Now Alberto is out, who will win the 2012 Tour de France?

[crapna]

Bottle of course

 

[airstream]

where did the prejudice about menchov, the strongest rider on 3rd week of the vuelta, come from? i guess if it had been this way, he with juanjo would've granted classy cooperative attacks on angliru and pena cabarga with with a subsequent smashing of team sky.

 

[Gloin22]

where did the prejudice about menchov, the strongest rider on 3rd week of the vuelta, come from? i guess if it had beed this way, he with juanjo would've granted classy cooperative attacks on angliru and pena cabarga with with a subsequent smashing of team sky.

But he didn't, so don't make stories what could have happend. It didn't

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

But he didn't, so don't make stories what could have happend. It didn't

I assume you realise thats the point he's making?

 

[Froome19]

Froome...won't be co leading...will be working his socks off if he rides, and they don't just let him lead at the vuelta.

Indeed from what Sky had been doing in Algarve (& asian races) it seems like they are determined to do as much work as they possibly can and are willing to sacrifice anyone for their leader, like they sacrificed EBH, wiggins & froome for Porte.
I wouldn't even be suprised if they use Froome & Uran on the flat stages or mayb do a liquigas and use Wiggins as well...
It also seems as if they set out with a leader and then try to stick to that leader, see 2011 vuelta.
The only hope I see for Froome is if he does a smashing Paris-Nice, where Wiggins said he will work for Froome, and then beats Wiggins in Dauphine and first TT of the tour, yet all that is easier said than done.

 

[The Hitch]

apart from top five in every GT TT he's raced since 07, apart from 09 Giro if memory serves me

You mean made it up ?

2008 giro and 2010 giro also. then there's the 2010 tour. for a guy whose only done 8 or
9 gt tts in that time "every gt tt" is far from the truth.

 

[The Hitch]

Listen, a fully "prepared" Menchov, in his prime of course would be a threat. I like the guy, honestly. Trouble is he has never performed in a "class" field.

I guess when you dismiss the great climbers of this time - sanchez gesink vdb joaquim rodriguez as nothings compared to the greats - voeckler horner wiggins, you are right menchov never has performed against good opposition.

 

[airstream]

He has shown something like that in the Tour - 2010.
Besides you think Cadel will own the tts but not Menchov. But last time they faced eachother in the Tour (excluding 2010 Cadel Giro and 2009 Menchov Giro) was 2008 and Menchov beat Cadel.

So even if he dont win it by a minute hes still perfectly capable of putting in very good tts that mix well with a strong mountain showing.

yes, cos i consider evans to be a stronger climber. menchov needs more than him. evans can gain time everywhere,menchov- only in tt. menchov doesnt have a team. who last who won the tour without a team? pantani. hard mission to come.. 2 divine TT's are surely feasible, but theres still a lot of doubt.

 

[Zoncolan]

who last who won the tour without a team?

Tour de France 2009

 

[mb2612]

You mean made it up ?

2008 giro and 2010 giro also. then there's the 2010 tour. for a guy whose only done 8 or
9 gt tts in that time "every gt tt" is far from the truth.

Wiggins has done 14 GT ITT's since '07 and has the following:

1st: 1
2nd: 1
3rd: 2
4th: 3
5th:
6th: 2
7th: 1
9th: 1
67th: 1
77th: 1
99th: 1

So half his ITT's have been top 5.

 

[airstream]

Tour de France 2009

who drilled the group on Arcalis and presented 50sec in ttt?

 

[La Pandera]

who drilled the group on Arcalis and presented 50sec in ttt?

Conversely, who lost time as his teammates pushed the tempo into the wind, after forcing a split in the field?

Whose teammate led a concerted effort to bridge back to him, pulling along many of gc contenders?

 

[airstream]

Conversely, who lost time as his teammates pushed the tempo into the wind, after forcing a split in the field?

Whose teammate led a concerted effort to bridge back to him, pulling along many of gc contenders?

are you about the accident on a flat stage? seemingly it was just a coincidence, not a purposeful work against him, at least. honestly, i dont get what stage you're saying about in 2nd example. contador had some other options to continue career, barring astana. if a captain can't build a team around him, it's his problem.

 

[straydog]

You mean made it up ?

2008 giro and 2010 giro also. then there's the 2010 tour. for a guy whose only done 8 or
9 gt tts in that time "every gt tt" is far from the truth.

well not quite hitch...2010 giro he won the first time trial....didn't place in the top ten in the second hilly one....and was 7th in the final again hilly time trial.

