Author Topic: Tour predictions thread  (Read 10561 times)

onb

  • Between jobs at present
Tour predictions thread
« on: 02 July, 2010, 12:49:10 pm »
Cant see Bradley getting a top 3 spot


1) Contador
2)Schleck
3)Basso


Cav for green if he gets his head right


KOM  Maybe Basso
.

LEE

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #1 on: 02 July, 2010, 02:29:44 pm »
I don't know who will win it but I really, really , really want Wiggo to do it.

What with the Track Cycling team, Nicole Cooke on the road, Cavendish in the sprints, Wiggo winning the tour would just about make us the top of the cycling tree.  How is Shanaze doing lately?

After the abject failure of the English football team it leaves a nice popularity gap for the cyclists to fill and further promote cycling as "not just for nerds" pastime.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #2 on: 02 July, 2010, 02:51:05 pm »
Is there a bicycle race coming up? 

*reads Guardian sport pages* :(
Getting there...

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #3 on: 02 July, 2010, 03:45:43 pm »
Cant see Bradley getting a top 3 spot


1) Contador
2)Schleck
3)Basso


Cav for green if he gets his head right


KOM  Maybe Basso

I'm not ruling Evans out - for most riders the rainbow jersey is a curse, but it seems to have had the opposite effect on him.

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #4 on: 02 July, 2010, 03:49:05 pm »
1) Contador
2) Wiggins
3) Schleck

Cav to get four stages this year but fall just short of the green jersey owing to a penalty.
Schleck to get KOM
Armstrong to go on about how he isn't saying anything and then not say anything at all and upset a top ten contender.
Evans to be disqualified for sounding like a Vuvuzella.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #5 on: 02 July, 2010, 04:20:22 pm »
Contador to win but I'm optimistic about Wiggo's chances of a podium place. He did well in the Giro, and should do better in the TdF, which will be more suited to him - the Giro seemed to be very much designed for the specialist climbers.

Kloden, Leipheimer, Basso, Evans, Vino and Schleck will all be there or thereabouts, so yeah, I suppose Wiggo will have to beat some pretty big names to get on the podium. But I reckon he's good enough. It's partly a question of whether his team can give him the support he needs - Sky look pretty inexperienced compared to the likes of Radio Shack and Saxo Bank.

I don't reckon Lance will figure in the top 10 but he'll use his experience to help his team-mates get close.

Schleck is always the bridesmaid.

Evans doesn't have the team behind him.

Cav for green.

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Karla

  • car(e) free
    • Lost Byway - around the world by bike
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #6 on: 02 July, 2010, 04:39:03 pm »
What with the Track Cycling team, Nicole Cooke on the road, Cavendish in the sprints, Wiggo winning the tour would just about make us the top of the cycling tree.  How is Shanaze doing lately?
...and Steve Peat winning the downhill world champs.

Gus

  • Loosing weight stone by stone
    • We will return
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #7 on: 02 July, 2010, 04:49:54 pm »

Two riders will be thrown out for suspicious blood values

Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #8 on: 02 July, 2010, 07:48:15 pm »
Contador
Andy Schleck
Armstrong

Hushovd for green
Aero but not dynamic

David Martin

  • Thats Dr Oi You thankyouverymuch
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #9 on: 02 July, 2010, 08:16:02 pm »
Contador
Andy Schleck
Armstrong

Hushovd for green
And your predictions for this year?
"By creating we think. By living we learn" - Patrick Geddes

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #10 on: 02 July, 2010, 08:22:19 pm »
I predict that the ITV commentary will be yet another sickening Phil 'n Paul Lance Lovefest  where he 'digs deep into the suitcase of courage', especially in the TTs, 'the race against truth' (© Phiggett 2009).
Working my way up to inferior.

Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #11 on: 03 July, 2010, 07:49:37 am »
Contador
Andy Schleck
Armstrong

Hushovd for green
And your predictions for this year?

Yes, Mrs C pointed that out to me before I posted.   :)  The only one that I'm in 2 minds about is 3rd place where I think that Armstrong/Basso/Wiggins/Evans are all pretty even.  I went for Armstrong because of his single minded determination.
Aero but not dynamic

Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #12 on: 03 July, 2010, 07:50:59 am »
I predict that the ITV commentary will be yet another sickening Phil 'n Paul Lance Lovefest 

?  But I thought that Paul isn't there this year ?
Aero but not dynamic

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #13 on: 03 July, 2010, 10:07:01 am »
Frankly Wiggo's remarks about his Garmin team last year lost me as a fan.  I'm sure that he made the right financial decision in going to Sky, but his fairly slim chances of winning the Tour will be slimmer with the relative inexperience of his current team (as a team that is) compared to Garmin, which is full of experienced riders, although few are top rank. 

Maybe he predicted what Garmin were going to do this year, i.e. become a sprinters support for Tyler Farrar.  Not his year against the Cav I think but he will push him hard.  Cav could get Green but will probably lose it mentally. 

