Evans can win Le Tour!

[The Hitch]

Sorry to upset you. Should have read the forum rules.



If you are referring to rumors your comment isn't any better.

Andrews brother paying €7000 to a account linked to Fuentes was a rumour? If that is just a rumour then i apologise

 

[insideout leadout]

Andrew? Sorry im not in the clinic chat.

 

[biopass]

Exactly, if Evans can out climb Basso on the Plan de Corones & Passo del Tonale when quite sick then I personally think he can match Basso on the climbs. His tt engine seems to have gone missing though. Hopefully he can get it back.

LOL.

And i thought you were the Cuddles fan around here.

Try compare Cuddles height and weight vs. pure climbers like Contador and Ricco, then you´ll see why Cuddles needs to loose that TT engine in order to maximize his power to weight ratio.

 

[insideout leadout]

People are different. Some are rail thin like chicken Rasmussen and some are stocky like Evans and Jimmy Casper. Expect them to get the same BMI as Rasmussen just by losing some weight?

 

[marinoni]

No he can't.

 

[ferryman]

Andrew? Sorry im not in the clinic chat.

Andrew's brother = Andy's brother -> Big Bro Schleck

 

[Matthijs]

Barredo is a pretty decent time trialist, Tjallingii is good, so are Van Emden and Boom, Martens doesn't suck either, and teams can't lose significant time in 23 km.

stef clement (3rd World TT 2007)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kruijswijk, Mollema have never ridden the tour. I would say that Rabo's team ain't that much better than BMC. Other than Sanchez, who does Rabo have for the ttt. It is only 23km but teams could lose significant time.

Your total ignorance of the guys in the Rabobank team shows once again.

You know, you could actually do some proper research before claiming something. That would help you from not getting burned on a forum.
Just a slight hint

They have the ex-U23 World Champion ITT in their team for crying out loud (Lars Boom, ever heard of him?).
And the ex nr 3 Worlds ITT (Clement)
The nr 10 of the Olympics ITT (Gesink)
Tjallingii (check his Tour ITT and other ITT results last year)
and as you already named him, Sanchez ofcourse

Plus I don't think Niermann and Martens are weaker than f.ex Santambrogio... on the contrary even

 

[El Pistolero]

Your total ignorance of the guys in the Rabobank team shows once again.

You know, you could actually do some proper research before claiming something. That would help you from not getting burned on a forum.
Just a slight hint

They have the ex-U23 World Champion ITT in their team for crying out loud (Lars Boom, ever heard of him?)

Is that the guy that got beaten by the Belgian team working together at the cyclocross world championship to learn him a lesson?

Hehe, just teasing.

 

[veganrob]

I would like to see Evans win the tour. HE needs to be a little more aggressive and tactical. He is an excellent climber, just not quite as good as the best so he will have to find another way to make time. Dunno, will be tough.

 

[Altitude]

Cadel is looking pretty porky.

 

[Galic Ho]

In terms of victories, yes. Winning is the only thing that matters sadly.

While I wouldn't be surprised if Cuddles won a classic, it still is going to be hard for him(and anyone). Those races are pretty unpredictable. While Contador has a 100% win rate in terms of GTs. But yes he probably won't be allowed to ride and CAS will appeal for a 2 year ban, that's why I said if.

History lesson. Where did Alberto Contador finish when riding for Liberty Seguros in 2005 at the TdF? 30th. Heras was his team leader. Contador does not have a 100% success rate in GTs.

I'm with ACF94 on this one. All the trolls can say whatever they want but Evans is in the top 5 GT riders in the world. Two of those will be absent. More importantly the new favourite has won how many races? He's stepped up to the plate where exactly? He's raced and won across the board on how many occasions? Yeah, that's what I thought. Andy Schleck has a lot of question marks next to his name. Another rider error throwing a chain or failing to stay upright will open this years Tour right up. Andy is use to trying to hold onto Contador, not dictate pace and annihilate. Let's see how he handles the pressure. Personally if he doesn't race one event even seriously before the Tour, rather than soft pedalling like a moron, I will interpret that as Andy being mentally unprepped. Too many question marks around Schleck. I'll believe it when I see it. Pressure as leader and favourite affects people differently. Schleck is a whiner. Whiners tend to choke when favourites. A bad prologue, chrono or a typical Schleck crash is all a rider like Evans needs. Take out his broken elbow last year, he'd have been pushing for 3rd.

