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Tour De France 2014 Pre-race thread
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| Cossack |
Posted on 08-06-2014 19:15
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Domestique
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Smoku wrote:
Just heard on ES-PL Valverde is not going to TdF. Can't find it anywhere in the webz though. Anybody can confirm/deny?
It was said in many websites that Valverde is going to ride Route du Sud before TdF only.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-06-2014 19:17
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Tour de France Champion
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Smoku wrote:
Just heard on ES-PL Valverde is not going to TdF. Can't find it anywhere in the webz though. Anybody can confirm/deny?
If this means that Intxausti will be free to do whatever he wants at le Tour, than it'd be kinda cool But there's no way Valverde will skip this Tour, it's presumably his last shot at the TdF podium. Hoping Valv has some luck this time around.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 08-06-2014 19:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Smoku wrote:
Just heard on ES-PL Valverde is not going to TdF. Can't find it anywhere in the webz though. Anybody can confirm/deny?
Would be VERY interested if some1 can find a link about this if it's true. That kinda ruins the Tour for me if Valverdes doesnt go :/ |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-06-2014 20:04
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Tour de France Champion
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It's not true, therefor I hardly doubt that it's news on any website.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 09-06-2014 06:48
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World Champion
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Okay, i will give it a shot before Suisse and dauphine as it is more fun because of bigger danger of failing.
1. Froome
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* enough room to park the Orica bus
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2. Contador
3. Valverde
4. Tejay van Garderen
5. Nibali
6.Kreuziger
7. Van den broeck
8.Pinot
9.König
10. Costa
P: Sagan 
M: random french guy
W: Pinot (or is Tejay available for that?)
Kittel to win 3 stages, Sagan just one.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 09-06-2014 06:49
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Posted on 22-11-2024 06:30
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| Cycling Rookie |
Posted on 09-06-2014 11:08
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Under 23
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First up,I only started following cyling during Bradley`s T de F win in 2012 and since then I`ve been hooked.
I am a Sky follower as I`m English and they are my "local" team,but I appreciate a lot of other great riders.
Regarding Wiggins not being picked for the T de F team (which I believe hasn`t been confirmed by Sky yet),I really think this T de F race ,starting in Yorkshire, is more important to Britain`s Cycling future than Sky picking their best team to win.
The amount of people expected to watch the race live roadside (me included) and the media coverage is going to be huge for those 3 days in England, and to not have Britain`s greatest ever cyclist taking part is just plain stupid.
Cycling would really take off,people are looking for something else besides the overpaid,overpampered Premier League Footballers and with Wiggins and Cav leading the way ,this could be the turning point of Road Cyling becoming a "mainstream sport" in the UK.
Sky need to look at the bigger picture than just trying to win the 2014 T de F.
As for the winner, I think Contador will win because he has such a lot to prove and has a strong support climbing squad to help him in the hills.
Like I said i`m a complete newbie compaired with some of you guys but I so wish I`d "found" watch road cycling years ago...what a fabulous sporting spectacle it is. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 09-06-2014 12:49
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Tour de France Champion
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
W: Pinot (or is Tejay available for that?)
No, Tejay is out of category. I think Talansky is out of it too? Looks like a certain win for Pinot, but maybe Bardet can mix things up a bit if he rides. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 12:56
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5075
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Shonak wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
W: Pinot (or is Tejay available for that?)
No, Tejay is out of category. I think Talansky is out of it too? Looks like a certain win for Pinot, but maybe Bardet can mix things up a bit if he rides.
Tejay is HOC.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 13:05
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Grand Tour Champion
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Shonak wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
W: Pinot (or is Tejay available for that?)
No, Tejay is out of category. I think Talansky is out of it too? Looks like a certain win for Pinot, but maybe Bardet can mix things up a bit if he rides.
Kwiatkowski&Betancur? |
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| Strydz |
Posted on 09-06-2014 13:11
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Team Leader
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Cycling Rookie wrote:
First up,I only started following cyling during Bradley`s T de F win in 2012 and since then I`ve been hooked.
I am a Sky follower as I`m English and they are my "local" team,but I appreciate a lot of other great riders.
Regarding Wiggins not being picked for the T de F team (which I believe hasn`t been confirmed by Sky yet),I really think this T de F race ,starting in Yorkshire, is more important to Britain`s Cycling future than Sky picking their best team to win.
The amount of people expected to watch the race live roadside (me included) and the media coverage is going to be huge for those 3 days in England, and to not have Britain`s greatest ever cyclist taking part is just plain stupid.
