Le Tour de France 2013: who will win?

[airstream]

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.

Wow, rating Contador lower than Froome for le Tour is hatred? Do you control yourself by saying this?

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and many here may be selecting Froome mistakenly anticipating Saxo/Tinkoff not being invited to the Tour.

It's a very low estimation of forumities' awareness. Even an offensive one.

Oh, I remembered one more argument: a rider with one life cannot beat other rider with two in the Tour cos' we know what consequenses getting popped in France is fraught. Though, I won't be surprised if Contador bluffs to the bitter end. The guy truly has no fear. Being busted twice in the Tour would be a new cycling milestone. It would be an instant 5 year prison term

 

[Angliru]

Wow, rating Contador lower than Froome for le Tour is hatred? Do you control yourself by saying this?It's a very low estimation of forumities' awareness. Even an offensive one.

Oh, I remembered one more argument: a rider with one life cannot beat other rider with two in the Tour cos' we know what consequenses getting popped in France is fraught. Though, I won't be surprised if Contador bluffs to the bitter end. The guy truly has no fear. Being busted twice in the Tour would be a new cycling milestone. It would be an instant 5 year prison term

You really can't deny that you hate the guy. You posted that you hope he burns in hell. My reference to your hatred has nothing to do with your predictions on his performance and everything to do with the obvious anger in your posts that are directed at him. I'm sure if I (or you or anyone else) took the time to go through your posts they could find at least 20 more that are fine examples of your hatred.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You really can't deny that you hate the guy. You posted that you hope he burns in hell. My reference to your hatred has nothing to do with your predictions on his performance and everything to do with the obvious anger in your posts that are directed at him. I'm sure if I (or you or anyone else) took the time to go through your posts I could find at least 20 more that are fine examples of your hatred.

Yeah and he also said he thinks Alberto should get shot.

 

[airstream]

You really can't deny that you hate the guy. You posted that you hope he burns in hell. My reference to your hatred has nothing to do with your predictions on his performance and everything to do with the obvious anger in your posts that are directed at him. I'm sure if I (or you or anyone else) took the time to go through your posts I could find at least 20 more that are fine examples of your hatred.

Meaningful part of my post is written in a facetious key about Andy, including black humor regarding Contador. All the more so to despise a guy for his strong intrusive doping stance is absolutely normal for a fan who is all for clean sport. Even it will be achieved with a complete substitution of present peloton.

 

[Pentacycle]

All the Contador/Froome talk aside, is anyone giving Valverde a chance to win it?

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.

What do you guys think? I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get more than just my vote

 

[LaFlorecita]

All the Contador/Froome talk aside, is anyone giving Valverde a chance to win it?

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.

What do you guys think? I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get more than just my vote

To win no maybe podium

 

[Angliru]

All the Contador/Froome talk aside, is anyone giving Valverde a chance to win it?

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.

What do you guys think? I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get more than just my vote

I think his 2012 Vuelta was his best grand tour performance of his career. He was much more steady overall than in 2009. His ITT is of course still a weakness but his climbing was pretty impressive. If he can maintain the same level of focus in the 2013 Tour as he displayed throughout the 2012 Vuelta he could be in for a podium spot. Now he benefited from the bonus seconds too and that won't be in play in the Tour unfortunately.

 

[serfla]

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

Of course it's problematic creating and predicting race strategies so many months in advance. But we're where we are - many months before the race, and we're talking about its outcome from this point of view.
The point is, as I've written in last paragraph, the Sky has to enter the race with defined leader, 100% prepared specially for the Tour.
And with hilly Corsican stages and TTT at the beginning of the race, I hope the crashes won't have so important role in shaping the anniversary Tour.

 

[ILovecycling]

All the Contador/Froome talk aside, is anyone giving Valverde a chance to win it?

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.

What do you guys think? I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get more than just my vote

Finaly good question .Im big fan of him so I hope for good result.Podium would be awesome plus spectacular stage(s) win and yellow jersey for couple of days.My bet is for Top5,but hope for podium.But I wish him gold from WC in Italy more than this .Im also looking forward to LBLmits His race all the time

 

[Telmisartan new]

Wow, rating Contador lower than Froome for le Tour is hatred? Do you control yourself by saying this?

Aaah Airstream,i see your dislike of Contador has resurfaced with a passion in this thread since our previous debate over AC/Froome. Just a simple adjustment for you to move a previously enjoyable escapade to a new location,then engage your usual blunt simple weapon to stir up trouble.Its a shame,alot of your other chat is quite interesting then it all degenerates into a "bait the Contador fans" game for you.Quite disappointing really.

 

[Afrank]

All the Contador/Froome talk aside, is anyone giving Valverde a chance to win it?

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.

What do you guys think? I'm a bit surprised he doesn't get more than just my vote

I don't see him winning with Contador, Froome, and others. Now that he has a GT in his legs I think he could get in the top 5 or maybe a podium. Is it a sure thing that he will do the tour? I actually think it might be better for him to go for the win in the Vuelta and then carry his Vuelta form into worlds.

 

[cineteq]

Purito dreaming of TdF 2013.
Who would have thought?

