MMCC
climber
New Zealand
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 13, 2012 - 05:15pm PT
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It's getting close, there should be a thread.
Andy S, in or out. Ah, I just looked on Cyclingnews. Out.
Can Bradley do it?
Has Bruyneel lost the plot?
Who is/are the dark horses?
How about all that time-trialling?
And, most importantly, how many Kiwi riders this year?
Oh and.....
Who gives a rats ass about Lance Armstrong.
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Dr. F.
Ice climber
SoCal
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Jun 13, 2012 - 05:23pm PT
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Since we still have a couple weeks still
Lets talk about Lance.....
What happened???
I haven't heard the details yet
And Contrador, was he stripped of his Last Tour Win?
I haven't been updated, please help keep me informed
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porkpie
climber
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Jun 13, 2012 - 05:52pm PT
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I think Bradley Wiggins and team Sky will be hard to beat. Watch Mick Rogers (Sky) looked great in the ITT and the hills in the CdD, shouldn't get a chance though working as domestique for Wiggins. Also watch out for Cadel Evans maybe stronger in week 3 than Wiggins.
Contador was striped of his TdF win in 2010 and A Schleck is now the winner, not that he is happy about it.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Fumbling towards stone
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Jun 13, 2012 - 05:54pm PT
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One of my favorite events, even with all the controversy. Can't wait.
Eric
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MMCC
climber
New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 13, 2012 - 05:57pm PT
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Yep Evans, will he hit his peak? Hasn't had a great lead-up but if he does, and his luck holds, I reckon he'll Kick Wiggins' ass. BMC has one team, riding for Evans; Sky sort of has 2, one for green and one for yellow.
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sullly
Trad climber
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Jun 13, 2012 - 06:02pm PT
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More importantly, will the man from Man behave himself?
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zBrown
Ice climber
chingadero de chula vista
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Jun 13, 2012 - 06:08pm PT
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No truth to rumour that Greg LeMond will make a come back to show the virtues of clean living.
I like Andy.
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ELM !
climber
Near Boston
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Jun 13, 2012 - 06:09pm PT
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Team Sky is a real winner this year. Just don't pass by Garmin-Cervelo though...they are doing very well too. I secretly pull for Andy to get the win though; he has worked so hard over the last three tours and has missed the mark. Whatever happens it had best not be a crash-fest like last year!
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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Jun 13, 2012 - 06:29pm PT
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Does anyone know if there are going to be an online package from nbcsports?
I wouldn't be surprised if Horner comes back in now that Andy Shleck has pulled out. My money is on Cadel Evans this year. He is one hard tough dude.
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MMCC
climber
New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 13, 2012 - 07:15pm PT
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Yeah it would be great to see Horner in, I think he's been ripped off. Garmin Cervelo might go big alright, Ryder H is a man to watch and I bet they take the team TT.
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gf
climber
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Jun 13, 2012 - 07:20pm PT
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Ryder is likely knackered from the Giro, but i bet he'll take a couple stages. The real action will come later in the season when andy and contador face off in the tour de spain -a storied rivalry rekindled
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MMCC
climber
New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 15, 2012 - 02:34am PT
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Lance who?
Come on let's get back to the real action.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Jun 15, 2012 - 08:31am PT
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Every year, just for fun, I pick...
the winner
the podium, in no particular order (3)
polka dot jersey winner
green jersey winner
white jersey winner
team winner
best placed American
one person kicked out for failing a drug test
10 random stage winners
the winners of 5 specific stages
25 choices, 4 points each for a possible total of 100 points
Deadline for choices, the start of the first stage.
Try it.
I'll post my choices before the start of the first stage.
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troutboy
Trad climber
Newark, DE
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Jun 15, 2012 - 08:58am PT
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Some random thoughts:
Cavendish may not dominate the sprints this year; Sagan is looking pretty damn good.
I agree that Horner may be added now that AS is out, but there is something seriously amiss with Bruyneel and that team. I just don't see them pulling off a GC win, which is too bad considering they have some serious contenders (Frank Schleck and Horner) a slew of super support riders (Voight, Kloden etc). There appears to be discontent between Bruyneel and his riders and some dissent between other riders and Horner.
Is Levi recovered enough to contend ? The prologue is short, and the first time trial is not until Stage 9. That means even if not quite fit at the start, he won't lose a lot of time in the prologue and he can recover some more in the mostly flat stages before Stage 9 - the long time trial.
Cadel is looking pretty good, but not dominant. He looked strong in that recent mountain stage where he attacked and finished second.
I think the Colombians will win at least one mountain stage.
For me, Wiggins is the favorite. Superb time trials, good in the mountains, and a solid and cohesive team that can handle the different support, strategies and muscle/energy required and balance the sprints for Cavendish versus the GC for Horner.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Jun 15, 2012 - 09:07am PT
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Yeah, Radio Shack ssems to be imploding. Even if Horner is added back in, I don't seem them doing much.
I'd definitely pick Cadel over Wiggins. Cadel out-climbed him in the Dauphine, and I think will be much closer, if not ahead in the TTs in the Tour.
But it should be an interesting and wide open Tour.
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sullly
Trad climber
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Jun 15, 2012 - 09:18am PT
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Green jersey pick: Cavendish
Dope test flunky: a Spanish rider
How about a crashes out of race category?
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Jun 15, 2012 - 10:19am PT
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I wouldn't count Wiggo out. I think he is getting stronger in the mountains. If Zabriskie rides, he will probably crash.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Jun 27, 2012 - 08:57pm PT
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OK, leaving for Dinkey Creek camping trip, no time to procrastinate.
Maillot Jeune
Cadel (E)
Podium (in no particular order)
Evans (not as good a lead up but way tougher than Bradley)
Brad Wiggins (Phil's pick for MJ)
Frank Schleck (would rather pick Hesjedal but.....)
Polka Dot
Johnny Hoogerland (going with Bobke on this, "he will not be denied")
Green (points)(This could be the best ever sprinting year)
Peter Sagan (the young Robbie McEwan, he don't need no lead out train)
White (young)
Sagan
Best American
Tommy D (Danielson)(want to give it to Cristian VDV or Chris Horner but they seem cursed)
Out for Drugs (gets harder and harder to pick every year, it's a good thing)
Vino(kourov)
Team
Garmin (easy pick)
10 Random Stages
Peter Sagan
Cav(endish)(you prick)
Silvain Chavenal
Tommy Voeckler
Pierre Rolland
Sammy Sanchez
Boassen Hagen
Tyler Farrar (an emotional fave)
L.L. Sanchez
Cadel
The hardest picks.
5 Specific Stages/Prologue
Prologue-Cancellara
Stage 9- Wiggins
Stage 4- Tyler (Farrar)(good luck bro from Wenatchee)
Stage 17- Sammy Sanchez
Stage 20-Sagan
25 picks, 4 points each.
Pony up racing fans!
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Jun 27, 2012 - 09:20pm PT
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Ryder H is a man to watch and I bet they take the team TT.
Last I heard, there won't be a TTT this year. More individual TTs than ever, but no team TT
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Jun 27, 2012 - 09:24pm PT
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No TTT.
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SuperTopo on the Web
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Let us know!