Tour 2012. Who is your money on.

[42x16ss]

Looking at the leaked info on the parcours my money is on Wonderlance's pickle.

If I was going to tip a rider, I have a strong feeling that one of the young guns will come through and upset with a big win - eg. JVDB, Velits, Porte, Kreuziger, Rolland, Froome or even Roche - unless of course Contador is allowed to ride by CAS

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I've been busy playing in the Free Form/Chaos thread. (It's getting addictive), but this is too good to pass up.

It's easy to pick Contador, but what fun is that? If he isn't banned he has to be the favorite - though from what I understand of the parcours it won't be an open and shut case for him. Probably, though, Contador will be banned, so the parcours won't matter for him.

Evans team will be a huge asset for him, only if - and it's a big if - the sum of it proves to be greater than the parts. My fear is that (the egos of) the parts will be greater than their sum, as usually happens with super teams. If the guys can really mesh together, accept Evans' leadership, and work for him - and if Evans shows up with the form of 2011 - the likelihood is high that we'll see him in yellow in Paris.

I agree with what Alpe said earlier, that Voeckler (or Rolland) or one of the other Frenchies could steal the Tour in the process of stealing one or more stages. It's certainly possible.

As for the others:

Fabian Cancellara - Would be awesome, but no.

Christopher Froome - Not gonna happen.

Tony Martin - See Cancellara.

Dennis Menchov - He'll be in jail.

Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez - Sorry Hitch, don't think so.

Alejandro Valverde Belemonte - Might be a possibility. We'll have to see how he goes after his lay off.

Bradley Wiggins - Top three, maybe, but not top step.

Other/ Vino - Who knows?

THe enigmatic pope wont be in jail.

 

[Maxiton]

THe enigmatic pope wont be in jail.

Yeah, I know, but I couldn't resist. I don't think he'll win the Tour, though.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Yeah, I know, but I couldn't resist. I don't think he'll win the Tour, though.

I knew you were I voted for him FTW.

 

[Maxiton]

I knew you were I voted for him FTW.

Is he your favorite rider? Well, in any event, the Enigmatic Pope is certainly aptly named. And he did do an awesome, admirable job when he won the Giro. He was like a machine of determination there. But I think the likelihood of his winning the Tour isn't great.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Is he your favorite rider?

Nope, i just like his chances with this crap route . I support the paisans from the mother country.

 

[Ferminal]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-chris-froome-on-the-vuelta-death-threats-and-the-future

His 2012 schedule is still unknown. He's keen on the Tour de France however. "The Tour is obviously the biggest goal and I really would like to be there", he says. "But it also depends on the team situation. There is a lot of strong riders in the team."Froome says he felt comfortable about sharing the leadership with Bradley Wiggins: "We worked quite well together" at the Vuelta, there's no reason to think that things will change.

Vroom Vroom!

 

[Maxiton]

Nope, i just like his chances with this crap route . I support the paisans from the mother country.

Which is what?

 

[jens_attacks]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-chris-froome-on-the-vuelta-death-threats-and-the-future



Vroom Vroom!

and he is not even totally cured.imagine a froome riding a time trial and an alpine stage totally cured by the parasitic worms _O_

contador you found your match:

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Which is what?

Rebellin, Ricco ..On a serious note Scarponi,Nibali, Basso, viviani, marcato etc

 

[Woody22]

Just going to throw this one out there for you all to laugh at.

If Contador is suspended........ RICHIE PORTE.

 

[AussieGoddess]

cept Rickie Porte went to Sky .... so he is now a bit down the list of contenders there.

Worst decision he has made in a while

 

[Zoncolan]

cept Rickie Porte went to Sky .... so he is now a bit down the list of contenders there.

Worst decision he has made in a while

Why? He was never gonna contend for a GT anyway.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why? He was never gonna contend for a GT anyway.

Ithink he could do well in stage races and I think going to Sky was the worst possible option with him looking at the riders they have got. Ultimately he will be riding on the front of the peloton all day for Cav chasing back breakaways for most of his season.