Who else can win? Samu. Best descender amongst the GC descenders. Evans has a better chrono, Samu is slightly better in the mountains. Euskatel need to take Anton to back Samu up. They can win the Tour. Samu only needs one descent on a critical day to hurt Andy or Franck. If Franck isn't holding Andy's hand, I have a feeling if he's pushed he might make a mistake. Samu is a better TTer than either Schleck by some margin.

The last guy who can win is... an Italin. Is this Basso? Evans is better than Basso. Sassi said as much last year. Liquigas are tought at the Giro. Why? Because all their competition GC wise aim for the Tour. Leopard Trek will annihilate Liquigas. Kreuziger is gone and Nibali will be pooped after the Giro. Make no mistake, idiots have been lining up on this forum for the past two years proclaiming Liquigas will be up there at the Tour. Each year they have failed to deliver anything close to their Giro dominance. Fact is, when everyone races hard at the Tour, they are lacking. They won't make many amends this year. They'll be worse off because Roman is with Vino at Astana. Thus Evans will be in pretty much the same boat as Ivan...with a team that cannot dictate mountain pace. I think another Italian has a better chance. I'd say Ricco, if he is in 2008 form would make Schleck look silly. Him and Sella were stronger than Contador in the 2008 Giro. Contador has been above Schleck. You do the math. You might counter this logic with a reference of Ricco's chrono. I don't care, even Pantani came third in a chrono when he needed to. Ricco with his climbing advantage, can put in a good enough TT to counter the slight time Schleck would gain in the TT and team event. Problem is last time I checked, he wasn't on a team racing at the Tour. Correct me if I am wrong and he joined Quickstep (can't remember if he did but recollect the idea was floated).

The Leopard/Saxo play book is obvious. Watch the last three years. A strong attacking climbing pair like Anton and Samu could destroy Leopards climbing domestiques if they go early and go hard. Sorensen's climbing leadout put out the highest power output/pace last year (power tap said so). Simply don't let him get to do that and the race dynamic changes. Will take some balls strategically...I don't see it happening though. Idiots will let Leopard dictate terms and then hope their GC guy can hang on...like all recent years. Which is why Franck and Andy can potentially come 1st and 2nd. Franck is a player but if pressured, I am pretty confident Franck will crack. Question is will it be enough to deter or psych out Andy and will it cost them two guys on the podium?

Either way...Evans has a very strong chance of winning. Plus, he's gotten better since 2009. Some people will float Van den Broucke and Gesink. I'll be waiting for them to stick their hand up and make a move. Better, I'll be waiting for Gesink not to fall off his bike. Gesink and the Schleck's should start a GC club for guys who cannot stay upright. Anton can join them. Rodrigues might be capable of coming 3rd if someone goofs...they always do, it's just a matter of who and when.

 

[The Hitch]

We seem to have this thread every year
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=8518

In which case

Copyright Dim

 

[rzombie1988]

Ricco's team Vascansoleil is in the ProTour, but from what I read, he doesn't seem confident that he will be in the TdF. I really like him if he's in it like I said earlier for pretty much the same reasons.

 

[Galic Ho]

Ricco's team Vascansoleil is in the ProTour, but from what I read, he doesn't seem confident that he will be in the TdF. I really like him if he's in it like I said earlier for pretty much the same reasons.

Good to hear they got a ProTour license. I didn't check the list. I knew all 18 Pro Tour teams got an invite, I just assumed the UCI would pull a number like they did at the end of 2009 and deny Vascansoleil a step up to the top level. Or are the Pro Tour spots now based on accumulative rider ranking points? I think this might be it...haven't been following all the ins and outs as attently as I use to the past few months.

