fantasy doping draft

[The Hitch]

My leader - 2004 Lance, couldn't even ride PDB faster than Geraint Thomas

 

[Netserk]

Re:

My leader - 2004 Lance, couldn't even ride PDB faster than Geraint Thomas

2005 was better imho, though 2001 was great as well. Other than 99 and 03, I don't think there was much difference between the years though.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Depends where you stand on some of the life bans/silent bans.

Riccardo Riccò is currently in the midst of a 12 year ban as you mention, but there's also:
Tyler Hamilton was banned for eight years (until 2017) causing him to retire.
Lance Armstrong was banned for life but had already retired.
Denis Menchov retired but that turned out to be a silent ban which may or may not be over around about now.
Danilo di Luca was suspended for life after his 2014 Giro positive.

Another interesting feature is the riders who were busted for doping at the races they've been selected for:
- Floyd Landis (2006 Tour)
- Ezequiel Mosquera (2010 Vuelta)
- Marco Pantani (1999 Giro)
- Riccardo Riccò (2008 Tour)
- Stefan Schumacher (2008 Tour)
Also arguably
- Michael Rasmussen (2007 Tour)(whereabouts violation)
- Lance Armstrong (2004 Tour)(retrospective ban)
- Levi Leipheimer (2007 Tour)(retrospective ban)
- Bjarne Riis (1996 Tour)(retrospective confession)

FOUR of the riders who returned positives from the races mentioned are from Zlev's team, which is liable to entertain the crowd then get chucked out of the race as a result... The mention of the 2008 Tour positives reminded me: no Kohl or Kirchen! Also, with 2010 Mosquera mentioned: no Igor Antón...

 

[zlev11]

what about Santi Perez? tested positive for an homologous blood transfusion during the '04 Vuelta

 

[blackcat]

Re:

Depends where you stand on some of the life bans/silent bans.

Riccardo Riccò is currently in the midst of a 12 year ban as you mention, but there's also:
Tyler Hamilton was banned for eight years (until 2017) causing him to retire.
Lance Armstrong was banned for life but had already retired.
Denis Menchov retired but that turned out to be a silent ban which may or may not be over around about now.
Danilo di Luca was suspended for life after his 2014 Giro positive.

Another interesting feature is the riders who were busted for doping at the races they've been selected for:
- Floyd Landis (2006 Tour)
- Ezequiel Mosquera (2010 Vuelta)
- Marco Pantani (1999 Giro)
- Riccardo Riccò (2008 Tour)
- Stefan Schumacher (2008 Tour)
Also arguably
- Michael Rasmussen (2007 Tour)(whereabouts violation)
- Lance Armstrong (2004 Tour)(retrospective ban)
- Levi Leipheimer (2007 Tour)(retrospective ban)
- Bjarne Riis (1996 Tour)(retrospective confession)

FOUR of the riders who returned positives from the races mentioned are from Zlev's team, which is liable to entertain the crowd then get chucked out of the race as a result... The mention of the 2008 Tour positives reminded me: no Kohl or Kirchen! Also, with 2010 Mosquera mentioned: no Igor Antón...

ricky riccio will be back, of that have no doubt.

a few more tatts and a few more lovechilds, but ricky riccio will be back.

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

My leader - 2004 Lance, couldn't even ride PDB faster than Geraint Thomas

2005 was better imho, though 2001 was great as well. Other than 99 and 03, I don't think there was much difference between the years though.

