With the drug charges knocking out Basso & Ullrich, call me crazy, but i can see an American 1, 2, 3 finish.:eek:
1) Floyd Landis
2) George Hincaipe
3) Levi Leipheimer

These guys were all considers contenders [and i contended they would all finish in the top 10]. Wouldn't it be great for cycling here in the States? Just a thought. :rolleyes:

Until there's a discovery that they received more aids than just bottled water.

With the drug charges knocking out Basso & Ullrich, call me crazy, but i can see an American 1, 2, 3 finish.:eek:
1) Floyd Landis
2) George Hincaipe
3) Levi Leipheimer

These guys were all considers contenders [and i contended they would all finish in the top 10]. Wouldn't it be great for cycling here in the States? Just a thought. :rolleyes:

The Hincapie choice is interesting, isnt Acevedo the #1 on Discovery? I havent been following this years races but is Hincapie peaking for the tour he generally likes all the classics.

I think Floyd and Levi both have excellent chances of winning this baby. If you take out the 4 minutes that Basso finished ahead of them they are all very close from last years TdF.

Excited for the US chances and Sad that the best wont be riding it at the same time. When Armstorng won his first it wasnt till he beat Ullrich the following year that he was considered beyond a fluke. I fear if an American wins the same story will follow them.

The Hincapie choice is interesting, isnt Acevedo the #1 on Discovery? I havent been following this years races but is Hincapie peaking for the tour he generally likes all the classics.


Azevedo is #1 because Discovery handed out the bibs in alphabetical order....


By the way, the podium for the US could include Bobby Julich. He could be riding for some serious team pride this year.

julich may move in to the team leader role with Bassso out, did'nt he podium a few years ago?

Excited for the US chances and Sad that the best wont be riding it at the same time. When Armstorng won his first it wasnt till he beat Ullrich the following year that he was considered beyond a fluke. I fear if an American wins the same story will follow them.[/QUOTE]



I wouldn't be Sad at all. Clearly if most of the top riders have been cheating then how could they have been the best? If Lance was clean, it makes his accomplishment even more impressive that he beat pharmacologically advantaged bikers. Same with the top US finishers last year - if they were clean they might have placed even higher.

There could be 5 or so Americans in the top 10 this year.

Clearly if most of the top riders have been cheating then how could they have been the best?

I agree here too.

julich may move in to the team leader role with Bassso out, did'nt he podium a few years ago? there's aguy named sastre.

julich may move in to the team leader role with Bassso out, did'nt he podium a few years ago?

Yes, in 1998 he finished 3rd. Anyone see any irony if he finishes on the podium this year?

I wouldn't be Sad at all. Clearly if most of the top riders have been cheating then how could they have been the best? If Lance was clean, it makes his accomplishment even more impressive that he beat pharmacologically advantaged bikers. Same with the top US finishers last year - if they were clean they might have placed even higher.


Hey Im all for a clean event, but I am also for a fair process. You test positive you should be out of Cycling. I realize France is a common law country which basically means you are guilty until proven innocent, but you will have to forgive me if I am just a little pissed off that the tour wont have its best riders based on implication and and not conviction.

Time will tell who will be convicted but until a conviction these riders are still innocent. Especially without a positive test on ay of them. That they will not participate based on the current information is sad.

France is a Napoleonic Code country, not a common law country. But yeah, they seem to have weird laws. Like Louisiana.

Levi for the win.....I think Acevedo will shine as the best disco

Levi for the win.....I think Acevedo will shine as the best disco

I'm still pulling for George. It'd be great to get one of his own after all those years helping Lance. :rolleyes: I know i'm still just as excited even in the absence of Ullrich and Basso!:D

I'd love to see the reaction of the French after an American podium sweep. Crybabies.

Cadel Evans (AUS) is now also likely to make a podium finish.

I'd love to see the reaction of the French after an American podium sweep. Crybabies.

