Professional Cycling For the Fans - favorites in the mountains?

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vandevelde stand a chance?

vandevelde stand a chance?

Well yes. See L'Alpe de Huez, 2005. The issue with Valverde has always been can he hold it together for an entire TDF.

Others in no particular order:

Evans, Menchov, Schleck, Cunego,, Ricco, Sastre, Kirchen, Zubeldia

And would have included Soler

+1 in all of them, the problem now with soler is that he is quite back in the general positions. 12 minutes is a lot of time, anybody knows how damaged/injured he is??? Depending on that he should be able to take some time back in the mountains.

In my opinion if nothing funky happens Evans should be fighting 1st place in the mountains. In general all the guys mentioned are "all rounders" but Soler, that is basically the only 100% Mountain person.

Unless the next great appears ala Lance in 99, I think we are going to see a rider have a good day and take the GC one day, only to see them lose it the next day when someone else has the legs. Similar to the 06 tour, IMHO.

Piepoli and Ricco will team up in the mountains to get a stage win

I read Soler has a broken wrist and has withdrawn. My money is on Evans over the course of 5 or 6 climbing days. Any of the guys listed might beat him in 1 or 2 days of climbing but over the course of several days I go with Evans.

nothing happen with italians in the TDF since years ago. Sorry.

Ricco seems most likely to produce a dramatic stage win, especially if he keeps losing time at the current rate.

post em

vandevelde stand a chance?

No.

nothing happen with italians in the TDF since years ago. Sorry.

Ivan Basso. Sorry.

A "favorite in the mountains" to me is the same as "a favorite to win", unless one is wondering if a good climber, like a Virenque, can win a stage.

Ricco can win a stage. After a big effort to try to win the Giro only a month ago, it would be nearly impossible for him to hold form enough to contend for the win. Had the organizers not let Astana in at the last minute, Ricco would have won. Which shows you how good Contador is, although he does not seem to get his due from our BF "experts". :twitchy:

Cunego, Evans, Valverde, Sastre, and Menchov.

Sastre has demonstrated that when things get really painful, he's not really in the game. He does not have the extra gear. That extra gear is between the ears.

Cunego and Menchov have won Grand Tours before. So, they understand how it's done.

Valverde just had a big effort winning the Dauphine. Nobody in the recent past other than Lance has won the Dauphine and then the Tour (I recall people getting all excited about Moreau winning in 01 and 07 like he would be a Tour contendor. Not.) And while Valverde is an extremely good rider, he's not in Lance's class.

I think it's between Cunego, Evans, and Menchov. You can throw a blanket over all of them.

dont forget about Kanstantin Sivtsov he could be strong in the mt.stages

How about Kirchen or Sivtsov (he sure did fly up brasstown bald...left Levi in his dust)

Has Valverde come to form too early this year, and can he survive a 3-week race. Those are the questions. In terms of climbers, you cannot discount Piepoli, Ricco, Sastra and the Schleck brothers.

... Brad

Has Valverde come to form too early this year, and can he survive a 3-week race. Those are the questions.

I posted in the Stage 1 thread that Valverde's effort in taking stage 1, was not consistent with a guy that was confident in pursuing a GC win. I was ridiculed.

It certainly looks now like Valverde himself knew he better grab what he could get when he could get it, because his GC hopes are questionable.

I posted in the Stage 1 thread that Valverde's effort in taking stage 1, was not consistent with a guy that was confident in pursuing a GC win. I was ridiculed.

It certainly looks now like Valverde himself knew he better grab what he could get when he could get it, because his GC hopes are questionable.

I think you are reading to much into Valverdes effort in stage one, it wasn't your typical opening stage and it suited him perfectly. Other than losing time in the tt (which we new he would) he has done fine. Looked alright today and we will find out for sure in the mountains. The great thing about this years tour is that any one of the favorites could blow up in the mountains and none of us would be suprised. Anyone who thought this years tour would be boring was completly wrong, the stages have been exciting from day one and we haven't had to sit through a week of flat stages before the real racing begins.

