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With the start tomorrow in Rotterdam, it's time to make predictions for the podium.
I think it is without a doubt Alberto Contador's Tour to lose. He is the heavy favorite and the route seems to favor his strengths (mountains and increasingly time trialing) and lessens his weaknesses (no team time trial). His Astana team has overperformed this year and looks to protect him in the mountains with strong climbers such as Navarro, De la Fuente, Blazquez, Tiralongo as well as on the flats with Vino, Noval (Conti's good friend) and Iglinsky, and Grivko. I think Conti will test the rest of the favorites in the first stages in the Alps and drop them in the Pyrennes. He will lock it up in the time trial on the penultimate day.
1. Alberto Contador
2. Andy Schleck
3. Denis Menchov
4. Frank Schleck
5. Ivan Basso
6. Lance Armstrong
7. Samuel Sanchez
8. Janez Brajkovic
9. Cadel Evans
10. Luis Leon Sanchez
I'm sure my top 10 will be way off, but I do feel Contador will take it again this year.
I cant stand Contador. Never did care for him. I will be cheering for anyone but him to win.
I also am not so sure Astena is strong enough to help him win.
But I am excited and pumped and have the tv on verse already waiting for the start. I am not going to jinix anything so I cant do a list for ya sorry
Well, I'll be rooting for Contador (and Menchov...and an epic Armstrong fail), so it will be an interesting three weeks. On paper, one could argue that Astana isn't as strong as last year. However, that team was not very united last year with two leaders wanting two different styles of racing, so I don't think it will be all that much worse. We'll see I guess.
Prologue- Man, Cancellara crushed it today! Any idiot who thinks he has a motor in his bike needs to get a clue. That man is an amazing cyclist. I can see him taking stage 3, over the cobbles.
Great ride by Armstrong. The course was ideal for Lance. Contador had a good ride as well, despite a pancake flat course. He'll be very pleased with his ride today as he put time into all of his contenders (except LA). He is very well placed to put the hammer down in the Alps (like last year).
Many of the contenders were shelled today. Basso, Wiggins, A. Schleck, Menchov all looked like garbage. But, the mountains will be a whole different story and the Tour will be decided there.
Prologue- Man, Cancellara crushed it today! Any idiot who thinks he has a motor in his bike needs to get a clue. That man is an amazing cyclist. I can see him taking stage 3, over the cobbles.
I heard them say during the prologue, they are scanning all the bikes.
Quote:
Great ride by Armstrong. The course was ideal for Lance. Contador had a good ride as well, despite a pancake flat course. He'll be very pleased with his ride today as he put time into all of his contenders (except LA). He is very well placed to put the hammer down in the Alps (like last year).
Dancing on his pedals.
Quote:
Many of the contenders were shelled today. Basso, Wiggins, A. Schleck, Menchov all looked like garbage. But, the mountains will be a whole different story and the Tour will be decided there.
Stage 1- Should be a sprinter's stage 9but with possible wind and rain), so I am going with the obvious Cavendish. However, I'm hoping Tyler Farrar can nip him at the end.
Cant wait for tomorrows stage. I hope its dry and the drama is from attacks not from so many crashing
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