Who will win 2012 Tour de France

[Caruut]

Hatred? I'm a straight shooter genius. If I hated Austin Powers wannabe...I'd say so. He's hilarious. The guy to dislike. It was Schleck last year...will be him this year. Someone else next year. Honestly, the fact he's a carbon cut out of Armstrong...that doesn't bother you? Anyone in England? Of all the people you can mirror, you pick him. That is very revealing.

I'm English. I think that Wiggins is probably going to win the Tour, but I don't want him to because I think he's boring and annoying. I just think you are seeing what you want to see where you want to see it. Out of the other riders on this poll, I would prefer a win from any one of them to a Wiggins win.

My comment was not to spite Wiggins, but to highlight a mistake I believe he is making. He should take the Dauphine lightly but seriously. Not what he has said and not what his domestiques have said. He's going full ball balistic to win this. To prove what? He's a contender? That's stupid. But of course, once again I have to join all the dots for people. That's why my posts are long. Inferring knowledge and ideas...people here refuse to do it. They go off on a tangent. Answer this if you are serious, why has Contador not done this? Then explain the paralled between Evans trying to win the Dauphine and falling short at the Tour every time he tried...and stating Wiggins is just more talented isn't sufficient, that's subjective opinion. Not proven in road results. Answer that and you'll understand why I couldn't be bothered once again answering more blind Wiggins fanboys questions.

I think one has to see a lot of what Sky say as PR for non-cycling people who are just going to read about it in the papers. I think Wiggins will probably give it a go - that is one of the few things I actually like about him, that he doesn't follow the Armstrong template in that regard.

Oh and the point about Wiggins really being behind...if you lost a one week stage race over 2-3 seconds and yet won a stage, like Cadel did today and your rival won GC because he cruised, would you not like to see the rules changed? It's one of the few failings of cycling and I thoroughly dislike it. Not Wiggins fault he is the beneficiary as he was second after the prologue, but the point remains. I think it encourages wheel sucking...not that Brad was doing that, yesterday showed he was flogging himself, but it encourages riders to become the next Bottle. I say bring back time bonuses. High risk, high reward. If the peloton takes 10-15 seconds to pass the line, you should not finish 15-20 behind a winner and get +4 on official time. It's wrong. To those who don't agree...do you still count using your fingers and toes? For every 5-10 riders in the peloton, I say add +1 second. Irrespective. Evans ALWAYS tries to be in the first 20 over the line every stage of every race he competes in seriously. Harder to stay there. Those who want to take it easier a bit further back there should be slapped with a cost in time. You'd be amazed how it would change racing for the better.

If they lost in that situation, I don't think they'd be daft enough to get mad at rules that everyone knew perfectly well when they signed up. It's not exactly Wiggins' fault that Cadel want to get into the top 20 all the time. I think the cyclists themselves would realise that if those were the rules, the race would have changed, so the comparison is meaningless.

Drafting is what makes cycling interesting. Cycling without drafting is just like tri without even the swimming or cycling to mix things up. I don't think it would make cycling any more interesting, it would just lead to ridiculous fighting for position and too many crashes.

Oh yeah, the Clinic...you've seen the threads? Nah, you weren't a forum member when they started. If you did you'd realise I made the first thread about Wiggins in the Clinic. One of the few I've made. Back in 2009.

You're actually the first person I've seen on CN up themselves enough to try and use being around here for a long time as an argument. If you made the thread yourself, why exactly did you say "I'd love to see a thread on it"? I've posted about Wiggins' rise only today, and am critical of it, for what it's worth.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure you've got Hitch's location wrong.

 

[Galic Ho]

Oh the irony. Use a British actor portraying on of the greatest Sci-Fi icons in history. Wanna discuss Star Trek? Not with me you don't I know more about Star Trek and practically every Sci-Fi tv show you can imagine. Except Babylon 5. So the misrepresentation of Jean luc Picard isn't lost on me...nor is it funny. But hey, whatever...slapping a jpeg you borrowed and didn't make on your own captioned with a sly and witty moniker is so much better than telling me where I am wrong.

Gosh this Tour better be good. Menchov, Nibali, Evans, JVDB, Gesink, Samu, Valverde and Cobo...yeah, I'm quietly confident one of them will finish in front of Brad. Oh and how can I forget the Schlecks? Gosh it's going to be rich this July if Andy Schleck wins the Tour. Naturally it'll be rich if Wiggins wins as well. God help us all.

