Who will be the big surprise at the tour?

[TRDean]

Gotta go with van Hummel as a big surprise. Rode a great end of spring campaign, and then rode a fantastic Dutch championship race. Looking very strong and fast...a stage win and top 5 in green points.

 

[Angliru]

I still think the "menchov will be tired from the giro" claim is ignorant. In past menchov has been stronger in his 2nd GT (and for people saying "he didn't go all out in first GT of the season" well im pretty sure the years he won Vuelta he went all out for the Tour) On top of this, he is more experienced now, a smarter rider, who can handle 2 GTs better then he once did, and add the fact that he just won the Giro and is brimming with confidence (something menchov strives on i feel) I think he could pose a big threat to Conta. we'll see...

...but judging from your chosen forum name you be just a bit biased but we'll see. I'm inclined to agree with you. Menchov has found he needs a gran tour in his belt to reach "Tour" condition. Now the rumours that someone posted about his partying excessively in celebration of his Giro win, I don't know how valid they are but....we will see.

 

[luckyboy]

I think Euskaltel will do something big at this Tour - I never realised that they've only ever won two stages

Also, Karpets

 

[Angliru]

I still think the "menchov will be tired from the giro" claim is ignorant. In past menchov has been stronger in his 2nd GT (and for people saying "he didn't go all out in first GT of the season" well im pretty sure the years he won Vuelta he went all out for the Tour) On top of this, he is more experienced now, a smarter rider, who can handle 2 GTs better then he once did, and add the fact that he just won the Giro and is brimming with confidence (something menchov strives on i feel) I think he could pose a big threat to Conta. we'll see...

...but judging from your chosen forum name you may be just a bit biased but we'll see. I'm inclined to agree with you. Menchov has found he needs a gran tour in his belt to reach "Tour" condition. Now the rumours that someone posted about his partying excessively in celebration of his Giro win, I don't know how valid they are but....we will see.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Tyler Farrar and Ryder Hesjedal will hopefully get a stage

 

[Irish2009]

was hoping Dan Martin would lose a bag of time somewhere along the line and then win on Ventoux...but hey .I think most of the riders named so far could win stages/be up in GC but are not real surprises. Riders I think may "surprise".

Nicholas Roche Ag2r
Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r
Alexandre Botchorav Katusha
Mikhail Ignatiev Katusha
Jurgen Van Den Broeck Silence-Lotto
Greg Van Avermaet Silence-Lotto
and.......Ag2r for the team prize

 

[benpounder]

Lance

 

[nobody]

Lance

Good choice: without PED he will not finish his fourth TDF surprising his supporters, and with blood transfusion he could win... Sure to have done a good bet

 

[tifosa]

Menchov, Kreuziger, and Farrar.

 

[Irish2009]

was hoping Dan Martin would lose a bag of time somewhere along the line and then win on Ventoux...but hey .I think most of the riders named so far could win stages/be up in GC but are not real surprises. Riders I think may "surprise".

Nicholas Roche Ag2r
Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r
Alexandre Botchorav Katusha
Mikhail Ignatiev Katusha
Jurgen Van Den Broeck Silence-Lotto
Greg Van Avermaet Silence-Lotto
and.......Ag2r for the team prize

Feeling good about my "surpises" so far, but I think Rojas could pop a surprise in the points and Martin is looking good in the white maybe even yellow. Biggest surprise so far is Wiggo, fair play to him.

 

[issoisso]

A big surprise to a lot of people will be that LL Sánchez will be nowhere near the top GC guys, unlike what a heck of a lot of people seem to be advocating.

BOW BEFORE ME PUNY MORTALS

Sorry, just felt like being annoying

 

[Baggins27]

Feeling good about my "surpises" so far, but I think Rojas could pop a surprise in the points and Martin is looking good in the white maybe even yellow. Biggest surprise so far is Wiggo, fair play to him.

Some good predictions there Irish, well done mate.


I'm pleased for Wiggo too, let's hope he can stay safe for the next week and stay in contention. If he's still in the mix come the TT then it could get interesting!

 

[180mmCrank]

Yep - Wiggins gets my vote - although i imagine for some in the know it's less of a surprise. You tend to go a bit quicker up hill if you lose 7kg!

 

[Irish2009]

Wiggo's a different rider than when I met him in Stuttgart at the worlds(BIG difference). would love to see him have a really good tour, just worried that we haven't had a proper kick *** day in the mountains yet. We should really start a Wiggo thread(joking)..

