Cadel Evans, I told you it was his year.

[sagard]

Let's just hope Contador can't drop AS and they refuse to work together. Then we might have some entertainment.

 

[Oldman]

Let's just hope Contador can't drop AS and they refuse to work together. Then we might have some entertainment.

Totally. I don't think they'll have to wait long before some nimble newcomer changes the dynamic.

 

[Midnightfright]

This is the crazy fan season, definitely. But there are some emergent keys similar to LA/Contador seasons where the "contenders" got nicked and dinged on what were supposed to be uneventful and flat stages and LA & Alberto launched "key" attacks with little resistance. Specific similarities are the solid TTT work and full team surround on windy stages rife with splits and crashes. Can Cadel benefit from it? I think he has a shot if Contador, Gesink and Schleck absorb any more abuse. There's also the Vino factor: he'll wreck a party just because that's what he does and his major party bummer target would logically be anyone that climbs better than he and the twiggy guys are top of the list. Cadel won't have to do all the dirty work.

Cadel has been very entertaining and positive and we've seen nothing but good stuff from. him. However for him to win a still think things will need to go remarkably to plan. People at the start of the tour who I expected to gain very good time on him in the climbs were Contador, both Schlecks, Samu, VDB, Gesink and possibly Basso. Obviously some of these riders have there issues but I can't see a good majority of them gaining minutes in the steep stuff. That's also not taking into account the guys who I thought would match Cadel such Levi, Kloden, Horner, Wiggins or Martin who could perform above expectations

 

[Midnightfright]

Let's just hope Contador can't drop AS and they refuse to work together. Then we might have some entertainment.

Last year even when they weren't working together if not farting about they were gaining time on people with moderate ease. There question marks about both guys form but for me it will still be Contador pulling away Schleck going with him then cat and mouse to finish. Hooefully for the sake of this thread and its incumbents whilst it going on Cadel will counter them and gain 8 minutes on 1 stage

 

[auscyclefan94]

oh how I can't wait for the mountains

Oh yes. Cadel to come further to the fore and Gesink out the back. Remember how you guys said Gesink would beat Cadel by 3 minutes

 

[Midnightfright]

Oh yes. Cadel to come further to the fore and Gesink out the back. Remember how you guys said Gesink would beat Cadel by 3 minutes

Little did anyone know that Cadel would pass on his GT luck to Bobby G. I'm really looking forward to tit for tat when the mountains start I hope it stays moderately close.

 

[unsheath]

Bobby G hardly needed any help. His record of staying upright in GT's is worst than cuddles.

Betfair should frame some odds for riders most likely to go down.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Oh yes. Cadel to come further to the fore and Gesink out the back. Remember how you guys said Gesink would beat Cadel by 3 minutes

if this injury has no effect, I still think it.

I am certain he will beat him at the very least

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Oh yes. Cadel to come further to the fore and Gesink out the back. Remember how you guys said Gesink would beat Cadel by 3 minutes

ACF I have something for you. Can you clear your PM inbox or send me your email.

auscyclefan94 has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.

swuzzlebubble@gmail.com

Swuzz

 

[gerddk]

I'm new here on this forum and i quite like Evans, but no way will he win the TdF (ever). He's a great rider, but Cadel lacks explosivity to win.
He is a super professional rider but he should reorientate and ride the classics (AGR, Fleche Wallone, L-B-L, Giro di Lombardia) and litle tours like Pais al Vasco, Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie.
I could well be wrong but i see Cadel ending this Tour somewhere between place 15 and 25. If he would make the top ten that would be an exceptionally good performance for a rider with his abilities and his age.

I sincerely hope this first post causes no havoc...

 

[Parrulo]

I'm new here on this forum and i quite like Evans, but no way will he win the TdF (ever). He's a great rider, but Cadel lacks explosivity to win.
He is a super professional rider but he should reorientate and ride the classics (AGR, Fleche Wallone, L-B-L, Giro di Lombardia) and litle tours like Pais al Vasco, Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie.
I could well be wrong but i see Cadel ending this Tour somewhere between place 15 and 25. If he would make the top ten that would be an exceptionally good performance for a rider with his abilities and his age.

I sincerely hope this first post causes no havoc...

some1 registered in july talking sense? i thought it was impossible

you are being a bit to harsh tho. he should be able to top 10 behind the likes of contador, andy, basso, gesink, VdB2 and samu.