Cycling would really take off,people are looking for something else besides the overpaid,overpampered Premier League Footballers and with Wiggins and Cav leading the way ,this could be the turning point of Road Cyling becoming a "mainstream sport" in the UK.
Sky need to look at the bigger picture than just trying to win the 2014 T de F.
As for the winner, I think Contador will win because he has such a lot to prove and has a strong support climbing squad to help him in the hills.
Like I said i`m a complete newbie compaired with some of you guys but I so wish I`d "found" watch road cycling years ago...what a fabulous sporting spectacle it is.
Sky should look after there own interests and not British cycling, they are British based but are not the British national team otherwise every rider on the squad would be British. I get what you are saying and yes it would have a positive impact but Sky are there to win so picking the best squad (and best for team harmony) is there only choice.
Edited by Strydz on 09-06-2014 13:11
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 09-06-2014 13:16
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Tour de France Champion
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Kwiatkowski&Betancur?
Oh right, those two, totally forgot them. Should be a good competition then.
@Riis123: HOC?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Cossack |
Posted on 09-06-2014 13:17
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Domestique
Posts: 582
Joined: 16-07-2011
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On the other hand if, as he said Wiggins doesn't mind being Froome's helper, he would be beneficial for the team, especially on cobbles and flat parts (echelons etc.), while unlike Stannard he also can be part of the mountain train.
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 13:27
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Shonak wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
Kwiatkowski&Betancur?
Oh right, those two, totally forgot them. Should be a good competition then.
@Riis123: HOC?
You know, out of category = hórs catégorie/HOC? Anyhow, attempt on being funny, didnt work  |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 18:27
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Grand Tour Specialist
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So i read on twitter that Betancur stays in Coumbia and doesnt ride the Suisse and maybe not even the Tour: "Carlos Betancur still in Colombia. No Tour de Suisse for Ag2r rider, Tour de France in doubt". The tweet from The Inner Ring also links to a french article, but I have no clue what is says. Curious to know why he stays in Columbia atm, whether it would be some rehab of a kind or just altitude training like Quintana in 2013.
Also, another rider who i expected to ride the Tour, Sergio Henao, isnt selected for either Suisse or CD and hasnt raced since Oman. I havent read or heard anything about him recently, just wanted to put it out here.
Edited by Riis123 on 09-06-2014 18:28
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 09-06-2014 18:32
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World Champion
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Bentacur is one of the laziest riders in the peleton. After good spring he went back to Colombia and partied too much. He has no shape at all. That's what happened last year too, after awesome Giro, he went missing for the whole year partying 
Sergio Henao, the situation is unclear. I still have hope he will ride Vuelta, which he should really contend for podium there, he'll come as fresh as they come. Too late for Tour I think.
Edited by Alakagom on 09-06-2014 18:34
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 18:42
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About partying too much and not being in shape, is that something you know for a fact or it's just something you would assume taking 2013 into consideration?
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 09-06-2014 18:58
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World Champion
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Riis123 wrote:
About partying too much and not being in shape, is that something you know for a fact or it's just something you would assume taking 2013 into consideration?
It's a fact. AG2R want to keep him in Europe so they can keep him under closer attention, but he doesn't want too. AG2R know how gifted he is, but I guess they could be loosing patience with him.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 09-06-2014 19:00
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Tour de France Champion
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Alakagom wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
About partying too much and not being in shape, is that something you know for a fact or it's just something you would assume taking 2013 into consideration?
It's a fact. AG2R want to keep him in Europe so they can keep him under closer attention, but he doesn't want too. AG2R know how gifted he is, but I guess they could be loosing patience with him.
Andy Schleck much?
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 09-06-2014 22:57
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Damn, that's too bad. Had hoped for a Betencur who could challenge for a top-5 and win the white jersey, maybe even a stage in the Vosgues. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 11-06-2014 20:52
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Unfortunately it seems like Betancur still is Columbia and doesnt communicate with Gavenu or whatever the sportif is called at Ag2R. He needs to go to France to renew Visa - if not, no Tour de France. Even if he goes to France, im not so sure about what to expect from him.
Rodriguez will attend Tour de France, however he will just use it as preparation for the Vuelta and hopefully get a stage win somewhere. Its unrealistic, but lets say he somehow does well in Arenberg and feels good physically, he could make something happen in the Vosgues with two climbs tailermode for him. But as I said, its a litlle dreamy. Hope for the best.
Henao will ride the Tour and the Tour de Suisse in preparation. If he and Kennaugh is ridin like expected, Sky is huge in the mountains this year, maybe even more than ever (If Richie Porte is as strong as 2013). Glad to see him back, even though he is from Sky. |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