Ferrari said himself '05 lance was the best lance

 

[Libertine Seguros]

following on from the Fuentes Gynæcology team, we have the Telefério del Teide-Canarias team (TTC):
Manuel Beltrán (2003 Tour)
Ángel Casero (2001 Vuelta)
Laudelino Cubino (1992 Vuelta)
Óscar Freire (2006 Tour)
Santos González (2000 Vuelta)
José Enrique Gutiérrez (2006 Giro)
Francisco Mancebo (2005 Tour)
Jesús Montoya (1992 Vuelta)
Samuel Sánchez (2010 Tour)

Euskaltel-Euskadi
Igor Antón (2010 Vuelta)
Féderico Echave (1990 Vuelta)
David Etxebarría (1999 Tour)
Juan Manuel Gárate (2002 Giro)
Roberto Laiseka (2000 Vuelta)
Marino Lejarreta (1991 Giro)
Aitor Osa (2001 Vuelta)
Unai Osa (2001 Giro)
Mikel Zarrabeitia (1994 Vuelta)

(obviously with no Beloki, Mayo, Aitor González, Igor González de Galdeano, Zubeldia, Indurain or Olano, this was a bit tougher, especially as Landa 2015 is off-limits due to timeframe)

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Equipe Savon de France (SDF)

Christophe Bassons (1999 Tour)
Sandy Casar (2006 Giro)
Jimmy Engoulvent (2014 Vuelta)
Pierrick Fédrigo (2006 Tour)
Christophe Le Mevel (2009 Tour)
Greg Lemond (1990 Tour)
David Moncoutié (2002 Tour)
Charly Mottet (1991 Tour)
Janek Tombak (2004 Tour)

With some of them I've just had to pick a race they actually entered (Bassons, Tombak, Engoulvent)...

 

[Tonton]

Brilliant!

 

[Tonton]

Team "La Vie Pas Claire" press release:

We are proud of Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde for their great performance at the 2015 Tour de France. Better training, square chainrings, outdoor wind tunnels in Oklahoma, we had it all right. Marginal gains and good doctors. Thanks to all the fans who popped up out of nowhere for their support in the CN forums.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Team "La Vie Pas Claire" press release:

We are proud of Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde for their great performance at the 2015 Tour de France. Better training, square chainrings, outdoor wind tunnels in Oklahoma, we had it all right. Marginal gains and good doctors. Thanks to all the fans who popped up out of nowhere for their support in the CN forums.

Not on purpose (or maybe it is), but your signature was the perfect conclusion to your post.

 

[Sjoerdeman]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

 

[Tonton]

the sceptic, where do we Wiggo from here?

I loved the '15 TdF! Team La Vie Pas Claire rules . But what comes next? Wildcard teams? Polpular vote or a mythic route? If so, what is the course? We shall soon see...

 

[The Hitch]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Andy schleck 2010 vuelta would be more appropriate

 

[42x16ss]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Shouldn't O'Grady be the DS? Bruyneel as General Manager, Baden Cooke could be manager/rider agent, Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn can be primary drivers (at least they can control a car while drunk at a club), Boonen and Ulle can be backup

 

[Sjoerdeman]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Andy schleck 2010 vuelta would be more appropriate

Agreed, considering not hiring Riis and trying to pull birds with Australians whilst going out, but for a place on the team these guys need a palmares, no one in the organisation of "8 van Chaam" is going to give away money to a cyclist with just the ability to consume alcohol/drugs without the ability to actually win. I had to choose between Andy Vuelta 2010 and Andy TdF 2010. I chose the palmares. On the other hand, your suggestion made me think for awhile. I put Gaumont up there, obviously as "road captain", but as it is a post-Tour criterium, they wouldn't need one.

A lot of people put all kinds of riders in their teams. Some are proven to have been doped to the gills. Some are known to have had suspicions, etcetera. Most teams are mixed bags. Don't get me wrong, I consider each and every one of these guys doped, and therefore fair game for the Fantasy Doping Draft.

What cracks me up though, is how the team would look if we would put cyclists in it, known for their substance abuse.

Particularly if you think of what they still managed to achieve.
People like Laurent Roux. Wearing polka-dot jerseys.