So would I. 7 years of Lance followed by another American might cause them to disband the event. LOL

So would I. 7 years of Lance followed by another American might cause them to disband the event. LOL


Hmmmm, I'm tipping 'le tour' was going about 80 years before any seppo's won it, I think it might just survive the seppo arrogance a little longer

So would I. 7 years of Lance followed by another American might cause them to disband the event. LOL

True, or they'd be forced to have a 'French only' Tour if things continue to look this bad for French cycling.
Maybe even ban American pros for some odd reason, like desecration of French fries at McDonalds.

It is truly amazing, the American success and overall high rider profile today, especially since the US participation in Euro cycling has only come fairly recently. And in the face of current Euro competition too, given the depth of cycling in say for example, Italy!

there's aguy named sastre.

I also think it'll be sastre for CSC if his form is on in the mountains. I think he finished 8th overall in 2004.

I'm pulling for Levi. Team Gerolsteiner has gotten off to a fairly mild start, but levi and the rest of his gang will shine in the mountains

George doesn't have the climbing legs to podium in the tdf.

George doesn't have the climbing legs to podium in the tdf.

I am not so sure about that. I think the guys left in the Tour that can drop George on the climbs with accelerations are not the best at time trials.

There are still many capable riders in this tour even though you would not think so from all of these posts. I suspect the US will get a podium finish, but it will not be a cake walk. I haven't heard much about Moreau but he is a very dangerous opponent.

Richard

I'd love to see the reaction of the French after an American podium sweep. Crybabies.

Honestly, they wouldn't give a ****, because they know they have nobody presently that can make it to the podium. They'll be happy if Moncoutié wins his usual stage in the Alpes, and if they win the stage on 14th July, Bastille day.

Other than that, you can be damn sure they'll find it very weird, if those guys win stages in the mountains with large advances. Let's see:

Hincapie: 32 - 9 participations in the Tour (104th, 53rd, 78th, 65th, 71st, 59th, 47th, 33rd, 14th)
Landis: 31 - 4 participations (61st, 77th, 23rd, 9th)
Leipheimer: 32 - 3 participations (6th, 9th, 8th)
(Source: Tour de France - participations with abandons not included)

Don't get me wrong. These guys are very good, but if they make it all to the podium, we'll have a fun story to tell here again.

George doesn't have the climbing legs to podium in the tdf.

Didn't George win the toughest mountain stage last year?

Hincapie: 32 - 9 participations in the Tour (104th, 53rd, 78th, 65th, 71st, 59th, 47th, 33rd, 14th)

I don't know that it'll be all that strange. I don't think Hincapie has ever tried to actually do well in the GC.

George doesn't have the climbing legs to podium in the tdf.

...only if some guys like Basso, Ulrich, Mancebo, Armstrong, Valverde...were setting the pace :)

Didn't George win the toughest mountain stage last year?

One stage with the other rider doing most of the work and the peloton not chasing doesn't tell us much.

...only if some guys like Basso, Ulrich, Mancebo, Armstrong, Valverde...were setting the pace :)

Good point. There are other riders who will step up though.

Don't underestimated Georgie.

S/F,
CEYA!
Strength and Honor!!

The plot thickens once again now that the Tour is sans Valverde...

I don't know that it'll be all that strange. I don't think Hincapie has ever tried to actually do well in the GC.

hard to do well when your busting your ass carrying somone up hill....

I don't know that it'll be all that strange. I don't think Hincapie has ever tried to actually do well in the GC.

Works in different ways:
- Sometimes working for a team leader kills your own ambition with the extra expenditure of energy you're forced to make, and lack of a team+individual strategy that supports your skills.
- Sometimes, lack of a leader with GC capability and suddenly the guys who looked good by his side in the mountains one year completely disappear the next year, without a driver to raise their own game. We'll see.

I'm all for future Tdf winner George though, he's talented and a very hard worker. Hope he also gets a Roubaix win sometime.

Works in different ways:
I'm all for future Tdf winner George though, he's talented and a very hard worker.

There's that pesky age thing though. He's no peloton spring chicken.

right, he's been riding in the tour for 10 years. that's good in one way, but bad in another. however, in an interview he said something interesting about not having to ride hard for the first hour of each stage to put lance in good position. so, i wonder what his potential is in the mountains now that he'll probably have fresher legs going into it.