2010 tour...his "off" form, tour he was 9th. So top ten is what I should have said, if you really want to be pedantic about the fact that he has no pedigree as a TT'er in Grand Tours....we should probably also ignore his world's silver....and while we're at the Dauphine, the nationals...yeah pretty average really

your infinite knowledge is kind of making sense to me now, when I think back to your "experience" as a cyclist mostly being on the "pavement"....

p.s....I thought you had me on ignore? I won't be offended honest

 

[The Hitch]

well not quite hitch...2010 giro he won the first time trial....didn't place in the top ten in the second hilly one....and was 7th in the final again hilly time trial.

apart from top five in every GT TT he's raced since 07, apart from 09 Giro if memory serves me

He has not come top 5 every GT he has raced since 07 apart from 09 Giro. He has only come top 5 in half of them.

Therefore you were wrong.

 

[Winterfold]

After today there is little doubt who the second best TTer in the world over the last 12 months is.

It ain't Froome. Mende means Wiggo working for him in P-N is a good idea and that means there should be no doubt who is leader and who is domestique come July.

 

[straydog]

After today there is little doubt who the second best TTer in the world over the last 12 months is.

It ain't Froome. Mende means Wiggo working for him in P-N is a good idea and that means there should be no doubt who is leader and who is domestique come July.

Parrulo and The Hitch say he isn't a contender...and apparently he isn't much of a "GT" Time Trialler so you have been told...now button it!

 

[The Hitch]

Parrulo and The Hitch say he isn't a contender...and apparently he isn't much of a "GT" Time Trialler so you have been told...now button it!

I never said he isnt a contender.

No one ever said he wasnt a good gt tter either. I merely called you out on your incorrect claim that he has top 5 every tt which he clearly has not (as a simple check proves).

Dont put words in my mouth.

 

[straydog]

I never said he isnt a contender.

No one ever said he wasnt a good gt tter either. I merely called you out on your incorrect claim that he has top 5 every tt which he clearly has not (as a simple check proves).

Dont put words in my mouth.

post 433 up thread...Parrulo says quite clearly he "isn't that impressive a GT TTer"...which I was pretty sure you would have checked...but anyways....this is rapidly becoming like talking to Doctor Mas...so let's just let everyone else enjoy the thread huh Hitch?


And then, come the end of july, I can enjoy the large slice of humble pie I'll be cooking up for you, over the fact that you seem to find that fact I rank Leipheimer, Menchov, Samu etc as rank outsiders so ridiculous.

I'll tell you what...a bet....if I am more wrong than you with the predictions...I promise I will only ride my bike behind you on the pavement for a week....and if you are more wrong....you have to get yourself some clipless pedals, take off the stabilisers, and come out around the Surrey Hills with me for a week....or maybe enter a race?....What do you say?

 

[180mmCrank]

Ok Straydog not funny just back off and stick to talking about the topic not other posters

Terry
Admin

 

[straydog]

Ok Straydog not funny just back off and stick to talking about the topic not other posters

Terry
Admin

Ok Terry...point taken...wrist slapped...nose rubbed etc...to be fair I did think it was kind of funny ...but.... zipped.

And cos I certainly don't want Hitch to feel bad...Apologies Hitch...No offense intended...it was intended as a joke

 

[richtea]

a bet

Why not make it mean something, up the stakes a bit. If Hitch wins, swap bikes, and obviously the reverse would apply if you won.

 

[straydog]

Why not make it mean something, up the stakes a bit. If Hitch wins, swap bikes, and obviously the reverse would apply if you won.

I like your style my friend...but I aint riding with a basket for no one!

Right...don't get me in trouble...back on thread....I am off to bed.

Wiggins to win....Evans second....Schleck the minor third!

Menchov to step off at end of week two, Nibali to miraculously "lose form" and get dropped on the Madeleine, only to revive and take a stage later.

Young Rider....Rolland again....combativity...Moncoutie....KOM....Porte or Froome.

 

[Lexman]

Although i voted Menchov i think we can't leave out any of the actual Rabobank riders but maybe the parcours ain't hilly or mountainous enough?

Bollema, Gesink... they could make lose Evans or Schleck the TDF when they start a mountain raid...

 

[Von Mises]

Bollema, Gesink... they could make lose Evans or Schleck the TDF when they start a mountain raid...

They are not strong enough in the mountains.