 

[Sjoerdeman]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Shouldn't O'Grady be the DS? Bruyneel as General Manager, Baden Cooke could be manager/rider agent, Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn can be primary drivers (at least they can control a car while drunk at a club), Boonen and Ulle can be backup

Completely agreed with O'grady being the DS. To be honest, if the team would be invited to a criterium and have the support you mentioned, the criterium is going to be quite a show. Bobridge and Hepburn can drive drunk and shout "funnies" at their riders, whilst Boonen is grinding his teeth telling his riders he needs the win and is completely "on it, mate", suggesting that the actual guys cycling the crit can have some of his stuff, whilst Ullrich is suggesting that maybe the activity of cycling has taken long enough. "Guys, how about we sit down at my place with some drinks, this is all going a bit fast for me... I made some money during the Tour, we don't need to do this"

 

[42x16ss]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Shouldn't O'Grady be the DS? Bruyneel as General Manager, Baden Cooke could be manager/rider agent, Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn can be primary drivers (at least they can control a car while drunk at a club), Boonen and Ulle can be backup

Completely agreed with O'grady being the DS. To be honest, if the team would be invited to a criterium and have the support you mentioned, the criterium is going to be quite a show. Bobridge and Hepburn can drive drunk and shout "funnies" at their riders, whilst Boonen is grinding his teeth telling his teammates he needs the win and is completely "on it, mate", whilst Ullrich is suggesting that maybe the activity of cycling has taken long enough. "Guys, how about we sit down at my place with some drinks, this is all going a bit fast for me..."

This team would be Michael Ball's wet dream

I know, he can be team owner, while Cipo is the bike supplier and technical consultant!

 

[Sjoerdeman]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Shouldn't O'Grady be the DS? Bruyneel as General Manager, Baden Cooke could be manager/rider agent, Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn can be primary drivers (at least they can control a car while drunk at a club), Boonen and Ulle can be backup

Completely agreed with O'grady being the DS. To be honest, if the team would be invited to a criterium and have the support you mentioned, the criterium is going to be quite a show. Bobridge and Hepburn can drive drunk and shout "funnies" at their riders, whilst Boonen is grinding his teeth telling his teammates he needs the win and is completely "on it, mate", whilst Ullrich is suggesting that maybe the activity of cycling has taken long enough. "Guys, how about we sit down at my place with some drinks, this is all going a bit fast for me..."

This team would be Michael Ball's wet dream

I know, he can be team owner, while Cipo is the bike supplier and technical consultant!

Oh, wow, I had completely forgotten about suppliers. Cipo is going to use every single photo-op he can.
I might get in touch with Michael Ball. Why would he hire Tyler Hamilton if he could have had Gaumont?

 

[42x16ss]

Obviously after the Fantasy Doping GT, there will be some criteriums around the Netherlands and Belgium for everybody to cash in on their exploits during the GT.

As everybody nowadays has a charity to either cure cancer or look good, some riders decided to put together a charity team. Even though a charity with the name exists already, the riders on this team are doing it all just "for fun", and in order to live as if each day was their last. Hence, the name of the team is Livestrong

Of course, these guys are here to have a good time.

The team consists of;
Laurent Jalabert (Vuelta 1995)
Frank Vandenbroucke (Vuelta 1999)
Tom Boonen (TdF 2005)
Gianni Bugno (Giro 1990)
Jan Ullrich (TdF 1997)
Gilberto Simoni (Giro 2003)
Andy Schleck (TdF 2010)
Luca Paolini (Giro 2013)
Phillippe Gaumont

As this is a charity ride, everybody is allowed to use cocaine, extacy, pot belge, speed or whatever drug they fancy.
Also, everybody is allowed to go drinking the night before, and stay up late with hard-drinking Australian gingers trying to pull as many birds as they want, AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP ON TIME FOR THE RACE. Partypoopers like Riis do not need to apply for jobs as DS.
In the event people show up hungover, some ex-Giro winner might arrange speed for recovery, in addition to enormous amounts of coffee. During racing if people get dry throats from being hungover, some other ex-Giro winner can supply Peruvian candies. The lozenge type to help with dry throats. As for the party after the criterium, I think we are all settled for ridiculous amounts of "good times". Someone in the team can arrange E', there's coke and if people are desperate there's good ol' Gaumont to cheer them up with a little cocktail. Jalabert can be party instigator.

