Tour de France

[Alpedhuez55]

The Tour starts on Saturday. This years tour should be wide open. There is not clear favorite. Levi, Contador and Kloden would all be picks for the top 5, but Astana was left out of the tour. Cadel Evans was second last year, but there may not be enough time trialing for him to win. I think we will see a pure climber like Mauricio Soler, win. Even the Green Jersey will be up for grabs with Tom Boonen out due to his cocaine abuse.

It is also nice to see some new sponsors in the sport. Garmin and Columbia both stepped up and sponsored American based teams despite all the bad press in recent years.

My Lanterne Rouge contest is posted. so feel free to join in!!!

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...35#post1740735

[Aaron]

Minor self-serving plug, here. I work for bicycle.net where there's lots of TdF coverage. If there's an angle you want covered, let me know and I'll let the powers-that-be know.

[mosesbotbol]

I like Cadel Evans to win it.

[Don Fernando]

Denis Menchov of Rabobank is one of the outsiders to keep an eye on, although he won't have Thomas Dekker and Michael Boogerd to fight for him this year.

[jdbwolverines]

I usually get pretty excited for the Tour every year, but this time with Astana not being allowed to compete, it will be lacking. When the strongest cycling team is banned for pretty weak reasons, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This wouldn't be an issue if they had any Frenchmen on the team I'm guessing.

[gvarsity]

Originally Posted by Aaron

Minor self-serving plug, here. I work for bicycle.net where there's lots of TdF coverage. If there's an angle you want covered, let me know and I'll let the powers-that-be know.

I haven't looked at your site yet so this may be covered. The one thing that I really am looking for is a site that talks about the team strategy and some of the strategic implications of different moves that happen during the tour in contrast just giving a running tally on what has happened.

A couple of years ago there was an amateur that ran a blog that really talked about the nuances in a way that made sense to this casual fan. He did a real good job of predicting what teams would try to accomplish in certain stages and how that played to their style or strengths and you could then watch following stages looking for certain types of things to occur. It really helped me understand that cycling really is a TEAM sport and not just a bunch of guys riding near each other.

[Opusfxd]

Evans has a good looking team behind him and so does Menchov, but I'm going to be watching CSC and Cancellara. On paper, he's got one heck of a team behind him if they can all play nice together.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by Aaron

Minor self-serving plug, here. I work for bicycle.net where there's lots of TdF coverage. If there's an angle you want covered, let me know and I'll let the powers-that-be know.

The site looks great. I will start reading it. What do you do for them? If you by any chance make it to Greenville for the US Pro Championships, let me know.

It is tough saying what needs more coverage. I always like reading a tour diary from a domestique. Gives you a different take on the race.

[Opusfxd]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

I always like reading a tour diary from a domestique. Gives you a different take on the race.

Now that would be cool!

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by Opusfxd

Evans has a good looking team behind him and so does Menchov, but I'm going to be watching CSC and Cancellara. On paper, he's got one heck of a team behind him if they can all play nice together.

Cancellara can't climb good enough. Of you want to bet CSC, put your money on Frank Schleck.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Cancellara can't climb good enough. Of you want to bet CSC, put your money on Frank Schleck.

Schleck has been inconsistent in the past through. You just cannot have a bad day in the mountains, unless you are a great time trialist. Sastre is CSC's best chance at a high GC.

[Opusfxd]

Well you have to start somewhere and I'm starting with CSC. I have a feeling but I don't know what it is yet.

[j6ppc]

This year's Tour has been pretty nice to watch so far. The lack of a prologue and time bonuses in the initial stages has meant the the GC riders have had to come out and play in earnest rather earlier than usual.

There are comparatively few true sprinter's stages this year as well.

Looks to be a good race. Not as good as this year's Giro due to the relatively easy route and the exclusion of Astana but fun to watch nonetheless.

[b128thopen]

I know absolutely nothing about Bike Racing, but I turned the TDF on for the last 50 miles of the first stage and was amazed and the skill and teamwork that i witnessed. I watched the second phase yesterday and have TVOed the rest. I hope I can keep up or I am going to run out of room very quickly!

[Don Fernando]

you'll get hooked just wait till they reach the mountains, then you will see man to man fights, teamwork and tactics as you never seen them before.