Who will win the Tour de France this year?

[Parrulo]

What recourse does the ASO have to keep Contador from racing the Tour this year? If the Astana 2008 situation is any indicator, they can pick and choose who attends their race. Even though Vino and Kash both got popped the year before, the Astana team not invited in '08 didn't feature any convicted dopers. But they were shunned, anyway.

Will the ASO allow a Contador-helmed Saxo squad to participate? (And should this be a new thread topic?)

well contador can ride because he was cleared by the spanish federation. so until proven/judged guilty he is innocent and free to ride. therefore i think the ASO can't do anything about it

 

[ansimi]

What recourse does the ASO have to keep Contador from racing the Tour this year? If the Astana 2008 situation is any indicator, they can pick and choose who attends their race. Even though Vino and Kash both got popped the year before, the Astana team not invited in '08 didn't feature any convicted dopers. But they were shunned, anyway.

Will the ASO allow a Contador-helmed Saxo squad to participate? (And should this be a new thread topic?)

I think the current rules mean that Saxo is invited for sure. If they really don't want Contador there then I think they could convince him not to come though.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Contador to definately start!
CAS hearing 1 august....

So, number 1 and 2 already known now.

http://www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com/

Yeah Contador will take it and Evans (indeed Cadel Evans ) will take second

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Menchov wasn't at his complete top level at the giro.
But he did well at both I agree.

But this year's giro was harder no doubt, and AC smashed his opponents. He might have been heads and shoulders above the pack, but the effort must be taxing. And the field is much better at this year's field compared to 08'.

I personally don't think he can do the double, no way.

I might very well end up with egg on my face, we'll see.
I have said it before, but I think seeing AC struggle at the tour and even crack would be an awesome sight. Not in a "yes he is failing, boo ac" way, but in a "ahh he is human. Giro + Tour was simply too much." sort of way.

one of us will end up with egg on the face because I think AC can win the double.

It will be interesting in this more elite field of contenders just how human he is. If AC fails the double, that will really say how hard it is to succeed at it.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I think the current rules mean that Saxo is invited for sure. If they really don't want Contador there then I think they could convince him not to come though.

Convince him ...how?

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

Convince him ...how?

"Don't you set foot in our GT or there might be a terrible, terrible 'accident' involving your body parts and a bunch of drunken sailors"

 

[jens_attacks]

wanccer proudhomme is happy right now but he will bullshiit you again,"tour de france is a victim,contador is free so what can we do?"ahahahaha
of course tour de france popularity has just skyrocketted.a battle contador-schleck that's the real deal,lots and lots of money.

good for cycling.go get them alberto!

 

[phanatic]

I think he meant something more like this guy.

*response to Chef_Vodnik

 

[ansimi]

Convince him ...how?

He doesn't seem like the type of athlete that would thrive in an environment where he was booed and harassed all over France. The race organizers can do a lot to make him feel unwelcome if they want to. They can not give him #1, give his team the worst hotels, let the media hound him...lots of things. And, of course, they can make sure he's not only drug-tested every day but they can wake him up and make it as inconvenient and invasive as possible. The media and the fans could make it even worse for him. They could embarrass him and his sponsors at every turn.

He seemed pretty well-received in Italy though. He's the best stage racer of his generation and I think he might be welcomed at the Tour.

 

[Netserk]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31052011/2/cycling-contador-race-tour-cas-delay.html

YES!!! Now we just need Alberto to confirm that he will participate

"So yes, Alberto Contador can start the Tour," Tour director Christian Prudhomme, who also hit out at WADA and the UCI, told Reuters.

"We wanted a quick resolution, before the Tour, but it looks like it was too much asking.

"No ruling body -- the UCI or CAS -- opposed Contador's presence on races this year. They did not even oppose the hearing's postponement."

 

[greenedge]

So he can go well in a lab. Cav can't and gets results. Talk about Gesink's perfect body after he podiums ( if he does )

 

[auscyclefan94]

I just found it funny how the Dutch mafia were all over Bavarianrider like a dog to a bone!

I didn't mean the racing but the personne. Gesink might be a nice guy, but really he has no charisma, or anything intersting on him what so ever. His anti athletic skeletton physics doesn't help either. Really outside Holland nobody cares about him. Not wanting to hurt anyone, but that's just what it is.

Gesink must be devastated that he can't win the charisma classification .

At least He has a chance at riding top 10 in a GT!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Convince him ...how?

D'oh.. In this way of course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcu5Bfsx5Pk

 

[JimPanzen]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31052011/2/cycling-contador-race-tour-cas-delay.html

YES!!! Now we just need Alberto to confirm that he will participate

"So yes, Alberto Contador can start the Tour," Tour director Christian Prudhomme, who also hit out at WADA and the UCI, told Reuters.

"We wanted a quick resolution, before the Tour, but it looks like it was too much asking.