Either way doesn't matter...Ricco's team has an invite. If Vino can return, I say let the Cobra come back. Think of it this way. The ASO need to look at AC (assuming he is banned) and ask themselves when his ban is served, will he be allowed back in 2012/2013 (depending on a CAS WADA appeal)? If he is and I suspect he will be, then Ricco should be given the same courtesy (although he did get popped mid race for the biggest and best drug you can dope with). It will make for a hell of an intersting race, which be honest, the Tour needs. Just read the threads, there are lots of people lamenting Schleck as favourite because it is perceived as boring and lifeless racing wise (such is the belief in his ability to kick **** which IMO he hasn't done once to earn a big win).

 

[Altitude]

If Mosquera escapes a sanction (which I hope he does), perhaps he'd focus on the Tour. That would make things interesting - I'd like his chances to make the podium.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Your total ignorance of the guys in the Rabobank team shows once again.

You know, you could actually do some proper research before claiming something. That would help you from not getting burned on a forum.
Just a slight hint

They have the ex-U23 World Champion ITT in their team for crying out loud (Lars Boom, ever heard of him?).
And the ex nr 3 Worlds ITT (Clement)
The nr 10 of the Olympics ITT (Gesink)
Tjallingii (check his Tour ITT and other ITT results last year)
and as you already named him, Sanchez ofcourse

Plus I don't think Niermann and Martens are weaker than f.ex Santambrogio... on the contrary even

Rating Gesink as time trialler is a joke. Also a TTT requires guys who can do good short time trials.

Evans - we all know is a strong time trialist and can do a good prologue
Bookwalter - 2nd in giro prologue only 2 seconds behind Wiggins.
Hincapie- been very close to the win in numerous times in tdf prologues
Quinziato - has finished high in many short tt's before.

Burghardt, Morabito & Santambrogio are all more than capable of being strong contributors in the ttt.

I would actually put big money on BMC beating Rabobank quite substantially in the ttt around Les Essarts.

 

[auscyclefan94]

We seem to have this thread every year
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=8518

In which case

Copyright Dim

Hey Moron,

I didn't even make that thread!!!!

 

[delbified]

the cobra is untested now that they've made him remove his afterburners. he has to show he's really that good.

basso is good but winning the Giro is not the same.

Evans is consistently a front runner. with the exception of the hiccups in the 2009 Tour, he has always been competitive. 2010 looked very good, if it weren't for the busted elbow. people love writing him off but his form suggests he will be fighting for the title this year.

 

[Sanitiser]

I don't mind Evans really. It'd be good if Evans won, he's an improved person methinks and it he won Tour de Lance Under\Australia's love affair with Lance might finally progress into something else.

 

[The Hitch]

Hey Moron,

I didn't even make that thread!!!!

I know you didnt Acf. Its a joke lighten up. Hence the ""

I would have used it on someone else but the poster says "Aussycyclefan" so it had to be you.

Also you foolishly readded me to the ACF Mafia so i want to see how far i can bend the stick before you kick me off again

 

[Polish]

I thinks Cadel's best chance of winning would come if he can take the Yellow Jersey late in the race. As late as possible.

I am not saying Cadel has a history of choking while wearing a Leaders Jersey, but then again maybe I am saying that.

Probably the Grenoble – Grenoble ITT on stage 20 would be a good choice to take the Yellow Jersey for the first time.

Then try not to choke on the final stage run in down onto the Champs-Élysées....just make it to the 3km to go banner

 

[delbified]

Then try not to choke on the final stage run in down onto the Champs-Élysées....just make it to the 3km to go banner

actually you can still lose it after then, but you just need to steer your bike into the barriers to qualify for the 3km rule

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

if you can't handle the surging accelerations in the mountains or generate similar attacks yourself, you cant win the tour.

game over

True enough. That's why Cadel is my sentimental fav, not the one I think will win. He's my sentimental pick because he's getting up there in years compared to some of the other favs who'll have more shots at winning in the future. Basso's another I could pick as a sentimental fav.

 

[skidmark]

I am not saying Cadel has a history of choking while wearing a Leaders Jersey, but then again maybe I am saying that.

Probably the Grenoble – Grenoble ITT on stage 20 would be a good choice to take the Yellow Jersey for the first time.

Unfortunately, he also has a history of choking on the final TT when he is favoured to take said TT.