 

[just some guy]

Ithink he could do well in stage races and I think going to Sky was the worst possible option with him looking at the riders they have got. Ultimately he will be riding on the front of the peloton all day for Cav chasing back breakaways for most of his season.

Which may not that be a bad thing for him - he needs miles in them legs and lose upper body mass.

Sky back room staff will help him more and Riis

 

[greenedge]

Contador or Evans. Andy to come 10th and Cancellara/ Martin to come 3rd. ( Whoever is better at Itt's that year )

 

[ParfaitAmour]

Can't choose :/

But Andy to be the eternal 2nd placer just for the chuckles

 

[movingtarget]

Evans and Contador to fight it out, followed by Menchov if he can regain past form, Martin possibly top 5 along with Leipheimer and possibly Rolland. Andy Schleck to miss the podium.

 

[The Hitch]

Wow, Nibali and Kreuziger are good for this parcours but Schleck who beat them in the long ITT's is not even in the pole.
Very interesting who voted for Valverde.

TheHitch, I see the only Samu's attack on descend for 3 years of participation that was initiated by Contador, increased his chances in many times... Or Sanchez is going to crush everyone in TT??)

Sanchez is going to match everyone but Contador in the mountains, lose a little but not too much time to a few gc riders in the tt and then have a few hills for maybe a little luck. If Contador rides he wont win unless Contador crashes out.

If Contador doesnt ride Samu has a better chance than anyone but Menchov and Cadel and his performances last few years suggest he can really take it to these 2 (would have beaten Menchov in 2010 if he didnt crash himself), possibly best climber this year, but unable to challenge due to lost time.

 

[cineteq]

Wiggins would be lucky if he podiums. Kloden of course could do good but will be supporting Frandy.

Let's see how realistic Bruneel is. This race could be a big waste of resources for RSN, although as we know sponsors rule. The couldn't care less if Andy finishes 15th as long as he participates and adds to the hype. So yes, it's unlikely Kloeden be the leader even though he might have a better chance of podium.

 

[airstream]

If Contador doesnt ride Samu has a better chance than anyone but Menchov and Cadel and his performances last few years suggest he can really take it to these 2 (would have beaten Menchov in 2010 if he didnt crash himself), possibly best climber this year, but unable to challenge due to lost time.

I think if Contador doesnt ride Schleck will go in a bit different way not like he did on Plateau de Beille. He'll have no fear. Samu gained time in Pyrenees but everybody let him go so easily. It would never happen if he were a real threat for the podium. I doubt Sanchez will be able to ride away by going solo. To win the TdF he has to beat many stronger TT'ers that is almost impossible. Your argument on 2010 is disputable, considering Samu was stronger than Menchov on Tourmalet, having already been crushed.

 

[The Hitch]

Your argument on 2010 is disputable, considering was stronger than Menchov on Tourmalet, having already been crushed.

Exactly, he was stronger than Menchov on Tourmalet despite having a broken wrist. I suspect he would have gone faster if he hadnt crashed.

And it would have hurt more in the tt because in the tt the wrist plays an important part in the position.

 

[airstream]

Exactly, he was stronger than Menchov on Tourmalet despite having a broken wrist. I suspect he would have gone faster if he hadnt crashed.

Your faith in him has no limits...

 

[Zoncolan]

Ithink he could do well in stage races and I think going to Sky was the worst possible option with him looking at the riders they have got. Ultimately he will be riding on the front of the peloton all day for Cav chasing back breakaways for most of his season.

Week long maybe. Never gonna climb nowhere near well enough to be a force in GTs.
That he's gonna have to work his *** off for others (not just Cav), that we can agree on. It is kind of difficult to understand why he'd go to Sky where he'll clearly be 3rd fiddle at best in stage races.

 

[The Hitch]

Your faith in him has no limits...

Well its not really a far off assumption to suggest a rider would have gone faster if he did not have a injury