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Le Tour de France
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| issoisso |
Posted on 15-06-2008 22:15
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Tour de France Champion
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didn't Brajkovic have it on his blog back in March that he was pre-selected for the Giro?
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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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 15-06-2008 22:19
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ContaRicco wrote:
KurtinSC wrote:
CrueTrue wrote:
matt493 wrote:
Id say it is between Evans and well ... Evans.
Evans is a wheelsucker, and you don't win by wheelsucking 
Didn't Contador pretty much win the Giro by wheelsucking?
I mean, he didn't win a single stage.
Thats because Contador wasn't prepared for the race. Didnt you watch TdF last year then you see what Conta is in shape.!
I didn't say he COULDN'T attack. I'm just saying he didn't have to. He just followed attacks, stayed at the front, didn't lose time on any stages and won it in the time trials over the other climbers.
Indurain didn't attack much either in his TDF wins. If you have a strong time trial, you CAN win big races by following the attacks of others rather than placing any of your own. |
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| Ashton89 |
Posted on 15-06-2008 22:21
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Domestique
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Okay they probably knew before that .. But anyway I still don't believe that Contador was tin tops shape ..  |
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| rovven7 |
Posted on 16-06-2008 07:33
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Which one of you guys called Lance and asked him to backup your statement that Cunego is never going to win the Tour? show yourself  |
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| ruben |
Posted on 16-06-2008 09:10
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Team Leader
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Armstrong tips Devolder for the Tour. Has Armstrong been drinking lately? |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 16-06-2008 09:11
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I think so... Devolder can't win without drugs. |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 16-06-2008 09:19
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Ruben wrote:
Armstrong tips Devolder for the Tour. Has Armstrong been drinking lately?
Youve misquoted him there Ruben
Armstrong tipped Evans to win the tour this year and that Devolder could win it at some point - not this year.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 16-06-2008 09:37
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Tour de France Champion
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Question remains the same: Has Armstrong been drinking lately?
Devolder will never win the Tour. Where do you see his talent for winning TdF? I don't see it anywhere. |
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 16-06-2008 09:40
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Indeed ..no way. Also You dont have to oracle to say that Lövkvist dont win a TdF |
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| Aquarius |
Posted on 16-06-2008 10:01
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F_Schleck wrote:
I think so... Devolder can't win without drugs. Who can ?  |
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| ruben |
Posted on 16-06-2008 10:35
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Belgian press completely supports the idea, certainly now Gilbert claims Devolder can win the Tour, this year...
Oh dear |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 16:56
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| rodda |
Posted on 16-06-2008 10:40
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Cadel has got it in the bag this year. no doubt about it 
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| ruben |
Posted on 16-06-2008 10:49
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Can you even imagine the idea of Devolder following an attack of Evans, Valverde and Menchov?
I simply can't. |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 16-06-2008 11:02
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Domestique
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Podium Candidates:
Carlos Sastre: Well, the TdF has been his only focus this year. I do think he will be on the podium. He has been the most consistent climber in the tour in the last few years and he has improved his TT'ing to the point where it's "ok". He has the skill, he has the team. Question is, has he finally developed his killer instinct a little? His poor showing through the Dauphine Libere has me worried though. Coupled with the fact that Frank and Andy seem like they're getting close to tour condition in the tour de suisse.. i just dont know. CSC have said that it's all about Sastre and even Sastre has announced that there's only one objective and one man(being himself) who has any sort of priorities in the tour. But IMO that is a situation that could change quick if Sastre shows weakness and the Schleck brothers don't.
Denis Menchov: Good in the mountains and good on the TT's without being excellent in any of them. Showed some good signs in the early stages of the Giro and was fantastic in last years Vuelta. The eternal questioon with Menchov has been if he's consistent enough to race a GT and i think he showed us last year that he is. Menchov will be bringing a great team with him. If Menchov hit's his top form he'll be the man to beat IMO.
Cadel Evans: Probably the best TT'er of the top contenders. He's always been lacking the power to take time from the other favorites in the mountains. With Evans it just always seems like he's struggling too much in the end. It could be his ridingstyle that gives this feeling. None the less, you never get the feeling that he has another 10% to give and will burst away from everyone in the mountains. But you still can't ignore Evans, he always manages to hang on, and this year he has some real quality help from Popovych. Evans has never had this kind of help in the mountains before.
Alejandro Valverde: I think valverde surprised everyone with his TT in the dauphine libere. There's no questioning that he is an excellent climber when he is in shape. And Valverde has that killer instinct that some of his rivals lack so much. He will also be bringing one of the best teams in the tour when we hit the mountains. I have my doubts about Valverde in the GT, he has yet to show us that he can be consistent through 3 weeks of racing. If he can keep in top form and not fatique too much, Valverde has an excellent chance of winning the tour this year. Another thing that could give him the extra seconds once in a while is his acceleration and sprint.
Outsiders:
Damiano Cunego: The prince of italy. So many unknowns about Cunego, and a TT which is at best on par with Sastre. It's hard to ignore a man who has won the Giro, and is without a doubt a capable climber. His preparations with teammate Marzano have been very focused and it does seem like Lampre truly believes in him. If Damiano hits his form he has the unpredictability and skillset to wreak havoc in the mountains. A slight advantage for Cunego could be that the big favorites could be too busy watching eachother to react to any moves from him. If he can strike in the early mountains there could be disagreements about who has to work to haul him back in. And i doubt any of the big 4 will put themselves out there to do it.
