Rider of the Tour so far... Your thoughts?

paulcuthbert
paulcuthbert Posts: 1,016
edited July 2009 in Pro race
Who has been your rider of the tour so far?

I think Brice Feillu has been fantastic. As has Nicholas Roche
The most painful climb in Northern Ireland http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs200.snc1/6776_124247198694_548863694_2335754_8016178_n.jpg
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Comments

  • Edwin
    Edwin Posts: 785
    TWIGGO !
  • paulcuthbert
    paulcuthbert Posts: 1,016
    Boo
    The most painful climb in Northern Ireland http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs200.snc1/6776_124247198694_548863694_2335754_8016178_n.jpg
  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    Has to be Wiggo.

    124th in 2006, DNF in 07 after Cofidis withdrew and heading for a podium this year. If he had his time again, I think he would have foregone his track medals and built his career on the road.
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    Definitely Wiggins.
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • robmanic1
    robmanic1 Posts: 2,150
    Boonen
    Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/
  • Edwin
    Edwin Posts: 785
    LOL @ Boonen.

    Roche has been impressive as well, maybe a bit unlucky not to bag a stage win yet. What's surprised me about Wiggins is the consistency, he hasn't just chanced it one day, he's been up there with the best climbers constantly. Really hope he doesn't crack after I've said that. Hopefully he should be able to put time into LA in the TT as well.

    Why 'boo' when I said Wiggins by the way?
  • Eurostar
    Eurostar Posts: 1,806
    Kenny van Hummel
    <hr>
    <h6>What\'s the point of going out? We\'re just going to end up back here anyway</h6>
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Contador because he's winning.

    Heh heh.

    Definitely Wiggins.

    Can't understand why anyone shows negativity towards someone who has improved and is doing well though. There's some strange folk on here.
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    I would say it is between three riders for me:

    Wiggins - great improvement from previous years, has amazed everyone really

    Contador - he's going to win the tour in spite of not always having perfect support from his team.

    Hushovd - ignoring whether Cav should or shouldn't have been disqualified Thor has shown that he is a clever rider. Going with a break to collect intermediate sprint points and always being close behind Cav to collect points.

    [/list]
    <a><img></a>
  • SpaceJunk
    SpaceJunk Posts: 1,157
    I think Lance Armstrong.

    According to Paul Sherwin he is nearly 38 years old, and he hasn't raced for 3 and a half years.

    I'm with Eurostar - there's a video going around on another thread on Kenny from stage 12.

    Strange; in a way I find that just as inspiring as Bertie's efforts.

    I've also been impressed with Renshaw's lead out work for Cav (not that Mark's really needed them).

    But for me; it has to be LA.
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    Hushovd is again showing today why I think he is such a great rider.
    <a><img></a>
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Van Hummel. The two Japanese riders. Rigoberto Uran.
  • JC.152
    JC.152 Posts: 645
    Wiggo



    and contador just saying he was bored with all the LA vsAc stuff early on and showing on the road
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,042
    Wiggo for deffo.

    Fabulous Fabian C. All that wheel change, have a slash, descending, wheel change right colour, decending stuff. Great.
  • SunWuKong
    SunWuKong Posts: 364
    Wiggins obviously but I am glad to see Nicolas Roche riding well.
  • Le Commentateur
    Le Commentateur Posts: 4,099
    Based on today's stage only, Christain Vandevelde, he not only buried himself once but fought back numerous times to the front like a boozer to the bottle.

    I was beginning to wonder if his average speed dropped too low it might become a hinderance to Wiggins to have him pulling on the front, however motivated he was.



    The other guy worth mentioning was Nibali, who had to pretty much fend for himself compared with the others and yet he attacked off the Wiggins group and eventually caught Armstrong and Klöden -- perfect timing over the final 20 kms or so. But he's Italian, isn't he, so he won't get a mention here.
    Un uomo solo al commando
  • Homer J
    Homer J Posts: 920
    PeteinSQ wrote:
    Hushovd is again showing today why I think he is such a great rider.

    +1
  • thamacdaddy
    thamacdaddy Posts: 590
    Can't list one....

