Professional Cycling - Riccardo Ricco will win the Tour

Yes he will Cadel, won't even be on the podium.

1) The guy has the fire, his attitude harkens back to the days of Hinault and Lemond, he wants to win and he shows it.
2) Has the talent, look at this years Giro he has hardly any team supporting him yet he was nipping at Contador and the powerhouse of Astana, and totally wrecked Team LPR, (which was put together just to win the Giro).
3) Who else is going to win Cadel, doesn't stand a chance, Valverde I wouldn't bet a dime on him. Menchov, sure he won a very lack-luster Vuelta but he is hasn't done anything lately.

CSC maybe the younger Schleck will come in second, and to round out the podium Kirchen in third.

Unfortunatly he can't TT to save his neck, so although he'll be dancing on those pedals inflicting a lot of pain in the mountains he will not be atop spot #1 in Paris.

Not enough climbing in this tour, plus he'll be down 5 mins before they even hit the climbs

Cunego

Valverde

Valverde

Kirchen

Cunego

Drugs is aways there just as greed is alway there, but I enjoy the drama anyway. Did Russlemen sp? have any respect last year? He could not time trial in the past but improved greatly.

My guess is that again someone will come from the pack to take the yellow. This type of tour is more interesting than an Armstrong type tour.

I agree with Ih8lukky13, it takes attitude of fire to overcome the many obstacles.

Yes he will Cadel, won't even be on the podium.

1) The guy has the fire, his attitude harkens back to the days of Hinault and Lemond, he wants to win and he shows it.
2) Has the talent, look at this years Giro he has hardly any team supporting him yet he was nipping at Contador and the powerhouse of Astana, and totally wrecked Team LPR, (which was put together just to win the Giro).
3) Who else is going to win Cadel, doesn't stand a chance, Valverde I wouldn't bet a dime on him. Menchov, sure he won a very lack-luster Vuelta but he is hasn't done anything lately.

CSC maybe the younger Schleck will come in second, and to round out the podium Kirchen in third.

I totally agree with your points, but not as they pertain to the tour.

There isn't the same amount of climbing in tour as the giro. Plus, Ricco road the entire Giro at a high level, so he won't have the energy to stay near the front for the entire tour (which is raced at a much faster pace than the giro, there's a reason why the Italians invented the term "riding piano".)

If we're looking at surprise winners, I'd pick Cunego before Ricco.

If Ricco wins, I hope the prize package includes a roll of duct tape so we won't have to listen to his inane bull****.

Ricco has a few things going against him:

1. He will not get the full support of his team given his attitude.
2. He will lose too many minutes in the TTs.
3. Lack of experience

He's also a dick, but that's beside the point. :D

... Brad

If we're looking at surprise winners, I'd pick Cunego before Ricco.

If Ricco wins, I hope the prize package includes a roll of duct tape so we won't have to listen to his inane bull****.

No way. I enjoy His insane comments.

Plus he looked good in Stage 1.

...actually, with his new mountain bike he may just have a chance :thumb:

I like the mouthy little punk, but I think he is more likely to grab the white jersey this year, or possibly KOM. If there are big time gaps before the mountains the peloton may just let him go up the road.

Ricco = punk brat



















But I like it!!

Ricco has a few things going against him:

1. He will not get the full support of his team given his attitude.
2. He will lose too many minutes in the TTs.
3. Lack of experience

He's also a dick, but that's beside the point. :D

... Brad

Yeah, and we all know that dicks never win the tour

<cough>

http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Lance_Armstrong

calls Evans out in the Pyrenees about his climbing manhood, mama, and tepid descending ability. Trash talk to start soon.........hopefully.

discuss

I'd love to see it. Ricco cracks me up with the way he treats podium girls and "dignitaries."

You could almost see Ricco muttering, "I gotta shake the hand of this Hinault guy too? You're a has-been...what have you done lately?" :rolleyes:

I'd love to see it. Ricco cracks me up with the way he treats podium girls and "dignitaries."

his lack of respect is strangely refreshing

Hopefully it goes something like this:

"Wassamattta you?! Getta tha f@(ka offa ma wheel you pissa sh1t!!"

Haha. Ricco has nothing to lose this Tour. He can talk all the smack he wants.

You could almost see Ricco muttering, "I gotta shake the hand of this Hinault guy too? You're a has-been...what have you done lately?" :rolleyes:

The Badger's a pretty good bouncer. :)

nice subtle spoiler.

You might have choosen to put this into the staget thread

nice subtle spoiler.

You might have choosen to put this into the staget thread

???? How's that a spoiler?

Haha. Ricco has nothing to lose this Tour.

