Riders at 2010 tour

[stefrees]

none of those guys will top 20 in gc. they might win 1 stage and that's it. bmc with evans will contending for the podium in paris.

i think this is what riles me, trying to debate (albeit heatedly, but heated debate is very good-why talksport in the uk is such popular radio) a very good point which you bought up, but it all comes back to evans. evans will not be contending for podium imo, but thats a debate for another topic? whos to say with sky lokvist cant finish above evans? its a pretty darn hard course though having said that, lokvist could have done better with sky on last years route like wiggo did, i think itll suit riders more like gesink, basso etc than evans, wiggo etc

 

[Anonymous]

Personally looking at the parcours and the riders coming to the tour I think this could be one of the best in years for gc.
Guess who's coming/MOST LIKELY COMING


CAISSE D EPARGNE
Valverde

I would throw big Mauricio Soler into the mix for Caisse d'Epargne.

He hasn't had the best time since his tour debut, but i think a new team, a new outlook, a definate climber's Tour, I would be including him in my Tour team as a decoy for Valverde, or even to target the KOM again.

He was amazing in 2007, just raw climbing talent was exciting to watch. I don't know if he can TT yet, but with only 58kms of TTs this year he's yet another rider in the list of about 20 riders trying to squeeze into the top 10 on GC.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I would throw big Mauricio Soler into the mix for Caisse d'Epargne.

He hasn't had the best time since his tour debut, but i think a new team, a new outlook, a definate climber's Tour, I would be including him in my Tour team as a decoy for Valverde, or even to target the KOM again.

He was amazing in 2007, just raw climbing talent was exciting to watch. I don't know if he can TT yet, but with only 58kms of TTs this year he's yet another rider in the list of about 20 riders trying to squeeze into the top 10 on GC.

Soler is funny to watch. On the climbs he soars like a bird, on the flats he's terrible and his bike handling skills are crap.

 

[Psalmon]

Nibali deserves more of a shot at the Tour

Watching the Ventoux stage while training the other day, Nibali was with the lead group to the top.

Given the intensity of the climbs, I'd give him at least full support at the Giro and see what he can do.

 

[Angliru]

I would throw big Mauricio Soler into the mix for Caisse d'Epargne.

He hasn't had the best time since his tour debut, but i think a new team, a new outlook, a definate climber's Tour, I would be including him in my Tour team as a decoy for Valverde, or even to target the KOM again.

He was amazing in 2007, just raw climbing talent was exciting to watch. I don't know if he can TT yet, but with only 58kms of TTs this year he's yet another rider in the list of about 20 riders trying to squeeze into the top 10 on GC.

I was just going to post the same thing. Soler is aggressive, impulsive and has the climbing talent to cause problems for many of the diesel engined riders like Leipheimer, Evans and an older Armstrong. I would say he's the wild card out of all the other contenders based on his 2007 performance. I'm hoping he recaptures the same form from 2007.

 

[Angliru]

Soler is funny to watch. On the climbs he soars like a bird, on the flats he's terrible and his bike handling skills are crap.

...and Evans is pure poetry in motion on a bike? Let's be fair now. Evans and Leipheimer are by far the furthest from elegance and grace on a bike among the top grand tour racers. They don't exactly "dance on the pedals".

Thanks for starting this thread by the way.

 

[Angliru]

Nibali deserves more of a shot at the Tour

Watching the Ventoux stage while training the other day, Nibali was with the lead group to the top.

Given the intensity of the climbs, I'd give him at least full support at the Giro and see what he can do.

I too find Nibali an intriguing prospect. He was steady throughout the Tour, not the least intimidated by the company he was keeping and actually launching an attack here or there which I really liked. I think having tasted this bit of success he will be especially motivated and confident. I've read several of his interviews and he seems to have his head on straight and is focused on improving in every aspect. He showed that he could climb and time trial well enough to be a rider that can't be underestimated.

This Tour should prove be quite interesting with the young guns Nibali, Gesink, Rigoberto Uran, Kreuziger, Daniel Martin, Lovkvist, possibly Kevin Seeldrayers of Quick Step, and the returning vets that had disappointing performances (Menchov, Sastre and Evans) or crashed out (Leipheimer). This could prove to be after the battle between Contador and Andy Schleck, one of the most interesting Tours for the battle of the final podium spot and positions in the gc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

...and Evans is pure poetry in motion on a bike? Let's be fair now. Evans and Leipheimer are by far the furthest from elegance and grace on a bike among the top grand tour racers. They don't exactly "dance on the pedals".

Thanks for starting this thread by the way.

You need to lighten up. I was complimenting the guy. Evans and leipheimer look better on the bike than Soler. he looks funny but he's a great climber. I f you want to see how good Soler's bike handling skills are look at Stage 1 of the 2008 tour de france.

 

[zapata]

He! evans doesn't look better than anybody on a bike, he looks horrible, like some quasimodo on two wheels, but i quite like him, nevertheless, and it doesn't seem to hinder him. This is something I've been wondering about: does looking smooth and effortless on the bike actually mean you're riding more efficiently than the hunchbacks of the peleton, or is "souplesse" etc purely about aesthetics?

 

[trompe le monde]

If Valverde does get suspended before Le Tour, who becomes Caisse's overall contender? Luis Leon Sanchez? One thing I would like to see from Caisse is for Rui Costa to continue his improvement and challenge for the white jersey, but that may just go to Kreuziger.

