Professional Cycling For the Fans - Picks for tomorrow's stage (16)

Who wants to go first?.... :)

1) Levi does attack today. I am not saying it will work, or be very strong, but he will.

2) Evans, Levi, Rasmussen, Kloden, or Contador crack on this stage

3) Winner, Contador

Richard

I think Kloden has to try something. He and Levi are still in contention if they can take some time out of Rasmussen. Granted, they will both need to have the time trial of their lives, and hope that Rasmussen faulters on Saturday, but it's not impossible. That is, if they can take some time back tomorrow.

I guess I wish I knew who was receiving the most recent blood transfusion.

I think Kloden has to try something. He and Levi are still in contention if they can take some time out of Rasmussen. Granted, they will both need to have the time trial of their lives, and hope that Rasmussen faulters on Saturday, but it's not impossible. That is, if they can take some time back tomorrow.

Nevermind.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24072007/58/tour-de-france-cycling-rocked-new-drug-shame.html

Nevermind.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24072007/58/tour-de-france-cycling-rocked-new-drug-shame.html

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I guess I wish I knew who was receiving the most recent blood transfusion.

Contador: Discovery has been the best doping team in recent years....

I was right Kloden did crack :)

Richard


:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

1) Levi does attack today. I am not saying it will work, or be very strong, but he will.

2) Evans, Levi, Rasmussen, Kloden, or Contador crack on this stage

3) Winner, Contador

Richard


I dont think Levi has the power to make any attack stick. I think he rides in support of Contador.

Contador FTW.

I didn't say it would stick only that he would.

Richard


I dont think Levi has the power to make any attack stick. I think he rides in support of Contador.

Contador FTW.

It won't be Kloden

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/breaking-news-vino-tested-positive-after-time-trial-11722

Rasmussen must have the best chance, he has to go this time and not wait for Contador to attack

george

I didn't say it would stick only that he would.

Richard

I dont think he will. I think he will drive the pace up to hopefully drop Boogard and Menchov.

I think Popo, Hincapie and Levi are going to drive a pace that will only leave AC and Ras for the final climb.

Levi wants a podium. Evans has looked a little suspect on the climbs lately. Levi will attack. Discovery also has a goal to put time into Evans. Evan can take 2 minute on AC in the time trial. Levi, Rasmussen, and Contador ride away from Evans.

Richard


I dont think he will. I think he will drive the pace up to hopefully drop Boogard and Menchov.

I think Popo, Hincapie and Levi are going to drive a pace that will only leave AC and Ras for the final climb.

I dont think Levi has the power to make any attack stick. I think he rides in support of Contador.

Contador FTW.

A Levi attack would support Contador. Levi goes up the road, forcing Rabobank and Rasmussen to push the pace to keep up. Contador hangs on to Rasmussen.

If they catch Levi, then Contador can attack.

That's the advantage Disco has with riders 2nd and 4th on GC.

Soler goes early to get KOM points. Expect some attacks to follow him. MR and AC will battle this one out. They'll wait till Col de la Pierre or maybe Col de Marie-Blanque to attack. If Contodor is strong, I think he will be the first to go, but Rasmussen will keep him close enough to protect his lead.

I pick Contador FTW. It could go either way.

Contador, with Rasmussen a few seconds down.

I'd like to see Soler win another stage...it'll be interesting to see how he does on some of the really nasty climbs.

Levi will be the third GC contender to finish.

Wim Vansevenant will DESTROY EVERYBODY!!!!

A Levi attack would support Contador. Levi goes up the road, forcing Rabobank and Rasmussen to push the pace to keep up. Contador hangs on to Rasmussen.

If they catch Levi, then Contador can attack.

That's the advantage Disco has with riders 2nd and 4th on GC.

This is exactly what I think. But that doesn't put you in very good company because I have no idea what I'm talking about and I'm wrong more often than I'm right. So take that for what it's worth.

Here's hoping that Levi doesn't get caught and draws up on Ras and Contador. :beer:

MR will crack. The pressure of the press and aligations are getting to him. Contador looks fresh and ready to go. Levi is ready to give himself up. I look for George and Popo to go early. Levi will pull hard with only Contador and MR able to follow. Contador will then attack and bridge across to Popo and hincapie.:D I can hope ya know. I wuldnt be suprised either.;)

By his own admission, Levi lacks the game to launch a serious attack. I am saddened by this, but I think this marks a turning point in Levi's career. He's done as a #1.

At least before the sample B's come back, Contador. Of the top ten, I see him finishing first. (Not to say an unknown, perhaps clean, rider won't beat him to the line.)

