Cadel Evans......2010 TdF Champion?

[hfer07]

Realistically? he needs to be ahead of Contador at least 1:30 after the Tourmalet-which is a wild dream-unless AC gets ill/a crash/mechanical problem, etc
other than that-he has no chance at all- don't get me wrong- I like him-but AC is way above him

 

[Night Rider]

Can he do it? Where can he lose this race? He's got a minute on Contador to work with. Not a bad position.

After last night I can’t imagine Contador losing the race, it would be a huge upset if he did. He really is that much better than everyone else.

Evans did well, from not liking him much two years ago he does something every race now that makes me take notice, he’s a rider that despite his outwardly soft appearance actually appears to be a bit of a tough SOB. I hope he finishes on the podium.

 

[bobs nob]

disturbing!!

I am afraid to ask what that means.

(Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

The mods are gonna delete this if I put the image, so I'll just post the link.

http://101squadron.com/uploaded_images/jeff-shaft-775881.jpg

 

[Kender]

And you got to think that with Frank being out, that Andy has lost his best ally in the mountains and will really hurt his chances now too.

mixed blessing. sure he loses franks support, but he also loses his crutch. schlecklet was held back last year on some stages because he didnt want to put his big brother in difficulty. He'll also be super motivated to do well for frank

 

[blaxland]

Would like Cadel to win but realisticaly i think 2nd or 3rd place are more likely....Contador and Schleck need to loose more time to Cadel for him to win this Tdf.

 

[ManInFull]

Would like Cadel to win but realisticaly i think 2nd or 3rd place are more likely....Contador and Schleck need to loose more time to Cadel for him to win this Tdf.

Cadel needs to wheelsuck like he never has before!

 

[Ninety5rpm]

One good day does not change the fact that Cadel will be lucky to finish 10th.
Why? Three weeks, mountains, team, TTs.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Realistically? he needs to be ahead of Contador at least 1:30 after the Tourmalet-which is a wild dream-unless AC gets ill/a crash/mechanical problem, etc
other than that-he has no chance at all- don't get me wrong- I like him-but AC is way above him

How will he need 1:30 after the tourmalet??????

I'd like to see him podium. Can he build fitness through to week 3 and hold the wheels of the big accelerations then attack in the Pyrenees alone?

I hope so

The Frank Schleck crash caused the splits.

 

[ColumbusSL]

would love to see Dropped Lip do well... but realistically ... the guy has bad days in the 3 weeks at least he has had in previous tours - much llike you'd expect of someone who doesn't reload on the rest days... not saying he doesn't... or does... but it is obvioulsy not as good as the stuff the other guys are using ... to see the Schelks, AC etc all blow everybody to the weeds in 4 straight days in the mountains in 09 TdF without so much as a breath taken is so dispiriting for anyone wanting an fair and decent contest

 

[PCutter]

The ITT suits Cadel more than Conti as it is dead flat and straight. If they have to push into a headwind in particular, Cadel should be able to better him. Conti's big TT performances, including last years tour, all included a substantial climb in the course. Though the final TT will come down to who's in better shape after the Mt's rather than who's the better TT'er.

Cadel needs to be super aggressive on the downhill finishes - of which there are a number this year - a-la ONCE all those years ago. He should be able to rejoin is he's been dropped in the last km, or more importantly gain time if he reaches the top with the likes of Conti/Basso. He's a better downhiller. Hopefully he hooks up with Sammy Sanchez for some DH heroics.

That said, Conti remains the best rider in the tour and still short priced favourite for the top step I would think.

 

[hfer07]

I don't understand why folks around here keep torturing themselves by listening those 2 idiots-there are options out there-like Eurosport,or using the mute bottom- or even better, listen the race in another language you understand(if you do).

 

[ColumbusSL]

agree... also if he can just keep his head when he has a bad day and not chuck a sooky - I believe he has the physical talent to really put it to the other top guys.

 

[Barracuda]

I hope he can ...... deserves a win.

I can only hope that he is stong enough to mark the moves of Contador in the big Cols.

Not sure whether the comments of other posters re how uneventfull the first week will be sounds plausible though ... cant remember a better start to the TDF .... bring on more of the same and let the fireworks begin.

 

[sars1981]

Cadel will lose a lot of time in the mountain stages. For some reason he just doesnt seem to recover as easily after the torture stages ? Oh yeah ...

 

[auscyclefan94]

TDF post stage 3 interview with Cadel Evans

 

[ericthesportsman6]

With the way Cadel rode at the Giro, he needs a 3 minute buffer to beat Contador. He should be happy with a podium.

 

[auscyclefan94]

An interesting behind the scenes story of Matthias Frank of his prologue ride

 

[ColumbusSL]

TDF post stage 3 interview with Cadel Evans

just wish the guy was more positive in media interviews... look at Stuart O'Grady's interview - the guy is a gunslinger for sure!

 

[auscyclefan94]

just wish the guy was more positive in media interviews... look at Stuart O'Grady's interview - the guy is a gunslinger for sure!

Yeah, probably does not want to get too ahead of himself.

 

[mickkk]

As an unashamed long time Cadel follower, I am rapt!

He needed to gain some time and he did. Maybe this year he will begin the mountains relatively even, not minutes behind.

His calves are the biggest they have ever been, he seems happy. The biggest threat remains him falling off his bike.

 

[Shardi]

Cadel ain't winning the tour,, possible podium. He doesn't have what it takes to close the gaps on the major attacks.
Would be cool to see armstrong trying to go on the attack on the cols. Those, he could probably close, but Contador's attacks - nah.

 

[Ferminal]

If the TT was before the Pyrenees it would give him a better chance. In the early time trials of 07 and 08 he beat all other favourites convincingly, but we know his record in 3rd week chronos. Overall his time trialing isn't quite where it was a few years ago. It would be in vain anyway though I think - Contador should be able to take a minimum 3-5 minutes off the other contenders excluding Andy over the course of the mountain stages.

 

[Hotbrakes]

I don't think he can win but a top 5 would be a great result. He deserves something for his effort after a gutsy last 12 months.

It will be interesting to see how Andy recovers from his injuries and how much it takes out of him. It looks like AC and LA have scraps as well. Evans looks like he has less skin off than the others which could help him. But knowing his luck he could fall today or tomorrow and lose that small advantage.

 

[nesocip]

If all goes well for Cadel, he will finish 6th-10th.

 

[Poppert]

Contador can easily take 1 min on Evans in the mountains. So Contador remains favorite.

Although Evans now has a good position for podium finish.

BTW, BMC should really sign Cancellara for next year. Besides helping Evans on the Pavé , he is probably the reason why Evans is the world champion. It was Cancellara who wore down the field in Mendrisio.