 

[Caruut]

Yeah I know. I deliberately left Dan Martin in there to see who'd correct me.

It's like when a maths teacher says "What, oh yeah I put a plus not a minus there to test you guys. Well done for spotting it."

Gold.

 

[Biggut]

Oh and the point about Wiggins really being behind...if you lost a one week stage race over 2-3 seconds and yet won a stage, like Cadel did today and your rival won GC because he cruised, would you not like to see the rules changed? It's one of the few failings of cycling and I thoroughly dislike it. Not Wiggins fault he is the beneficiary as he was second after the prologue, but the point remains. I think it encourages wheel sucking...not that Brad was doing that, yesterday showed he was flogging himself, but it encourages riders to become the next Bottle. I say bring back time bonuses. High risk, high reward. If the peloton takes 10-15 seconds to pass the line, you should not finish 15-20 behind a winner and get +4 on official time. It's wrong. To those who don't agree...do you still count using your fingers and toes? For every 5-10 riders in the peloton, I say add +1 second. Irrespective. Evans ALWAYS tries to be in the first 20 over the line every stage of every race he competes in seriously. Harder to stay there. Those who want to take it easier a bit further back there should be slapped with a cost in time.

Wiggins, stage 1 of Romandie, enough said. You are talking out of your rear.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Oh the irony. Use a British actor portraying on of the greatest Sci-Fi icons in history. Wanna discuss Star Trek? Not with me you don't I know more about Star Trek and practically every Sci-Fi tv show you can imagine. Except Babylon 5. So the misrepresentation of Jean luc Picard isn't lost on me...nor is it funny. But hey, whatever...slapping a jpeg you borrowed and didn't make on your own captioned with a sly and witty moniker is so much better than telling me where I am wrong.

Gosh this Tour better be good. Menchov, Nibali, Evans, JVDB, Gesink, Samu, Valverde and Cobo...yeah, I'm quietly confident one of them will finish in front of Brad. Oh and how can I forget the Schlecks? Gosh it's going to be rich this July if Andy Schleck wins the Tour. Naturally it'll be rich if Wiggins wins as well. God help us all.

Why do you keep saying people are British and not the country of their birth ?

 

[cineteq]

Gosh this Tour better be good. Menchov, Nibali, Evans, JVDB, Gesink, Samu, Valverde and Cobo...yeah, I'm quietly confident one of them will finish in front of Brad. Oh and how can I forget the Schlecks? Gosh it's going to be rich this July if Andy Schleck wins the Tour. Naturally it'll be rich if Wiggins wins as well. God help us all.

Post of the day!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

That's rich coming from the guy who lost his nut last year when his misread a statement from me that mentioned England...you remember Hitch, the one where you thought I said you were English. Despite the fact I didn't and know fully well you're Spanish. Oh snap, the superior memory letting you down? You forgot did you? No, my bad, you're right, you're Spanish...heck not like it wasn't bloody obvious. But of course, I think you're really English because you are 21 and living in England. You keep telling yourself that. Am I wrong? How old am I? Where do I live Hitch? Roughly where in Australia? I've mentioned it...if you're going to have exceptionally high standards for me, can I not apply them to you? Want me to get specific? Ok if I had to state where you come from geographically...I'd say somewhere associated with Samu, some region near his home. Explains you're obsession with him. Common sense...could be wrong though.

Of course, one set of rules for you and one for me is it not?Perhaps you can mistakenly get mad at me and run and get a mod on your friends list to tell me off...to ban me? I honestly don't care about your De Gendt slander...you're 21, people say stupid crap all the time. However I do notice your subtle and crafted jibes at many forumists...having 13K of posts doesn't grant you special priviliges...you talk garbage, worse, pick biffs with people, I remember. You started this champ last year...not me. You carried on about something that was never said about nationality.

Given you have 13K of posts in under 2 years...run the numbers. Lots of spare time, lots of interaction amongst forumists. Actually, it appears from your statement Hitch, you do know quite a lot. Good for you. Your time, do with it as you will. But frequenting the forums as much as you do, and naturally, pertaining to a level of decent intellect, you'd also have noticed some older names who were here years ago are not here as much as they once were. That I and many others don't frequent the forums like we once did, that we're not all 21 and living it up outside our home country (wanna explain to the forum why Spain ain't so grand to live in at your age because we both know it's not nice and ironically every young Spaniard has my sympathy as such) spending hours a day here and learning a great deal about the forumists identies other than a picture and a name. So naturally, when his location doesn't say Belarus, let alone have I read anything of his anytime this year that reveals as much...his nationality means sweet ****** all.

