2023 Tour de France: Who do you want to win?

[Pantani_lives]

Esteban Chaves for yellow!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I want to win it. Why not?

And you can, as can anyone here.

Well, maybe not the Tour, but the Tour de France CQ Game. Entries close as the riders start tomorrow morning, so don't forget.

And I'll make this the last post I invade with a reminder....

 

[perico]

I want Mas to win, but I would be happy with Pogacar since it’s going to be low odds for anyone other than Pogacar or Jonas.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I am cheering for Pinot’s pet goat of course, and for Roglic (how did he not even make the poll?!), and for Remco option (the Tour is calling), but, being a sad realist, I voted for Pogacar. Panache, respect, enthusiasm, and skill…hard not to like the guy.

Vingegaard is tough. Between stealing Roglic’s thunder and calling his much older girlfriend (wife?)/manager immediately upon finishing each stage, he’s not the most likable. I chose him in the other poll, though.

I don’t have great feeling for anyone else, to be honest. Hindley, Mas, Yates…yawn.

Bernal would be beautiful. But unlikely.

Edit: I would also be pleased with Carapaz.

Edit 2: I would also be pleased if Wout upended the script and won the Tour. Don’t hate.

 

[BigCoward]

I don't get the 'Vingegaard is boring' position at all. He put in 2 dominant performances last year, and made the race interesting because Pog had to keep hitting him.
Being dominant for 5 years is boring, sprinting for the last 200m like roglic is boring, Vingegaard isn't that.

 

[Cookster15]

I don't get the 'Vingegaard is boring' position at all. He put in 2 dominant performances last year, and made the race interesting because Pog had to keep hitting him.
Being dominant for 5 years is boring, sprinting for the last 200m like roglic is boring, Vingegaard isn't that.

Maybe it’s because Vingegaard is viewed as very one dimensional and doesn’t attack as often and/or relies upon his team more?

But I must say, I am surprised by the lop sided poll here.

 

[DNP-Old]

I don't get the 'Vingegaard is boring' position at all. He put in 2 dominant performances last year, and made the race interesting because Pog had to keep hitting him.
Being dominant for 5 years is boring, sprinting for the last 200m like roglic is boring, Vingegaard isn't that.

His personality doesn't help him shed the boring mould. If you'd tell me he was accountant, there's not a hair on my head that would be thinking you are not telling the truth. People just love the eccentric super talent. That's why, almost 20 years later, Pantani still has a following reminiscent of a cult, why Vdb might be the name most often chalked on the Liege roads.

I am yet to encounter a singular Paolo Bettini fan, on the other hand.

 

[Netserk]

Woah, what's wrong with being a fan of Il Grillo?!

 

[BigCoward]

I couldn't give a toss if someone is boring off the bike, its not celebrity big brother.

 

[Boehmand]

I couldn't give a toss if someone is boring off the bike, its not celebrity big brother.

Now THERE is an idea for a new reality show!

I mean, who doesn't want to see Rylan Clark, Coolio, Jedward and Vinnie Jones ride a Tour de France

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Conclusion from the poll: prime Vingegaard is about as popular on this forum as prime Froome used to be. Impressive.

 

[Panda Claws]

Expertly designed thread.

 

[Boehmand]

Conclusion from the poll: prime Vingegaard is about as popular on this forum as prime Froome used to be. Impressive.

As said, I'd bet you the result would be close to the reverse, if Pog had won last year

 

[BigCoward]

Now THERE is an idea for a new reality show!

I mean, who doesn't want to see Rylan Clark, Coolio, Jedward and Vinnie Jones ride a Tour de France

Make it the most brutal route ever, 21 Queen stages. Make them suffer.

 

[Boehmand]

Make it the most brutal route ever, 21 Queen stages. Make them suffer.

Must include a cobbled stage

Also, Jedward would completely destroy Pogacar's tuft game!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Also, Jedward would completely destroy Pogacar's tuft game!

And twins can apparently do quite well in this cycling lark.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

His personality doesn't help him shed the boring mould. If you'd tell me he was accountant, there's not a hair on my head that would be thinking you are not telling the truth. People just love the eccentric super talent. That's why, almost 20 years later, Pantani still has a following reminiscent of a cult, why Vdb might be the name most often chalked on the Liege roads.

I am yet to encounter a singular Paolo Bettini fan, on the other hand.

Nobody watched Lombardia 2006?!

 

[Potomac]

I voted Powless, confident he had no chance but that's who I want.
Of people with a actual chance I want Pogacar.
Is there a poll for who are you rooting against?

 

[ontheroad]

Normally would root for an underdog and to that extent I'd go for Pinot or Bernal but realistically this Tour is a duel between the top 2. Pogacar is the great entertainer, rides instinctively with panache, doesn't seem to take himself too seriously and does things with a smile on his face. So I'd have to go with Pog. I'm not sure I'd have said that 2 or 3 years ago but he has definitely grown on me since then.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Nobody watched Lombardia 2006?!

I did, but the wrong guy won.