There's that pesky age thing though. He's no peloton spring chicken.

On the other hand Ekimov(current) and Zoetemelk(past - 1980 winner and one of Merckx/Van Impe's greatest threats) demonstrate/demonstrated great maturity and sheer phycisal ability at 40.

Zoetemelk was 34 when he won his TDF. Hincapie is no Zoetemelk though. Keep in mind that the oldest winner ever of the TDF was 36. George has some good classics years ahead of him, but his days as a serious GC contender are going bye bye soon.

It's looking good. Though you forgot that there are other very talented riders from other countries.

Honestly, they wouldn't give a ****, because they know they have nobody presently that can make it to the podium. They'll be happy if Moncoutié wins his usual stage in the Alpes, and if they win the stage on 14th July, Bastille day.

Other than that, you can be damn sure they'll find it very weird, if those guys win stages in the mountains with large advances. Let's see:

Hincapie: 32 - 9 participations in the Tour (104th, 53rd, 78th, 65th, 71st, 59th, 47th, 33rd, 14th)
Landis: 31 - 4 participations (61st, 77th, 23rd, 9th)
Leipheimer: 32 - 3 participations (6th, 9th, 8th)
(Source: Tour de France - participations with abandons not included)

Don't get me wrong. These guys are very good, but if they make it all to the podium, we'll have a fun story to tell here again.

After the TT, I hope it has become clear Americans won't do a 1, 2, 3...Landis looking very impressive, I'm very surprised about what happened to Leipheimer (I guess the new leader there is Fothen, let's see how he climbs), but Hincapie is exactly where he should be: top, but not very top !!!

Here's the thing: take a soccer player (or a baseball player, or a football player): when he has been a professional for 12 years, it's never then you go saying: wooww, he is a new Pele, or a new Maradona.

Same with Hincapie, any rider of the 90's / beginning 2000 you ask will tell you Hincapie is NOT a great Tour rider. And if he becomes that, then that will raise questions. His result yesterday was totally normal.

Hey Im all for a clean event, but I am also for a fair process. You test positive you should be out of Cycling. I realize France is a common law country which basically means you are guilty until proven innocent, but you will have to forgive me if I am just a little pissed off that the tour wont have its best riders based on implication and and not conviction.

Time will tell who will be convicted but until a conviction these riders are still innocent. Especially without a positive test on ay of them. That they will not participate based on the current information is sad.

The French legal system is NOT common Law. It derives from the Napoleonic code. England and the U.S. are Common Law countries.

As someone already pointed out the idea that the U.S. would go 1,2,3 in the TDF has now been shown to be a pipe dream.

Anyone bother to look up how rare it is for a single country to go 1,2,3 in the TDF?

It happened a few times before WW I. Not surprising as all events at that time were more locally concentrated.

Since WW I it has been done only twice. In 1920 by Belgium and in 1947 by France. This is your chance to show some knowledge of the past.

Anyone know how this sweep in 47 is tainted?

As someone already pointed out the idea that the U.S. would go 1,2,3 in the TDF has now been shown to be a pipe dream.
Not very likely, but a pipe dream? I'm not so sure.

Yes, Levi is 6 minutes back, but, if this really is because he was "feeling bad", and if he will feel better in the mountains, he is likely to be able to make that up on guys like Gonchar, Rogers and maybe even Menchov.

The real obstacles are Evans, Salvodelli, Klöden, Sastre, Pereiro, Zubeldia, etc. But again, if he does feel better, whatever time he can't make up in the mountains he might be able to capture in the final TT. We'll see.

Keep in mind that the oldest winner ever of the TDF was 36. .

Who was this? Bartali in '48?

Who was this? Bartali in '48?

Firmin Lambot (Belgium) in 1922

Which you could find using Google in 20 seconds by typing in "TDF oldest rider".

In this case it is an answer that is reliable. There have been others that were a bit off.

Not very likely, but a pipe dream? I'm not so sure.

