2012 bold predictions

[The Hitch]

Umm, there is a difference between the power riders like Boonen with the endurance to attack and challenge in RVV, and staying in the pack, holding on and hoping that not too many high places will have been taken when it comes to the sprint.

Cav wasnt too bad in the Arenberg stage, finishing ahead of many gc riders even though he was just rolling along saving himself for the sprint the next day.

 

[El Pistolero]

Umm, there is a difference between the power riders like Boonen with the endurance to attack and challenge in RVV, and staying in the pack, holding on and hoping that not too many high places will have been taken when it comes to the sprint.

Cav wasnt too bad in the Arenberg stage, finishing ahead of many gc riders even though he was just rolling along saving himself for the sprint the next day.

Yeah, Cav can't even hold on to the pack. What pack is there in Paris-Roubaix anyway? Cav got dropped easily at the Ronde. From the peloton.

He did better than many gc riders? Cobbles favor the heavier cyclists

 

[will10]

Hitch, stop kidding yourself, Cav is no Classics rider. Farrar is somewhere in between Boonen and Cav.

 

[greenedge]

Predicting Froome to finish ahead of Wiggo(who's not coming back from an injury anymore) at the Tour is actually pretty bold.

I fully agree and i am hoping for it big time.

Is there a Chris Froome group set up???

 

[Havetts]

Is there a Chris Froome group set up???

Led by Libertine in the Clinic,

In all seriousness I dont think there is

 

[greenedge]

Tour Down Under AUS – Jens Voigt
Paris – Nice FRA – Rein Taaramae

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco ESP - Robert Gesink

Paris – Roubaix FRA – Thor Hushovd

Amstel Gold Race NED – Alejandro Valverde

Tour de Romandie SUI – Roman Kreuziger
Giro d’Italia ITA – Roman Kreuziger

Tour de France FRA – Tony Martin

Vuelta a España ESP – Chris Froome/QUOTE]

I quite like the faith you show in Taaramae. That's a good bold prediction.
Will Gesink even be recovered though by then???
I think Thor has a much better likelihood of being able to win M-SR but it is his main goal for next year.
Will Valverde be in good enough form for that???
I like the Kreuziger predictions. When i watched previous TDF's i always thought he was just as talented as Nibali. Nibali does have a better palmares now though so this is Kreuzigers' best chance to get back at Liquigas in the Giro. Though Basso and Scarponi will be tough.
WTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT***** with the Martin prediction. Bold and out there but no one thinks it's a good idea.
I like the chances of Froome.

Nice list you compiled.

 

[Ryaguas]

Coppel will have a very good year! He'll win Paris - Nice and Dauphine

 

[Panda Claws]

Valverde sucked in AGR even before the Gilbert era.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I fully agree and i am hoping for it big time.

Is there a Chris Froome group set up???

To be consistant with my disagreeing with you, I believe Froome will have a quiet year

 

[roundabout]

Valverde sucked in AGR even before the Gilbert era.

That's probably why it's a bold prediction

 

[Hartog]

Klöden to podium at Le Tour.
Rolland to finish ahead of Voeckler at Le Tour.
Froome to start a GT as leader but finish outside the top 5.
Kenny van Hummel to win a sprint against Cav at least once.
Rujano to not lose any time on flat stages in Il Giro.

 

[El Pistolero]

I predict Rolland to be a one day fly.

 

[The Hitch]

Valverde sucked in AGR even before the Gilbert era.

He podiumed once I think, and would have won in 2010 if it wasn't for the Volcano
Last bit is a joke.

Led by Libertine in the Clinic,

In all seriousness I dont think there is

A Libertine led Chris Froome group is like a Landis led Armstrong group.

 

[The Hitch]

Valverde sucked in AGR even before the Gilbert era.

He podiumed once I think, and would have won in 2010 if it wasn't for the Volcano
Last bit is a joke.

Led by Libertine in the Clinic,

In all seriousness I dont think there is

A Libertine led Chris Froome group is like a Landis led Armstrong group.

Will Valverde be in good enough form for that???

I don't think anyone is under any illusions as to who will win AGR.

If you put a gun to Phils head and told him he had to win a race, but he gets to set up the parcors himself, anywhere in the world, he would choose a finish on the Cauberg.

Its a goldilocks finish for him. Not too long not too short. Not to steep but steep enough.

Its like a pan flat stage for Cavendish, finishing a classic on the Zoncolan for Contador, or having a 50k tt with several cobbled sectors for Cancellara.

 

[El Pistolero]

He's won the Cauberg sprint 3 times in a row now, but AGR needs to lay the finish 3km further to become a more interesting race.

 

[Eric8-A]

Klöden to podium at Le Tour.

I would love to see that. But even though the course may suit him more than it does to the Schlecks, he's still gonna have to work for them.

 

[Ryaguas]

I would love to see that. But even though the course may suit him more than it does to the Schlecks, he's still gonna have to work for them.

I think that ppl like Horner or Kloden will race for themselves and not to help Frandy... the same for bottle if He makes the selection... Frandy will be nowhere in Le Tour next year...

 

[Ferminal]

He's won the Cauberg sprint 3 times in a row now, but AGR needs to lay the finish 3km further to become a more interesting race.

I guess the Worlds will tell us if this is true...

Or was it already more interesting before they shifted the finish to the hilltop?

 

[Eric8-A]

I think that ppl like Horner or Kloden will race for themselves and not to help Frandy... the same for bottle if He makes the selection... Frandy will be nowhere in Le Tour next year...

I do hope it ends up that way

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think that ppl like Horner or Kloden will race for themselves and not to help Frandy... the same for bottle if He makes the selection... Frandy will be nowhere in Le Tour next year...

If anything it should be all for Kloedi and maybe Horner if he has good form.

 

[Ryaguas]

I do hope it ends up that way

If anything it should be all for Kloedi and maybe Horner if he has good form.

I think that they will disobey the hog... they could be facing the same situation that AC had in 2009

 

[Eric8-A]

If anything it should be all for Kloedi and maybe Horner if he has good form.

1000 times yes

 

[greenedge]

Rolland to finish ahead of Voeckler at Le Tour.
Rujano to not lose any time on flat stages in Il Giro.

The first one is not that bold in the sense that Rolland will be working on his ITT and is a better climber.

Does that include ITT's for the flat stages? Also in the Giro no one would consider going on an attack on a flat stage anyways.

 

[greenedge]

I think that ppl like Horner or Kloden will race for themselves and not to help Frandy... the same for bottle if He makes the selection... Frandy will be nowhere in Le Tour next year...

Ah Levi does not race with RSNT anymore he rides for OPQS.

 

[Ryaguas]

Ah Levi does not race with RSNT anymore he rides for OPQS.

yep sorry... still getting used to the changes