Tour de France 2012
  • benedictbenedict June 2012
    Posts: 486
    Predictions? My money has to be on Wiggins - if not more through hope than belief. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an outsider topping the podium this year - without Schleck and Contador the field looks more open than it has for years. Will be interesting to see how Evans fares he's not been competing much so I'm not sure what his form looks like but I think his preparation has been the same as last year. Consensus seems to be that he is too old and the TT course will suit Wiggo better but you wouldn't rule him out.

    Green will be interesting, I think Sky are focussed on Yellow and Cav on the Olympic Road Race. Eager to see the upcoming performances of Sagan and Kittel, and I guess Griepel will be keen to score a few points too. Though I'm not bored of watching Cav win yet!

    For the prologue I'm going for Cancellara (just because). Stage 2 in Belgium my money would have to be on one of their classics riders on home territory - Gilbert or Boonen, though I'm not actually sure if they are riding - and maybe it's a bunch sprint anyway?
  • benedictbenedict June 2012
    Posts: 486
    I created a "bikes-berlin" league on http://fantasy.road.cc/ if anyone is interested - League ID is 75886
  • winstonwinston June 2012
    Posts: 676
    I'd say Wiggo IS favourite, there's plenty of miles between here and Paris though....my feeling is that it will be a year for newer talent to come to the fore....maybe not win, but new names showing themselves near the top
  • deboatdeboat June 2012
    Posts: 54
    My money is on Cadel !! I think he is the strongest all-rounder at this Tour. It will be great to see Wiggins have a good go too! And as for Cadel being to old, well I think your never too old have a good crack at something!!!
    I also think it would be great to see some new blood on the attack. The sprints should be good too ! With Cav's old lead-out man hungry for some wins.   Go Aussies !!!
    I just got a new TV too !!!!!!! 
  • Jonas June 2012
    Posts: 186
    It will be fun: think it will be a head-on battle between Cadel and Wiggens. Cadel is the better climber and never gives up, but have to say that the Sky team with Wiggens has been really impressive so far. It is always someone new popping up every year, so it will be fun to follow. 

    Sprinters: Cav always gets good form for the tour, but it will be some good battles to look forward to between him, Greipel, Renshaw (hope he gets a win - deserve one from all the great leadouts), Sagan, and the emerging Kittel. I think Sagan with his crazy good form this year will be a top contender for Green.

    Will miss Hushovd and Boonen this year. (but I won't miss Andy Schleck and Contador as much)

    Ben - thanks for setting up the league. Will try to get around to put in my picks. Makes it even more fun.
  • winstonwinston June 2012
    Posts: 676
    only 10 days (or so) away!
  • Jonas June 2012
    Posts: 186
    Wouldn't it be fun with stage wins for Voigt and Hincapie during their (likely) last tour.
  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    Quote of today: 

    "Yaroslav Popovych and I started taking turns. All told we rode 170 kilometers on the front, 85 kilometers each. [...] riding at the front gives me a chance to look at the scenery, think about the family, the dog, what I need to do when I get back from the Tour, what we can do in the weeks to come in this Tour. I sing songs or think about books and movies"

    Jens Voigt 
  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    Most other people think about survival
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    awaiting the decision on whether Tony Martin will start today.....been an unlucky year for him.
  • GeoffreyGeoffrey July 2012
    Posts: 105
    seems he is starting.
  • benedictbenedict July 2012
    Posts: 486
    yeah tough break for martin but apparently he's starting - with a fractured wrist.

    sprint finish likely today i feel tempted to go with sagan again.

    p.s. love the jens quote!

  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    WOw - that was an impressive sprint win
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    kittel retires: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kittel-quits-tour-de-france-on-stage-five
  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    Sad as always with all the crashes. Must be tough loosing so much time on today's flat stage for many of the GC riders. 
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    eciting stuff today, especially if you are Australian, Belgian, Zimbabwean...or wherever Froome is from! Seriously though...I'm looking at the top 10 and wondering where all the big hitters are....except Wiggo and cuddles.
  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    Yeah - really exciting finish today. It is a shame that many of the others have fallen off for 

    I had big hopes for Ryder Hesjedal today since he is pretty good at the steep slopes, but he didn't even start... It was also a shame of the van den Broeck's bad timing of a mechanical
    But other than Nibali it wasn't much else there. 

    Impressive showing of the Sky team!
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    Predictions for today? here's mine:

    1. Cancellara
    2. Wiggins
    3. Evans
    4. Martin

    with close margins.
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    Wiggins / TV cameraman altercation footage found: 

    Post edited by winston at 2012-07-09 01:34:45
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    Wow, great performance from Sky... something held Froome up in a previous stage I think.....crash or puncture....without that he'd be in second place right now.
  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    Very impressive. Still don't get how they can beat time trial specialists such as Cancellara by so much. 

    Close call with the camera...
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    wiggins is a time trial specialist....and Froome actually beat Wiggo in a Vuelta time trial last year....I guess it's down to who has prepared best / is less fatigued.
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    Unbelievable to have four different British stage winners in one tour. Ad in first and second place......


  • tommmmmmm July 2012
    Posts: 18
    Does anyone have a suggestion as to where to watch the finale tomorrow?
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    Paris will be the best place I reckon, they might have Eurosport on in Keirin Cafe.
  • winstonwinston July 2012
    Posts: 676
    Can not believe I will be working when this happens....charging up tablet and signing on to mobile internet right now!
  • Jonas July 2012
    Posts: 186
    Impressive! 
  • Jonas October 2012
    Posts: 186
    Very funny text about non-doping cyclists in the 2007 tour de france. 

    Best quote: "Finland's Piet Kvistik, adomestique with the Crédit Mondial team, was this year's highest-finishing non-doping rider (142nd overall). Kvistik claimed the maillot propre, the blue jersey worn by the highest-placed "clean" rider, on the ninth stage of the race when the six riders who had previously worn it tested positive for EPO, elevated levels of testosterone, and blood-packing." 

    Read the whole article! 

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