Samuel Sanchez: Always entertaining and always on the attack. Rides a mediocre TT. If Sanchez is feeling good he could, i have no doubt that he will be at the very front in most of the mountainstages. Like Cunego, Sanchez might enjoy a bit of an underdog role. Euskaltel are hungry for glory in a GT, and with both Zubeldia and Sanchez riding the TdF they have a double salvo.
Haimar Zubeldia: Showed good signs in the Dauphine Libere. Has been far away from his very best for a long time. And who is in fact captain of the Euskaltel team?
Zubeldia is hard to classify for me. But i still feel like he can't be ignored. I think he will be kept on a shorter leash than teammate Sanchez. There' no questioning that Zubeldia is a GT rider and it's about his time to shine if it is to come. A fairly good TT will help him stay in or near the top flight.
Christphoe Moreau: I for one don't believe in Moreau, a top10 in the deep end at best. Moreau has always had the skillset to ride stageraces. And it seems like he's there for the first 2 or 3 mountainstages. But then he fades out of the race. Might appear later on to try and grab a stage. But i think his tendency to fatigue coupled with his age will rule him out of the top flight.
Andy Shcleck: Such talent. Took 2nd in last years Giro and has a toughness about him. If Andy is not completely spent hauling Sastre up the mountains you simply cannot disregard a rider who finished runner up in the Giro a year ago. His role on the team will play a big role in his GC standing in the end. And has a star in my book as one of those riders who could surprise us all this year.
Yaroslav Popovych: Will most probably be confined to solely helping Cadel Evans. Still, you cannot disregard this man. Popovych has the obivous talent to do well in a stagerace. Popovych is tough as nails and is good on the TT. I fear, like Andy Schleck, his role on the team will hamper his GC possibilities. Popovych has what it takes and could surprise us if he's not tied down too much.
Mauricio Soler: I'll give mention to Soler here. I think Soler will try to retain his KoM title and IMO this is probably what he should do. I have my doubts about Solers abilities if he rides with the favorites and tries for the GC. However, he does warrant a mention for his undeniable climbing ability.
Thomas Dekker: I've no doubt that Dekker will win the tour one day. But it will not be this year. Dekker is the right hand man for Menchov and i think there's no changing that. Dekkers skillset and talent is exactly what the doctor ordered for a GT rider. But i don't think he's strong enough yet. Will lose time in the mountains but will be competing for top placings in the TT's. Still, i think Dekker should move well into the top10 this year.
Oscar Pereiro: Good TT and "ok" in the mountains. Wont be competing for top honors but will probably be somewhere in the deep end of the top 10. He showed us in 2006 that he can do a lot from sheer determination, but there's no changing that Valverde is his captain and he will have to dance to his tune.
/edit well, seems i forgot some poeple after all. might aswell do it right now :-)
Kim Kirchen/Michael Rogers: Well, Kichen's performance last year certainly surprised me a little. But who the Captain here? Rogers has the right skillset, but Kirchen seems to be the tougher climber at the moment. To be honest i've no idea whos racing TdF for High Road. But if they've got Lövkvist and Gerdemann with them here. They might actually have one of the strongest overall teams. None of the captains will end up in the top5 though.. but a decent result in the team competition could be in the cards.
Frank Schleck: I really like Frank. I love his way of riding and he has a eagerness about him. However, seeing as Andy has allready proved his GT qualities i think Frank will be spent before Andy is. This will seriously hamper his GC chances. A stagewin could very well be in the cards though.
Steijn Devolder: Decent mountains, decent timetrial. However, i don't think Devolder will be able to keep with the top contenders for 3 weeks. Stagewin and just outside the top10 is my bet on Devolder.
Tom Danielson: Once hailed as the greatest GT talent in cycling(by americans mostly) Given that Tom is on form, i think he will actually manage a good result.
He wont be near the podium, but well inside the top10 is a definate possibility. Tom will be missing his team in the high mountains and this could hurt his chances.
There... now i think i got everyone!
Well, those are my gut feelings for this year. I think we've got a really good and fairly open tour in front of us. And sorry about the wall'o'text :-)
Edited by Mads_0 on 16-06-2008 11:36
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 16-06-2008 11:03
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I hate to say it, but ill be cheering for Evans and i actually think he can do it ops:
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| Biathlon |
Posted on 16-06-2008 11:04
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Your forgot Andys Brother |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 16-06-2008 11:08
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Domestique
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ContaRicco wrote:
Your forgot Andys Brother
Edited in  I like Frank a lot. But i think CSC will burn Frank before Andy in the tour so his GC chances are limited IMO. |
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 16-06-2008 11:14
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You forgot Michael Rasmussen, all the americans that are on the startlist as well as one or two random dutch guys. Then you have the average bias from three certain members around.
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 16-06-2008 13:09
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I'm really interested in seeing Danielson. I'm not expecting anything from him, but I want to see how long he can hang with the favorites. |
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| doddy13 |
Posted on 16-06-2008 13:22
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Waghlon wrote:
You forgot Michael Rasmussen, all the americans that are on the startlist as well as one or two random dutch guys. Then you have the average bias from three certain members around.
the ASO would not allow Rasmussen to ride, now that they've gone all fussy on us anyways
There's no point slapping a schleck - Sean Kelly on "Who needs a slap"
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