"No ruling body -- the UCI or CAS -- opposed Contador's presence on races this year. They did not even oppose the hearing's postponement."

Imo, these are signs that Conti will be acquitted by CAS anyway. I cannot imagine that Prudhomme would take the chance of AC being stripped of his results afterwards. But we'll see...

 

[greenedge]

And Gesink shall beat Martin in a time trial this TDF. I like Gesink but just don't hype up his lab results. That would actually be a great Avatar beat, Dutch vs German who shall win in a ITT out of Gesink and Martin

 

[greenedge]

yeah because it's not like Gesink has proven anything in GC's yet.
Every GT Gesink has finished in his career has been in the top 7. Every stage-race Gesink rode in 2011 he has been in the top 3 (!!)

But yes, he must prove himself first in the Dauphine before you put him in the top 10. You have a weird opinion.

Same with Cadel. And Cadel would have gone well at F-W

Originally Posted by auscyclefan94
Basoo won't top 5. There is my bold prediction. Just wondering, who does Liquigas left for the tour as personally I think their team for the Giro was quite decent but I am not sure about it for the tour.

Completly agree with that.

 

[theyoungest]

So he can go well in a lab. Cav can't and gets results. Talk about Gesink's perfect body after he podiums ( if he does )

His perfect body... what a way with words you have, darling

I was just refuting Bavarianbigot's point about those skinny climbers only putting out high Watts p/kg, and not high Watts full stop.

 

[Midnightfright]

Same with Cadel. And Cadel would have gone well at F-W

Originally Posted by auscyclefan94
Basoo won't top 5. There is my bold prediction. Just wondering, who does Liquigas left for the tour as personally I think their team for the Giro was quite decent but I am not sure about it for the tour.

Completly agree with that.

actually as do I but still think he will top 10, finish just behind tgbm and wiggans

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I just found it funny how the Dutch mafia were all over Bavarianrider like a dog to a bone!

Originally Posted by Bavarianrider.
I didn't mean the racing but the personne. Gesink might be a nice guy, but really he has no charisma, or anything intersting on him what so ever. His anti athletic skeletton physics doesn't help either. Really outside Holland nobody cares about him. Not wanting to hurt anyone, but that's just what it is.

Gesink must be devastated that he can't win the charisma classification .

At least He has a chance at riding top 10 in a GT!

LOL. That charisma classification is a good one. Maybe they could put that class in a new race like the Tour of Andorra.

 

[Bavarianrider]

And Gesink shall beat Martin in a time trial this TDF. I like Gesink but just don't hype up his lab results. That would actually be a great Avatar beat, Dutch vs German who shall win in a ITT out of Gesink and Martin

Is this a joke? I don't think that even the most german hating Dutch person would take that bet

 

[movingtarget]

I have yet to see Tony Martin put in an attack like Gesink did in many, many mountain stages over the past years, or win a race like Emilia/Montreal in the way he did. If anything, Martin is the prototype of the boring rider who follows in the mountain stages and strikes in the time trials.

The time trial will have to favour a rider like Gesink who is much better in that discipline than either of the Schleck brothers. For me Gesink has to finish in the top five at least. No Menchov, Contador backing up, Sanchez and Basso mixing form, Evans possibly past his best. Schleck's lack of TT results. Vino past his best. VDB and Gesink have to fancy their chances of making the podium.

 

[Konfronto]

The time trial will have to favour a rider like Gesink who is much better in that discipline than either of the Schleck brothers. For me Gesink has to finish in the top five at least. No Menchov, Contador backing up, Sanchez and Basso mixing form, Evans possibly past his best. Schleck's lack of TT results. Vino past his best. VDB and Gesink have to fancy their chances of making the podium.

Taking into account Vino's perfomance at TTs after come back, the decision that he lost his TT ability is somewhat true. Hovewer, as I know he's working on the discipline and I think we still should count him as a good TT specialist.

 

[taiwan]

Same with Cadel. And Cadel would have gone well at F-W

Originally Posted by auscyclefan94
Basoo won't top 5. There is my bold prediction. Just wondering, who does Liquigas left for the tour as personally I think their team for the Giro was quite decent but I am not sure about it for the tour.

Completly agree with that.

Their domestiques can do both the Giro and Tour, but would Nibali ride the Tour in support? Apart from Szmyd, I don't really know who the important helpers are.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Is this a joke? I don't think that even the most german hating Dutch person would take that bet

exactly, Martin is a monster on the TT bike. To me the only real threat to Cancellara.

Besides, I don't hate germans, i don't think any Dutch guys here. My sister lives in Germany and I'm thinking of moving over the border as well. Even my family heritage is German so...

 

[Bavarianrider]

exactly, Martin is a monster on the TT bike. To me the only real threat to Cancellara.

Besides, I don't hate germans, i don't think any Dutch guys here. My sister lives in Germany and I'm thinking of moving over the border as well. Even my family heritage is German so...

A little bit of exegeration always makes things a bit more interesting