Who'll win the TDF?

trustysteed · June 2007

I was looking forward to Basso riding for Discovery, and thinking he had a good chance until I read yesterday he'd been banned.

So that's my favourite gone.

Who are the likely candidates now? Vinokourov? Cadel Evans?

today's baby elephants are tomorrow's circus heroes

gsd · June 2007

The most talented athlete who (with the help of his doctor(s)) pushes his body to the tolerated doping limits.

<hr noshade size="1">Scott Dupoy - 12PC

Unknown · June 2007

Too early to say how many of the big names will actually be allowed to start...........Valverde and a few others have little chance of riding I think.

Here's the current Unibet odds:
 Vinokourov, A 2.75
Kl”den, A 7.00
Valverde, A 7.00
Sastre, C 14.00
Leipheimer, L 14.00
Evans, C 16.00
Menchov, D 18.00
Contador Velasco, A 25.00
Kashechkin, A 25.00
Schleck, F 35.00
Pereiro Sio, O 40.00
Moreau, C 40.00
Popovych, Y 50.00
Rogers, M 50.00
Fothen, M 50.00
Rasmussen, M 50.00
Cunego, D 60.00
Zubeldia Aguirre, Haimar 75.00
Mayo, I 90.00
Millar, D 100.00
L”vkvist, T 100.00
Hincapie, G 100.00
Dessel, C 125.00
Casar, S 150.00
Chavanel, Sylvain 150.00
Caucchioli, P 150.00
Gadret, John 150.00
Voeckler, T 300.00
Gilbert, P 750.00 

===========================================================================
http://www.ccluton.com (It's a lifestyle!!)

Phil Scp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by trustysteed

I was looking forward to Basso riding for Discovery, and thinking he had a good chance until I read yesterday he'd been banned.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Blimey, and I read the other day that Eddie Merckx had retired.

afx237vi · June 2007

Wow, Bronzie's list is totally depressing. Not because of anything to do with doping, but because they're all so boring to watch.

Right up until you get to Contador, the only two I've ever seen actually attack and try to ride aggressively are Vino and Valverde. And I can't see Valverde starting either. What a mediocre bunch we're left with...

walkercp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Phil S

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by trustysteed

I was looking forward to Basso riding for Discovery, and thinking he had a good chance until I read yesterday he'd been banned.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Blimey, and I read the other day that Eddie Merckx had retired.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Phil, Shut up please, I almost wet myself with that comment[:D]

Baby Elephants - free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives

trustysteed · June 2007

ok, so i don't tend to go into the Race thread that often! And i don't bother going to Eurosport.com until the TDF actually starts. Although I DID wonder why Basso wasn't riding the Giro when I tuned in, and thought it must be because he was concentrating on the TDF.

My current event filter is a bit rubbish! [:D]

today's baby elephants are tomorrow's circus heroes

Courage Monsieur · June 2007

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I look forward to saying I told you so.

CARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRECARLOSASTRE

pauluscp · June 2007

I think Vino will win this year. He looked good on several stages of the Dauphine. I think he was sizing up the rest of the peloton and will go for it big style in Le Tour.

So many roads, so little time!!!

Graemecp · June 2007

My money's (literally) on Vino - subject to illness, injuries (getting caught/implicated), etc. He's a highly watchable rider with balls the size of melons. In a sentimental kind of way, I'd like to see Mayo have a good Tour. As suspicious as his fall from grace actually is..

afx237vi · June 2007

I think Vino has his best chance yet, but the odds are too short for my liking. He's too unpredictable, and I really believe he often exaggerates his own chances too much.

Plus, he's in exactly the same position that he was in with T-Mobile - ie, too many chiefs and not enough indians. If Vino looks vulnerable in the first mountains, will Kloden and Kash starting having thoughts about their own ambitions? After all, Vino never had any qualms about attacking Ullrich, did he?

hevipedal · June 2007

Vino, Carlos Sastre, Contador unless of course he just works for Leipheimer -
I think Leipheimer is good for a podium but not the win.
He always seems to have a bad day at a critical point; and boy is his arse going to be sore after that crash?

 Hevipedal 
Phrase of the week - I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
 
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

Unknown · June 2007

Sastre

Graemecp · June 2007

Cry baby Carlos...hmm, on a good day he's the best climber in the world. But he's emotionally volitile and brittle - I cant see him going through 3 weeks of hell and coming out tops somehow.

Eurostar · June 2007

I will only cheer for riders who are definitely clean. In my book the others are not in the same race.

So I've been trying to work out who's in the Clean Tour. If we believe what we read it ought to be the T-Mobiles, the CSCs
and anyone in a French team. Except Valverde, who I suppose might be clean now but probably won't start. Can those in the
know please help me compile a list of clean riders who might do something:

Yellow - Sastre, Schleck, Moreau, Pereiro

Green - O'Grady, McGee, Hushovd

KOM - Schleck

Prologue and TTs - Zabriskie, Wiggins

Winner of a stage if they have a good day and get lucky - Frank Hoj, David Moncoutie, Karpets, Didier Rous, Michael Rogers,
Roger Hammond, Simoni, Millar

What's the point of going out? We're just going to end up back here anyway

Timeless · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eurostar

Yellow - Sastre, Schleck, Moreau, Pereiro

Green - O'Grady, McGee, Hushovd [don't you mean McEwen, rather than McGee?]

