"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Zabriskie - Sastre's new "Hincapie"

He can TT fo sho, but did anyone catch Dave Z in the mountains at the Dauphine? The dude was right there. Granted 3 weeks of TDF is different Dauph but I think Sastre definitely has some tempo help in Dave Z in July. Comments?

how good can DZ climb these days?

Unlikely. It's not only whether he CAN do it but whether the team WANTS him to. Remember to every team other than Lance's Discovery/Postal teams, stage wins are very important. Think they'll risk burning out Zabriskie in the mountains so he'll suck in the TT's? Especially when he's never done it before? I doubt it.

I was actually think after Z has ridden the Giro and Dauphne (sp?), that he would take a rest, warm up for worlds at the Vuelta?

I was actually think after Z has ridden the Giro and Dauphne (sp?), that he would take a rest, warm up for worlds at the Vuelta?
+1 Dave Z is not even confirmed to ride in the tour. Dave Z is not the best tt guy on the team so it may be easier to leave him at home.

I am interested to see what csc chooses to do here. I would think it would be best for csc to go with cancellara and leave z at home since he did just do the giro and dauphine. Z has got to be close to burn out and why would csc want to risk that when they have another able body tt guy to use instead. Let Z rest and come back for the vuelta.

I seriously doubt he will skip the tour

I would guess that Cancellara would focus on retaining his world title. Zabriskie hanging with the big guys in the recent races maybe training for the big show. I like Zabriskie-for some reason, and hope he gets better and better. Whatever CSC does they can hardly make a mistake with the variety of talent they have.

CSC, Disco and Astana are so loaded at the moment with guys in form, I can't imagine having to pick only 9 men. Z will get a start. He backed off during mountain stages in the Giro and the Dauphine was only 8 days. His horsepower is invaluable during the flat, rolling and semi-mts.

CSC, Disco and Astana are so loaded at the moment with guys in form, I can't imagine having to pick only 9 men. Z will get a start. He backed off during mountain stages in the Giro and the Dauphine was only 8 days. His horsepower is invaluable during the flat, rolling and semi-mts.

in form, sure. with a winner? maybe 2 out of the 3.

I seriously doubt he will skip the tour

I don't think it's up to him.

in form, sure. with a winner? maybe 2 out of the 3.

Vinokurov and ? Maybe 1 out of 3....

I will be really surprised to see Andy Schleck repeat his Giro performance.

Leipheimer...?

not likley. As much as I like the little midget he wont see the top of the podium

Leipheimer...?

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/g/avatars/flyingpig.gif

I don't think it's up to him.

Of course, but literally he would skip the tour even if he was forced. My wording did sort of imply that it was his choice, kind of.

Leipheimer...?

GTFO! Disco has got nothing, unfortunately.

Make your Predictions!

My guess is Vinokurov. This topic got derailed maybe some should post a new topic.

I always root for DZ, but sometimes I wonder if he's really talented but without enough of a killer instinct. And if that's true, maybe domestique is what he is/will remain.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to watching Vino. He won't be boring.

edit: I took this off DZ's website. what is missing?

1st, Stage 3, Dauphine Libere 2006
1st, Prologue, Dauphine Libere 2006
6th GC, Tour of Georgia
2nd GC, Tour of California
Stage win in Tour de France 2005
Stage win in Giro d’Italia 2005
Stage win in Vuelta a España 2004
5th in the World Championships, ITT 2004
5th and Best Young Rider in 4 Jours de Dunkerque 2003

Silver medal in the 2006 ITT WC's, for starters.

I would love to see him up there but they pipped DZ over cancellara last time and he was pissed.. Doubt if It will happen this time.. Plus Giro+Dauphine is quite a bit of work done already..

by the subject line, I thought this was going to be a "great guy we all root for, but never wins the Big One" thread.

Yeah, I'm a Z fan, but I don't think he has it

by the subject line, I thought this was going to be a "great guy we all root for, but never wins the Big One" thread.

Yeah, I'm a Z fan, but I don't think he has it

+1 Sadly. No eye of the tiger. More like Heathclif.

How bad would it suck to work your butt off, accomplish great things and have a bunch of internet tossers assert you don't have what it takes to win? (I'm guilty too, but I don't think I'm wrong.)

I don't think it's stating anything to novel to say that to win a grand tour you have to kill in either the mountains or ITTs and be very good / not lose time in the other. That's a hard combo.

As good as he is, is DZ really a killer in either category (i.e., winning by big margins) so that he just needs to keep pace with the other GC contenders in the other? [not a rhetorical question]

It's questionable whether Dave Z will even start the TDF.

Vinokurov and ? Maybe 1 out of 3....

I will be really surprised to see Andy Schleck repeat his Giro performance.
I would be really suprised as well, considering he's not going.

I'm going to really take a chance here and say Vino, Valverde, and Sastre or Frank Schlek for the podium. Wouldn't be suprised if Astana put 2 guys on the podium.

I'm going to really take a chance here and say Vino, Valverde, and Sastre or Frank Schlek for the podium. Wouldn't be suprised if Astana put 2 guys on the podium.

Can't see Schleck making the podium given a.) he's riding for Sastre and b.) when he was their GC guy in the Tour de Suisse, he faded pretty badly.

I'm going to really take a chance here and say Vino, Valverde, and Sastre or Frank Schlek for the podium. Wouldn't be suprised if Astana put 2 guys on the podium.

I'll second this with a 60% chance of one of them testing +ve.

Vino gets a podium unless something really bad happens

Valverde is overrated. No podium

I have my doubts about Sastre this year. He has problems with the ITT

Oscar may be a sursprise since he was given the 30 minutes last year he competed very well. He is my second podium pick.

The final podium pick is between Levi, Menchov, Rogers, & Evans.

Richard

Vino, Kloden, and Levi.

I really think the old Vino is going to be missing this year and a calculated version whose team works for him will show up.
I think Levi will be on form but won't win.

No DZ on tour roster ...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jun07/jun27news

No DZ on tour roster ...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jun07/jun27news

Dude, which tour roster did you look? Tour of East Java?

Dude, which tour roster did you look? Tour of East Java?

Wow.. they changed the article since last night!!