le Tour 2011 top 10 GC contenders and pretenders

[Pantani_lives]

I'll make a new top ten because Soler is out.

1 Contador
2 A Schleck
3 Basso
4 Gesink
5 VDB
6 F Schleck
7 Cunego
8 Wiggins
9 Evans
10 Brajkovic

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope Gilbert beats Andy silly on the first week of the Tour

 

[hrotha]

I hope Gilbert beats Andy silly on the first week of the Tour

And I hope the sun rises tomorrow, but it's kind of pointless to even mention it, isn't it?

 

[The Hitch]

I'll make a new top ten because Soler is out.

1 Contador
2 A Schleck
3 Basso
4 Gesink
5 VDB
6 F Schleck
7 Cunego
8 Wiggins
9 Evans
10 Brajkovic

Have you ever heard of someone called Samu Sanchez? No? check him out on wikipedia or something. Hes a decent rider.

Might even be better than Janez Brajkovic

 

[The Hitch]

I'll make a new top ten because Soler is out.

1 Contador
2 A Schleck
3 Basso
4 Gesink
5 VDB
6 F Schleck
7 Cunego
8 Wiggins
9 Evans
10 Brajkovic

Also here is my new list of the 10 best cyclists to ever win a stage up Alpe in the Tour.

1 Fausto Coppi
2 Bernard Hinault
3Lance Armstrong
4 Gianni Bugno
5 Andrew Hampsten
6 Joop Zoemeltek
7 Lucho Herrera
8 Carlos Sastre
9 Joaquim Agostinho
10 Iban Mayo

 

[Parrulo]

Also here is my new list of the 10 best cyclists to ever win a stage up Alpe in the Tour.

1 Fausto Coppi
2 Bernard Hinault
3Lance Armstrong
4 Gianni Bugno
5 Andrew Hampsten
6 Joop Zoemeltek
7 Lucho Herrera
8 Carlos Sastre
9 Iban Mayo
10 Hennie Kuiper

Have you ever heard of someone called joaquim agostinho? No? check him out on wikipedia or something. He was a decent rider.

Might have been even better than samu sanchez

 

[peloton]

I really don't know. We saw last year how the hard Giro hurt the riders who rode it, it was weather wise worse last year, but much more demanding route wise this year, so it pretty much depends how well Contador has recovered from the Giro.
Andy has shown pretty much nothing this year, and the route is even more tailor made for him than Contador (less TT), also I think Leopard has probably the strongest team, in all terrains.

I presume Rabo, especially after what happened today, to be in fierce mode and split the race early on and in every opportunity.

So anything can and will happen.

Can't wait.

 

[The Hitch]

Have you ever heard of someone called joaquim agostinho? No? check him out on wikipedia or something. He was a decent rider.

Might have been even better than samu sanchez

All right. Heres what we are going to do. Im going to edit out some dutchie for agostinho and you are going to delete your post and none of this ever happened

 

[Galic Ho]

I find it hilarious people here are saying Andy Schleck has the strongest team. Get out and go look at the riders who set highest power outputs last year. They were all domestiques. They are all riding for Saxo. The Sorensens, Noval and Hernandez. All Contador's domestiques. What's Andy got? Fuglsang, Gerdemann and big bro Franck? Bahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.

The only thing Leopard Trek's domestiques will do is break the guys who are trying to crack the top 10. Contador's got all the guys who broke everyone but himself and Andy last year riding at his side. Add in Andy Schleck has shown zero interest in dropping his brother and this looks really promising. If and when Andy mans up, grows a sack and fills it with some nads, then and only then will he have shown he can win the Tour. His best hope if Franck crashes. The dynamic duo has never beaten Contador, except when one fell on the cobbles and blocked all but five riders (coincidentally horse face was one of them) from racing. History has shown time and again Andy Schleck has a reluctance to drop his brother. Contadors team has the superior climbing domestiques. Franck ain't a domestique. He's a pseudo GC guy who marks his bro's inferior rivals and doesn't lay down his own aspirations (except when he crashes, wink wink) so the teams GC leader can lay the smack down on Contador.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

What would the best method be for Contador, to get himself ready for the tour? Rest as much as possible after the Giro, and start the tour slightly out of shape (maybe after only a shorter period of more intense training), hoping the first two weeks will be good enough to get him into shape before the mountains. Or try to bridge his form from Giro to Tour with intense training like the other riders (maybe somewhat less intense).

I've been wondering about this.

I find it hilarious people here are saying Andy Schleck has the strongest team. Get out and go look at the riders who set highest power outputs last year. They were all domestiques. They are all riding for Saxo. The Sorensens, Noval and Hernandez. All Contador's domestiques. What's Andy got? Fuglsang, Gerdemann and big bro Franck? Bahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.

Monfort seemed like the best man their team has right now. And that includes the Schlecks, lol.

