View Full Version : Le Tour 2009 [R]
Dead Fingers
17 Mar 2009, 02:51 PM
I know, I know, still a couple months away, BUT teams have been announced
GERMANY
Team Milram (MRM)
BELGIUM
Quickstep (QST)
Silence - Lotto (SIL)
DENMARK
Team Saxo Bank (SAX)
SPAIN
Caisse d’Epargne (GCE)
Euskaltel - Euskadi (EUS)
UNITED STATES
Garmin - Slipstream (GRM)
Team Columbia - High Road (THR)
FRANCE
AG2R - La Mondiale (ALM)
Agritubel (AGR)
BBox Bouygues Telecom (BTL)
Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne (COF)
Française des Jeux (FDJ)
ITALY
Lampre - N.G.C. (LAM)
Liquigas (LIQ)
KAZAKHSTAN
Astana (AST)
NETHERLANDS
Rabobank (RAB)
Skil-Shimano (SKS)
RUSSIA
Team Katusha (KAT)
SWITZERLAND
Cervélo Test Team (CTT)
panicfc
31 May 2009, 02:36 PM
Do you think Astana will be the same team today as it is on Day 1 of the Tour?
Personally, I say no way. There will be changes made, possibly a new team name and Contador will shift to another team.
KyleP
31 May 2009, 03:46 PM
Do you think Astana will be the same team today as it is on Day 1 of the Tour?
Personally, I say no way. There will be changes made, possibly a new team name and Contador will shift to another team.
Nah, I think Contador will still be there but there could be a new team name, I'm thinking something like Trek/Livestrong maybe, definitely Armstrong influenced. :D
Then again with what's going on with Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne will be without a leader for the Tour and so could possibly go for Contador if all this Astana mess doesn't get sorted out.
panicfc
31 May 2009, 06:11 PM
I think Lance is going to want to win the tour himself.
Also, bigsoccer has some sort of vibrating ad that is quite annoying.
aveslacker
01 Jun 2009, 12:19 PM
Nah, I think Contador will still be there but there could be a new team name, I'm thinking something like Trek/Livestrong maybe, definitely Armstrong influenced. :D
Then again with what's going on with Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne will be without a leader for the Tour and so could possibly go for Contador if all this Astana mess doesn't get sorted out.
At first I thought that Lance was going to be happy playing the role of domestique (like he did for Levi in the Giro), but as Lance got stronger during the Giro, I think he might have gotten the idea into his head that he could ride for the GC in the Tour.
If that's the case, and if Lance works out some deal to take Astana's license, I could see Bert moving to another team.
However, I don't see Lance wining the Tour this year. Podium, maybe, but not the maillot jaune. Should be a fun few weeks, though.
cjump
01 Jun 2009, 12:46 PM
predictions:
Yellow-maillot jaune- Alberto Contador
Green-maillot vert- Mark Cavendish
White-maillot blanc- Andy Shleck
Polka Dot-maillot à pois rouges-
Team- Columbia High Road or Team Faded.
aveslacker
01 Jun 2009, 12:55 PM
predictions:
Yellow-maillot jaune- Alberto Contador
Green-maillot vert- Mark Cavendish
White-maillot blanc- Andy Shleck
Polka Dot-maillot à pois rouges-
Team- Columbia High Road or Team Faded.
I'd be surprised if Cav got the green jersey because a) he may not finish and b) he generally doesn't contest intermediate sprints.
And who's this mysterious guy that you have winning the pois rouges?
cjump
01 Jun 2009, 01:10 PM
I'd be surprised if Cav got the green jersey because a) he may not finish and b) he generally doesn't contest intermediate sprints.
he came out and said leaving the TdF last year was a massive mistake and that he is going to battle for the malliot vert. i think the man can do it.
And who's this mysterious guy that you have winning the pois rouges?
ill fill that in at the end of stage 20. i have no clue who will win the red pea jersey.
KyleP
01 Jun 2009, 01:43 PM
At first I thought that Lance was going to be happy playing the role of domestique (like he did for Levi in the Giro), but as Lance got stronger during the Giro, I think he might have gotten the idea into his head that he could ride for the GC in the Tour.
If that's the case, and if Lance works out some deal to take Astana's license, I could see Bert moving to another team.
However, I don't see Lance wining the Tour this year. Podium, maybe, but not the maillot jaune. Should be a fun few weeks, though.
Yeah, I think he now honestly believes he has a decent chance of contesting the yellow jersey, which, in my view, is ridiculous, especially when you already have an odds-on favourite in your team in Contador. One thing's for sure, if Contador is still on that team by the time the Tour starts and Lance is riding well then sparks are gonna fly!
panicfc
01 Jun 2009, 06:04 PM
he came out and said leaving the TdF last year was a massive mistake and that he is going to battle for the malliot vert. i think the man can do it.
ill fill that in at the end of stage 20. i have no clue who will win the red pea jersey.
As a big guy, I'd love to rock the polka dot jersey ;)
Cav - no dice. If boonen is in, he wears green.
Yeah, I think he now honestly believes he has a decent chance of contesting the yellow jersey, which, in my view, is ridiculous, especially when you already have an odds-on favourite in your team in Contador. One thing's for sure, if Contador is still on that team by the time the Tour starts and Lance is riding well then sparks are gonna fly!
Do you think Menchie is going to be too worn out for a double attempt?
Supposedly Astana is okay now, but we'll see.
What about Basso or Pellizoti? I like that Liquigas team and their kit. just lovely.
cjump
01 Jun 2009, 07:31 PM
lance will contend with alberto.
menchov will have legs for the first week.
boonen is done for the year.
ivan is the sleeper.
aveslacker
01 Jun 2009, 08:44 PM
Here are the odds from Bwin. We shouldn't forget about Schleck - either of them.