Pantani asked to be in it, but the others thought he would ruin the atmosphere for everybody by going back to his hotel room early.

Shouldn't O'Grady be the DS? Bruyneel as General Manager, Baden Cooke could be manager/rider agent, Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn can be primary drivers (at least they can control a car while drunk at a club), Boonen and Ulle can be backup

Completely agreed with O'grady being the DS. To be honest, if the team would be invited to a criterium and have the support you mentioned, the criterium is going to be quite a show. Bobridge and Hepburn can drive drunk and shout "funnies" at their riders, whilst Boonen is grinding his teeth telling his teammates he needs the win and is completely "on it, mate", whilst Ullrich is suggesting that maybe the activity of cycling has taken long enough. "Guys, how about we sit down at my place with some drinks, this is all going a bit fast for me..."

This team would be Michael Ball's wet dream

I know, he can be team owner, while Cipo is the bike supplier and technical consultant!

Oh, wow, I had completely forgotten about suppliers. Cipo is going to use every single photo-op he can.
I might get in touch with Michael Ball. Why would he hire Tyler Hamilton if he could have had Gaumont?

Of course it goes without saying that any rider or staff member that provides a clean toxicology report is suspended for safety reasons!

 

[Tonton]

Not that I want to be exclusive, but the thread is being hijacked by late comers . the sceptic is the ultimate tie-breaker. Wild cards? Libertine: what is the course? Or does it go to a public poll/debate? With Berzin, Froome, Vino, and Valverde in my squad, I feel good .

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I have designed the course, all but a tiny bit, I've just been a bit lazy on posting it. Will follow shortly.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

I have designed the course, all but a tiny bit, I've just been a bit lazy on posting it. Will follow shortly.

Nice! Why do I get the feeling that this course will make the 2011 Giro look like a run to the shops?

 

[BrentonOfTheNorth]

I missed the fun but this thread got me thinking. This is what I got so far for my ideal TDF team, had I participated successfully in the draft:

1) George Hincapie (2005 TDF) - Rolleur, climber. Will compete for and easily win the KOM. Expect a record breaking time up Hautacam.
2) Grandpa Horner (2013 Vuelta) - main GC contender. Will demolish the competition when the slope goes above 10% with his scientifically proven low-cadence standing pedaling style.
3) Santi Perez (2004 Vuelta) - Climber. A sublime natural talent in the mountains. Expect him to be Horner's right hand man on the climbs, covering all attacks.
4) Izidro Nozal (2003 Vuelta) - Rolleur, ITT stage hunter. Don't let the stink fool you. Deceptively lethal in the TTs. Don't be surprised to see him in Yellow with a few minutes on the GC contenders when the race hits the mountains. If ASO puts in a couple 70km time trials, perhaps we'll see him on the podium in Paris as well.

 

[ciranda]

fdd TDF stage 20: Modane-Alpe d'Huez 110,5 km

cronaca

km zero: break with Aitor Gonzalez, Horner, Perez, Zülle, Landis, Sevilla, Gontchar, Sagan, Mosquera, Popovych, de las Cuevas, Frigo, Møller, Rincon, Vandenbroucke and some guys from Cofidis is established.

km 4: maillot jaune Indurain's team ride tempo
km 12: advantage is 4'00

Yesterday's stage changed nothing in GC. Indurain leads with 3'50 to Berzin and 4'05 to Armstrong. Sagan has the green jersey, Tonkov the mountain jersey, Menchov leads combativity prize and Jalabert best French guy jersey. So far in the race Indurain has dominated the time trial, responded to all attacks in the mountains and let others win stages. Like it was the case yesterday when Marco Pantani attacked the last mountain hard with Heras and Horner and escaped downhill to win. He is now 6th overall at 5'49.