That's true. He lost all respect after his disgusting comments about his own team in il Giro.

The kid's a punk. Let's hope he's grown up a bit over the last month.

... Brad

Yeah, seriously. If Cipo were around, Ricco would undoubtedly get his ass beat. Did you guys see what his father said about him?

I see it as a spoiler as I read yesterday around 1 PM and then knew the outcome of the stage that I planned on watching from my DVR last night

nice subtle spoiler.

You might have choosen to put this into the staget thread

Merged threads

his lack of respect is strangely refreshing

no, it's not

Humble in victory, gracious in defeat.

That pretty much describes (a) an anti-Ricco, (b) a true champion (in any sport) [therefore, not Ricco].
He has no chance winning the Tour.

ricco has such a rat face, they should call him ricco the rat, fits him perfectly.

ricco has such a rat face, they should call him ricco the rat, fits him perfectly.

Wouldn't that be disrespectful to rats? ;)

Well he's down almost 4 mins and hit the deck pretty hard today and I love the comment with this picture.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/tour08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/tour08/tour088/bettiniphoto_0028941_1_full

ricco has such a rat face, they should call him ricco the rat, fits him perfectly.


Il Ratto...

.
..is perfect. Just rolls off the tongue.

I hope Pricco --Il Ratto-- has a long career. He's an anus, so whatever. Just think, a decade or longer of a superlative climber wielding a harshly untempered tongue? We need this.

Cipo is great. But He's now a Statesman. As he should be. So, no, Il Ratto does not need to acceed to Cipo (as premised in #25), nor Cipo to anyone.

Not to hijack, but I've been thinking about Cavendish. I'm enjoying him. A young cat who effin motors. Perhaps he will treat us to Cipo-like longevity--he's got the big teeth....

One of cyclingnews's photos show Zabel smiling as Cav goes knees-out & arms-up. Ahhh, Zabel. Another truly great lasting one, and today enjoying (I believe) the continuing revelation of the another of his line.

Just sayin' about a few in passing....

Il Ratto it is then.

Perhaps, just perhaps (but very likely not), this turn-of-phrase is ours.
Il Ratto was most strong today....


Il Ratto it is then.

Historically speaking, who does Ricco ride like? Can a great climber eventually become a great all-rounder for the Big Tours despite not having big TT results? How was Pantani at this stage of his career?

How much can a young rider improve his TT results and then ,if it's possible, how long would it take?

Yeah, seriously. If Cipo were around, Ricco would undoubtedly get his ass beat. Did you guys see what his father said about him?

What did he say?

Ricco is not a real roadie:

1. He puts the temples of his sunglasses UNDER his helmet straps.
2. He climbs in the drops.

I'm not saying I agree with this assessment, I'm just stating this based on some of the posts I've read here lately.

I see it as a spoiler as I read yesterday around 1 PM and then knew the outcome of the stage that I planned on watching from my DVR last night

If you want to avoid spoilers, perhaps staying out of the TDF forum would be a good start.

just sayin'

Historically speaking, who does Ricco ride like? Can a great climber eventually become a great all-rounder for the Big Tours despite not having big TT results? How was Pantani at this stage of his career?

How much can a young rider improve his TT results and then ,if it's possible, how long would it take?

Checking on Pantani in '98 TDF I get my answer: at 28 y.o. Pantani was still so-so ITT'er and still won.


Pantani in '98 TDF (from Cycling News):

Prologue (5.7 kms) finishes +.48 and 181/189 riders

Stage 7, ITT (58 kms) +4.21, 33/172

Stage 20, ITT (53 kms) +2.35, 3/96

Il Ratto, barring a VDB-style meltdown (or positive doping result), will be force of will with which to reckon.

but remember Il Ratto is only 24. he still has time to improve his time trialling.
I don't like him, no not one bit, but damn the kid can climb.
His performance on Col d'Aspin was very Pantani like, absolutely explosive.

So, what DID his father say?

Marty

He's impressing thus far today. He just seems to have another gear on some of the uglier climbs.

Ah well...heck.





Il Ratto it is then.

Why are you all down on him? He finished his tour with two jerseys.

Why are you all down on him? He finished his tour with two jerseys.

Really?

What jerseys did he win?

And how is Il Ratto going to finish the tour from a French jail cell?

He is the highest placed rider to test positive for illegal doping yet. Some will do anything for fame and money. He and those like him are really bad for cycling.

Really?

What jerseys did he win?

And how is Il Ratto going to finish the tour from a French jail cell?I didn't say finished THE tour, I said finished HIS tour.

Won't be until 2011 at the very earliest. :lol: