Kirchen
Points:
1. Óscar Freire
2. Thor Hushovd
3. Erik Zabel
Forgot to say: that'd make three different Spanish winners of the TdF in three years in a row B)
Edited by Dankan on 14-06-2008 21:49
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| issoisso |
Posted on 14-06-2008 21:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
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zkkyby wrote:
Is Samuel Sanchez riding 'Le Tour'?. I read somewhere he is targeting it. If he is, I think he is a rider with the balls to attack early.
he is
zkkyby wrote:
Great acceleration
I wouldn't call it "great" by any stretch of the imagination. still good though.
zkkyby wrote:
, a third place in the Vuelta, went well on Time Trials
well, he went very well in technical TTs, due to Galdeano's advice. In a purely power TT, he loses a lot of time (as evidenced by the first TT at the Vuelta)
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| tom |
Posted on 15-06-2008 19:10
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Junior Rider
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id Like to see something good from the Euskatel guys and Kirchen. I think the number of strong climbers in Euskatel and the relative lack of expectation around them could lead to some good attacking and strong racing.
Biggest flop. Zabel. He was a great sprinter but he is too old now. |
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| Wyman |
Posted on 15-06-2008 19:34
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Domestique
Posts: 645
Joined: 28-02-2007
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Fedrigo top 10
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| Wyman |
Posted on 15-06-2008 19:37
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Domestique
Posts: 645
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All in all, the tour is the most boring in years, as all the favorites just watch each other and noone dears to go before there is 2-3km left of the stages.
With the notable ecception of Euskaldi-Euskaltel who attacks like madmenn, which results in 3 stage wins and two Top 10 finishes for the team.
That reminds me of a certain Giro team
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| matt493 |
Posted on 15-06-2008 19:40
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3549
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Wyman wrote:
Fedrigo top 10
not even in your dreams.
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| Wyman |
Posted on 15-06-2008 19:41
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Domestique
Posts: 645
Joined: 28-02-2007
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matt493 wrote:
Wyman wrote:
Fedrigo top 10
not even in your dreams.
I was joking, i don't even like the man 
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| matt493 |
Posted on 15-06-2008 20:55
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3549
Joined: 01-10-2007
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I think Popovych will do pretty well. Somewhere in the top 7.
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