Would love to see something that resembles an open field for the sprinter's jersey as I'd hate for 2010 to simply be the coronation of Cavendish. Not sure if Jose Joaquin Rojas has the legs to challenge for the green, but if Lampre gets an invite then I hope Petacchi at least makes the green jersey more than just a two horse race.

 

[Kingsley A]

If Valverde does get suspended before Le Tour, who becomes Caisse's overall contender? Luis Leon Sanchez? One thing I would like to see from Caisse is for Rui Costa to continue his improvement and challenge for the white jersey, but that may just go to Kreuziger.

Doesn't Andy Schleck still qualify for white at next years Tour? I was under the impression it was 25 and younger. If so, barring the usual caveats, it's hard to see an alternative winner.

I don't know much about Rui Costa but with Gesink, Nibali, Kreutziger, Martin and many others that have been tipped but haven't shown too much yet, the quest for white could be one of the most interesting sub-stories of next years Tour. Plus it looks like the sport is going to be very exciting for several years to come...

 

[trompe le monde]

Doesn't Andy Schleck still qualify for white at next years Tour? I was under the impression it was 25 and younger. If so, barring the usual caveats, it's hard to see an alternative winner.

I don't know much about Rui Costa but with Gesink, Nibali, Kreutziger, Martin and many others that have been tipped but haven't shown too much yet, the quest for white could be one of the most interesting sub-stories of next years Tour. Plus it looks like the sport is going to be very exciting for several years to come...

I think you're right, I never realized the younger Schleck still qualifies as I thought he was a touch older. A misunderstanding on my part I guess.

And yes, the race for white in the next few years may actually be exciting rather than being reduced to a two person duel. Gesink, Nibali, Kreuziger, Martin and maybe even Sicard will factor in to the mix in a few years.

 

[Cerberus]

Doesn't Andy Schleck still qualify for white at next years Tour? I was under the impression it was 25 and younger. If so, barring the usual caveats, it's hard to see an alternative winner.

According to Wikipedia it is awarded to the best rider who was under 26 on the 1. January that year, meaning Schleck can take it both next year and the year after.

 

[ak-zaaf]

If Valverde does get suspended before Le Tour, who becomes Caisse's overall contender? Luis Leon Sanchez? One thing I would like to see from Caisse is for Rui Costa to continue his improvement and challenge for the white jersey, but that may just go to Kreuziger.

Rigoberto Uran. He's going to be huge.

 

[lucybears]

Given the intensity of the climbs, I'd give him at least full support at the Giro and see what he can do.

California became part of Nibali's plans after the team met at a camp in Moena, Italy. Liquigas asked that he skip the Giro d'Italia to focus on the Classics, race California and continue to develop at the Tour de France.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nib...of-california?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=news_headlines

 

[auscyclefan94]

According to Wikipedia it is awarded to the best rider who was under 26 on the 1. January that year, meaning Schleck can take it both next year and the year after.

Hey it was Alberto Contador's birthday yesterday.
Its under 25 on Jan 1. Conti last year wasn't elegible for any young rider title last year and he was only 25 on Jan 1 2008

 

[Cerberus]

Hey it was Alberto Contador's birthday yesterday.
Its under 25 on Jan 1. Conti last year wasn't elegible for any young rider title last year and he was only 25 on Jan 1 2008

Well again going by Wiki, the Giro does have a cutoff line at 25, so he's not ellegible for that young riders title, and the Vuelta has no young riders contest, so what young riders title should he have won?

 

[ludwig]

Most Open Tour in a while?

I think we're looking at a wide open event. Contador will still be the favorite but more vulnerable w/o the dominant team. Basso, Valverde (if he rides), A. Schleck, and Armstrong are all capable of giving him a run for his money. Possibly Wiggins too if he can improve. And Sanchez.

 

[Angliru]

If Valverde does get suspended before Le Tour, who becomes Caisse's overall contender? Luis Leon Sanchez? One thing I would like to see from Caisse is for Rui Costa to continue his improvement and challenge for the white jersey, but that may just go to Kreuziger.

I would think they will pencil in Soler as the protected rider unless he shows earlier in the season that he isn't capable of regaining the form he displayed in 2007. Otherwise I would think that Sanchez would be trying to improve to the point of being a grand tour contender from his present status as stage win chaser and week long stage race specialist. Also Rigobert Uran showed that he's
soon to be a force in the near future.

 

[Highlander]

According to Wikipedia it is awarded to the best rider who was under 26 on the 1. January that year, meaning Schleck can take it both next year and the year after.

What is the record for the most white jerseys? I can't imagine too many riders having more than 2.

 

[Cerberus]

What is the record for the most white jerseys? I can't imagine too many riders having more than 2.

3 is the record held by Ulrich. Pantani and Schleck have 2 each so Schleck has a shot at beating the record.

 

[Boeing]

Columbia - Martin, Cavendish

Sky - Lovkvist

Katusha - Rodriguez

Lotto - Van den Broeck

I am not sold on sky but Lovkist is the man and underrated good call

 

[cineteq]

UPDATED LIST (GC Riders for 2010 TdF)

ASTANA
Contador

BMC
Evans

CAISSE D EPARGNE
Valverde

CERVELO
Sastre

COLUMBIA
Martin

EUSKATEL
Sanchez

GARMIN
Vandevelde
Wiggins

KATUSHA
Kirchen

LIQUIGAS
Basso
Pellizotti
Kreuziger
Nibali

LOTTO
Van den Broeck

RABOBANK
Gesink
Menchov

RADIOSHACK
Armstrong
Leipheimer
Kloden

SAXO BANK
A. Schleck
F. Schleck

SKY
Lovkvist