2011 Tour de France Stage 1: Passage du Gois - Mont des Alouettes 191.5 km

[Dedelou]

There will be time gaps heading into the TTT, but they will be small, maybe 5-10s here and there, between groups.

The top teams in the TTT should all have someone only a few seconds down on Gilbert, so that they can still take yellow the next day.

HTC: Velits
Leopard: Schleck(s)
Sky: EBH
Garmin: Hushovd maybe or one of those three American GC fellows.
Radioshack: Horner

i think the team placing on that stage will determine the starting order for the TTT.. so look not only at the stage winner but how each team place their top guys at the finish.

 

[Barrus]

They really could just as well not include the Passage. It really is completely unnecessary

 

[Dedelou]

I think some of those not really hopeful, GC hopefull types- the Horners, the F. Schelcks, Hesjedals, ect. might try spoil this one.

Vino might take this opportunity to grab the yellow he was looking for, but maybe not if he wants to hold it for a few days.

I don't know... I was kind of hoping that by typing out a response I would figure out my biases, but that didn't pan out. Ohh well...

My official prediction is Cunego, for no other reason than I'll be hopelessly drawn to Levi (and Horner, Farrar, TjVG...) for most of the tour .

I put George Hincappie there as well because it may be his last chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of wearing the Yellow Jersey. if you think about it .. 198 riders can line up and say to themselves "this can be my day" and being that it is the first day , most DS wouldn't interfere .

 

[Tuarts]

Rubbish, it gives Cancellara a chance to neutralise part of the tour and get it out ouf the way before the actual racing starts.

 

[Dedelou]

They really could just as well not include the Passage. It really is completely unnecessary

every single stage has a ceremonial start and a racing start , generally outside of the town where the ceremonial start took place

 

[dlwssonic]

I put George Hincappie there as well because it may be his last chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of wearing the Yellow Jersey. if you think about it .. 198 riders can line up and say to themselves "this can be my day" and being that it is the first day , most DS wouldn't interfere .

wow wouldnt that be beautiful. But I think he has a better chance of winning it from a break if BMC let him go.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Also had a dream about stage 1.

1. Natalie Portman
2. Mila Jovovich
3. Rosie Huntington Whitley

I would only change number 3.

 

[Chimay_Blue]

This is going to be a strong sprinter finish. I think it's going to be a battle between EBH, The mighty Thor, mafioso Petacchi, and Goss. It's not steep enough to loose these guys. The biggest favorite for this stage is for me EBH, he has all the characteristics needed to dominate this stage. The illness didn't set him back, it was only a very light version of the shingles he got. He didn't even feel anything. He is more than fast enough to deal with the likes of Gilbert in this finish.

 

[TeoSheva]

This is going to be a strong sprinter finish. I think it's going to be a battle between EBH, The mighty Thor, mafioso Petacchi, and Goss. It's not steep enough to loose these guys. The biggest favorite for this stage is for me EBH, he has all the characteristics needed to dominate this stage. The illness didn't set him back, it was only a very light version of the shingles he got. He didn't even feel anything. He is more than fast enough to deal with the likes of Gilbert in this finish.

it's your first post, but it is already disapponting! please, it's not a nice adjective to be used...

 

[Chimay_Blue]

I am truly sorry if I offended italians or the mafia (especially the mafia) , I will wash my mouth with strong detergent.

 

[indurain666]

it's your first post, but it is already disapponting! please, it's not a nice adjective to be used...

Its July, all immature non-cyclists cycling fans make their appearance

 

[TeoSheva]

I am truly sorry if I offended italians or the mafia (especially the mafia) , I will wash my mouth with strong detergent.

try to wash your mouth with a good acid.. it will help you to understand that talking of mafia is not a goog joke

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

it's your first post, but it is already disapponting! please, it's not a nice adjective to be used...

there is such a thing of overreacting. Mafioso has been mentioned here so many times, give the guy a break.

Not all new posters are the devil, in fact you were one once, as we all were.

true the new threads are annoying, but let's avoid treating every new poster like a useless chump.

ANyway this is getting off topic. feel free to delete this mods.

 

[TeoSheva]

there is such a thing of overreacting. Mafioso has been mentioned here so many times, give the guy a break.

Not all new posters are the devil, in fact you were one once, as we all were.

true the new threads are annoying, but let's avoid treating every new poster like a useless chump.

ANyway this is getting off topic. feel free to delete this mods.

overreacting what?? I just kindly asked to not use some words referred to a rider! I don't like it, and there are people that die for the mafia, and I don't think that joking on that it's nice!

 

[boomcie]

To be fair, many social groups on this forum actually use the word mafia in their name and have never been reprimanded for this.

But let's not make a big production out of this. I'm sure Teo was just hazing the newcomer a little.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

To be fair, many social groups on this forum actually use the word mafia in their name and have never been reprimanded for this.

But let's not make a big production out of this. I'm sure Teo was just hazing the newcomer a little.

That is what I meant, not a big deal tho

like i said, off topic anyway. Moving on..

 

[Ferminal]

Back on topic from here on thanks...

 

[TeoSheva]

To be fair, many social groups on this forum actually use the word mafia in their name and have never been reprimanded for this.

But let's not make a big production out of this. I'm sure Teo was just hazing the newcomer a little.

I don't know what "hazing" means...

anyway, close the OT

 

[boomcie]

Not sure if this is completely on topic, but I'm always amazed by how insane and otherworldly Bjarne Riis looks.

Is he some kind of badly shaped android?

 

[The_Z_man]

With the Cat 4 climb at the end, I could see Vino going for it, and ending the day in yellow. It seems like his kind of finish.

 

[2wheels]

Gilbert for the win is starting to feel like another of those 'sure bets' that never quite works out, like Cancellara in the spring classics. If a Voigt, Vino or Voeckler launches from 5k out, will Gilbert chase them down-- or hope that someone else does? It's a sure bet that a lot of guys will be holding their powder and trying to stay on Gilbert's wheel; it wouldn't surprise me at all to see someone like Sanchez or Cunego come around him at the end.

 

[maltiv]

I put George Hincappie there as well because it may be his last chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of wearing the Yellow Jersey. if you think about it .. 198 riders can line up and say to themselves "this can be my day" and being that it is the first day , most DS wouldn't interfere .

Why does this keep coming up? He already has worn it, in 2006.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Why does this keep coming up? He already has worn it, in 2006.

indeed.

 

[Nederick]

I'm not convinced that OPL will be left to do all the work on this day. With the new points format and an intermediary sprint just before half way, expect any team with contender for the green to be motivated to keep it together to this point. And depending how the points go at this sprint, very well may keep another team or two in the mix keeping the peleton as one for the second half of the stage if their rider has a shot at the green jersey at the end of the day.

 

[Bala Verde]

No Cunego?