    I reckon I would have to put in wiggo, nibali, pelozzoti, contador for a real classy performance in a obvious pressure team situation, Cancellara and a number of the columbia lead out train from eisel, rogers, renshaw to big george who really deserved his day in yellow (naughty garmin). Cav kinda tainted himself over last few days in terms of I really like him but thor did do something special today to step up and take points in a stage where no sprinter should be able to.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,873
    a lot of heroics this year.... from the big names

    thor

    wiggins.... almost... well what can you do if you don't have it on the day... I hope he doesn't lose too much time on the ventoux and finish outside the top 10. He knows what he is doing.


    Based on today's stage only, Christain Vandevelde, he not only buried himself once but fought back numerous times to the front like a boozer to the bottle.

    it was heroic stuff...

    and surprising Lance even thou i hate his guts hope he gets @n@l herpes...

    he showed us the old villain and gave us all the satisfaction of watching him get stuck to the climb to Verbier.. I'm glad i lived to see that

    willy old sod..probably make it the dopium in Paris :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

    once he knew where he was compared to the others after stage 15 he has ridden a very controled/smart race (aided by Astana) to optimise his options

    but everyone's tactics have not been that bad except in the middle week when fear made everyone hide for the third...
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • NicFrance
    NicFrance Posts: 256
    The Schleck-brothers.
    Because it's allways them starting the fireworks. That's what makes a good show!
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,873
    NicFrance wrote:
    The Schleck-brothers.
    Because it's allways them starting the fireworks. That's what makes a good show!

    it would be unjust if they hemorrhage time in the TT and lose the podium
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Has to be Contador. He rode a superb TT, he was great in the TTT and he's ridden away from everyone at various times in the mountains. Granted he did have that one day where he caused the gap, but still, he's been ON.
  • Jez mon
    Jez mon Posts: 3,809
    paulcuthbert wrote:
    Boo

    What's with the Wiggo bashing?

    FWIW he's definitely one of my riders of the tour, but I also like the way thor has ridden, he shows that although Cav is awesome, he's still got a way to go.
    You live and learn. At any rate, you live
  • Croxted Avenger
    Croxted Avenger Posts: 837
    Haussler
    \'You Come At the King,You Best Not Miss\'
  • thamacdaddy
    thamacdaddy Posts: 590
    Croxted Avenger wrote:
    Haussler

    That was a fantastic ride. Apparently he has applied for australian nationakity for racing again, will ze germans try to change his mind?
  • airwise
    airwise Posts: 248
    Wiggins.

    I can't help but think that the podium is populated by the few Operation Puerto suspects still racing for top teams and not suspended. And they all had the ability to ride away from a top field in the third week.....
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    WIGGO
    Pelizotti
    Feillu
    Cav
    Roche
    Thor
  • paulcuthbert
    paulcuthbert Posts: 1,016
    NicFrance wrote:
    The Schleck-brothers.
    Because it's allways them starting the fireworks. That's what makes a good show!

    Good point well made. Nice stage victory for them today :)
    The most painful climb in Northern Ireland http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs200.snc1/6776_124247198694_548863694_2335754_8016178_n.jpg
  • greeny12
    greeny12 Posts: 759
    Pierrick Fedrigo has been pretty impressive among the barodeurs.

    Nibali seems to have come from nowhere on the GC to a real podium contender, although let's see how he does in the TT.

    But to a Brit like me, it can only be.....


    WIGGO!!!!!!
    My cycle racing blog: http://cyclingapprentice.wordpress.com/

    If you live in or near Sussex, check this out:
    http://ontherivet.ning.com/
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    C'mon, Contador's been the best rider of the Tour.


    He put up with all the Armstrong shenanigans and let his legs do the talking. He more or less refused point blank to enter any mind games with the chap, despite Armstrong claiming discontent etc.

    Every time it finishes uphill Contador has wasted all the favourites.

    No drama, no difficulity, just doing it by the book.

    After all, you can only beat what they put in front of you.



    Not the most exciting rider this tour mind....
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.

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