Recent content by Polka Dot Punter

For the yellow I like Gesink as a value bet. He hasn't realized his potential in a grand tour yet, but the way he's improved in the ITT this year makes me think this could be the year. It's not like he has a lot of favourites to get through either -- outside of Wiggins and Evans I don't think...

I don't have a problem with Cavendish or Contador. Cav wins the sprint stages, Contador wins the mountain stages and the GTs, that's their domain. For me, the 3-4 breaks each tour are the domain of the rest of the peloton who can't sprint or climb, and that's what I'd like to see remain. Did...

Thor can race if he really wants to, but at least kick out FDJ, Cofidis and the like first. These are the types of stages where normally the lesser riders who spend all tour (and in many cases, all year) working their asses off for the elite riders like Hushovd get their chance to have a crack...

Hushovd didn't chase Hesjedal so that criticism is unjustified. However, I can't help but think he should not have even been in the break. Today was just the fourth opportunity for the majority of the peleton. And by the majority I mean those who are not elite sprinters/classics...

Stage 17 David Arroyo Simon Gerrans Luis Leon Sanchez Dmitriy Fofinov Vladimir Gusev Gorka Izagirre

Hated the fact that Thor won. These stages used to present a chance for the lesser riders to get themselves a chance of the win after spending so much time working for the big names. There have been very few chances for a break to even get away and now Hushovd has decided to take two of those...

Dismissing my opinion whilst bemoaning the fact that people think they know it all. Hypocrit much? If he was a very strong climber, it wouldn't matter if he were Cadel's waterboy or not, because he'd be such a strong climber he'd be there anywhere. Regardless, he's not beating Gadret or VDB or...

I know he has said this in the past when he won the KOTM in the dauphine, but I haven't heard him say that for this tour specifically. Didn't contest the points yesterday either (not worth much mind you, but if you're interested...). Where did you read he was targetting this?

I'd strongly question calling Lloyd a strong climber. Back when he was riding for Evans in the tour he'd hardly ever make the final selection and was never there to support him (it was only ever Horner). There are many high mountains and frankly, he'd have to be in at least half of the big...

Anyone find anything yet about riders who might be targeting a particular stage to win? There's always a few times where a rider will target a goal and either achieve it or go very close, so there's a good chance there's profit to be made in identifying these riders. For today, I think...

He did this in his first tour win when he was trying to drop Rasmussen. Basically burnt himself out trying though.

What would also be nice is any comments by riders who have targeted a stage or have some sort of affiliation to the finishing town (like Manuel Belletti in the Giro). I know the stage LLS won last year he targeted prior, as Liggett mentioned while the break was heading to the finish. If we can...

I tend to feel a break is most likely to succeed tonight. There's too much flat after the big mountain for any real time to be made on Arroyo, and thus their incentive to drive hard early will be lessened. There's a few riders I like to win, but my big preferences are Gibo and Cataldo, who...

You can do it over the phone but it is nowhere near as efficient. I could create a 10 page thread on the number of times not being able to bet via the internet in play has cost me on cycling. No, make that a 20 page thread.

I've just backed Porte to win the Giro @ 160. Either some misinformation has cost me $15 or someone was slow to act :D