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  • alanmcn1
    alanmcn1 Posts: 531
    my own personal bet is we won't see Valverde at the tour. Especially after his comments today that he finds it ridiculous that a cyclist will lose a years pay if he is found involved in a doping investigation. Those aren't the words of a man with nothing to hide. Think he'll be joining Kloden, Vino and the other men in black in a bar somewhere to watch the tour!
    Robert Millar for knighthood
  • drenkrom
    drenkrom Posts: 1,062
    Looks like another good year for the bookies. All those riders dropping out is free money for them. Unibet won't have had such a terrible year in cycling, after all.
  • Autobus Straggler
    Autobus Straggler Posts: 47
    has there ever been this much back in forth over who will or will not be riding in the tour, i think that is being debated even more than who will win, and why is Bjarne holding out on Zabriske?

    Give me pave or give me death!
    Give me pave or give me death!
  • Julspro
    Julspro Posts: 51
    I have been wondering about Riis's plan on Zabriskie, too! Why??? Why wouldn't you have Zabriskie on the Tour team? Sastre, Voigt, O'Grady, Julich, Schleck, Zabriskie...I think that is the start of a solid Team CSC. Very Tour experienced.

    Caribbean Soul
    Caribbean Soul
  • Milram-fan
    Milram-fan Posts: 33
    Maybe because they have Cancellara for the the time trials??? did they not leave Cancellara at home at last year for Vandevelde? maybe they'll be sacrifcing Zabriskie for a climber or a domestique who can give Schleck and Sastre support in the mountains.
    My guess is he <b>will</b> take Zabriske.
  • Autobus Straggler
    Autobus Straggler Posts: 47
    I would take Zabriske over Sastre. He had a great tour/vuelta last year, but has been, even to riis's own words very lackluster. Zabriske is beginning to show his talent on the other disciplines of a Grand Tour. Zabriske is a no brainer.
    On a random side note, although CSC has committed to keeping their sponsorship, should they decide to change their mind, an american with face time at the tour would be a great bargaining chip for american investment in the team.

    Give me pave or give me death!
    Give me pave or give me death!
  • Stark.
    Stark. Posts: 108
    Zabriskie over Sastre? That's a bit left-field. I wouldn't leave at home someone with the proven climbing skills of Sastre and judging from the Tour de Suisse, Cancellara is looking in good time trial form, so he'll probably get the nod over Dave Z.
  • CourtneyV
    CourtneyV Posts: 2
    Vino for me....it has been said that Vino and klodi have made a deal for this years tour...Klodi helps Vino to win 07 and in return for this Vino will help Klodi come 08 [:D] sweet!!! hows AV recovering from his illness?
  • Stark.
    Stark. Posts: 108
    Never sure about those sort of Vino/Klodi deals. It's a good move for the rider who's getting the support first up, but with the sport being such an unpredictable one (injuries, politics, doping etc) calling the favour back in a year later isn't always going to be so straightforward.
  • alanmcn1
    alanmcn1 Posts: 531
    I doubt very much there is any kloeden/Vino deal. They could never sort it out at T-Mobile, and with the same management at Astana, hard to envision it being any different. And besdies, both ridres are at an age where they need to be thinking of winning it now!
    Robert Millar for knighthood
  • Julspro
    Julspro Posts: 51
    Reminds of the 1985 and 1986 'deal' Hinault and Lemond had. Lemond helps Hinault win the 1085 Tour, with the promise of Hinault helping Lemond win the 1986 Tour. Clearly, Hinault put that promise out of his mind in 1986. Lemond was lucky to win.

    Caribbean Soul
    Caribbean Soul
  • Autobus Straggler
    Autobus Straggler Posts: 47
    I see Vino on the podium for sure, but not in the top spot...he is so mad as so many people right now, his old team, the UCI, and Tour officials, that we will see a phenomenal TT and time in the Alps, all out of rage much more than tactic, just think back to his T Mobile days when he would go on attacks early in the Tour, I think he will wear yellow, but not into Paris, look for other contendors to attack the daylights out of him in the Pyrenees, and it all to be lost on the final TT if not before then, it would not be the first time he started out strong and then faltered, this is no vuelta, i just dont think he can sustain it...

    Give me pave or give me death!
    Give me pave or give me death!
  • Stark.
    Stark. Posts: 108
    Take your point about Vino, but then that's the great thing about this particular Tour. Every time you think you've got the winner sorted out in your mind you think, <i>'hang on, he often has a bad day in the mountains'</i>. Or <i>'his time trialing isn't as good as it could be.'</i> Or <i>'he just seems to pick injuries at the wrong moment.'</i>

    The great thing is that there are lots of potential winners, a few dark horses and loads of brilliant sub-plots. It's going to be fascinating.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    My money's on Vino. Or maybe Condator as an outside bet.

    P.S we're publishing a free 68 page Tour guide with the Guardian, coming out on Monday 2nd July.

    Tom, The Guardian

    Try to keep up!
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    I'm looking forward to it.
    Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
    ABCC Cycling Coach

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