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Would you of enjoyed the tour more with Sastra And Menchov?

Jul 20, 2010
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It's been an exciting tour this year but it would of been more exciting with one of the greatest riders of the Tour De France, Denis Menchov and previous grand tour winner, Carlos Sastra in the mix.
 
Jul 27, 2009
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Sastre wouldn't have made any difference to the final outcome. Menchov a possibility.

The guys that may have had a bigger impact where the ones who crashed out in the first week.
 
While Menchov is a great rider he's also mostly follower, especially in recent years. It is very unlikely he would have animated this race to be honest (especially considering his giro form). It might have added a little bit, but not nearly as much as not having VDB2 crash out would have.
 
May 23, 2011
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Menchov would have crashed out in the first few days. We probably avoided a Soler situation.

Sastre has done nothing but wait for retirement since he got miraculously lucky in 2008.
 
THe riders i missed are Nibali Purito and maybe Scarponi. In all 3 cases im talking about them on form, not post Giro. Though Purito is special and possibly could have won Superbesse or even a mountain even after the Giro and Nibalis descending would have been awesome regardless of what form hes on.

Also one who hasnt done the Tour ever, but would be welcome - Rujano.

Finaly a rider who did start the Tour but in name only - Gadret.

Is there any doubt now that he is AGRs greatest talent? A attacking rider like him and being French, could have lit up the race even more.
 
Jul 14, 2009
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The Hitch said:
THe riders i missed are Nibali Purito and maybe Scarponi. In all 3 cases im talking about them on form, not post Giro. Though Purito is special and possibly could have won Superbesse or even a mountain even after the Giro and Nibalis descending would have been awesome regardless of what form hes on.

Also one who hasnt done the Tour ever, but would be welcome - Rujano.

Finaly a rider who did start the Tour but in name only - Gadret.

Is there any doubt now that he is AGRs greatest talent? A attacking rider like him and being French, could have lit up the race even more.

All this. Roche is painfully overrated. I'd also love to see Anton and Samu both focus on this race, that would be a fun one-two punch.
 
Apr 26, 2010
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Sastre - nope, and not for the past couple of years.
Menchov - maybe.
Nibali - definately.
I think next year Basso will do the TdF one last time and give Nibali a crack at winning the Giro in 2012. He was slightly dissapointing this time time round, and finishing third was an anti climax to the pre Giro build up.
 
luckyboy said:
Would have been better to see Menchov than any of his hopeless Russian compadres.


I was thinking today - wonder what Riccò could've done in these mountains? Would've been fun to see him on Vacansoleil.

Not as much damage as he would have done in May which was his priority. If Contador couldnt recover from the Giro, I dont think Ricco would have either.
 
Apr 14, 2010
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The Hitch said:
THe riders i missed are Nibali Purito and maybe Scarponi. In all 3 cases im talking about them on form, not post Giro. Though Purito is special and possibly could have won Superbesse or even a mountain even after the Giro and Nibalis descending would have been awesome regardless of what form hes on.

Also one who hasnt done the Tour ever, but would be welcome - Rujano.

Finaly a rider who did start the Tour but in name only - Gadret.

Is there any doubt now that he is AGRs greatest talent? A attacking rider like him and being French, could have lit up the race even more.

With you on all accounts.
 
The Hitch said:
Not as much damage as he would have done in May which was his priority. If Contador couldnt recover from the Giro, I dont think Ricco would have either.

Yeah if he did the Tour instead I meant. Damn idiot that guy is.

Been watching 2007 + 2008 highlights. I miss having a team in bright yellow in the peloton also.
 
May 14, 2010
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Damiano Machiavelli said:
Menchov would have crashed out in the first few days. We probably avoided a Soler situation.

Sastre has done nothing but wait for retirement since he got miraculously lucky in 2008.

sastre_600.jpg


Sorry. Couldn't resist. :D
 
May 23, 2011
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patrick767 said:
Menchov - definitely. It's a tragedy that the organizers chose to deny a team with both Menchov and Sastre in favor of inviting yet another French team.

Yeah. The Tour would have been much better without Europcar.
 
Apr 1, 2009
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While Sastre might have contended for a MTF or two, Menchov would most probably have crashed out/lost too much time on the descents to challenge.
So, no. Don't really miss them.
 
Mar 4, 2010
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How could you change anything? it's shaping up to be best tour in years

would have been nice to see a lot less crashes though (or none but that's never going to happen)
 
SilentAssassin said:
It's been an exciting tour this year but it would of been more exciting with one of the greatest riders of the Tour De France, Denis Menchov and previous grand tour winner, Carlos Sastra in the mix.

Sorry, at first I thought this was a joke and now I realise you were serious.
 
Menchov has been racing, he snuck into the peloton when noone was paying attention, none of the officials have noticied yet. And it wont be until he sneaks into 3rd spot after the TT before anyone does.