Missing riders this year

[Thee_chisa]

what has happened to tony martin, linus gerdemann, karpets? i know these aren't GC guys but i expected a bit more from them, especially vlad now he has got rid of the mullett

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Gerdemann was in the big break in the Giro and rode like billy-o through bronchitis to protect his position (in futility in the end). He was 16th overall. I think he's probably quite tired. Gerdemann was also the one who was doing the whole being-chaperoned-for-the-whole-Tour to prove his cleanliness thing too.

Karpets has been riding the whole week with a broken hand, Katyusha's twitter reports, and has withdrawn from the race. He thought it was more minor than it was and he could ride through it but after scans on the rest day and it bothering him more than he thought, he's pulling out.

 

[roundabout]

I think with Martin it's a bit of a balancing act between weight and power. The theory for his performance is that he overtrained trying to get the weight down for the Tour and is already exhausted.

 

[Escarabajo]

what has happened to tony martin, linus gerdemann, karpets? i know these aren't GC guys but i expected a bit more from them, especially vlad now he has got rid of the mullett

I am only surprised at Karpets. I am not surprised about the other two. When have they proved to have GC potential. So far is has only been talk.

 

[2beeDammed]

Andre Greipel riding the Tour of Austria, shame he was looking good.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Gerdemann was in the big break in the Giro and rode like billy-o through bronchitis to protect his position (in futility in the end). He was 16th overall. I think he's probably quite tired. Gerdemann was also the one who was doing the whole being-chaperoned-for-the-whole-Tour to prove his cleanliness thing too.

Karpets has been riding the whole week with a broken hand, Katyusha's twitter reports, and has withdrawn from the race. He thought it was more minor than it was and he could ride through it but after scans on the rest day and it bothering him more than he thought, he's pulling out.

Gerdemann attacked on the hilly stage that Chavanel won. I'd be surprised if he doesn't have another go before the end of the race.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So would I. He's a lunatic, and he's a lot of fun. There was one attack he attempted in the Vuelta last year that would have had Amets Txurruka and Sylvain Chavanel laughing at him going "oh come on, that was never going to work"...

 

[Mambo95]

Karpets - injured, out of the race
Martin - lost time on stage 3 and is now filling in for Adam Hansen
Gerdemann - he'll do something yet. He's my tip for Wednesday's stage.

As for actual missing riders, who are the stars who are missing completely?

Boonen's injured, and that seems to have worked out well for QS. Devolder - is he injured? Sadly Gilbert decided to give it a miss. Nibali's tired and looking at the Vuelta. Anyone else? (And don't say Greipel, he's hopelessly overrated)

 

[Thee_chisa]

Karpets - injured, out of the race
Martin - lost time on stage 3 and is now filling in for Adam Hansen
Gerdemann - he'll do something yet. He's my tip for Wednesday's stage.

As for actual missing riders, who are the stars who are missing completely?

Boonen's injured, and that seems to have worked out well for QS. Devolder - is he injured? Sadly Gilbert decided to give it a miss. Nibali's tired and looking at the Vuelta. Anyone else? (And don't say Greipel, he's hopelessly overrated)

kirchen for one, valverde,

 

[Horizon Deep]

Karpets - injured, out of the race
Martin - lost time on stage 3 and is now filling in for Adam Hansen
Gerdemann - he'll do something yet. He's my tip for Wednesday's stage.

As for actual missing riders, who are the stars who are missing completely?

Boonen's injured, and that seems to have worked out well for QS. Devolder - is he injured? Sadly Gilbert decided to give it a miss. Nibali's tired and looking at the Vuelta. Anyone else? (And don't say Greipel, he's hopelessly overrated)

David Moncoutie,not the greatest rider in the world but always prepared to have a go.And if what we are lead to believe is true, one of the sports clean guys!

 

[Mambo95]

kirchen for one, valverde,

Kirchen yes. But Valverde doesn't count (and nor does Pelezotti). I could have added Bennati and Chicchi too (the former being more of a star, but the latter in better form)

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Karpets - injured, out of the race
Martin - lost time on stage 3 and is now filling in for Adam Hansen
Gerdemann - he'll do something yet. He's my tip for Wednesday's stage.

As for actual missing riders, who are the stars who are missing completely?

Boonen's injured, and that seems to have worked out well for QS. Devolder - is he injured? Sadly Gilbert decided to give it a miss. Nibali's tired and looking at the Vuelta. Anyone else? (And don't say Greipel, he's hopelessly overrated)

Devolder's riding the tour of Austria right now. He'll be a feature at the Vuelta

 

[Thee_chisa]

is dan martin riding?

 

[jaylew]

Karpets - injured, out of the race
Martin - lost time on stage 3 and is now filling in for Adam Hansen
Gerdemann - he'll do something yet. He's my tip for Wednesday's stage.

As for actual missing riders, who are the stars who are missing completely?

Boonen's injured, and that seems to have worked out well for QS. Devolder - is he injured? Sadly Gilbert decided to give it a miss. Nibali's tired and looking at the Vuelta. Anyone else? (And don't say Greipel, he's hopelessly overrated)

Honestly, there aren't that many guys missing. It's one of the great things about the Tour and how it partially makes up for not having as exciting a parcours as the other two GTs. Probably only Gilbert, Valverde, Boonen, Greipel, Pozzato, Ricco, Garzelli, Pelli, Nibali, and Devolder are missing among true "stars"

Other than that, guys like Kirchen, Anton, Haussler, Scarponi, Rujano, Mosquera, Visconti, Sagan...of course who belongs in these lists is highly debatable.

 

[taiwan]

Haussler (injured as we know), Theo Bos, JJ Haedo. Who overrates Greipel?

Moncoutie.

 

[Ferminal]

So would I. He's a lunatic, and he's a lot of fun. There was one attack he attempted in the Vuelta last year that would have had Amets Txurruka and Sylvain Chavanel laughing at him going "oh come on, that was never going to work"...

What would Vino say!?

 

[jaylew]

What would Vino say!?

I was thinking Voeckler.

 

[badboyberty]

I'm still looking for the mystery man Evens that Wonderlance and a few others like to talk about so much. So far I've worked out he has big hairy feet and is related to Bilbo Baggins.

Oh and some GC contender named Wiggins, all I've seen is some pack fodder named Wigans...

 

[Pedaaldanser]

I was already wondering if Karpets' strength was in his hair...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

what would vino say!?

"vino crush all puny men"

 

[craig1985]

Kirchen yes. But Valverde doesn't count (and nor does Pelezotti). I could have added Bennati and Chicchi too (the former being more of a star, but the latter in better form)

The problem with Chicci is that he would get dropped on a speed bump.