But his behaviour does indicate he sympathises with Wiggins. So I assumed he was British...because honest to God, only a pom would love Wiggins of all riders THAT MUCH. I cannot see how any other European could like him over all the others. It doesn't add up. Oh and if being labelled British or mistakenly associated with being British is so nasty, dispicable and wrong, even mistakenly by misconstrued inference, please explain why you are living in a nation I can get citizenship in a wink? One where both sides of my parents ancestral line originate? Then explain to me the history between Britain and Austalia? Our rivalry and goading of each other. Sledging Britain is what Australians do...likewise they sledge back. No we don't hate England/UK. It's just banter...sheesh, go watch the cricket next year when we turn up for the Ashes if you're still in London. That' clear it all up. Giving Wiggins a hard time is our right. Giving Evans a hard time is theirs. Heck I win overall...Murdoch owns Sky and his money was made in Australia because wait for it...daddy owned the only paper in Adelaide. Yet he sponsors a British team!!! The irony.

I apoligise for what I said last week. I was too nasty. But giving Wiggins fans a hard time ain't gonna change.

The hitch is from Poland, he is Polish.

 

[Galic Ho]

The hitch is from Poland, he is Polish.

There you go. Learn something new every day. I thought he was Spanish. My bad and my apologies. Heck, that makes his living in England even more understandable than being Spanish and living in England. Lots of Polish people immigrated in the first year the UK joined the European Union...400K from memory. Not that it matters. I care about what people say, not their nationality. Unless they are English...then it's a matter of national rivalry. I don't care what colour your skin is, pink, purple. Or how you speak, nor how you right...don't get that liberty in Australia. Plenty, of English, Spanish and Polish immigrants in Australia. Lot more Greeks and Italians, Dutch too...I couldn't care less where you come from. Just like cycling, it's about the substance and your riding style, not a flag that appears when you race at the Worlds drapped on a flag if you win.


Lots of people should be praying the UK voters don't get what they want. They leave the Euro, lots of people won't be welcome there anymore...and yes, those people have my sympathy as well. Because we all know Europe is going so well right now if you're not from a G8 nation and don't have a plushy public sector job. I know fully well Europe is in a hard place and the UK is one of the nicer places to live...if you can tolerate the weather.

 

[Galic Ho]

Post of the day!

Don't worry. I will be cheering for Nibali quite loudly. Those cajones will come into play this Tour. Be nice to see who can match that centre of gravity themselves on a descent when Vincenzo goes.

 

[Galic Ho]

I'm English. I think that Wiggins is probably going to win the Tour, but I don't want him to because I think he's boring and annoying. I just think you are seeing what you want to see where you want to see it. Out of the other riders on this poll, I would prefer a win from any one of them to a Wiggins win.



I think one has to see a lot of what Sky say as PR for non-cycling people who are just going to read about it in the papers. I think Wiggins will probably give it a go - that is one of the few things I actually like about him, that he doesn't follow the Armstrong template in that regard.



If they lost in that situation, I don't think they'd be daft enough to get mad at rules that everyone knew perfectly well when they signed up. It's not exactly Wiggins' fault that Cadel want to get into the top 20 all the time. I think the cyclists themselves would realise that if those were the rules, the race would have changed, so the comparison is meaningless.

Drafting is what makes cycling interesting. Cycling without drafting is just like tri without even the swimming or cycling to mix things up. I don't think it would make cycling any more interesting, it would just lead to ridiculous fighting for position and too many crashes.



You're actually the first person I've seen on CN up themselves enough to try and use being around here for a long time as an argument. If you made the thread yourself, why exactly did you say "I'd love to see a thread on it"? I've posted about Wiggins' rise only today, and am critical of it, for what it's worth.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure you've got Hitch's location wrong.

I hit a wrong button. Had a nice wall of text typed out. So I'll keep it short rather than retyping it all. Agree with most of what you wrote...with a few additions.