I think "attack" will be a matter of semantics. It looks, to me, as if most of the big players have expended all they've got. Without some serious chemical enhancement (and I'm not talking Enzyte), none of them is going to play the way they did yesterday.

Who's the French national champion? (Sorry, but I forget his name.) After the sample B's come back, I see him as the official winner. It might take two years -- but it will come. And no European lab is going to have a problem with his sample B's.

Bob Roll FTW.

I would be suprised to see Levi launch an early attack. If he could keep up with Ras and AC, he would have on stage 14 and 15. I think Levi will look to put time into Evans once Ras and AC are gone. When AC attacks, Ras will follow and Evans will chase. Levi will follow Evans until there are a few km's left then Levi will drop Evans. I don't believe Levi has any intention or ability to keep up to Ras and AC. An early attack by Levi will ruin his chance to put time into Evans on the final climb. Levi is racing for third. As much as I like Ras, I think AC will drop Ras by 30secs to a minute on the final climb. However, I can't see Ras completely cracking on the last mountain stage after a rest day with a couple near rest days to follow. I highly doubt Ras will attack at all. He has no reason to attack. He has enough time on the other contenders to win. It's up to AC to drop Ras.

MR will crack. The pressure of the press and aligations are getting to him. Contador looks fresh and ready to go. Levi is ready to give himself up. I look for George and Popo to go early. Levi will pull hard with only Contador and MR able to follow. Contador will then attack and bridge across to Popo and hincapie.:D I can hope ya know. I wuldnt be suprised either.;)

If possible get Levi in an early break with George and have Popo and Conta kick back and watch the other teams work and see how it plays out.

I would be suprised to see Levi launch an early attack. If he could keep up with Ras and AC, he would have on stage 14 and 15. I think Levi will look to put time into Evans once Ras and AC are gone. When AC attacks, Ras will follow and Evans will chase. Levi will follow Evans until there are a few km's left then Levi will drop Evans. I don't believe Levi has any intention or ability to keep up to Ras and AC. An early attack by Levi will ruin his chance to put time into Evans on the final climb. Levi is racing for third. As much as I like Ras, I think AC will drop Ras by 30secs to a minute on the final climb. However, I can't see Ras completely cracking on the last mountain stage after a rest day with a couple near rest days to follow. I highly doubt Ras will attack at all. He has no reason to attack. He has enough time on the other contenders to win. It's up to AC to drop Ras.

A good synopsis of what I think will occur.

Contador. I want the kid to RIP THE CHICKEN'S LEGS OFF tomorrow.

Chicken. Contador will attack but won't be able to drop him. Ras will just let him pull all the way and come around at the end. Reversal of stage 14.

Contador

Levi will improve his time over Evans in both this stage and TT. Disco will have a power play that will finally work.

Who will win? I'll tell after stage 16.

S/F,
CEYA!

Kloeden will ride so fast this stage he'll make it to Germany before anyone else even finishes.

Ras will either win or be beat at the line.

Levi will attempt to attack two times, and they will both end up like every ofther TdF mountain attack he has staged in the past 2 years: each attack will last for about 5 meters before he is re-absorbed.

As mentioned by others here today, Levi simply does not have it in him. Handling Jens Voigt in the Tour of California in February is not the same as attacking the field in the TdF.

Contador will put some time on Rasmussen and win the stage, but not enough for the Yellow Jersey. I have the feeling that if he could, Contador would take a "natural break" on Rasmussen on the way up. No love lost there, as it seems.

Kloeden will ride so fast this stage he'll make it to Germany before anyone else even finishes.

Ras will either win or be beat at the line.

Who?

Contador will put some time on Rasmussen and win the stage, but not enough for the Yellow Jersey.

That's my guess also. It's still gonna be a great stage to watch! :)

... Brad

i hope it comes down to contador vs rasmussen alone again on the final climb with contador finally putting some time into Ras. I doubt this can happen for a third time in a row but it would make for an epic story.

I wanna see fellow Colombian Soler attack early for KOM points. Rasmussen ought to be willing to let the polka-dots go in order to get the yellow. If he wants both, he's going to be fighting an awful lot of guys.

If Soler finishes as KOM and doesn't get busted for doping, I'll be a happy guy.

>I wanna see fellow Colombian Soler attack early for KOM points. Rasmussen ought to be willing to let the polka-dots go in order to get the yellow. If he wants both, he's going to be fighting an awful lot of guys.

If Soler finishes as KOM and doesn't get busted for doping, I'll be a happy guy.
07-24-07 06:59 PM<

Bingo! Despite the rest of the mess, I'm a happy guy.