Saturday, June 30 - Tour de France, Prologue: Liege - Liege, 6,4 km

[Froome19]

Anyone fancy Froome for a surprise legscreamer?
A dark horse for the win perhaps, but: Rosol last night.
Twould be fun.

Not in a prologue, in the longer time trials he would be worth a very good punt...

 

[Gloin22]

Team Sky Live Ticker has startimes here :

http://www.teamsky.com/live-tracker/0,30659,25884,00.html

 

[the asian]

He's not the strongest guy around to do well in prologue, although there are great prologue riders who can not stay with his team in a TTT

Kittel was a time trialist at junior level. He gained recognition as a sprinter only after becoming a Neo Pro.

 

[Steady]

What do you think about Fredrik Kessiakoff chances tomorrow?
He did very well in TdS tempos/prologue

 

[LaFleur]

Taaramäe said he will be happy with a place between 30-50, he rode the finish of the first stage today and thinks that there could be alot of falls...

 

[taiwan]

Some interview with Vaughters recently said Garmin would primarily be going for the GC played down Farrar's role. The impression wasn't one of confidence. I doubt we'll see much of Farrar in the sprints nevermind the prologue and Kittel will be riding the Tour for the first time as leader so I could see how he'd be motivated.

 

[Trofinios]

What do you think about Fredrik Kessiakoff chances tomorrow?
He did very well in TdS tempos/prologue

I'll be very surprised if he cracks top 10. TdS prologue had a shorter climb in it, which suited Kess, prologue today is more or less flat and competition much tougher. Top 20 would be a good result for Kessiakoff.

 

[The Hitch]

Cancellara will take this. With the exception of MSB he hasnt really had a good ride since the Cancellara vs world cobbled classics of 2011 which seemed to ruin the rest of his season.

Its been a long time and people have forgotten, but today, the 2nd greatest cyclist of this generation, comes back.

 

[UlleGigo]

1. Martin
2. Canc
3. Sagan

 

[The Barb]

Sagan!!! Not just for the Prologue but Stages 1 and 3 as well.

 

[phanatic]

Sagan!!! Not just for the Prologue but Stages 1 and 3 as well.

lol imagine what this place would be like if sagan wins five stages and gesink the maillot jaune. just like the toc. im still hate rooting for levi but gesink is my number two.

 

[TatryTour2013]

Sagan!!! Not just for the Prologue but Stages 1 and 3 as well.

And why no stages 2, 4, 5, 6? Looking forward to see some special performance and dominance that wasn't here for many years first week.

 

[HemmoBosscher]

Head-to-head, who are you picking for the prologue?

Nibali. JVDB. Froome. Kittel.

I'm leaning Nibali.

 

[greenedge]

I would say Kittel- he has a chance to go well in it. He is powerful as well.

Froome would be a better ITTer than both Nibali/ JVDB in my view- so out of the others i would choose him.

 

[dlwssonic]

Only hours away from the tour!!
So excited, have been waiting for this all year.
All I can say is GO CADEL!!!!!

 

[iZnoGouD]

Sagan
Cancellara
Martin
Wiggins
EBH

 

[Trofinios]

And why no stages 2, 4, 5, 6? Looking forward to see some special performance and dominance that wasn't here for many years first week.

I think it's a bit unfair to Sagan believing that he will dominate in TdF like he did in ToC and TdS. Competition is now much more tough. More realistically is that he will win 1-2, or maybe 3 stages. TdF is after all TdF: the best are riding and everyone is at their peak.

 

[BoxCoppi]

I think it's a bit unfair to Sagan believing that he will dominate in TdF like he did in ToC and TdS. Competition is now much more tough. More realistically is that he will win 1-2, or maybe 3 stages. TdF is after all TdF: the best are riding and everyone is at their peak.

True about the level of competition. However, he did win quite comfortable in TdS (didn't watch ToC). Not saying that he'll crush Kittel, Greipel and Cav on a flat stage, but as soon as the finish is technical/uphill or the fastest sprinters are tired/gone he could dominate. I have him for > 3.5 victories in the Tour. More out of admiration for the young guy than anything else though But we'll get an indication of the level soon. Looks good if he can do top5 in the prologue.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Using the second half of the ToS prologue for a benchmark, I'd have to say old Sparty.
Cancellara had only just got back to racing, too.

 

[Trofinios]

Using the second half of the ToS prologue for a benchmark, I'd have to say old Sparty.
Cancellara had only just got back to racing, too.

In the flat final TT stage in T-A this year, 9.3k long, Canc beat Sagan with 23s. And it wasn't anything wrong with Sagan's shape at the time. But sure, now it is 3k shorter, which will suit Sagan much better. Still, I agree with you, Canc should beat Sagan today.

 

[Morbius]

Are the start times available yet? All I can find is a stage start at 2pm local (1pm UK)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Only hours away from the tour!!
So excited, have been waiting for this all year.
All I can say is GO CADEL!!!!!

Lol............

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Are the start times available yet? All I can find is a stage start at 2pm local (1pm UK)

They can be found on numerous sites. Here, among others:

http://cykelmagasinet.dk/Alle_starttiderne_til_prologen.aspx

 

[Trofinios]

Are the start times available yet? All I can find is a stage start at 2pm local (1pm UK)

Front page...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-prologue-start-times

 

[Kopuliak]

day D !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUHCp2KFZsk
(LIQ TdF 2012 promo)