Short story:

* Sky PR machine started in 2009. Banked on Wiggins
* 2010, failure. 2011, some strong results. 2012, lots of strong results
* Contador is a benchmark. If he can't do it, who can?
* Even if Sky don't believe the hype or don't deliver, it doesn't matter. They still get news time in papers and on TV in ayear with the Queens Jubillee, home Olympics all close together. Happens once in maybe a 100 years...smart play PR wise no doubt.

Racing rules. Touche. Rules are rules. Vaughters wants to change a lot. Foolishly if you ask me. I swear one day, a GT will finish where the time differences will be like the Tour 89 or lower. I'd hate for something like this to actually come about and if actual times were taken, the runner up was in front by about 5-10 seconds. But racing wise, if it were altered slightly, the fighting at the front of the peleton is fierce enough, I don't think it would be more dangerous. GC riders would simply know if they take it easy, they've got to attack on the none mass finishes.

 

[Galic Ho]

Why do you keep saying people are British and not the country of their birth ?

Good question. Why do so many non Brits keep talking Wiggins up?

To answer yours...location indicator. I'll go change mine. I've been on this forum maybe a handfull of times since last years Tour. Forum lost a lot of if it's shine or maybe I don't have as much time? Either way, I do tend to remember most IMPORTANT things, like who tends to favour which rider. Location is the least important thing IMO. That and I assume and infer many things...especially regarding the love-in of Wiggins. For example, you talk about Gesink, you're a Rabo fan, Dutch or both. General rule of thumb, it's true for about 80% of people on this forum. Same thing with Wiggo. Sure I get it wrong now and then...hence I don't mind being corrected. Happens all the time, it is how one learns.

Should actually be encouraged. Heck it's what I've been saying Andy Schleck needed to do for two years now. Learn from stuff ups. Essentially that's what I have been asking about Wiggins. Has he learn enough to do what he boldy aims to do? I don't think so...based on the road in a 3 week race. We'll see in 6-7 weeks time if he has.

 

[Maxiton]

How does the absence of a rider who last year rode for himself and was not part of the winning BMC team that supported Cadel Evans bode unwell? How exactly? Is he on form? Can he climb? Is he going to shelter Cadel better on the flats in the headwinds and crosswinds than Hincapie? Or Gilbert? Is he going to lead Cadel on some dare devil descent? Gilbert could do that.

Take Thor's role last year. Absolutely irrelevant in the final week for Tommy D. It was CVV who was of value. Dan Martin. Ryder...those guys on Garmin were the firepower. Thor was stage hunting. He's not vital for a GC team. It's theoretically better to excuse him, even more so if his form is off. One team objective, versus two. What did UPS/Disco do? Did anyone ever stage hunt whilst Lance won? Nope. BMC are doing the right thing. Sky should remove Cav from the team if they are serious about Wiggins as well. Will they? Yet people take them seriously. Armstrong wouldn't allow it and he won 7 Tours running.

People here need to wake up and get back to reality.

Wait, what? Are you psychotic? How much money do you think BMC is paying Hushovd for his services this year? He is supposed to be contributing to the team's primary objective, not absent from it. Clearly Evans doesn't need him, any more than he needs any other rider, but he certainly could use him.

Evans' team certainly hasn't gone as planned this year, and this development with Hushovd can't be leaving him feeling very secure.

What's your excuse?

 

[dlwssonic]

Without hushovd, evans has one more domesitque to work for him.
All the better for evans.

 

[dlwssonic]

I still can't get over the fact that wiggins has 90 something votes
Give more respect to the the real GT riders(nibali,evans,menchov,schlecks,gesink)

 

[LaFlorecita]

I still can't get over the fact that wiggins has 90 something votes
Give more respect to the the real GT riders(nibali,evans,menchov,schlecks,gesink)

Don't worry the one that has most votes will not win the same happened last year.

 

[movingtarget]

Without hushovd, evans has one more domesitque to work for him.
All the better for evans.

Agree. They did the job for him last year and it's every man for himself on the final climbs. Riders should be picked on form not on reputation.

 

[Morbius]

Plastic Brits? I don't like them either in Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, Wrestling whatever. They are as bad as all the plastic All Blacks, and Argentinian props playing for Australia. But Wiggins is not one, and nor are Cavendish or Millar

Edit:

Wanna discuss Star Trek? Not with me you don't I know more about Star Trek and practically every Sci-Fi tv show you can imagine.

OK now I can put this conversation in context

 

[Captain Sensible]

Going of topic I know but interested why you would think this ? For the rich it most likely still is but for the poor low payed ,unemployed and homeless it seems the country is a 2 tier society
A gallon of petrol for example is a hour,s wage before tax for those on the minimum wage .