Yes, Levi is 6 minutes back, but, if this really is because he was "feeling bad", and if he will feel better in the mountains, he is likely to be able to make that up on guys like Gonchar, Rogers and maybe even Menchov.

The real obstacles are Evans, Salvodelli, Klöden, Sastre, Pereiro, Zubeldia, etc. But again, if he does feel better, whatever time he can't make up in the mountains he might be able to capture in the final TT. We'll see.

Sometimes pipe dreams come true. But look at 2 things. Only twice has a country other than the host taken the top 3 places in any of the 3 Major Tours. Belgium in the TDF in 20 and Switzerland in the 96 Vuelta.

When was the last time someone was down by 6 minutes and came back to Podium? (Ok there is one and you know it, but how about excluding breaks of non-contenders that get 20 minutes).

And of course even if Levi comes back that does not mean that none of the other Americans will have a bad day that puts him out of contention.

Hey Im all for a clean event, but I am also for a fair process. You test positive you should be out of Cycling. I realize France is a common law country which basically means you are guilty until proven innocent, but you will have to forgive me if I am just a little pissed off that the tour wont have its best riders based on implication and and not conviction.

Time will tell who will be convicted but until a conviction these riders are still innocent. Especially without a positive test on ay of them. That they will not participate based on the current information is sad.

+1 I can't agree more.

Which you could find using Google in 20 seconds by typing in "TDF oldest rider".



Ya, I actually did that right after I posted (brain...not..work good). Thanks though. :)

As someone already pointed out the idea that the U.S. would go 1,2,3 in the TDF has now been shown to be a pipe dream.

Anyone bother to look up how rare it is for a single country to go 1,2,3 in the TDF?

It happened a few times before WW I. Not surprising as all events at that time were more locally concentrated.

Since WW I it has been done only twice. In 1920 by Belgium and in 1947 by France. This is your chance to show some knowledge of the past.

Anyone know how this sweep in 47 is tainted?

Well, when I looked up '47, it's the first TdF since 1939 (the outbreak of WWII) - and there was some controversy about a difference in available food supplies between riders and/or teams that year.

But I also don't see how that year was a French sweep. The offical tour results I can find say Italians took 3rd and 4th in '47, with French riders 1st, 2nd, and 5th. Jean Robic took the yellow; the Italian in 3rd was Pierre Brambilla.

Well, when I looked up '47, it's the first TdF since 1939 (the outbreak of WWII) - and there was some controversy about a difference in available food supplies between riders and/or teams that year.

But I also don't see how that year was a French sweep. The offical tour results I can find say Italians took 3rd and 4th in '47, with French riders 1st, 2nd, and 5th. Jean Robic took the yellow; the Italian in 3rd was Pierre Brambilla.

It wasn't. Brambilla was indeed Italian (he lived in France, though).

I'm also not sure what tainted thing he's talking about, but my guess is that he's talking about how Robic paid off Fachleitner 100,000 francs to stop his attack on the last stage. It's also one of those tours where the winner never once wore yellow, but that's not really a, um, taint...

Well, when I looked up '47, it's the first TdF since 1939 (the outbreak of WWII) - and there was some controversy about a difference in available food supplies between riders and/or teams that year.

But I also don't see how that year was a French sweep. The offical tour results I can find say Italians took 3rd and 4th in '47, with French riders 1st, 2nd, and 5th. Jean Robic took the yellow; the Italian in 3rd was Pierre Brambilla.

My bad (sort of) relative to the French sweep. I say sort of because it relates to the taint. I used the cycling hall of fame because they had the easiest layout for seeing the first 3 quickly. At that time the TDF was national teams and the "Italian" national team was really riders of Italian heritage living in France. It looks like some count them as Italian, but others as French. In short there was no Italian team which clearly excluded the 2 best riders in the world at the time. No Drug Issue and nothing that either of those riders did. Either 50 or 51 was also rather badly tainted and makes anything riders have to endure today fanwise look pretty pale.

It was 50. Look at stages 11 and 12 and see if you can figure it out if you don;t already know.