The Green Jersey

[bananabike]

Let's talk about the only uncorrupt part of the Tour De France, the green jersey classification. Now I know everyone is cheering on Tom Boonen...but does Robbie Hunter have any chance? And more importantly can Tom Boonen survive the rest of the Tour De France to get the green jersey in Paris? Also does anyone think it's ironic that Tom Boonen finally gets the jersey when Robbie Mcewen does not finish the race? And one last question, does "Tornado Tom" finally deserve the green jersey he has lacked for so many years?

[Kris Flatlander]

I wouldn't say its "ironic that Tom Boonen finally gets the jersey when Robbie Mcewen does not finish the race", more fitting than anything. If Mcewen hadn't sustained all of his injuries we'd probably be looking at a much closer fight to the finish. As it is Boonen just has to contend with Hunter (who he has 12 points on I believe) and Zabel as a VERY outside threat. I know Hunter had a stage win but really he got it only after the majority of the major sprinters were either dropped (Zabel and Hushovd) or crashed out in the final turn (Boonen etc) so it's pretty unlikely he can challenge Boonen heads up for the green. It's good to see Tomeke finally get the green and I'm happy for him to get it though.

[CyLowe97]

Let's talk about the only uncorrupt part of the Tour De France,
:lol:

the green jersey classification. Now I know everyone is cheering on Tom Boonen...but does Robbie Hunter have any chance?
technically, yes.

And more importantly can Tom Boonen survive the rest of the Tour De France to get the green jersey in Paris?
yes. it's flat and there are no sprints in the TT to worry about.

Also does anyone think it's ironic that Tom Boonen finally gets the jersey when Robbie Mcewen does not finish the race?
No. Robbie deserved it last year when Boonen dropped out. Hushovd deserved it the year before when Boonen dropped out. They had the most points. (Well, Thor's was arguable with McEwen getting docked sprint points for leaning in that one stage)

And one last question, does "Tornado Tom" finally deserve the green jersey he has lacked for so many years?
If he finishes with more points, yes.

[VT Biker]

Hunter does not have the team to compete. I mean, he and Zabel always have to sit behind Boonen and the Quickstep squad, so Boonen always has a leg up. Hunter should have tried to attack earlier today than he did, allowing the FdJ rider the opportunity to attack.

The problem is Boonen has the best acceleration, so for Hunter to win, he needs to catch Boonen off guard. But again, Boonen is always confident he will get the Quickstep train to help him out.

[FixdGearHead]

"Irony (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony)"...the most misused term in the English language.

[CyLowe97]

"Irony (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony)"...the most misused term in the English language.

You mean like when Cofidis participated in the riders' protest before yesterday's stage and then were 'invited' to leave the Tour after the stage?

[bananabike]

You mean like when Cofidis participated in the riders' protest before yesterday's stage and then were 'invited' to leave the Tour after the stage?

HEY! Can someone please give me a link to this news report?

[USAZorro]

Boonen has 22 points on Hunter. Boonen's biggest threat is Julian Dean :p - who had a lot to do with taking him out of contention on stage 11 (which Robbie Hunter then won).

[Zauber]

"The problem is Boonen has the best acceleration, so for Hunter to win, he needs to catch Boonen off guard. But again, Boonen is always confident he will get the Quickstep train to help him out."

Boonen does not have great acceleration at all. Thats why he does best with a full leadout from 3 or 4 teammates in front of him. McEwen has the best acceleration by far imho.

[VT Biker]

"The problem is Boonen has the best acceleration, so for Hunter to win, he needs to catch Boonen off guard. But again, Boonen is always confident he will get the Quickstep train to help him out."

Boonen does not have great acceleration at all. Thats why he does best with a full leadout from 3 or 4 teammates in front of him. McEwen has the best acceleration by far imho.

But McEwen is not racing right now. Boonen I think at this point has better acceleration than Hunter or Zabel. Do you think different?

[OrionKhan]

To me, one of the bigger surprise in this years tour has been Thor Hushovd. I figured the Green would be a battle between McEwen, Boonen, and Hushovd. Especially after McEwen left the race. But Hushovd hasn't really been a factor. I know he's in 5th in points. But I thought he'd in the running for the Green.

Seems like Boonen trained more specifically for the TdF this year as opposed to last year when it seemed like he was in every single race.

[VT Biker]

To me, one of the bigger surprise in this years tour has been Thor Hushovd. I figured the Green would be a battle between McEwen, Boonen, and Hushovd. Especially after McEwen left the race. But Hushovd hasn't really been a factor. I know he's in 5th in points. But I thought he'd in the running for the Green.

Seems like Boonen trained more specifically for the TdF this year as opposed to last year when it seemed like he was in every single race.

It could also be that his back as well as his chronic "literally" crapping his pants episodes allowed him to take time off from racing, and this allowed his legs to be fresher than Thor's.

Just a hypothesis.

[OrionKhan]

It could also be that his back as well as his chronic "literally" crapping his pants episodes allowed him to take time off from racing, and this allowed his legs to be fresher than Thor's.

Just a hypothesis.

Could be. I do think that Boonen heavy race schedule last year seemed to hurt him in the TdF.

There was an article in this months Bicycling mag on Boonen. He says that he doesn't consider himself a true sprinter and that he has to work at it. I tend to agree with his assessment. Seems like he needs to have everything just right in the sprints to get the win. That's one thing I like about Quick Step. There built around a sprinter. They're like a freight train in the last km. I think that McEwen and Hunter might be better natural sprinters than Boonen. They just don't have teams built around them. Fricken McEwen almost never has a good lead out from his team. Gotta love that guy.

[Demit]

After a disappointing early season Boonen said that he would have to win the Green this year to silence his critics and keep his status. Thus he has focused more on it, where as in the past he hasn't cared much for the tour even going so far as droping out of it, when he fell to far behind in points, in order to focus on other races.

After winning the green this year Boonen said it was an one of his best victories, under his classic wins and the worlds.

[urodacus]

McEwen had some excellent lead outs from Steegmans last year. and he acknowledged it: "Gert is like an express train..."

pity he got hurt so bad in that crash in stage 1. I like watching him sprint from the most unexpected positions.

and of course, Gert has changed teams this year...

[CyLowe97]

HEY! Can someone please give me a link to this news report?

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12928.0.html

Cofidis was one of the 8 teams participating in the start line protest against doping.

[bananabike]

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12928.0.html

Cofidis was one of the 8 teams participating in the start line protest against doping.

Thanks. I am just hearing about this story now.

[OrionKhan]

McEwen had some excellent lead outs from Steegmans last year. and he acknowledged it: "Gert is like an express train..."

pity he got hurt so bad in that crash in stage 1. I like watching him sprint from the most unexpected positions.

and of course, Gert has changed teams this year...

Yeah, but Boonen always has a great lead out by at least 2 other teammates. McEwen sometimes would get a good lead out. That's what cool about McEwen, he still manages to pull it out using other team lead outs.

I wish he hadn't gotten hurt either. He showed early that he had great speed again this year. And with Boonen on better form, it would have been a great battle. They probably would be still fighting it out going into Paris.