 

[Dermie]

I'm new here on this forum and i quite like Evans, but no way will he win the TdF (ever). He's a great rider, but Cadel lacks explosivity to win.
He is a super professional rider but he should reorientate and ride the classics (AGR, Fleche Wallone, L-B-L, Giro di Lombardia) and litle tours like Pais al Vasco, Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie.
I could well be wrong but i see Cadel ending this Tour somewhere between place 15 and 25. If he would make the top ten that would be an exceptionally good performance for a rider with his abilities and his age.

I sincerely hope this first post causes no havoc...

I only post to try and cause havoc!! its working well so far.
& the next bit of havoc will be Cadel in Paris.

 

[movingtarget]

I'm new here on this forum and i quite like Evans, but no way will he win the TdF (ever). He's a great rider, but Cadel lacks explosivity to win.
He is a super professional rider but he should reorientate and ride the classics (AGR, Fleche Wallone, L-B-L, Giro di Lombardia) and litle tours like Pais al Vasco, Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie.
I could well be wrong but i see Cadel ending this Tour somewhere between place 15 and 25. If he would make the top ten that would be an exceptionally good performance for a rider with his abilities and his age.

I sincerely hope this first post causes no havoc...

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think Evans can be in the top seven at least but it only takes one stage for everything to change. It's too early to write off any of the contenders although it's not looking too good for Sanchez who has lost a lot of time so far. Be surprised if he made the podium.

 

[dlwssonic]

For me im already pretty happy with his tdf with his stage win. and if he gets another it would already be a pretty successful tour. Its much better getting stage wins earlier in case something serious happens to him in the latter part of the tour. However his goals are still in the gc. so I will be satisfied with a top 5, happy with a podium. and if he wins, i will go mad

 

[Dermie]

I agree with you that it is a bit early to make definintive predictions on the podium in Paris.
But I tell you I reckon I may even put some money on Cadel, his odds are possibly still good, so I've got a chance of making a bit of money & that procession of placings that Parrulo is suggessting is just too boring to contemplate & is only going to make the bookmakers money anyhow.

 

[Dermie]

Hmm I wonder if I could make a two way bet for him to podium, its got to be a good risk of, say $10, wadayouse all reckon.

 

[Spaniard]

I'm going with Contador but I wouldn't mind at all that Cadel win this tour, he really deserve a GT and I fear this could be his last shot.

 

[Dermie]

Aw the spanish have just about won everything just lately, you need to share it around.

 

[Angliru]

Aw the spanish have just about won everything just lately, you need to share it around.

They need to get started in the cobbled classics, that would really upset a bunch of folk.

 

[just some guy]

They need to get started in the cobbled classics, that would really upset a bunch of folk.

Flecha not up to it ?

 

[Spaniard]

They need to get started in the cobbled classics, that would really upset a bunch of folk.

I don't know why there is no classics culture in Spain ,actually, spanish media barely put attention in cycling, unless a spanish guy win a GT and that win is in a different day of a Real Madrid new incorporation.

 

[Archibald]

I know it's safer to be up the front for stages like today and the past few, but I'm thinking with all these constant top20 finishes whether he's going too hard too early and will run out of steam by the mountains.

 

[Dermie]

'Nother good day for Cadel, some of the other podium contenders were having Cadel's usual bad luck & Cadel's team were again on the ball & close to the front at the crucial times.
Wonder if the team boss Andy Rihs has got them on a bit of a bonus to get Cadel up there, does money talk at this race.

 

[rzombie1988]

I'm going with Contador but I wouldn't mind at all that Cadel win this tour, he really deserve a GT and I fear this could be his last shot.

I think Evans would be better suited to try and win a Vuelta for his GT win.

 

[Dermie]

Probably not that much up to the rider even though he would have a lot to do with it.
The man who is putting up the money, Andy Riihs, would be the driver as to which GT he wants. If he wants to make his bikes a worldwide product the the TDF is the one, not sure about the US but in Aus (very small part of the world market) & here the Giro or Vuelta hardly rate even amongst recreational riders let alone the general public.
So a tour win would launch his brand & if he (Andy Riihs) there is probably quite a few million dollars awaiting a marketing campaign to launch their product over the perennial tour winner (Trek).
The riders are pawns for the dollars of big time egos.