Well I got the chance to shake the hand of the possible winner of this year's tour de france and the winner of the tour de ga. Floyd Landis I think he has a shot. What are the predictions out there for this years tour de france. I like floyd landis, hincapie, ulrich, and a long shot of rassmussen if he could have learned to not fall off the bike in the time trial twice!
what about the kid..
Yaroslav POPOVYCH
There were several of the mountain stages that he kept right with lance last year...
Two names that haven't been mentioned yet:
-Ivan Basso: two podiums the last two years
-Alejandro Valverde: 5th overall through stage 12 and leading the white jersey standings, (had to abadon with knee tendonitis), won stage 10, beating Lance in a sprint to the finish
It'll be very interesting to see what happens in a post Lance tour, seems like there's a lot of really good contenders, and no prohibative favorite.
to me, i think Ivan Basso is almost a given. He still has a great tream around him, and now has his biggest hurdle gone. He also rides a Cervelo!!!!!
Gotta go with Hincapie.
Probably more wishful, but he should be a contender.
[QUOTE=RV]Gotta go with Hincapie.
Probably more wishful, but he should be a contender.[/QUOTE]
I don't know about Hincapie, he crashed 3 weeks ago in France, anyone else see that? His bars broke and he had a nasty bone braking fall. Poor guy, first he gets speeding tickets because of someone in the Trifuel, and now this. I'm going with Floyd, because he is a tough fighting mennonite, and was the only one from the discovery team, that would question the authority. Lets here it for the book of Floyd. What about the Utahan, what's that guys name. Remember him, he crashed, badly last year, and Lace refused to wear the tricout for the first part of the race, out of respect. My bet is Jan, since Lance isn't around anymore, but I hope for Basso or Landis.
A more interesting question to pose is: Who will get busted this year for doping?
[QUOTE=Ryan]to me, i think Ivan Basso is almost a given. He still has a great tream around him, and now has his biggest hurdle gone. He also rides a Cervelo!!!!![/QUOTE]
Basso is my pick. I dont think Ullrich will even be on the podium.
hincapie had a nasty spill but he did have some fancy steering skills to get off the road. Talk about bad luck.
Blood doping thought: Ekmov on discovery oh wait that was EPO it was hair growth formula or thats what they told me it was!
Landis didn't have respect for his parent's rules to not ride his bike (or so I have heard)so maybe he doesn't have any respect for other rules... maybe he will be first to get busted.
Just joking about the doping thing I really am naive and think that all these guys are clean and kind really ride that fast one their own.
I do like Basso for the overall too.
[QUOTE=sldotter]hincapie had a nasty spill but he did have some fancy steering skills to get off the road. Talk about bad luck.
[/QUOTE]
Ya, that was something to see... Thought the report was that he would be ready for the Tour. Is that no longer the case?
Maybe not this year, but I think Valverde could be the next 5-time winner.
Also, Discovery should use Danielson in the Tour de France instead of the Giro. He has shown he can time trial and climb.
as far as I know hincapie is going to be there in july.
[QUOTE=sldotter]as far as I know hincapie is going to be there in july.[/QUOTE]
thanks ...
You gotta love Basso's chances.
I really think this could be the year t-mobile and csc fight it out at the top for the team spot. Disco doenst have a chance even with popvich and hincape.
Ulrich or wont be in the tour-EPO positive. OR he will burn out as usuall...sorry i just dont like Ulrich.
CSC will domintate until the mountains where T-mobile will take over.
Closest tour in a while GC will be won in under 5 min.
All between BASSO, HINCAPE, and VINOKOUROV
Stuard O'Grady could win the sprints
Who really even cares about Grio? Honestly...Its like the AFL compared to the NFL. Except not that bad.
GA I like becase the tour dupont got the boot (Thoes idiots)
[SIZE=4]BEWARE THE PROPHECY [/SIZE]
Im still thinking that Ulrich has a damn good shot..
Basso will fight till the end..
Vinokourov will win stages
Rassmussen just fell apart lastyear (equipement or not knowing the course??) but he was a contender..
Hincapie is a solid rider who can bring a good "all around" game to the TdF
I'd have to say it REALLY could be anyone's tour... I think i'll watch with MORE intensity this year than I did lastyear..
I think it will be great if we don't know who is going to win until the end. It might be more interesting.
I was thinking about it...
But I'll stick with triathlon again this year! :D
I have to keep up my run this year, maybe I can keep up with Lance at NYC
No love for The Mantis? I think Floyd has a great shot this year. 5th last year and he has been riding out of his mind so far. Wins at the TdC and TdG already. Ofcourse, Basso will be up there. Vinokourov will be attacking all over the place like usual. He's got a good shot at top 5. Haven't heard too much from Levi since TdC, but I think he's got a shot at top 5, moving up from 7th (?) last year.
I'll give Landis, Basso and a third to be names later in my top 3.
2006 should be an exciting TdF. Once again, Stage 19 is an Individual Time Trial (56km). LA is such an outstanding all-around rider that the Tour was over before this stage started in 05. Hopefully it will be close this year and the winner might be decided in this stage. IMO the top five (in no particular order) will be Basso, Vinokourov, Mancebo, Landis, Ullrich.
FYI – latest results from Tour de Romandie
Overall
1. Chris Horner (USA), Davitamon-Lotto, 8:31.11
2. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 0:07
3. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, same time
4. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak, at 0:09
5. Jörg Jaksche (G), Liberty Seguros, at 0:11
[QUOTE=TBRAVO]
FYI – latest results from Tour de Romandie
Overall
1. Chris Horner (USA), Davitamon-Lotto, 8:31.11
2. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 0:07
3. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, same time
4. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak, at 0:09
5. Jörg Jaksche (G), Liberty Seguros, at 0:11[/QUOTE]
I thought these were your predictions for the 06 TdF. I was like, you've got to be kidding me!!! Maybe I should read the whole post next time.
Basso for TdF '06. If he has gotten better at TT, then he will be in top 3 for sure. Ulrich is washed up and probably crapped himself out in the off season as he usually does. Hincapie is a great overall rider but maybe too used to being a helper (domestique or whatever its called) than a leader. I like Hincapie more for single day events or sprint orientated long rides.
[QUOTE=glbrum]I thought these were your predictions for the 06 TdF. I was like, you've got to be kidding me!!! Maybe I should read the whole post next time.[/QUOTE]
LOL. Not too many big names in this race. Evans, Mazzoleni, Julich, McEwen, Ullrich...that's about it. Ullrich is not looking too good even for his first race of the season, he is over 10 minutes back.
-T