Alberto Contador (ESP) 2.20
Lance Armstrong (USA) 4.00
Andy Schleck (LUX) 7.50
Cadel Evans (AUS) 13.00
Levi Leipheimer (USA) 17.00
Denis Menchov (RUS) 21.00
Carlos Sastre (ESP) 21.00
Ivan Basso (ITA) 29.00
Michael Rogers (AUS) 34.00
Roman Kreuziger (CZE) 34.00
Frank Schleck (LUX) 34.00
Samuel Sanchez (ESP) 41.00
Christian Vande Velde (USA) 51.00
Andreas Kloeden (GER) 51.00
Robert Gesink (NED) 51.00
Oscar Pereiro (ESP) 67.00
Kim Kirchen (LUX) 67.00
Stijn Devolder (BEL) 67.00
Juan Mauricio Soler (COL) 67.00
Damiano Cunego (ITA) 67.00
KyleP
02 Jun 2009, 01:49 PM
4.00 are just stupid odds for Armstrong, shows how much the bookies really know about cycling.
Getting out my crystal ball, I see the top 5 like this:
1. Contador
2. Sastre
3. Evans
4. Menchov
5. Armstrong (or A. Schleck)
Going on my Giro predictions though (1st Leipheimer, 2nd Basso, 3rd Cunego) I'll probably be completely wrong. :p
Also, I really hope this whole Vienna blood bank thing doesn't mirror what happened with Operacion Puertro and suddenly erupt just before the Tour starts, or even during it. I'm a bit worried that Menchov or maybe other riders are going to get seriously caught up in this.
aveslacker
02 Jun 2009, 02:28 PM
4.00 are just stupid odds for Armstrong, shows how much the bookies really know about cycling.
Getting out my crystal ball, I see the top 5 like this:
1. Contador
2. Sastre
3. Evans
4. Menchov
5. Armstrong (or A. Schleck)
Going on my Giro predictions though (1st Leipheimer, 2nd Basso, 3rd Cunego) I'll probably be completely wrong. :p
Also, I really hope this whole Vienna blood bank thing doesn't mirror what happened with Operacion Puertro and suddenly erupt just before the Tour starts, or even during it. I'm a bit worried that Menchov or maybe other riders are going to get seriously caught up in this.
The price reflects the action on each rider, not who the bookies actually think is going to win. It means that the average punter overvalues Lance's chances (:p), not that the book thinks he's going to win. Still, however, you're right when you say that Lance is way overpriced.
I'm not sure I would put Menchov in that top 5. I think he got lucky that the big mountain stages in the Giro were shortened for various reasons. When the Tour passes through the highest peaks, he's likely to be left behind by the likes of Bert and Sastre. Other than that, I think I'm pretty much with you on the top 5.
My top 5 would be:
1) Bert
2) Sastre
3) Evans
4) Schleck
5) Lance
johan neeskens
02 Jun 2009, 03:49 PM
I'm going to be Dutch and subjective about this and say Rabo deserve it on account of how Rasmussen screwed them over after Dekker and Boogerd in particular worked their arses of for him. Go Menchov! I also hope Gesink who's from my neck of the woods delivers on his promise and wins himself a heroic mountain stage.
KyleP
02 Jun 2009, 04:09 PM
I'm not sure I would put Menchov in that top 5. I think he got lucky that the big mountain stages in the Giro were shortened for various reasons. When the Tour passes through the highest peaks, he's likely to be left behind by the likes of Bert and Sastre. Other than that, I think I'm pretty much with you on the top 5.
True, Menchov usually has at least one terrible day in the Tour, when he really suffers, but going by how he performed last year I think he at least has the consistency to make the top 5. Then again he could be completely shattered after his Giro efforts, we'll just have to wait and see.
aveslacker
02 Jun 2009, 04:16 PM
I'm going to be Dutch and subjective about this and say Rabo deserve it on account of how Rasmussen screwed them over after Dekker and Boogerd in particular worked their arses of for him. Go Menchov! I also hope Gesink who's from my neck of the woods delivers on his promise and wins himself a heroic mountain stage.
If only Menchov had the personality of Flecha, he'd be a lot easier to root for. Like I said, I think he's going to find it hard going in places like the Ventoux, but who knows - he didn't seem too bothered in some of the taller mountains in the Giro.
KyleP
02 Jun 2009, 04:34 PM
If only Menchov had the personality of Flecha, he'd be a lot easier to root for. Like I said, I think he's going to find it hard going in places like the Ventoux, but who knows - he didn't seem too bothered in some of the taller mountains in the Giro.
Speaking of Flecha, here's one of his finest moments. :p
http://fragg.me/video/tour-spain-juan-antonio-flecha-american-flag
aveslacker
02 Jun 2009, 09:16 PM
That's pretty funny. Incidentally, the guy he took the flag from is a pretty well known fan. People call him Antler Man or Antler Guy (http://deadspin.com/5158708/leading-the-herd-at-the-tour-of-california). He shows up at all the grands tours, I think (and is apparently a few french fries short of a Happy Meal).
johan neeskens
03 Jun 2009, 05:11 AM
If only Menchov had the personality of Flecha, he'd be a lot easier to root for. Like I said, I think he's going to find it hard going in places like the Ventoux, but who knows - he didn't seem too bothered in some of the taller mountains in the Giro.
He's the strong silent type just like Indurain was. Well liked in the team though.
There aren't anywhere near as many mountain stages in the Tour as there were in the Giro. If Menchov loses time I reckon it'll be in the flat stages just like last year owing to a lack of concentration.