Le Tour de France 2013: who will win?

[ILovecycling]

I don't know who will win, but I will be very disappointed if "Froome-dog" gets much airtime. His riding is just so f*&^ing ugly. The head-bobbing, the stupid white glasses, the bony arms.....the whole package. Add in the air-head trophy girlfriend and his privileged upbringing. I just have this (completely irrational) dislike of the guy.

You are stupid.Do you ever heard interview with him?He is really kind and polite.His style is not so good but his desire to win and race is so excellent,he is a great guy and rider.
His airhead girlfriend?Who cares , she is hot as hell

 

[phanatic]

Add in the air-head trophy girlfriend and his privileged upbringing.

Envy like fire always makes for the highest points.
Titus Livius

 

[Gloin22]

You are stupid.Do you ever heard interview with him?He is really kind and polite.His style is not so good but his desire to win and race is so excellent,he is a great guy and rider.
His airhead girlfriend?Who cares , she is hot as hell

Froome is one of the humbliest guys there is indeed, at least in the peleton. Very friendly and all.

 

[airstream]

The more charismatic and bright guys we have the better. The Legend: an incarnation all the best in cycling in one person, the devil - spawn of omerta with all the consequences and misterious alien who is able of anything. It's almost like the good the bad the ugly.

 

[Angliru]

What do 'real climbers' imply? But there was a grandiose team mountain work probably the most impressive one since CSC in the 2008 Tour. Froome is not a real climber? Are you kidding? While on form the guy is able to burn out any uphill. He's got an excellent explosive power. He is better than say Andy in this regard, however he is allegedly a real climber.

No one is saying Froome isn't a real climber. The statement was that there were no exceptional climbers in top form to challenge Sky/Wiggins/Froome in the 2012 Tour. We've had this debate multiple times already.

You certainly have given up on Andy. You are a fickle fella.

 

[Altitude]

WHY? Because no one can't be on their level or what? Lol. Froome's manner is more sharpened for attacks. It's quite obvious.

What does this mean?

Anyone?...... Anyone?...... Bueller?

 

[airstream]

No one is saying Froome isn't a real climber. The statement was that there were no exceptional climbers in top form to challenge Sky/Wiggins/Froome in the 2012 Tour. We've had this debate multiple times already.

You certainly have given up on Andy. You are a fickle fella.

Not, I root and hope to the bitter end, but Froome is #1 favorite.

 

[Angliru]

The more charismatic and bright guys we have the better. The Legend: an incarnation all the best in cycling in one person, the devil - spawn of omerta with all the consequences and misterious alien who is able of anything. It's almost like the good the bad the ugly.

...and I wonder who the "devil-spawn" is in this twisted scenario from the demented mind of Sir Airstream?

 

[airstream]

...and I wonder who the "devil-spawn" is in this twisted scenario from the demented mind of Sir Airstream?

You know better. God, I'm being accused of dementia. Not very polite.

 

[airstream]

What does this mean?

Anyone?...... Anyone?...... Bueller?

Based on the 2011 Vuelta and Tour Froome easily varies tempo and he can go off as a catapult when he needs it. Actually, I can't remember such sharp pulls from Andy since the 2009 Tour. Frankly speaking, his Cabarga often hits my mind. Back then on 10% sector Froome shifted gear up to relatively big something like 39x22, developed mad power and opened a 40-50 meter gap literally for 10 pedal turnovers. I saw something like that 2 times: Contador on Verbier and Vino on Pandera. Plus Froome exponated something similar on Planche des Belles Filles as well.

 

[Angliru]

Not, I root and hope until to the bitter end, but Froome is #1 favorite.

Based on performances where he wasn't facing the best in the sport or even the best at their best? I suspect Froome is your # favorite because:
1. You've bailed on the Andy Good Ship Lollipop.
2. You're of the mindset of "anyone but Contador".

 

[Angliru]

Based on the 2011 Vuelta and Tour Froome easily varies tempo and he can go off as a catapult when he needs it. Actually, I can't remember such sharp pulls from Andy since the 2009 Tour.

Can't believe I'm defending Andy but.....Tourmalet 2010. He and Contador left the rest of the contenders in their wake.

 

[ILovecycling]

Not, I root and hope to the bitter end, but Froome is #1 favorite.

Maybe for you,but not for at least 61 people here.

 

[Angliru]

Double posting.

 

[airstream]

Can't believe I'm defending Andy but.....Tourmalet 2010. He and Contador left the rest of the contenders in their wake.