"Después del doblete Giro-Vuelta las dos últimas temporadas, el líder del Katusha cree que no debe dejar pasar la oportunidad de correr el Tour 2013. "Yo espero correrlo. Ahora en diciembre nos juntamos con todo el equipo de concentración en Italia y vamos a hablarlo. Pero espero que sí porque es muy difícil tener otro Tour con tanta montaña"

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=57120

 

[Eshnar]

Pero espero que sí porque es muy difícil tener otro Tour con tanta montaña"

lol wtf?

Anyway,
how many contradicting interviews will we read until next April?

 

[cineteq]

lol wtf?

Anyway,
how many contradicting interviews will we read until next April?

Who knows, in the end maybe KAT has the final say anyway.

 

[Carols]

Oh, I remembered one more argument: a rider with one life cannot beat other rider with two in the Tour cos' we know what consequenses getting popped in France is fraught. Though, I won't be surprised if Contador bluffs to the bitter end. The guy truly has no fear. Being busted twice in the Tour would be a new cycling milestone. It would be an instant 5 year prison term

WHEN are you going to take your CRAP to the Clinic where it belongs?????????
You just Can't follow the rules can you????

 

[greenedge]

All the Contador/Froome talk aside, is anyone giving Valverde a chance to win it?

His post-ban season was excellent, and he'll be even better next year, or at least that's what I'm expecting. The parcours is also very favourable, with fewer TT km's and of course some tough MTF's. He's also got a nice team of helpers with Costa, Quintana(assuming he'll make the Tour team, although I expect him in the Giro), Cobo and Szmyd and Movistar has done some good TTT's this year.
(

I think he could do very well, but probably not the win (I would say only Shleck, Contador, Froome and Nibali could), though Samu, Evans, TJVG, JROD, Pinot, Rolland and Valverde can all podium/ challenge. However he will be hurt by the lack of bonus seconds and the ITT's shall still play a part.

Hopefully Intxausti and Capecchi could also ride. It is a pity Kyrienka is leaving, his mountain train would have been awesome.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

valverde is considerably less strong than contador and purito so he doesn't even stand a chance of podiuming.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Purito dreaming of TdF 2013.
Who would have thought?

"Después del doblete Giro-Vuelta las dos últimas temporadas, el líder del Katusha cree que no debe dejar pasar la oportunidad de correr el Tour 2013. "Yo espero correrlo. Ahora en diciembre nos juntamos con todo el equipo de concentración en Italia y vamos a hablarlo. Pero espero que sí porque es muy difícil tener otro Tour con tanta montaña"

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=57120

No surprise, really. I hope the folks at Katusha realize that Menchov is done, Clinic issues or not. Their Tour squad was a joke, which obviously reflects poorly on the sponsor.

 

[movingtarget]

I think he could do very well, but probably not the win (I would say only Shleck, Contador, Froome and Nibali could), though Samu, Evans, TJVG, JROD, Pinot, Rolland and Valverde can all podium/ challenge. However he will be hurt by the lack of bonus seconds and the ITT's shall still play a part.

Hopefully Intxausti and Capecchi could also ride. It is a pity Kyrienka is leaving, his mountain train would have been awesome.

Can't see Valverde making the podium. As we have seen before Vuelta performances rarely have a parallels in the Tour even though I thought he did really well in the Vuelta. I think the Vuelta is the only grand tour he could win now or even podium.

 

[Pentacycle]

Can't see Valverde making the podium. As we have seen before Vuelta performances rarely have a parallels in the Tour even though I thought he did really well in the Vuelta. I think the Vuelta is the only grand tour he could win now or even podium.

Well, I just hope he can get at least one decent shot at the Tour podium before the end of his career, something he hasn't been able to do since 2008. And now with a full season of racing in his legs I believe he can.

Btw which British riders were in the podium of this year's Tour and the 2011 Vuelta? And if Vuelta performances don't have many parallels with the Tour I'm wondering why Froome isn't first in this poll, with the Vuelta being probably his last GT before next year's Tour? Cobo's just a bad reference, Valverde has proven to be a much more consistent top 10 rider in GT, podiuming in 2 out of his last 3 GT's.

 

[gustienordic]

valverde is considerably less strong than contador and purito so he doesn't even stand a chance of podiuming.

Less strong than Contador, but more consistent than J-Rod. J-Rod seems to always have one or two bad days in every GT. Valverde was certainly the third strongest in the Vuelta for most of the days, but had it where it counted.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Less strong than Contador, but more consistent than J-Rod. J-Rod seems to always have one or two bad days in every GT. Valverde was certainly the third strongest in the Vuelta for most of the days, but had it where it counted.

and the third strongest in the vuelta imo doesn't stand a chance to win or podium the tour under normal circumstances

 

[ILovecycling]

and the third strongest in the vuelta imo doesn't stand a chance to win or podium the tour under normal circumstances

Do you think that Nibali and Frank S.were better GT riders in 2011 resp.2012 than Alejandro is nowadays?I think he can be on podium even under normal circumstances.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Do you think that Nibali and Frank S.were better GT riders in 2011 resp.2012 than Alejandro is nowadays?I think he can be on podium even under normal circumstances.

They were / are better TDF riders for sure.

The Vuelta is a different kind of "Grand Tour." Guys like Intxausti can finish in the top 10 there.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Do you think that Nibali and Frank S.were better GT riders in 2011 resp.2012 than Alejandro is nowadays?I think he can be on podium even under normal circumstances.

that's why I said under normal circumstances. nibali was lucky this years tour field was horrible and frank was lucky that last year everyone crashed out