This years dark horse.
Corporate Ascents
Posts: 56
Pretty exciting now the Tour is about to kick off, I am out there for a mountain stage, and also for Paris so can't complain.
Who will be the dark horse this year, I guess last year it was Wiggins. Any names flying udetr the rader? I think Roche will be right up there but not sure if he could be called a dark horse.
Who will be the dark horse this year, I guess last year it was Wiggins. Any names flying udetr the rader? I think Roche will be right up there but not sure if he could be called a dark horse.
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Gesink, if you count him as a dark horse. I really think he's gonna podium.
Brajkovic with his extra 50W will be close to the front.
Kevin Seeldrayers will be an intriguing one. Definitely one to watch.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
Jurgen v d Broek. Strong team for the first week, climbed well in Giro 08 and Tour 09 (apart from a crash) and can TT a bit. Lower part of the top 10 I reckon.___________________
Strava is not Zen.0 -
RichN95 wrote:In his podcast, Matt Rendell was bigging up Eros Capecchi of Footon as a big talent (apparently, as a junior, seen as more talented than Kreuziger with whom he came through the juniors). So I'll be looking out for him.
Not a bad pick. Has been pretty active in hilly races like Pays Basque IIRC?___________________
Strava is not Zen.0 -
Fabio Felline to beat Cav in a sprint?0
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Le Mevel....
Always been a class rider and it sounds like this year e's peaking at the right time.0 -
Would be good to see Nick Roche do well in them thar hills.0
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Interesting that Roche will be wearing the team leader's number. AG2R will be riding for him.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0
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Capecchi's a talent but I can't see him actually being the GC surprise.
In some random picks, Tony Martin and Mike Rogers could surprise. Others might include Ryder Hesjedal, Pierre Rolland, Rui Da Costa and Romandie "winner" Simon Spilak.0 -
Could Vino do some long range moves under the veil of teamwork, to get shack and saxo chasing..anyone think he's got personal aims, thinking back to 2005 tdf tactics ...+ the Giro was too steep in cols, tdf not perhaps? He'll be first away on st 3
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Timoid. wrote:Interesting that Roche will be wearing the team leader's number. AG2R will be riding for him.
I think Roche will have a better shot at the green rather than the yellow jersey . He's a good sprinter - won't win the gallops but will often place top 8-10, plus he'll collect points on the uphill stages'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0 -
Surely the real dark horse is Jeff Novitzky?
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
iainf72 wrote:Surely the real dark horse is Jeff Novitzky?
LA says he's not been contacted yet, so...hopefully not :!:0 -
iainf72 wrote:Dave_1 wrote:
LA says he's not been contacted yet, so...hopefully not :!:
He's be the last person Jeff will speak to, I expect.
It's more likely to be Walsh or the easter-bunny-esqe WSJ article.
true, LAs answer obvious. Ashenden hinted at a few dark horses in an interview the other day who can't be nailed thanks the the leeway they have to give for the 1 in a million freak0 -
I think the WSJ article is now appearing in the Brigadoon Gazette instead...Le Blaireau (1)0
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LangerDan wrote:Timoid. wrote:Interesting that Roche will be wearing the team leader's number. AG2R will be riding for him.
I think Roche will have a better shot at the green rather than the yellow jersey . He's a good sprinter - won't win the gallops but will often place top 8-10, plus he'll collect points on the uphill stages
Agreed. I'm just happy a Paddy is leading a team for the first time in 20 years. Green would be great. Also like to see how he goes on cobbles. I suspect he'll be quite good.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
iainf72 wrote:DaveyL wrote:I think the WSJ article is now appearing in the Brigadoon Gazette instead...
You think that'll stop me finding it?
Some are saying there is a promo for it in todays WSJ paper edition....
Is it a rumour, that there's an ad going round for the rumoured article?
Talk about post-modern.Le Blaireau (1)0 -
Not unless he can sort his TT out - he was truly dire at Tour de Suisse - looked so uncomfortable during the whole ride.Timoid. wrote:Gesink, if you count him as a dark horse. I really think he's gonna podium.
I reckon Mick Rogers could be up there this year.
Possibly also Taaramae although probably still a bit young to do well over 3 weeks.
Maybe Denis Menchov will surprise us all............by staying upright for 3 weeks.
What about Samuel Sanchez? Hasn't done much of note this year but can climb and TT with the best when on form.0 -
Floyd recaps his allegations and the WSJ gets a ton of publicity...Le Blaireau (1)0 -
OK. Do you think there will be any new revelations?
Maybe we'll see those legendary photos. Oh, wait...Le Blaireau (1)0 -
Bronzie wrote:
Not unless he can sort his TT out - he was truly dire at Tour de Suisse - looked so uncomfortable during the whole ride.Timoid. wrote:Gesink, if you count him as a dark horse. I really think he's gonna podium.
If the Schlecks could finish 2nd and 4th last year, then it's not that much of a stretch to see Gesink getting on the podium.0 -
The final ITT is 52km - nearly double the length of the ITT at Suisse - Gesink would have to have a serious amount of time in hand over better TTers - can't see him being able to get that much of a margin.afx237vi wrote:Bronzie wrote:
Not unless he can sort his TT out - he was truly dire at Tour de Suisse - looked so uncomfortable during the whole ride.Timoid. wrote:Gesink, if you count him as a dark horse. I really think he's gonna podium.
If the Schlecks could finish 2nd and 4th last year, then it's not that much of a stretch to see Gesink getting on the podium.0 -
I think he will have a serious amount of time in hand on the likes of Wiggins, Menchov, Kreuziger and Armstrong.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0
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Bronzie wrote:
The final ITT is 52km - nearly double the length of the ITT at Suisse - Gesink would have to have a serious amount of time in hand over better TTers - can't see him being able to get that much of a margin.afx237vi wrote:If the Schlecks could finish 2nd and 4th last year, then it's not that much of a stretch to see Gesink getting on the podium.
Maybe, but who knows how the race will have panned out by then? Final ITTs in grand tours are strange things... you can't really compare them to normal ITTs in regular stage races.
I'm just saying that Gesink and Andy Schleck have roughly the same TTing ability. CQRanking has them at 7-6 to Schleck in head-to-heads. So if Schleck can make the podium, I see no reason why Gesink can't.
He needs to stop crashing though.0 -
afx237vi wrote:
He needs to stop crashing though.
they all do..
The schlecks are going to be strong
they could pull it off or gain from a shack vs astana p1ssing contest..
there is an opportunity to play those two off against each other0 -
Got a feeling T'Shack may try something different, rather than all clustering around Armstrong like mother hens.0