Exactly what are you accusing me of? Do I distort any facts or we see different races?

 

[Angliru]

You know better. God, I'm being accused of dementia. Not very polite.

Well I figure it can't be your fault that your perspective and judgement are so bizarre. It must be beyond your control. You just can't help yourself.

 

[Angliru]

Exactly what are you accusing me of? Do I distort any facts or we see different races?

You simply forgot the incident in which I posted in response to your claim that Andy can't accelerate sharply in the mountains, or hasn't done so since 2009. I'd almost compare what happened on Tourmalet to Contador/Rassmussen in 2007. How do you surmise that I'm accusing you of anything?

 

[airstream]

Omg, Contador fan is teaching other rider's fan what it is bizarre and what is not...

 

[winkybiker]

Froome is one of the humbliest guys there is indeed, at least in the peleton. Very friendly and all.

I never said my dislike of Froome was rational. I know as little of Froome as I know of any of the peleton. That is to say, I know nothing at all. I've never met any of them. Never will. My dislike is stupid and unfounded in any logic. But so is much of fandom.

And I still don't like watching his "style" on the bike. Ugly as sin. Truly.

 

[Angliru]

Omg, Contador fan is teaching other rider's fan what it is bizarre and what is not...

One person's bizarre is another's normal.

 

[airstream]

Based on performances where he wasn't facing the best in the sport or even the best at their best? I suspect Froome is your # favorite because:
1. You've bailed on the Andy Good Ship Lollipop.
2. You're of the mindset of "anyone but Contador".

25 guys for Alien too. Syndrom of dementia? I gave Contador 35%. Is that so few?

 

[Angliru]

25 guys for Alien too. Syndrom of dementia? I gave Contador 35%. Is that so few?

The "demented" reference is about your uncontrollable hatred (and I don't mean in the casually used "hater" context often used is this forum) for Contador. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and many here may be selecting Froome mistakenly anticipating Saxo/Tinkoff not being invited to the Tour. Your reasoning for your selection is clear and I simply don't agree.

 

[serfla]

This is how I see the chances for the anniversary Tour.
I'm not convinced at all Wiggo won't defend the title. I think the Sky team will approach the race with two options and wait to see who has better chances. That should mean limited freedom for Froome in the Pyrenees and opportunity for Contador and Schleck to make advantage on Sky from Mont Ventoux stage, if Sky decides to support Wiggins after the Mont-Saint-Michel tt.
It's ideal route to eliminate Sky, as I see it. By the time they (Sky) realize that Froome has better chances - it could be too late for them.
Tactics is the area where Froome is disadvantaged. He's shown that in last Vuelta with irrational attacks in the first half of the race.
It's crucial for the Sky to enter the Tour with clear leader. Otherwise, their opponents have big chance to eliminate them before the second itt.

 

[Dedelou]

This is how I see the chances for the anniversary Tour.
I'm not convinced at all Wiggo won't defend the title. I think the Sky team will approach the race with two options and wait to see who has better chances. That should mean limited freedom for Froome in the Pyrenees and opportunity for Contador and Schleck to make advantage on Sky from Mont Ventoux stage, if Sky decides to support Wiggins after the Mont-Saint-Michel tt.
It's ideal route to eliminate Sky, as I see it. By the time they (Sky) realize that Froome has better chances - it could be too late for them.
Tactics is the area where Froome is disadvantaged. He's shown that in last Vuelta with irrational attacks in the first half of the race.
It's crucial for the Sky to enter the Tour with clear leader. Otherwise, their opponents have big chance to eliminate them before the second itt.

It is always hard for me to imagine "clear, rigid " strategies for the Tour so many months in advance. While I can conceive of "constructing" the team in function of the route and the projected competition early, I think the day to day strategy is developed on the ground to address the spontaneous reality of the race as it happen. For example "crashes" in the first week have become at time more defining for the outcome then all the planning created in the months before. Take 2011 TDF. In my mind, the race was shaped by Contador's falls more than by his participation in the Giro before the tour. Had he no fallen, tired or not, the opposition would have to deal with a totally different strategy to defeat him

 

[LaFlorecita]

The "demented" reference is about your uncontrollable hatred (and I don't mean in the casually used "hater" context often used is this forum) for Contador. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and many here may be selecting Froome mistakenly anticipating Saxo/Tinkoff not being invited to the Tour. Your reasoning for your selection is clear and I simply don't agree.

Stop arguing with him it is hopeless