Ninja of the Tour

[deValtos]

Yup Zubeldia with a good ride and zero tv coverage, a perfect start for the race to be TDF ninja 2015 once again.

 

[Orbit501]

No one comes close to Zubeldia for this title. Maybe Menchov tried, but still no one has come close to Haimar Zubeldia.

If I had to nominate anyone for this Tour to even think about challenging the great Zubeldia, then maybe Rafael Valls can give it a go? I think he can possibly Top Ten GC and barely get a mention, and avoid the cameras in so doing.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

I looked at the start list to see if I could find a ninja but I just couldn't see him.

 

[Ryaguas]

You cant ninja with that Mustache hahahahaha

Go Serpaaaaaaaaaa

 

[postmanhat]

Re:

To those that may be interest this was my attemp at photographing the ninja, Haimar Zubeldia on course today.

I wonder if you could even see his reflection in that glass building

 

[valentius borealis]

I'll wait and see how my wild prediction of Jacques Janse Van Rensburg goes in this, although wearing the national champions jersey would put the qualities of any ninja to the test.

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

Some of the worst nominees ever for the ninja-title. Contador? Seriously? I think it should be clarified that part of being a true ninja Zubeldia-style is a moderately high overall position with a minimum (if any) exposure to the public eye. The name alone should be forgotten after each event (stages even) why you dont even talk about the guy as a factor for the top 10 and yet triumphs over you time after time.

Kelderman could be excluded from the competition now. Guy has behaved like an elephant in a room of glass and crashed twice in a short space of time on home soil. The alarm bells are ringing. Meanwhile in the peloton there is a guy they call Haimar hiding.

 

[djpbaltimore]

198 Brice Feillu (Fra) Bretagne-Séché Environnement 0:13:32

It looks like he would rather go for the lantern rouge. Unless he is really too injured to continue, this makes it more likely that he goes on a breakaway and scores a lot of camera time.

 

[Ramon Koran]

I'm going to go with Rui Costa, haven't seen him so far this hole race.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Meanwhile in the peloton there is a guy they call Haimar hiding.

They don't call him Haimar. They'd have to know he was there to call his name.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Re:

Alberto Contador

Brilliant!

 

[del1962]

So does thta make G the current leader

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

So does thta make G the current leader

That wouldn't actually be a bad shout if Froome wasn't so well poised GC-wise - if Froome picks up the maillot jaune he'll get mentioned too much for domestique work to truly do the ninja job. Same goes for the Kreuzigers and Majkas of this world. If Froome doesn't get in the maillot jaune, Thomas could do something for the ninja classification.

 

[ciranda]

To me Paul Martens is one of the most mysterious cyclists. He is sort of okay and can get like 10th to 15th place on semi-hard courses and has been around for a long time but I have never seen him even be part of a break and don't know what he looks like. He doesn't do mountains though so the winner will be Stephane Goubert. Some say he retired years ago but I'm sure he's still around to finish around 20th place on all mountain stages.

 

[HelloDolly]

Ryder Hesejedal i doing a good job so far

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re:

So does thta make G the current leader

Indeed, Mr. Thomas is now our new leader. Nobody from our initial list of nominees has been excluded today as far as I can tell. On the other hand, some possible ninjas have come in way back, including our very own Sensei, Z-jitsu, so those hopes for a sorta-good placement might be misjudged.

Thomas is an interesting pick, though he might place well in one of the next couple of stages...

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Ryder Hesejedal i doing a good job so far

It won't last though, he's too ambitious just to have everything dictated to him a la Monfort/Zubeldia. See his last two Giro rides as evidence. He's like Rolland but without the cheeky team support.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Morabito

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

So does thta make G the current leader

Indeed, Mr. Thomas is now our new leader. Nobody from our initial list of nominees has been excluded today as far as I can tell. On the other hand, some possible ninjas have come in way back, including our very own Sensei, Z-jitsu, so those hopes for a sorta-good placement might be misjudged.

Thomas is an interesting pick, though he might place well in one of the next couple of stages...

Seriously guys, G was on TV loads today and finished in the front group. A real ninja would never do that. Just look at Zubeldia, finished 5+mins down and didn't even make the 2nd group, was not on TV once nor was he mentioned. He'll still make top 10 at the end That's what it's all about.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

So does thta make G the current leader

Indeed, Mr. Thomas is now our new leader. Nobody from our initial list of nominees has been excluded today as far as I can tell. On the other hand, some possible ninjas have come in way back, including our very own Sensei, Z-jitsu, so those hopes for a sorta-good placement might be misjudged.

Thomas is an interesting pick, though he might place well in one of the next couple of stages...

Seriously guys, G was on TV loads today and finished in the front group. A real ninja would never do that. Just look at Zubeldia, finished 5+mins down and didn't even make the 2nd group, was not on TV once nor was he mentioned. He'll still make top 10 at the end That's what it's all about.

That's right. Real ninjas like Zubeldia and Monfort even make the break and still don't get airtime, unless you count their name flashing up on the screen as airtime...

 

[Hakkapelit]

Barguil most best Ninja of YD?

 

[MikeTichondrius]

The elusive Maillot Invisble has again changed hands! Now across the pond to this fella, who might just deserve it so far. Step up Mr. Rigoberto Uran. Top 20 in all three stages so far. This is positively Zubeldia-esque. Let's see him do it on the cobbles tomorrow.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

So does thta make G the current leader

Indeed, Mr. Thomas is now our new leader. Nobody from our initial list of nominees has been excluded today as far as I can tell. On the other hand, some possible ninjas have come in way back, including our very own Sensei, Z-jitsu, so those hopes for a sorta-good placement might be misjudged.

Thomas is an interesting pick, though he might place well in one of the next couple of stages...

Seriously guys, G was on TV loads today and finished in the front group. A real ninja would never do that. Just look at Zubeldia, finished 5+mins down and didn't even make the 2nd group, was not on TV once nor was he mentioned. He'll still make top 10 at the end That's what it's all about.

That's right. Real ninjas like Zubeldia and Monfort even make the break and still don't get airtime, unless you count their name flashing up on the screen as airtime...

By having his name so late in the alphabet, Zubeldia sometimes even saves himself that, because if he gets into a large break (Zubeldia in a small break, hahahaha) then if something happens behind when they're flashing up who's in the break, they may cut to capture that before his name gets on the TV!

 

[vedrafjord]

This is how ninja-like Zubeldia is: when he was pacing Cancellara back, there were people asking where Trek's domestiques were and why Cancellara was being allowed fend for himself.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

No love for Morabito or Jungels?