 

[peloton]

I find it hilarious people here are saying Andy Schleck has the strongest team. Get out and go look at the riders who set highest power outputs last year. They were all domestiques. They are all riding for Saxo. The Sorensens, Noval and Hernandez. All Contador's domestiques. What's Andy got? Fuglsang, Gerdemann and big bro Franck? Bahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.

The only thing Leopard Trek's domestiques will do is break the guys who are trying to crack the top 10. Contador's got all the guys who broke everyone but himself and Andy last year riding at his side. Add in Andy Schleck has shown zero interest in dropping his brother and this looks really promising. If and when Andy mans up, grows a sack and fills it with some nads, then and only then will he have shown he can win the Tour. His best hope if Franck crashes. The dynamic duo has never beaten Contador, except when one fell on the cobbles and blocked all but five riders (coincidentally horse face was one of them) from racing. History has shown time and again Andy Schleck has a reluctance to drop his brother. Contadors team has the superior climbing domestiques. Franck ain't a domestique. He's a pseudo GC guy who marks his bro's inferior rivals and doesn't lay down his own aspirations (except when he crashes, wink wink) so the teams GC leader can lay the smack down on Contador.

That you pointed Noval as Contador's climbing domestique really says you
don't know what you are talking about, sorry.

Still think Leopard has a very strong team, feel free to disagree, Cancellara will be a huge boost for any team, especially if there's a TTT.

 

[El Pistolero]

And I hope the sun rises tomorrow, but it's kind of pointless to even mention it, isn't it?

What I mean is, I hope Phil makes the race real hard, so that some GT contenders lose some time against their closest contenders. Especially those that aren't in the best of shape yet during the first week.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Have you ever heard of someone called Samu Sanchez? No? check him out on wikipedia or something. Hes a decent rider.

Might even be better than Janez Brajkovic

Sanchez just didn't give me a good impression in the Dauphiné. Of course I may be wrong.

I chose Brajkovic above Klöden and Leipheimer because he's younger, and he was strong in last year's Dauphiné.

 

[karlboss]

I find it hilarious people here are saying Andy Schleck has the strongest team. Get out and go look at the riders who set highest power outputs last year. They were all domestiques. They are all riding for Saxo. The Sorensens, Noval and Hernandez. All Contador's domestiques. What's Andy got? Fuglsang, Gerdemann and big bro Franck? Bahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.

The only thing Leopard Trek's domestiques will do is break the guys who are trying to crack the top 10. Contador's got all the guys who broke everyone but himself and Andy last year riding at his side. Add in Andy Schleck has shown zero interest in dropping his brother and this looks really promising. If and when Andy mans up, grows a sack and fills it with some nads, then and only then will he have shown he can win the Tour. His best hope if Franck crashes. The dynamic duo has never beaten Contador, except when one fell on the cobbles and blocked all but five riders (coincidentally horse face was one of them) from racing. History has shown time and again Andy Schleck has a reluctance to drop his brother. Contadors team has the superior climbing domestiques. Franck ain't a domestique. He's a pseudo GC guy who marks his bro's inferior rivals and doesn't lay down his own aspirations (except when he crashes, wink wink) so the teams GC leader can lay the smack down on Contador.

Agree that leopard aren't by far the strongest team, but when has Andy time and time again shown reluctance to drop his brother?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I find it hilarious people here are saying Andy Schleck has the strongest team. Get out and go look at the riders who set highest power outputs last year. They were all domestiques. They are all riding for Saxo. The Sorensens, Noval and Hernandez. All Contador's domestiques. What's Andy got? Fuglsang, Gerdemann and big bro Franck? Bahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.

The only thing Leopard Trek's domestiques will do is break the guys who are trying to crack the top 10. Contador's got all the guys who broke everyone but himself and Andy last year riding at his side. Add in Andy Schleck has shown zero interest in dropping his brother and this looks really promising. If and when Andy mans up, grows a sack and fills it with some nads, then and only then will he have shown he can win the Tour. His best hope if Franck crashes. The dynamic duo has never beaten Contador, except when one fell on the cobbles and blocked all but five riders (coincidentally horse face was one of them) from racing. History has shown time and again Andy Schleck has a reluctance to drop his brother. Contadors team has the superior climbing domestiques. Franck ain't a domestique. He's a pseudo GC guy who marks his bro's inferior rivals and doesn't lay down his own aspirations (except when he crashes, wink wink) so the teams GC leader can lay the smack down on Contador.

I think Galic Ho is correct. People at the start of the year were talking about the weakness of Saxo but really their tour line up is very strong. They should be quite competitive in the ttt. Gerdemann hasn't done much at the tour since 2007 or in any big race with climbing, Monfort has looked reasonable at the tour de suisse and F Schleck has ooked alright but not great. Losing Frank was almost a benefit for Andy because he wasn't '**** farting' around for his brother to catch up. They are detrimental for each others chances. Fuglsang is an asset for Leopard Trek but will he stay up there when the other teams domestiques are gone?