So every precedent suggests that the break will decide the stage. With six stage wins the CIRANDA mobili ceramiche per la cucina moderna team has had a good race. They have four in the break; Frigo, Rincon and Møller works hard to build distance. Meanwhile VDB is being interviewed by a radio moto reporter. He asks listeners decide how he should win: attack before the ascent, attack from the foot of d'Huez or in a sprint.

km : advantage 4'30, heavy rainfall on first slopes of Croix de Fer
km : radio interview again, Vandenbroucke is live on air with a woman called Evelyn from Antwerpen
km : VDB promise her a full set of ceramic furniture from the sponsor
km : advantage is now 3'00
km : Mayo attacks
km : Mayo is 29th in GC, no reaction from anyone
km : Pantani attacks! Mayo is there to help
km : nine km to summit, advantage 4'30 for the break
km : Contador, Tonkov, Berzin and Basso try to counter but the distance grows
km : Indurain stays calm, Jimenez and Escartin works now
km : super strong Pantani, 1'30 to the MJ group

km : heavy rain and grey skies ahead
km : Pantani at 0'39, Indurain 2'15
km : Horner first at the summit and now leads the competition for the mountain jersey
km : Pantani makes contact with Sevilla and Landis
km : descent is complicated, streams of water and road surface with mud and pebbles
km : riders from the break wait for their leaders behind
km : Jimenez, Escartin, Indurain crosses with ten others
km : Zülle missed a corner and goes straight into a forest!
km : bad luck for Tonkov who followed just behind
km : both unharmed but covered in foliage

Probably not a good decision to let Alex Zülle be in front downhill. Zülle, 8th at 11'26, very strong in the mountains but missed out in GC after he made nine wrong turns in the time trial and lost twelve minutes on that stage. He had misplaced his glasses before the start.

km : Pantani now in front with the break, 2'50 to Indurain
km : the riders have a long ways to go to the next mountain
km : advantage is around 1'30, Sevilla and Landis works for Pantani
km : Indurain waits for his teammates
km : Escartin and Jimenez leads, other teams start to organize and join the Banestos in the front with Gontchar, Aitor Gonzalez, de las Cuevas, Menchov, Popovych
km : Indurain and his DS take no chances even though Pantani is far behind
km : advantage is now 1'50
km : chute!
km : the roads are still wet and a sharp corner takes down el niño Sevilla and all CIRANDA mobili ceramiche per la cucina moderna team riders except VDB
km : only Floyd left to work
km : the others are not getting back
km : distance at 1'30
km : Floyd rests his arms on the handlebars with Pantani tucked in safe behind
km : Vandenbroucke third in line after Floyd and Marco, also Horner, Santiago Perez and Mosquera
km : super organized chase behind
km : distance is now 1'50
km : Landis going harder than any man or mennonite ever
km : distance is now 2'15
km : Zülle helps the chase with monster turns
km : Floyd and Pantani next to the dam
km : Indurain's DS Unzué is probably a little worried but Miguel is still strong
km : last kilometre before the ascent

km : distance is now 2'50
km : Floyd leads for the first 300m, then turns to the side
km : Pantani! bandana, no glasses, Les Deux Alpes beard
km : first to lose contact is Santiago Perez
km : now Mosquera
km : Pantani seems to go harder and harder, relaunches out of the corners
km : VDB and Horner incredible! Horner gets back after each turn while VDB looks comfortable
km : MJ group start the mountain, exhausted gregarios all over
km : after the fourth km of Huez distance is now around 4'00
km : only Jimenez to help Indurain and he works very hard
etc

I started before the real stage but got bored and never finished. What happens next is that Marco probably wins everything with Indurain second overall, Horner can't hold on but gets mountain jersey. For what it's worth I think the best Pantani would be favorite in the fdd TDF + the duo Landis/Pantani is the awesomest.