So, Green: 1. Cav, 2. Farrar, 3. Hushovd, but that's probably wishful thinking and the order might be reversed.

Yellow: 1. Contador 2. Schleck 3. Evans 4. Wiggins

First +ve drugs test:  Better not go there...

KOM and white, I've no idea.  Anyone else got suggestions?
Peter

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #14 on: 03 July, 2010, 12:10:25 pm »
What with the Track Cycling team, Nicole Cooke on the road, Cavendish in the sprints, Wiggo winning the tour would just about make us the top of the cycling tree.  How is Shanaze doing lately?
Don't know, but I think you should include Emma Pooley in your list.  2010 palmares:
    1st La Flèche Wallonne
    1st Grand Prix de Suisse TT
    1st Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs
    1st Overall Tour de l'Aude
    1st Overall Giro del Trentino
And she beat NC in the British Championships.

To bring this back on thread: Emma Pooley to win the Giro Donne. 


Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #15 on: 03 July, 2010, 01:08:40 pm »
I predict that the ITV commentary will be yet another sickening Phil 'n Paul Lance Lovefest  

?  But I thought that Paul isn't there this year ?

Oh please let that be true.  He is by far the more cheesy of the two. Without him to feed off perhaps Phiggett will be less inane.


Edit:  AAAAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHH ! Mute on.

Edit2:: Apparently Sherwen actually said "first blood to Armstrong"   :facepalm:
Working my way up to inferior.

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #16 on: 04 July, 2010, 01:25:52 am »
1) Contador. Looked very strong on the prologue and in control.
2) Basso. Good in the mountains, where I think it will count the most this year.
3)Wiggo. I think he's been concentrating on his climbing, but still won't have enough to beat Basso and I think Contador is out of reach for everyone.


Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #17 on: 04 July, 2010, 08:49:11 am »
Edit:  AAAAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHH ! Mute on.

Obviously I was misinformed  :)

(Actually I'm quite happy to see the double act on stage again, it wouldn't be the same without them...)
Aero but not dynamic

eck

  • Gonna ride my bike until I get home...
    • Angus Bike Chain CC
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #18 on: 04 July, 2010, 08:54:47 am »
 :facepalm:
Now we'll have to put up with Paul droning on about so-and-so's "baisickle" and Phil fawning over "Laawnce".

Jeeze, I miss Duffers.  :demon:
There's a thought: Phil 'n' Paul vs Duffers 'n' Kelly.  Discuss.
It's a bit weird, but actually quite wonderful.

Rig of Jarkness

  • An Englishman abroad
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #19 on: 04 July, 2010, 09:04:44 am »
Phil & Paul win cos you get them for free, along with the considerable added bonus of Jill Douglas  :)
Aero but not dynamic

onb

  • Between jobs at present
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #20 on: 04 July, 2010, 02:03:50 pm »
Shaun Kelly wins hands down ,as a cure for insomnia.
.

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #21 on: 04 July, 2010, 02:06:13 pm »
Shaun Kelly wins hands down ,as a cure for insomnia.

+1

doesn't he ever drone on............

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #22 on: 04 July, 2010, 02:17:28 pm »
Sean Kelly has a particularly monotonous tone to his voice, and it never varies, it's all delivered at exactly the same pitch. Plus his accent makes him hard to understand at times.

Which is all a shame because when you can follow what he's saying, and stay awake long enough to hear it, he has some brilliant insight into what's going on.

I wasn't so keen on Ned Boulting at first but he's grown on me. He's much better than Gary Haircut.

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #23 on: 05 July, 2010, 10:40:28 am »
Predictions for today.

Millar to have a punt for putting 20 seconds into Cancellara to get the Yellow Jersey although Martin might have similar ideas. Neither of them are proper GC contenders so they may be allowed out. The danger being that Wiggins might want to take some of his defecit on the top ten which will attract some attention. Somehow the Yellow is likely to change hands today.

One of the Schlecks will pick up early KOM points but I suspect won't go straight to the top of the board, this will be someone like Auge or Chavanel.

Cavendish to keep well to the back and hope that people forget about yesterday by the time stage 4 starts.

Mind you, it would be a bit of a laugh if a handful of British riders from various teams went at it early on and see if this confuses the pack.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: Tour predictions thread
« Reply #24 on: 05 July, 2010, 10:55:27 am »
Millar to have a punt for putting 20 seconds into Cancellara to get the Yellow Jersey although Martin might have similar ideas.

Good call. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Millar went for it. These days, he reminds me of Sylvain Chavanel at his best, frequently to be seen at the front of the peloton, teeth gritted, driving it along and keeping the pace high. Really aggressive and great to watch.

Tony Martin is just one of the most exciting prospects in cycling at the moment. He's definitely a future TdF winner - maybe not this year, but I'm sure he fancies a taste of yellow...

Quote
Somehow the Yellow is likely to change hands today.

What odds on Geraint Thomas nicking it, eh? I don't think it's outside the realms of possibility.

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."