 

[hfer07]

So 30% is ok? Andy's becoming a Diva.

LOL-it's ridiculous-Andy's statement doesn't even pass the straight face test TBH

 

[dlwssonic]

I hope Gilbert beats Andy silly on the first week of the Tour

for the stage wins? ya andy wouldnt even be bothered about the stage wins. I bet he will beat contador silly too for the ultimate prize! the stage wins.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

time can be lost in that first week you know.

 

[auscyclefan94]

time can be lost in that first week you know.

Staeg 1 - Hilly little finish where some time gaps could appear
Stage 2 - team time trial where significant time will be gained and lost
Stage 3 - flat stage though cross winds are very possible which could split the field
Stgae 4 - The mur de breatgne is a nasty little finish which will open some small but still signifcant ime gaps.
Stage 5 - Stage to cap frehel with the final 70km's along the coast where cross winds could appear.
Stage 6 - Last 3km have a 1.3km climb @ 6.3%, 1.4km of false flat and 300m of flat. Things could split up a bit at the front.

The first 6 stages could definetly open some gaps. I quite like the 1st week of racing this year.

 

[greenedge]

Yea it seems well rounded. Problem is all the GC riders shall be not at 110% for the 1st week. They shall only race the mountains. How come Noval did not ride the Giro either, he seems to have had a quiet build up. Also this yr good domestiques in the mountains shall be Garate for Gesink, Syzmd for Basso and hopefully Frank for Cadel. Leopard have good domestiques too though maybe just not as good as Contador's mountain ones.

 

[LaFlorecita]

As promised, Sir Andy speaks today about his awesome showing at the TdS.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iK-HkK3NsfFoPLaRi_dq1knjH_zw?docId=CNG.ae6d4035ac5fdab3b287d9003b822c9f.331

A couple of choice quotes:

He needs the pressure of the Tour (to excel)

To me, that just sounds as if he can't motivate himself to do good in other races. Pathetic.

He can't be 100 % mentally ready every day of the year

He doesn't need to be ready every day, just more than 4 weeks, like others do. I used to like him, but he is more and more becoming a whiny, spoiled biatch.

 

[just some guy]

Yea it seems well rounded. Problem is all the GC riders shall be not at 110% for the 1st week. They shall only race the mountains. How come Noval did not ride the Giro either, he seems to have had a quiet build up. Also this yr good domestiques in the mountains shall be Garate for Gesink, Syzmd for Basso and hopefully Frank for Cadel. Leopard have good domestiques too though maybe just not as good as Contador's mountain ones.

I don´t this Frank as in M will be riding he is 24 and just finished the Giro and a hard Suisse - the Vuelta I think he will ride.

Ps Andy has his brother Frank which mke Lepoards MTN domestiqeus better than Saxo and FSlang is riding very well so re Domestiques Lepoard have the edge imo
But an acceleration from Condator will get rid of all domestiques anyway

 

[Frosty]

Staeg 1 - Hilly little finish where some time gaps could appear
Stage 2 - team time trial where significant time will be gained and lost
Stage 3 - flat stage though cross winds are very possible which could split the field
Stgae 4 - The mur de breatgne is a nasty little finish which will open some small but still signifcant ime gaps.
Stage 5 - Stage to cap frehel with the final 70km's along the coast where cross winds could appear.
Stage 6 - Last 3km have a 1.3km climb @ 6.3%, 1.4km of false flat and 300m of flat. Things could split up a bit at the front.

The first 6 stages could definetly open some gaps. I quite like the 1st week of racing this year.

There's a lot of talk about crosswinds on stage 5 (and you have mentioned them on stage 3 too) but north-west France can be generally blustery in summer if the weather is coming off the Atlantic. The last few days at Rennes (inland north-west France) has seen winds often averaging about 25km/h (16mph).

http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/uk/home/weather/world-weather/weather-stations/obsid/7130.html

The weather in north-west Europe is unreliable in summer but if the same conditions were to coincide with the tour then it could really spice things up.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Ps Andy has his brother Frank which mke Lepoards MTN domestiqeus better than Saxo and FSlang is riding very well so re Domestiques Lepoard have the edge imo
But an acceleration from Condator will get rid of all domestiques anyway

Problem is Frank Schleck doesn't act like a domestique. I don't see Frank riding hard until he falls from his bike halfway a mountain like real domestiques do.

 

[just some guy]

Problem is Frank Schleck doesn't act like a domestique. I don't see Frank riding hard until he falls from his bike halfway a mountain like real domestiques do.

I agree which is one reason why Andy will lose the TDF - One of the stupid tactile errors Leopard will make. Same as yesterday why p!ss-off Rabo when they may need the team of Gesink to help. Dumb