 

[Froome19]

My comment was not to spite Wiggins, but to highlight a mistake I believe he is making. He should take the Dauphine lightly but seriously. Not what he has said and not what his domestiques have said. He's going full ball balistic to win this. To prove what? He's a contender? That's stupid. But of course, once again I have to join all the dots for people. That's why my posts are long. Inferring knowledge and ideas...people here refuse to do it. They go off on a tangent. Answer this if you are serious, why has Contador not done this? Then explain the paralled between Evans trying to win the Dauphine and falling short at the Tour every time he tried...and stating Wiggins is just more talented isn't sufficient, that's subjective opinion. Not proven in road results. Answer that and you'll understand why I couldn't be bothered once again answering more blind Wiggins fanboys questions.

Do you happen to be Wiggins's coach or his dad? Because it sure sound that way.
Wiggins knows what he is doing and I do not believe that your advice will change his mind.

Winning the Dauphine is not something which will effect him considerably more than all the other favorites as they will also be riding on the same levels on the climbs and it will only be in the TT where Wiggins may put in more effort. You seem to think all the favorites are Andy Schleck everybody goes for the Dauphine to an extent and winning it will give the favorite a necessary physchological boost for himself and over his rivals.

It is not like he has prepared specifically for it, he is merely using it as an opportunity to prepare for the tour with the added bonus of a GC win which will incredibly beneficial for morale.

The Sky scientists and coachs surely understand Bradley's physical strengths better than you and they will undoubtedly be monitoring Wiggins as they prepare for the Tour with minute details and so if they dont believe it is a problem to go for GC at the Dauphine for Wiggins i highly doubt it is.

You do that and wave the patriotism flag for GB Haven't the Brits got a Euro championship to get flogged at coming up? Ooohhh, so salty!!! Perhaps you might actuall discuss it...nah, that would mean admitting Wiggins weaknesses. Can't do that...gotta show the stiff upper British lip, right governor?

Anyone know where ACF94 went? Maybe the flooding off all these British posters scared him off? I don't want to wave the Evans flag alone. Why is it I am one of a few not praising Wiggins? That's right...capture theory. Look it up. Brits have done that on this forum.

Gosh, what I'd give to see issoisso and other posters of his calibre return...alas, I am consigned to great rebutals like the one you've presented above and guys ripping on De Gendt prematurely (pun intended)
Then their buddies holding their hands whilst they cry...gotta love the mods warping forum rules. Oh well. Never happened back in the day when this forum was good. Oh snap, you weren't a member here then. My bad Can't fault you for something you have no knowledge of.

But by all means, do get back to me with a response discussing where Wiggins climbing prowess has been displayed. Better, I'd love to hear a clinic type discussion where one could explain his Armstongesque jump in form on the road. If Froome beats Wiggins again, what will the excuses be? Trading one Brit for another? Yeah, that sounds like the British way. Sorry my bad...he isn't reall a Brit is he? Is Wiggins? How are those Plastic Brits going? Loved by all back in the Motherland? Yeah that's what I though...Britain, the place where you buy talent or throw it a visa and don't nurture it. Don't the natives and real patriots love it?

BTW anyone have a problem with the term 'plastic brit'...take it up with British journalists who coined the term. I personally couldn't give a damn...but it's a theme that repeats itself all too often in recent history. Heck I will do you a favour...take Porte and Rogers as free collateral. Not many Aussies will miss them. The ones worth viewing ride for that Aussie team...what was it's name? Wasn't the one that had an Aussie winning today? Nah, that was BMC, must have been the other day Durbridge won...forum member named after them, can't remember the name with Sky taking up all the headlines for not winning

ACF should be coming back soon I think.

Also do you happen to know which riders here have a depreciation thread or had one until it was converted to a discussion thread/locked?
Indeed the Schlecks, Cav and Wiggins.
Just read some posts from this thread and I think it will dispell your conspiracy theory of a forum of Wiggin's lovers:
It was changed by Parrulo to a discussion thread yet it started off as A deprecation thread
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15240&highlight=wiggins+discussion

Also what difference is it, whether a Brit is plastic or not?
Or rather what is the notion behind patriotism and supporting riders from one's own country?
Just because you are born on the same patch of land and yet you have nothing in common.
If you followed the Giro celebrations in Canada you would realise that the Canadians were a bit shocked when they realised that Hesjedal hasnt lived in Canada for a long, long time and yet they still support him and they still appreciate him and love him. Isnt the whole idea a bit ridiculous?
Yet fans still support riders who race under their country's flag regardless, for no particular reason asides from that they are racing under that flag, yet I fail to see the difference between supporting that fake nationality rider and a true rider, just as they were born on different patches of land?

