Who will win the Tour de France this year?

[Barracuda]

Cadel ..... Bertie will be stripped of wins retospectively for one to many steak sandwiches.

 

[wirral]

Bertie to win. Schleck for second. Kloden for third.

Any link to the latest rider shortlist / probable line-up?

 

[luckyboy]

http://cyclingstartlists.com/2011/07Jul2011/01TDF2011.htm

 

[vcampbell]

Without Riis, not only Contador, but Basso is much closer to win this, than Andy.

 

[Frosty]

http://cyclingstartlists.com/2011/07Jul2011/01TDF2011.htm

Zandio the fourth name on the team sheet for Sky?

I see Bennati is down to the TdF now. He wasnt originally supposed to be riding but im guessing his absence from the Giro due to injury has seen him get the spot. Be interesting to see what his role is - in a weaker team they may be looking to him for the sprints and green jersey but the presence of the Schlecks means the team has bigger objectives. He will probably be allowed to have a go in the sprints, especially the uphill ones, but not have much support, maybe one helper in the last 10km. May end up having to work on the front on some of the stages towards the end (not many sprints later on).

 

[Archibald]

A. Schleck.

I like that you're hedging your bets that a Schleck will win, but I doubt Frank has too much chance

Get use to this sight in July

Agreed - wiggins will only be watching Evans **** for most of the tour


As for the actual winner, I'm a bit mixed on this. Last year I wanted Schlecklet to beat Contador. This year I've been thinking that I don't really want Andy to win. Now that they're both in it, I don't really know who I'd prefer. Probably neither...
Basso? Nope, can't say I'd like that either.
So anyone else please.

Still, my head says Contador. Giro won't take as much out of him as we think - he seemed to back off a bit on some stages to save himself, and never really looked like he went into the red.
Reckon Andy's just lost a few kilos in weight too, coz he must have shat when he heard that AC will be at the Tour

 

[Sophistic]

1.Basso
2.Gesink
3.Evans
4.F.Schleck
5.Horner

AC wont start and AS will underperform/not getting his usual july form bump.
The 4 MTFs are all perfect for Basso, with several tough climbs on each stage.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

ACF, you posted the wrong pictures.
Instead, get used to this sight

 

[Archibald]

ACF, you posted the wrong pictures.
Instead, get used to this sight

haha! Touche

 

[auscyclefan94]

ACF, you posted the wrong pictures.
Instead, get used to this sight

Oh but from that same race.

Paris Nice: Mont Ventoux, 2008

Gonna have a sook about Evans supposedly "sucking" Gesink's wheel?

 

[theyoungest]

ACF, you posted the wrong pictures.
Instead, get used to this sight

The sight of Evans checking Gesink's azz?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

he'll have that chance every mountain stage

 

[El Pistolero]

No bet going on between ACF and you for a fight between Cuddles and Gesink?

 

[dlwssonic]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/cache/m/MARTIN5.jpg_e_c0398ff57ac84e1276721aff7138d894.jpg

NOO Your forgot him the future winner of the tour,vuelta,giro,the 5 monuments and every single race that exists. Didnt you know he is the 3rd best climber in the world?

 

[El Pistolero]

People should really stop lying in polls by the way.

 

[dlwssonic]

Andy schleck is the big fav if contador is there or not. Contador has to require from a tiring giro which would take a hell out of him so I really cant see him doing just as well in the giro. DO NOT underestimate andy schleck I believe that he is on par with contador on the high mountains. I would be really happy if evans gets on the podium but i admit its going to be really hard. he has to be the likes of basso,samu and VDB. not sure about gesink. anything above a 3rd place for evans would be a treat.

 

[theyoungest]

he'll have that chance every mountain stage

Yeah, because Gesink is always unnecessarily pulling on the front

 

[Cobblestoned]

Samy Sanchez of course

(in german forums this is a real insider-joke when I post this, because I keep on saying this for many years now. lol )

Remember the name - Samy Sanchez, yeah

 

[movingtarget]

I hope Contador rides The Tour will be a mess without him, some random might win from a long break.

Without Saxo the tour will look to Leopard to control the race - I just don´t think they have the team to do it 5 years of course they did but Stuey and Jens are getting old legs now, and Andy just not that smart.... and I have a feeling Frank might end up as the best placed from Leopard.

Contador
Samu
Evans/Gesink
Evans/Gesink
Frank

I disagree. I think the race will be much better and more closely fought without Contador. I don't think Schleck will run away with it in Contador's absence. I suppose it's all about how Contador backs up if he starts. Even though he made it look easy in the Giro, he claims he found it difficult. God knows how the others felt ! When was the last time a rider in the break won a grand tour ? Close in the Giro last year, and of course the 2006 TDF but it is very rare. Both sets of circumstances were extreme not to mention bizarre. I can't see any possible way Frank will finish ahead of Andy except for illness or a crash.

 

[boomcie]

Samy Sanchez of course

(in german forums this is a real insider-joke when I post this, because I keep on saying this for many years now. lol )

Remember the name - Samy Sanchez, yeah

You mention those German forums every now and then.

Aren't German forums the most horrible place to discuss cycling? The bitterness toward the sport is massive in your country, no?

 

[theyoungest]

You mention those German forums every now and then.

Aren't German forums the most horrible place to discuss cycling? The bitterness toward the sport is massive in your country, no?

No, they're not bitter, they're just too busy formulating fictional scientific laws to prove that Tony Martin is a great climber on any kind of gradient

 

[henryg]

Andy schleck is the big fav if contador is there or not. Contador has to require from a tiring giro which would take a hell out of him so I really cant see him doing just as well in the giro. DO NOT underestimate andy schleck I believe that he is on par with contador on the high mountains.

Andy was on a par with Contador last year when Contador's form was well below the previous year or this year. If Contador has the same form he had in the Giro he will ride away from Andy in the mountains. Contador seems to have reached a new level in his performance and is at the peak of his powers. Also having Riis in Contador's corner may be another negative for the Schlecks.

There is a fair chance the contest will not be as evenly matched as last year.

 

[Cobblestoned]

You mention those German forums every now and then.

Aren't German forums the most horrible place to discuss cycling? The bitterness toward the sport is massive in your country, no?

Actually it looks like this right now after the Ullrichwars. Like a battlefield.
This horse still managed to carry me out.
Still some nice places left, but really small communitys with some survivors and real cycling enthusiasts.
It's getting better, now that all the haters, "real cyclingfans" and supertrolls left after they finished their mission and war is over.

Now you can slowly start sowing a little bit love for cycling. Takes time to built it all up again.

 

[boomcie]

Soon, poppies will rise and make that battlefield a beautiful place once again.

That picture was taken in Poland! Liar!

 

[Descender]

haha gotta love the date of that picture.