KOM - Schleck

Prologue and TTs - Zabriskie, Wiggins

Winner of a stage if they have a good day and get lucky - Frank Hoj, David Moncoutie, Karpets, Didier Rous, Michael Rogers,
Roger Hammond, Simoni, Millar
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

baby elephants are just so 2006...

spen666 · June 2007

Winning the Tour?
Favourite is EPO and 2nd favourite is Nandrolone I believe

22nd March can't come soon enough, neither can 26th May 2007

Carbon Footprint what Carbon Footprint?

Eurostar · June 2007

My logic is that McEwen's not in the Clean Tour - unless you know better? Everyone is guilty of doping unless proved innocent by extra, voluntary testing.

weyayeman · June 2007

We could see big rides from Frank Schleck,Vladimir Karpets,and Vladimir Efimkin
oh thats the tour of switzerland,dohh

How son yee divent need gaan doon the Pit,coz thas plenty coal in the coal hoose

Timeless · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eurostar

My logic is that McEwen's not in the Clean Tour - unless you know better? Everyone is guilty of doping unless proved innocent by extra, voluntary testing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I don't know better, but I'd like to think he is and have never heard anything to the contrary. I see the approach you are taking but don't agree with it. My gut instinct tells me that McEwen is clean, simply because of the kind of guy he appears to be. I think that he would want to win clean, if only to really urine people off!

But I thought you'd made an error as I'd be surprised if McGee is in with a shout for the green jersey.

But McGee is one rider that you could confidently say is clean.

baby elephants are just so 2006...

Sarah22 · June 2007

A cheat!

Eurostar · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
My gut instinct tells me that McEwen is clean, simply because of the kind of guy he appears to be.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm a big McEwen fan too. But I'm not prepared ever again to believe anyone is clean just because they don't fail UCI tests. If Robbie or Lotto take the T-Mobile approach to testing (or preferably the Slipstream approach www.velonews.com/news/fea/11667.0.html ) then of course he'll be in the Clean Tour.

grazer · June 2007

surely rasmussen for KOM....???

Eurostar · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eurostar

I will only cheer for riders who are definitely clean. In my book the others are not in the same race. So I've been trying to work out who's in the Clean Tour. If we believe what we read it ought to be the T-Mobiles, the CSCs
and anyone in a French team.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm afraid I'm reluctantly ignoring the Chicken because he's in one of the 12 teams that isn't doing anything to combat doping.

oldwelshman · June 2007

I like the way Schlek rides and can see him doing well.
The way Vino rode in Dauphine was rubbish so would be amazed if he improved enough to win TDF.

Feel free to browse and donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/davidbethanmills
My winter and summer bike pics

http://oldwelshman.myphotoalbum.com

Brian B · June 2007

Vino for me. If he does not win he will at least liven things up a bit. Valverde loves to attack as well and he really has to prove himself in this years Tour.

Brian B.

Timeless · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Brian B

Vino for me. If he does not win he will at least liven things up a bit. Valverde loves to attack as well and he really has to prove himself in this years Tour.

Brian B.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

so you won't be in Eurostar's gang then?[:D]

baby elephants are just so 2006...

Eurostar · June 2007

If you believe velonews.com, which says that Prudhomme won't let you ride the Tour unless you sign the UCI charter promising your DNA to the Spanish police, I think an awful lot of people will drop out in the next few weeks - including Kloden and others from last year's T-Mobile squad.

Strangely the UCI are now saying that Valverde was not implicated in Puerto. So maybe he will sign.

And Discovery have been more or less thrown out of AIGCP for not upholding the ProTour ethical code. Is this a precursor to them withdrawing from the Tour? It's hard to imagine them signing the charter now.

I wonder if we're about to see a massive cull. There must be a fair few riders from Astana, Milram, Lotto and Quickstep who are most displeased by the UCI charter thingy. I'm bracing myself for a bit of an explosion. Cycling Weekly seem to agree - http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/New ... 24877.html

Payback time for the French, methinks.

Eurostar · June 2007

Breaking news...well, not exactly breaking but...

- the UCI says Valverde wasn't implicated in Puerto. So all of a sudden he looks like the favourite - that's if you think Vino and Kloden will be barred for not signing the UCI declaration.

- Rabobank has signed it, so maybe it's safe to regard them as clean.

- Pereiro said he would quit cycling if made to give DNA - so presumably he won't sign the declaration.

So perhaps the Clean Tour contenders should be:

Yellow - Sastre, Schleck, Moreau, Valverde, Menchov

Green - O'Grady, McGee, Hushovd, Freire

KOM - Schleck, Rasmussen

Prologue and TTs - Zabriskie, Wiggins

Winner of a stage if they have a good day and get lucky - Frank Hoj, David Moncoutie, Karpets, Didier Rous, Michael Rogers,
Roger Hammond, Simoni, Millar, Thomas Dekker. And maybe Dessel.

K Blackwell · June 2007

I fancy Contador as opposed to the obvious favourites. Was very impressed with his aggressive riding in Paris - Nice. But then I always hope it's a climber that wins.

afx237vi · June 2007

How's about young Thomas Dekker as an outside bet then? Climbing veeeeeery well this year, and obviously he's a big TT talent.

Who'll win the TDF?

Comments

Categories