 

[Bluebeard]

Very good shouts there Irish2009, and I would be disappointed if Ignatiev didn't get a win somewhere aftar all his breaks.

I decided that I should review my own, to my own self satisfaction

I'm hoping that Nicolas Roche might prove a better bet than many would have though - a top 30 place on GC would be a very good result, and hopefully he'll get that Grand Tour stage win that eluded him in last year's Vuelta.

Maybe not flying up the GC, but doing quite well, plenty of time for improvement in the Vosgues and Juras.
Satisfaction rating: I are happy.

I am also hoping for a good Bouygues showing, possibly Pierrick Féderigo winning something like stage 13 or 14, maybe a spell in the maillot a pois for little Tommy Voeckler.

Jackpot. Fédrigo doing his do about four stages early, Wee Tommy doing what he has always wanted, the team doing well all around. Here's hoping the sponsors are leaving voice messages for JR Bernaudeau.
Satisfaction rating: I are a golden god.

Skil Shimano should do alright, without doing anything big, but Kenny Van Hummel is the man I reckon could go that bit further and surprise. If he is in a standard thrid week domestique break of 14 or 15, he's likely to take his first Tour stage.

Skil living up to the fine but nothing major rating, not quite enough to completely assuage any sponsor concerns, but plenty of face - good move that to smash into Cavendish, leads to plenty of airtime. Van Hummel looks like winning the Lanterne Rouge, but otherwise, ehm, third week, third week
Satisfaction rating: I are meh.

 

[iceaxe]

Lance is the surprise. I'm still pretty disbelieving even though it is happening in front of my eyes. I'm beginning to think cycling is not very competitive. Why are there no negroes??? I just dont see white europeans as very athletic given how far they are evolved from the jungle.

 

[Bagster]

Good choice: without PED he will not finish his fourth TDF surprising his supporters, and with blood transfusion he could win... Sure to have done a good bet

The bats are out

 

[auscyclefan94]

Wiggo's a different rider than when I met him in Stuttgart at the worlds(BIG difference). would love to see him have a really good tour, just worried that we haven't had a proper kick *** day in the mountains yet. We should really start a Wiggo thread(joking)..

I fear that Wiggo may tire and not have the kick to go with the proven gc boys in the Alps. I hope i am wrong because i think he is a nice guy.

 

[mambo#5]

Lance is the surprise. I'm still pretty disbelieving even though it is happening in front of my eyes. I'm beginning to think cycling is not very competitive. Why are there no negroes??? I just dont see white europeans as very athletic given how far they are evolved from the jungle.

ROTFL!!!

 

[Publicus]

Lance is the surprise. I'm still pretty disbelieving even though it is happening in front of my eyes. I'm beginning to think cycling is not very competitive. Why are there no negroes??? I just dont see white europeans as very athletic given how far they are evolved from the jungle.

Your ignorance and bigotry apparently know no bounds.

 

[iceaxe]

Your ignorance and bigotry apparently know no bounds.

So-called bigotry might not be PC but it is accurate and necessary for people who like to live in reality.

 

[BikeCentric]

So-called bigotry might not be PC but it is accurate and necessary for people who like to live in reality.

I nominate iceaxe for the "biggest 3-week fan/dumbass of the year" award.

 

[Franklin]

So-called bigotry might not be PC but it is accurate and necessary for people who like to live in reality.

What a horrible misuse of "evolution".

Using the theory of evolution to underpin racism is unscientific and disgusting. The was a certain regime that used sociological darwinism and it went down (rightly so) into history as the most vile and evil regime of our last century.

You are repeating their words... shockingly disrespectful.

 

[Amsterhammer]

I nominate iceaxe for the "biggest 3-week fan/dumbass of the year" award.

Seconded! He clearly took a wrong turn somewhere while trying to find Aryan nation.

 

[BikeCentric]

What a horrible misuse of "evolution".

Using the theory of evolution to underpin racism is unscientific and disgusting. The was a certain regime that used sociological darwinism and it went down (rightly so) into history as the most vile and evil regime of our last century.

You are repeating their words... shockingly disrespectful.

Yes that was the "modern Eugenics" movement in America around the turn of the century. They actually succeeded in putting in place the forced sterilization of several mentally *** people and some diagnosed as mentally ill. Fortunately the movement was shot down in flames at the National political level as people found it morally repugnant. Anyway, off-topic but it's important to call people out when they spew racist and ethnocentric crap to ensure the mistakes of history do not repeat themselves. Call it "politically correct" if you want, I don't care.