2011: An open tour?

[auscyclefan94]

IF Contador goes down for his clenbuterol charge, I see a very open tour. Andy Schleck may be the favourite but i definetly see some other guys who could win this as Schleck's chrono is still not great. Does this test open up the chance for others to win the tour?

 

[Ruxen1989]

If Contador gets suspended then I actually think it's possibly with the Schleck brothers as number one and two in Paris. Think about it from 2009 top 5:

1. Contador
2. A. Schleck
3. Armstrong
4. Wiggins
5. F. Schleck

Wiggins was far away from a good result this year. Armstrong retired and Contador suspended. Of course there is 15 others who will be op there but I think Andy Schleck is the strongest and I see Frank Schleck on level with those who will battle for the next steps on the podium.
I'm pretty sure Schlecklet will win if Contador gets suspended and nothing unexpected happens.

 

[ingsve]

If Contador is gone then I can see lots of riders rethinking their season plan to have a shot at the Tour instead of Giro or Vuelta. We could have an even stronger field next year than this year and this years field was still very strong.

 

[BroDeal]

If Contador gets suspended then I actually think it's possibly with the Schleck brothers as number one and two in Paris. Think about it from 2009 top 5:

1. Contador
2. A. Schleck
3. Armstrong
4. Wiggins
5. F. Schleck

That was the TdF course designed for grannies. We saw what happened to Armstrong and Wigans on a harder course, and it was not pretty.

If Contador goes away then Nibali will win the Tour.

Without Riis to keep A. Schleck in check, booze sales will hit record highs during the Tour.

 

[pedaling squares]

Schleck the Younger is a prentender. At best.

The only way he will ever win any GT is if no one else tries to win.

Based on what we have seen the last few years - it would not surprise me to see no one try to unseat him, but in a race, a real race .............

Schleck is pack fodder.

Pack fodder? In the mtns this year there was AS/AC and then there was everybody else. His TT isn't nearly crappy enough to make up for his dominance in the mtns. If AC isn't there I don't know who'll beat the Schlecklet. Maybe Nibali if the leakies can get their act together and support him and only him.

 

[flicker]

5 fat envelopes slip into 5 mens pockets by Xmas. Bjarne and Berto smile at the end of July.

 

[Ruxen1989]

That was the TdF course designed for grannies. We saw what happened to Armstrong and Wigans on a harder course, and it was not pretty.

If Contador goes away then Nibali will win the Tour.

Without Riis to keep A. Schleck in check, booze sales will hit record highs during the Tour.

Year it was but the harder the course is the better for the Schlecks. They are better in harder and longer mountains. They complained about the course being too easy in 2009 a lot on SaxoBank.

 

[Kwibus]

I would be surprised if he gets suspended.
Looking at the amount of ' the stuff' they founded in his body is like nothing and can't ever been a serious attempt at doping. Specially since it's a product that is easy to trace. Just doesn't make sense at all. It's actually ridiculous this gets out.

But if he gets banned then it would make the tour certainly very interesting. A Schleck sure has a chance if the mountains are hard enough. Anything could happen actually. Would be great.

I do think Contador can be beaten atm though. There is too much respect for him, but he isn't the superman that's unbeatable. It's hard, but it's possible.

 

[DAOTEC]

IF Contador goes down for his clenbuterol charge, I see a very open tour.

Open like this aus

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

1. A. Schleck
2. Gesink
3. VDB

Benelux podium

 

[The Hitch]

If Contador gets suspended then it should be easy for Schleck. I guess it might be slightly more difficult for Schleck to enter as favourite if he hasnt won a gt. Kind of like Cuddles couldnt do it in 08 Tour or 10 Giro. But

Unless the tdf can invite attacking teams. Unfortunately Vaconsolei wont be able to do that. But hopefully Colombia Passion or whatever will be invited and they can cause havoc for Schleck.

But lets not kid ourselves. Schleck will be able to take minutes on the competition on ALpe and the Galibier. This will probably mean that every other stage will be carefully controlled by Saxo. Maybe someone can break them like Vino almost did last year.

 

[roundabout]

I hope it will be open because new people will be running the show...

 

[ak-zaaf]

If Contador gets suspended then it should be easy for Schleck. I guess it might be slightly more difficult for Schleck to enter as favourite if he hasnt won a gt. Kind of like Cuddles couldnt do it in 08 Tour or 10 Giro. But

Unless the tdf can invite attacking teams. Unfortunately Vaconsolei wont be able to do that. But hopefully Colombia Passion or whatever will be invited and they can cause havoc for Schleck.

But lets not kid ourselves. Schleck will be able to take minutes on the competition on ALpe and the Galibier. This will probably mean that every other stage will be carefully controlled by Saxo. Maybe someone can break them like Vino almost did last year.

Idd, this year was a duel, next would be a one man show. Andy will have his brother and a lot of the old team.
It will be a snoozefest.

 

[Ruxen1989]

If Contador gets suspended then it should be easy for Schleck. I guess it might be slightly more difficult for Schleck to enter as favourite if he hasnt won a gt. Kind of like Cuddles couldnt do it in 08 Tour or 10 Giro. But

Unless the tdf can invite attacking teams. Unfortunately Vaconsolei wont be able to do that. But hopefully Colombia Passion or whatever will be invited and they can cause havoc for Schleck.

But lets not kid ourselves. Schleck will be able to take minutes on the competition on ALpe and the Galibier. This will probably mean that every other stage will be carefully controlled by Saxo. Maybe someone can break them like Vino almost did last year.

Schleck changed teams remember Otherwise I agree.

 

[who dat]

If there are some descent downhill finishes then Nibali could put up a fight. But will Nibali do the Giro to help Basso if he does his chances will greatly diminished.

 

[Angliru]

IF Contador goes down for his clenbuterol charge, I see a very open tour. Andy Schleck may be the favourite but i definetly see some other guys who could win this as Schleck's chrono is still not great. Does this test open up the chance for others to win the tour?

Evans still won't win. Sorry.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans still won't win. Sorry.

That's what he wants his competition to think. And i use the term "competition" loosely.

 

[kurtinsc]

For whatever reason, I'm not as confident about Andy being able to control everyone as I would be about Contador.

I'm hoping the Tour organizers put in at least 80-90km of ITT (along with the announced TTT). Andy has seamed superior in the mountains, but adding more TT km would make it an exciting race. He doesn't completely suck in the TT's, but other podium contenders do TT better, so it would even things out a bit.