Three Cheers for the Tour de France

[armchairclimber]

OK, this is distinctly different from the "Who Will Win" thread. This is about your own personal allegiances. Which three riders will you be getting behind and cheering for in the race? And why?

For me:
Voeckler ... I just love the fact that he'll have a go. To me, he should have won two years ago. He was too gung-ho for his own good...which is, of course, why he's so good to watch. That and the gurning.

Quintana ... I'd like to see him put the hurt on in the mountains and disrupt the favourites. In dreamland he wins.

Cav ... just because there is no better sight than watching those overhead shots of Cav weaving and stalking his way through then bursting away at the right time...when he gets it right of course.

 

[Arnout]

Anton - I hope (but doubt) he can finally show some of his talents again. I've always suspected he is a bit lazy and would be better off leaving Euskaltel, but some recent comments about Contador and doping made me change my mind a bit. His results in Suisse were not spectacular, but at least a bit consistent and on a decent level. I'm hoping for the best.

Quintana - The Colombian tide we are experiencing this year (and it started last years and the years before) is probably the best thing that is currently happening in cycling. We need to get away from the corporate numbers game to make cycling attractive again. Cycling has always been about stories, heroic performances in the face of adversity and not about simply who can push the most watts per kg. If that's what we looking after, we might as well televize scientific tests live... In this Tour de France, Quintana is the best bet for the cycling of old to return. I hope Valverde catches an illness or whatever, so he is not competitive and Quintana can follow his own ways to greatness.

Pinot - Simply because France deserves and needs a new contender. Till now, he is able to withstand the pressure, let's hope he can continue to do so. The Tour will be more complete with a French candidate for at least a podium, and it will look good on television as well, as French success will draw more roadside spectators.

 

[jens_attacks]

voeckler

quintana

richie porte

 

[spalco]

Cavendish, Froome and any french GC contender (whether that's Pinot, Rolland or someone else I don't mind).

 

[Hysminai]

Birdsong - partly because I'm Danish and I tend to be quite nationalistic when it comes down to sports (so it's really unfortunate that I live in Denmark), but also because he is like an under-underdog. He's become a joke on this forum - for a reason, I know - but I'd really like to see him top 10 this year.

Purito - I respect his desire to win the Tour despite the fact that his chance at the Giro/Vuelta would be much bigger. Realistically his best result would be a podium, but he seems like a really funny guy and I hope he can win 1 or 2 uphill sprints.

Porte - I like him, even though he contributes to the skytrain. I won't be cheering for him when he's pulling back spaniards for Froome, but in case Froome crashes out I'll be cheering for Porte to get the win.

I'd also be happy for anyone but Froome to win. But that's because he's so dominant at the moment. I hate domination - even if one of my favourite riders suddenly won everything. It ruins the fun.

 

[burning]

OK, this is distinctly different from the "Who Will Win" thread. This is about your own personal allegiances. Which three riders will you be getting behind and cheering for in the race? And why?

For me:
Voeckler ... I just love the fact that he'll have a go. To me, he should have won two years ago. He was too gung-ho for his own good...which is, of course, why he's so good to watch. That and the gurning.

If only he didnt go full *** on galibier, he could have been 2nd

Voeckler
Rolland
Pinot for me

 

[airstream]

1 Andy Schleck, Haimar Zubeldia
2 Blanco
3 VdB
4 Froomester wide reckless attack at Bonascre.

 

[Ruudz0r]

D Martin
G Thomas
TGBM

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Schleck, Cavendish and Poels. Oh and Antón of course!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

If only he didnt go full *** on galibier, he could have been 2nd

snipped..

yea, probably but going all in that day (and in other races as well), is the reason I usually cheer for him. Massive risk taker, gets everything or nothing. Wouldn't want him any other way.

My eyes will be glued to:

Voeckler

Bouhanni in the sprints

Anybody who starts to trash talk the competition.

 

[hoerpi]

Antón
Nieve
Schleck

The two firsts for obvious reasons. About Andy, I really want to see him back in business.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto
Quintana
Schleck

 

[armchairclimber]

Some interesting trends appearing already in the "fans' favourites" stakes.

 

[Arnout]

Some interesting trends appearing already in the "fans' favourites" stakes.

Which? We want past heroes to do well and we generally like attacking riders?

Tells you something about where we want the sport to go as opposed to where it is going.

 

[bangnz]

AS
AC

and would like to see rolland voeckler or pinot put in some successful attacks

 

[greenedge]

Goss
Porte
Evans.

Other than Aussies, Voeckler, Quintana, JROD.

 

[vladimir]

Anton - I hope (but doubt) he can finally show some of his talents again. I've always suspected he is a bit lazy and would be better off leaving Euskaltel, but some recent comments about Contador and doping made me change my mind a bit. His results in Suisse were not spectacular, but at least a bit consistent and on a decent level. I'm hoping for the best.

Quintana - The Colombian tide we are experiencing this year (and it started last years and the years before) is probably the best thing that is currently happening in cycling. We need to get away from the corporate numbers game to make cycling attractive again. Cycling has always been about stories, heroic performances in the face of adversity and not about simply who can push the most watts per kg. If that's what we looking after, we might as well televize scientific tests live... In this Tour de France, Quintana is the best bet for the cycling of old to return. I hope Valverde catches an illness or whatever, so he is not competitive and Quintana can follow his own ways to greatness.

Pinot - Simply because France deserves and needs a new contender. Till now, he is able to withstand the pressure, let's hope he can continue to do so. The Tour will be more complete with a French candidate for at least a podium, and it will look good on television as well, as French success will draw more roadside spectators.

This! Exactly my picks (but I really don't hope for anything negative for Valverde), plus they are all in my CQ team as well
Will of course cheer the Norwegian riders as well. Kristoff, EBH and LPN are certain startes but I doubt if Thor Hushovd makes the cut for BMC.

 

[el chava]

Nairo Quintana to relive the Herrera memories.
Rein Taaramae. Because of the second-best name in the Tour.
Cadel Evans. For true grit.

 

[Netserk]

Alberto
Sagan
Quintana

Is Cunego riding?

EDIT: yes he is. Hmmm. New top-3 of those I'll cheer on:

Alberto
Cunego
Sagan

 

[PedalCastro]

Nicolas Roche
Dan Martin
Rui Costa

 

[Kwibus]

Nice thread. Really hard to name just 3 riders so im going to cheat a bit.

-GC
-Purito, It would be incredible if he would win the tdf, also u likely. He could've won 2GT's last year, but despite losing them he stayed gracious and showed us great sportsmanship. Allthough he has said strong words against dope (life time bans etc.) I can't say I really trust him. Nevertheless I really like him.

-Mollema, obvious nationalistic reasons. Besides that he's an awesome and weird guy.

-Contador, but I rather see the above 2 winning, but its more realistic that Alberto will be the only one able to challenge Froome. I hope we won't see domination most of all.

Special riders I really cheer on:
Voeckler, Poels, Cavendish, Anton, Nieve, Pinot, D. Martin, Schleck and Evans as well. Can't help it, but I like the guy

 

[airstream]

Oh, I see the second after Jens Froomie fan - dear Spalco!

 

[pastronef]

Hesjedal
Talansky
Martin


and good wishes for Mollema-Gesink, and Brajkovic-Fuglsang

 

[pastronef]

1 Andy Schleck, Haimar Zubeldia
2 Blanco
3 VdB
4 Froomester wide reckless attack at Bonascre.

I like that

 

[SKSemtex]

Sagan - obviuos reasons
Dan Martin - because of my naivity and believe that there might be some clean GC riders)
Jens Voight - I would love to see him winning some stage