Tour De France Contenders - who has a shot?

[c&cfan]

For the same reason why Schleck is underrated, because the latest impression is the strongest. Anyway he is not exceptional time trialist, just very good and even not always. All his victories were taken with rather conservative riding in the mountains. Many many factors should match so that Menchov hits podium. I don't rank him highly either.

how were andy's victories taken??

wait... andy and wins does not make sense.

so, how were andy's 2nd places taken?
by conservative riding...

 

[LaFlorecita]

it appears not AC for this years TDF

Don't say it! Blabla, I'm not listening.

 

[The Hitch]

There are rumors of a one-year ban.

Is this whole conversation going to be so cryptic.

You mean the rumours of a 1 year ban that have been around for over a year, or you mean some new rumours released today and if so, do you have a source for that, who do the rumours come from etc,

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Is this whole conversation going to be so cryptic.

You mean the rumours of a 1 year ban that have been around for over a year, or you mean some new rumours released today and if so, do you have a source for that, who do the rumours come from etc,

https://twitter.com/#!/inrng/status/166135512296464385

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is this whole conversation going to be so cryptic.

You mean the rumours of a 1 year ban that have been around for over a year, or you mean some new rumours released today and if so, do you have a source for that, who do the rumours come from etc,

Also this:

Other rumours say that the Spaniard already has been told that he will be cleared.

 

[trevim]

I predict they'll postpone the decision once more

 

[gerundium]

Is this whole conversation going to be so cryptic.

You mean the rumours of a 1 year ban that have been around for over a year, or you mean some new rumours released today and if so, do you have a source for that, who do the rumours come from etc,

nothing substantial but the dutch Eurosport broadcast of tour of Qatar featured some talk about this. They said someone overheard the judges talking in a restaurant in Laussane that Contador would receive a 6 month ban. Credibility highly suspect.

 

[LaFlorecita]

nothing substantial but the dutch Eurosport broadcast of tour of Qatar featured some talk about this. They said someone overheard the judges talking in a restaurant in Laussane that Contador would receive a 6 month ban. Credibility highly suspect.

I can't believe those judges would be that stupid.

 

[Galic Ho]

Umm what 2 mountains were those?

Alpe d'Huez. Andy kept looking at Cadel. Absolute reversal of 2008. Cadel had to set pace and lost out. 2011, Cadel is in the box seat and just chilling with the Schlecks. Andy kept gesturing at him to set pace and he didn't. Probably because the day before (might have been 2 days)...the stage where Andy won, Cadel pulled the entire peloton up the climb. Every major GC guy cracked. Cadel did all the work. When he did that I knew he was a shoe in to win. Sure it was one Schleck that day but they didn't beat him. Andy got some time from a breakaway earlier. On the climbs, Cadel was as quick as him.

Put it this way. Apart from Andy's stage win where he broke away early, there was no stage in the Tour where they annihilated Cadel as a team. Given they are climbers, they needed to make moves every chance they could. Alpe d'Huez showed they didn't have enough gas left to attack, hence trying to get Cadel to set pace and potentially blow out. Cadel was wise enough to simply ignore them.

I wasn't implying Cadel annihilated the Schleck's in some epic climbing duel. I was implying that the lack of Schleck moves indicated that Cadel was equal more or less to them in the mountains and thus the lack of attacks indicate they didn't have the ammunition to punch on.

As for Menchov. I agree. People under rate Menchov far too much. He's too iffy though. He fluctuates all the time. Having his bank account frozen last year can't have helped. Comparison to Nibali? Nibali, ignoring the last Vuelta has been more stable in recent years. But when Dennis is on, he's on and can do some stellar things in a GT. Definitely on paper, he's higher calibre, but not by a massive margin.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Denis the pope menchov FTW ...

 

[Zoncolan]

Evans or Menchov with A. Schleck the third favorite.

 

[Forunculo]

Evans or Menchov with A. Schleck the third favorite.

lol without Contador this is a lesser race

 

[Scirea]

lol without Contador this is a lesser race

Understatement of the year. Way to go cycling, ban the most exciting/best rider. Now we can watch Andy beating Cadel and co. by 10 seconds in the mountains and then losing it in the ITT...

 

[Forunculo]

Understatement of the year. Way to go cycling, ban the most exciting/best rider. Now we can watch Andy beating Cadel and co. by 10 seconds in the mountains and then losing it in the ITT...

You think the same

 

[Zoncolan]

Nothing we can do about it, so...

 

[Scirea]

Nothing we can do about it, so...

Just plain frustrating.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

What? So you guys would let him off because he's an exciting racer?!

The Tour will be great for the reason it always is - a race to decide the world's best GC rider. That isn't Contador, because he's been proven to be a cheat.

 

[Scirea]

I'm glad Eddy thinks the same thing as me. This ban is a ****in joke. And Contador will come back and kill the clowns like Andy, i almost feel sorry for the guy. Alberto will butcher him next summer.

 

[Zoncolan]

I'm glad Eddy thinks the same thing as me. This ban is a ****in joke. And Contador will come back and kill the clowns like Andy, i almost feel sorry for the guy. Alberto will butcher him next summer.

By next summer they might both have the same number of TdF wins on their respective palmares.
I don't pay any attention to what the Cannibal has to say, as he always claims cycling is clean.
Still, I think this is a bad decision from a sporting side of things.
I hope Evans wins again this year.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

no doping talk here ...come on menchovvvvvvvvvvvvvv

 

[trevim]

Right now I'm glad there aren't a lot of mountain stages. Without Contador to shake them, they will be a borefest with Radioshack setting temp with Andy, Evans, Menchov, Kloden.. in line and following each other. Who will try their hand in the mountains? Maybe Andy or Samu

EDIT: Go Menchov, we need the silent killer back to 2009 form

 

[Scirea]

By next summer they might both have the same number of TdF wins on their respective palmares.
I don't pay any attention to what the Cannibal has to say, as he always claims cycling is clean.
Still, I think this is a bad decision from a sporting side of things.
I hope Evans wins again this year.

Yes they might.

1: everyone around cycling will know how Andy won those 2. (gifted to him and then without Albert racing)

2: Contador will win at least 3 more after that, possibly more.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

If Menchov is in good shape now, this Tour will be pretty exciting. I'm hoping for an epic battle between Menchov and Evans.

Schleck al ready got his win......

 

[Scirea]

Sadly I think Contador was the only one who could beat the depth of RS...

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Well, Menchov got 2nd at 1'22 from Schleck in 2010 TDF. With less climbing and more TT, I think he has a good shot at winning, if he shows up in the same form. Same goes for Evans and last years form.
C'mon guys, Schleck really isn't that good; he got beat by Evans in a TDF that was way way way more mountainous than this years TDF. If Evans beat Schleck last year, he should certainly be able to beat him this year.