Amgen Tour of California as Tour de France Prep

[Polish]

Ever since 2006, the inaugural year of the Amgen Tour of California, a rider who has participated in the ToC has stood upon the Final GC Podium in that year:

2006 TDF Podium - Floyd/Pereiro/Kloden...2006 ToC rider in bold
2007 TDF Podium - AC/Cadel/Levi...2007 ToC rider in bold
2008 TDF Podium - Sastre/Evans/Kohl...2008 ToC rider in bold
2009 TDF Podium - Alberto/Andy/Lance...2009 ToC rider in bold

How many Giro participants have stood on the Final GC Podium in Paris?
Correct me if I am wrong - but I believe it is only one:

2006 - none
2007 - none
2008 - none
2009 - Lance

Gosh, is there ANY race that has put an at least one alumni rider on the TdF podium every year since 2006. Is the ToC the only one?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

ToC winners have a long established history of winning the TdF.

Really.

Seriously though, the ToC is a much better choice than the Giro if your goal is to win the TdF. Much, much easier race.

Oh. LOL @ Floyd and Kohl being on that list.

 

[Ferminal]

Ever since 2006, the inaugural year of the Amgen Tour of California, a rider who has participated in the ToC has stood upon the Final GC Podium in that year:

2006 TDF Podium - Floyd/Pereiro/Kloden...2006 ToC rider in bold
2007 TDF Podium - AC/Cadel/Levi...2007 ToC rider in bold
2008 TDF Podium - Sastre/Evans/Kohl...2008 ToC rider in bold
2009 TDF Podium - Alberto/Andy/Lance...2009 ToC rider in bold

How many Giro participants have stood on the Final GC Podium in Paris?
Correct me if I am wrong - but I believe it is only one:

2006 - none
2007 - none
2008 - none
2009 - Lance

Gosh, is there ANY race that has put an at least one alumni rider on the TdF podium every year since 2006. Is the ToC the only one?

If you've only just realised that racing hard in the Giro isn't the best possible preparation for the tour you're not very inquisitive.

Finally time for the ignore list I think.

 

[delbified]

different era perhaps, but fignon almost won both the giro and TdF in 89.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Ever since 2006, the inaugural year of the Amgen Tour of California, a rider who has participated in the ToC has stood upon the Final GC Podium in that year:

-- something that is worse than lies and damned lies --

Gosh, is there ANY race that has put an at least one alumni rider on the TdF podium every year since 2006. Is the ToC the only one?

I see you used third kind of falsehood right there. Nice looking numbers, i say.

They could even impress someone who doesn't know a squat about cycling, and that there is already a race CREATED specifically as a preparation race for TDF and serving as such for sixty years already. One who cares enough to prove this obvious truism can even make a flashy powerpoint presentation with just as nice looking numbers for that race throughout these sixty years.

And, of course, in may (three months before TDF starts ) if you TDF is your only aim and you don't care about anything else you'd better off with that California race than Giro.

Duuuuuuuh.
________
Lung / respiratory disorders advice

 

[khardung la]

different era perhaps, but fignon almost won both the giro and TdF in 89.

Do you forget about Indurain (twice) and Pantani??? It can be done, that is for sure.

Probably it is better to take it easy racing a minor thing like ToC, but probably it is even better to have an alternative calendar (Contador's for example) or mix short races with good training.

 

[The Hitch]

different era perhaps, but fignon almost won both the giro and TdF in 89.

Do you forget about Indurain (twice) and Pantani??? It can be done, that is for sure.

Probably it is better to take it easy racing a minor thing like ToC, but probably it is even better to have an alternative calendar (Contador's for example) or mix short races with good training.

Dont forget roche in the fignon era, 2 years previous. + worlds later that year as well.

 

[red_flanders]

Agree - May is Primo TdF prep time. Percolate your peaking...

If Wiggins softpedaled the ToC instead of riding the Giro this year,
he would currently be in the Top10 TdF I bet. Less distractions at the ToC.

Heck, both Cadel and Wiggins have ridden the ToC in the past.
Andy Schleck has ridden it a couple times.

I sure hope they all race/softpedal the 2011 Amgen ToC.
Vino would be GREAT too! Specialized in Morgan Hill Ca would be happy.
Astana won the 2009 edition.
Shame they did not race this year

You do get that there are other stage races in May than the ToC and the Giro, right? You also get that soft-pedaling a race makes it boring, right?

 

[Escarabajo]

Dont forget roche in the fignon era, 2 years previous. + worlds later that year as well.

Roche: Giro+Tour+World's = Destroyed Knees.