Phil Liggett's Tour Top 5 (and other things)

[Ferminal]

In an interview with VeloNation:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8...11-tips-Leopard-Trek-and-Tour-favourites.aspx

"VN: What is your Tour de France top 5 predictions for this year, providing Alberto Contador is able to ride?

PL: I would go for Evans; A. Schleck; Contador; Porte; Basso. Hey, but who knows, that’s why we love the Tour!

VN: Who will be the biggest surprise of the 2011 season?

PL: I think Cadel Evans has the chance of returning to the top. He rode a good season as the World Champion in 2010 but tried to do too much. Now, he will concentrate on the Tour and has already won Tirreno Adriatico as build-up. This will be his best chance to win the Tour and at 34, he would be one of the oldest winners.

VN: Will Bradley Wiggins make top 5 at the Tour de France ever again?

PL: It is difficult to envisage Bradley making a top five result at the Tour, but he is equally likely to prove us wrong"

Also talks about Leopard, Radios and DS'es.

Interesting thoughts on Wiggins, echoes most of what is said here.

But the Porte in top5 is just amazing, where does he pull this from. There is nothing suggesting he will be in the top20 climbers in the Tour, so that's a 40km ITT he has to do in 10mins...

Cue Hitch "Porte is overrated" post

 

[theyoungest]

"It is difficult to envisage Bradley making a top five result at the Tour, but he is equally likely to prove us wrong"

But of course Porte could easily make the top-5

 

[L'arriviste]

...
PL: It is difficult to envisage Bradley making a top five result at the Tour, but he is equally likely to prove us wrong"[/i]
...
Interesting thoughts on Wiggins, echoes most of what is said here.
...

Talk about equivocal. That comes out meaning something like "probably not but maybe", doesn't it?

 

[The Hitch]

Cue Hitch "Porte is overrated" post

Or a Hitch "Samu underated" post. Then again Liget thinks that Samu is known for his poor descending so what can i expect. Thankfully Gesink isnt there so the Dutchies feel the same.

As for Porte no one actually believes he will top 5. Ligget is an idiot who I am only semi joking when i say i would like to give Dekker Tifosi 5 minutes in a room with.

But i hope the fact that he has proven this so many times before doesnt stop people from attacking him again.

****er deserves it

The only question is, if he wanted an English speaking rider so bad, why choose Porte There are CVV, Levi, Hornerr Hejsdal, Wiggins, and unless he has something against the irish Dan Martin and Nicky Roche, all with far far better chances than Porte.

 

[hrotha]

Forget about Porte, what he said about him is almost reasonable compared to this:

VN: Who is going to win Paris-Roubaix this year?

PL: I would like George Hincapie to win in what is likely his last year, but I think Cancellara will be difficult to beat and if Mark Cavendish rides, who knows what he can do.

 

[theyoungest]

Forget about Porte, what he said about him is almost reasonable compared to this:

Not such a strange thing to say, no? We've all been waiting to see if Cavendish can get that coveted 130th place in Paris-Roubaix. Who knows if he can do it? Phil Ligett doesn't, neither do we. At least Cavendish has one thing going for him: he speakah dee English, and thus is unimaginably great.

 

[Moncoutie]

He rivals Mcquaid when it comes to daft quotes!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Phil Liggett is back level with Matt Keenan in awesome commentary and opinions rankings!

 

[Frosty]

Forget about Porte, what he said about him is almost reasonable compared to this:

Cavendish finished 25th on the cobbled tour stage last year so we do have some idea of what he can do. P-R is a harder race with people aiming to peak just for that race, therefore, you'd expect to not do as well as that.

Still, Phil Liggett's commentaries were what got me into cycling in the first place so i cant complain too much.

 

[Astana1]

Forget about Porte, what he said about him is almost reasonable compared to this:

Wow he really said that? Letting Cavendish race Roubaix is a waste for HTC.

And I would be ecstatic if Big George won Roubaix, but regrettably I think that's almost as unlikely as me bedding a supermodel tonight.

 

[hrotha]

Cavendish finished 25th on the cobbled tour stage last year so we do have some idea of what he can do. P-R is a harder race with people aiming to peak just for that race, therefore, you'd expect to not do as well as that.

Still, Phil Liggett's commentaries were what got me into cycling in the first place so i cant complain too much.

By that logic, Andy can win P-R.