Of course, one set of rules for you and one for me is it not?Perhaps you can mistakenly get mad at me and run and get a mod on your friends list to tell me off...to ban me? I honestly don't care about your De Gendt slander...you're 21, people say stupid crap all the time. However I do notice your subtle and crafted jibes at many forumists...having 13K of posts doesn't grant you special priviliges...you talk garbage, worse, pick biffs with people, I remember. You started this champ last year...not me. You carried on about something that was never said about nationality.

Given you have 13K of posts in under 2 years...run the numbers. Lots of spare time, lots of interaction amongst forumists. Actually, it appears from your statement Hitch, you do know quite a lot. Good for you. Your time, do with it as you will. But frequenting the forums as much as you do, and naturally, pertaining to a level of decent intellect, you'd also have noticed some older names who were here years ago are not here as much as they once were. That I and many others don't frequent the forums like we once did, that we're not all 21 and living it up outside our home country (wanna explain to the forum why Spain ain't so grand to live in at your age because we both know it's not nice and ironically every young Spaniard has my sympathy as such) spending hours a day here and learning a great deal about the forumists identies other than a picture and a name. So naturally, when his location doesn't say Belarus, let alone have I read anything of his anytime this year that reveals as much...his nationality means sweet ****** all.

But his behaviour does indicate he sympathises with Wiggins. So I assumed he was British...because honest to God, only a pom would love Wiggins of all riders THAT MUCH. I cannot see how any other European could like him over all the others. It doesn't add up. Oh and if being labelled British or mistakenly associated with being British is so nasty, dispicable and wrong, even mistakenly by misconstrued inference, please explain why you are living in a nation I can get citizenship in a wink? One where both sides of my parents ancestral line originate? Then explain to me the history between Britain and Austalia? Our rivalry and goading of each other. Sledging Britain is what Australians do...likewise they sledge back. No we don't hate England/UK. It's just banter...sheesh, go watch the cricket next year when we turn up for the Ashes if you're still in London. That' clear it all up. Giving Wiggins a hard time is our right. Giving Evans a hard time is theirs. Heck I win overall...Murdoch owns Sky and his money was made in Australia because wait for it...daddy owned the only paper in Adelaide. Yet he sponsors a British team!!! The irony.

I apoligise for what I said last week. I was too nasty. But giving Wiggins fans a hard time ain't gonna change.

Ummm... Airstream doesnt sympathise with Wiggins all that much.

I dont really get your Murdoch reference he had all his assets with News int. which is British.
And also do you Australians not know that you are all actually British at root.
Here is what is says about you guys on Wikipedia:

For almost two centuries the majority of settlers, and later immigrants, came from the British Isles. As a result the people of Australia are mainly a mixture of British and Irish ethnic origin.

 

[Winterfold]

Ah - Galic Troll is back.

And he's hooked a sackful. Other lesser trolls will have to up their game...

 

[greenedge better then some]

brett lancaster, get's in a first day break an get's the 2 hours needed to hold on

nah but reckon it might be someone who get's in a break an can climb enough to keep a lead,bit like tommy v last year,

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Ah - Galic Troll is back.

And he's hooked a sackful. Other lesser trolls will have to up their game...

Sort of embarassed itself on the Sci-Fi front though. I would allow it as a character play, but it sort of rings a bit too true.

 

[greenedge]

@GBTS: That will be LLS ( after practising last year at the TDF and this year at the TOR- he will finally do that ).

 

[taiwan]

Could do with a fresh thread at this point.

On topic, Hesjedal will provisionally start Le Tour as a co-leader and says if anything he's getting stronger. Can anyone see him getting top 10 or anything, off the back of the Giro? That would be pretty impressive.

 

[phanatic]

Ryder is looking to double up. I may have voted for Frank, but if Ryder is really getting stronger, I feel like I have to root for him as it would be both such a huge upset and an amazing feat.

edit: taiwan beat me to it, though more apprehensively.