 

[movingtarget]

It's equally stupid writing off Porte as his career has barely started. I don't think he is overrated, he shows a lot of promise. We have been hearing about how good Kreuziger is for quite a while now but I think Porte can finish ahead of him. Top 5 might be a stretch, top 10 possible. As for predicting winners, I don't remember many people picking Nuyens to win Flanders or Goss to win MSR. Liggett is 67 years of age and obviously makes mistakes as most of the other commentators also do. But to write the guy off as an imbecile is silly in itself. Obviously he is picking Hincapie to win Roubaix and probably Evans for the TDF for sentimental reasons but he has always expressed admiration for both of those riders who at times have both had awful runs of bad luck.

 

[Frosty]

By that logic, Andy can win P-R.

Doesnt mean that at all.

 

[theyoungest]

It's equally stupid writing off Porte as his career has barely started. I don't think he is overrated, he shows a lot of promise. We have been hearing about how good Kreuziger is for quite a while now but I think Porte can finish ahead of him. Top 5 might be a stretch, top 10 possible. As for predicting winners, I don't remember many people picking Nuyens to win Flanders or Goss to win MSR. Liggett is 67 years of age and obviously makes mistakes as most of the other commentators also do. But to write the guy off as an imbecile is silly in itself. Obviously he is picking Hincapie to win Roubaix and probably Evans for the TDF for sentimental reasons but he has always expressed admiration for both of those riders who at times have both had awful runs of bad luck.

Kreuziger is a much better climber than Porte is at this point. Have you followed Porte a little this year? He's rarely among the 30 strongest guys uphill. How on earth do you expect him to make the top-10 in the Tour de France?

 

[thrawn]

Maybe Phil is trying to suggest that Porte will be given a free role to go into the breaks during the mountain stages to potentially allow a high finish. Or maybe he's just trying to pick a surprising rider in his top 5? Only rational reasons I could see...

 

[Anonymous]

Hes an idiot. I dont know why anyone even tries to take him seriously.

 

[indurain666]

Phil Ligget is one of those commentators who was good at describing the event and adding emotion as the race was happening, he has never been any smart at analyzing the sport. An this proves it. Cadel Evans?? pfftt

 

[Squire]

Phil Ligget is one of those commentators who was good at describing the event and adding emotion as the race was happening, he has never been any smart at analyzing the sport. An this proves it. Cadel Evans?? pfftt

I agree. As a pure commentator, he's one of the best in the business. As a cycling expert, Phil Liggett is of no use. In that field, there are few better than Sean Kelly (who by the way is Liggett's complete opposite when it comes to emotion and voice).

 

[The Hitch]

One wonders whether Ligget has actually seen Porte ride. I mean he hasnt even ridden the TOC or TDF.

It's equally stupid writing off Porte as his career has barely started.

Saying that Richie Porte will beat Sanchez Gonzalez and Bob Gesink is one of the stupidest things ive ever heard.

I don't think he is overrated, he shows a lot of promise. We have been hearing about how good Kreuziger is for quite a while now but I think Porte can finish ahead of him.

Richie Porte won a stage at the Tour of Romandie.
Roman Kreuziger won the Tour of Romandie.

Bare in mind Kreuziger is actually a year and a half younger than Porte

Top 5 might be a stretch, top 10 possible. As for predicting winners, I don't remember many people picking Nuyens to win Flanders or Goss to win MSR.

Actually a lot of people tipped Goss for MSR. He was one of the big big favourites.

And to win a classic you can have a bit of luck put in one good move stay with the peloton. It can happen. Staying with Schleck up Alpe d huez is another matter.

Liggett is 67 years of age and obviously makes mistakes as most of the other commentators also do. But to write the guy off as an imbecile is silly in itsel

No its not. The guy is an imbecile.

 

[Sasquatch]

Leggert had to be on the p!ss when he was talking about Porte.

Either that or he's gone more senile than what he was 12 months ago.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Liggit is like a cycling oracle. clearly

He seriously has no clue, makes harmon look like a genius.

 

[luckyboy]

Hahaha, Cav + Porte.

Also that Tour podium is pretty out there - Evans, Andy then AC

Looks like the Anglos are going to have a good year

 

[Cerberus]

Hahaha, Cav + Porte.

Also that Tour podium is pretty out there - Evans, Andy then AC

Looks like the Anglos are going to have a good year

He listed his top five, I'm don't think that it was meant to be in order, Evans for top five isn't unreasonable, Porte for top five on the other hand...

 

[airstream]

Sorry, does he work only on GT's or on other races too?

 

[luckyboy]

He listed his top five, I'm don't think that it was meant to be in order, Evans for top five isn't unreasonable, Porte for top five on the other hand...

Don't know why he wouldn't have put them in order. Substitute Samu for Porte and that top 5 is ok (not in order though).