I think Cunego looks like he isn't in good form either.
Ricco seems to know when to strike. I can't wait to see him in the mountains.

Well yes. See L'Alpe de Huez, 2005.

They didn't include Alpe d'Huez in the 2005 Tour. I think you mean Courchevel.

Anyways, I feel the best man for the mountains is Magnus Backstedt.

vandevelde!

Anyways, I feel the best man for the mountains is Magnus Backstedt.

As in "quickest off the top and back to the hotel." :D

I think you are reading to much into Valverdes effort in stage one, it wasn't your typical opening stage and it suited him perfectly. Other than losing time in the tt (which we new he would) he has done fine. Looked alright today and we will find out for sure in the mountains. The great thing about this years tour is that any one of the favorites could blow up in the mountains and none of us would be suprised. Anyone who thought this years tour would be boring was completly wrong, the stages have been exciting from day one and we haven't had to sit through a week of flat stages before the real racing begins.

I'm not saying the effort Day 1 cost him that much. I am saying that Valverdes doubts his own GC chances and was hedging his bets. And fwiw Phil Ligget agreed with me yesterday.

Long tour and Valverdes still has a shot. But I stand by my point that even he is not totally convinced and is hedging his bets.

As in "quickest off the top and back to the hotel." :D

He doesn't try to exert himself too much, you know, and I feel that's the best approach to take when riding up large mountains.

They didn't include Alpe d'Huez in the 2005 Tour. I think you mean Courchevel.

.


Correct

I think Sanchez will put on a good show when the roads hit the Pyrenees.

I think Andy Schleck is going to grab stage 15 if Sastre is out of contention by that point.

Haimar Zubeldia. You heard it first here.

Then again, I have been known to be wrong before (I just hope my hubby doesn't read this forum). :D

I'm not saying the effort Day 1 cost him that much. I am saying that Valverdes doubts his own GC chances and was hedging his bets. And fwiw Phil Ligget agreed with me yesterday.

Long tour and Valverdes still has a shot. But I stand by my point that even he is not totally convinced and is hedging his bets.


Your point is valid, however if this stage was in the second week the outcome may well have been the same. Would you still have the same opinion. As marin stated, this was not your typical first stage. Look at all the possible contenders who finished up front:

1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne 4:36:07
2. Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Francaise des Jeux 0:01
3. Jerome Pineau (FRA), Bouygues Telecom 0:01
4. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia 0:01
5. Riccardo Ricco (ITA), Saunier Duval 0:01
6. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto 0:01
7. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC 0:01
8. Filippo Pozzato (ITA), Liquigas 0:01
9. Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank 0:01
10. Oscar Pereiro (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne 0:01
11. David Millar (GBR), Garmin-Chipotle, 0:01
12. Juan Jose Cobo (ESP), Saunier Duval 0:01
13. Matteo Carrara (ITA), Quick Step 0:01
14. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 0:07
15. Thor Hushovd (NOR), Credit Agricole 0:07
16. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), CSC 0:07
17. Andy Schleck (LUX), CSC 0:07
18. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle, 0:07
19. Samuel Sanchez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:07

It was a perfect stage for Valverde's abilities.

Evans is my the favourite in the mountains

i was looking forward to seeing what soler would do on this tour. but now i'm very interested in seeing how team c an kirchen do over the next few days.

Today's the day.

We will have a great look at who is on form with this stage. The Hautacam is a beast.

Piepoli and Ricco will team up in the mountains to get a stage win

Wow 2 for 2 in the mountains so far. Who ever made these pics is incredible :p

Your point is valid, however if this stage was in the second week the outcome may well have been the same. Would you still have the same opinion. As marin stated, this was not your typical first stage. Look at all the possible contenders who finished up front:

1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne 4:36:07
2. Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Francaise des Jeux 0:01
3. Jerome Pineau (FRA), Bouygues Telecom 0:01
4. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia 0:01
5. Riccardo Ricco (ITA), Saunier Duval 0:01
6. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto 0:01
7. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC 0:01
8. Filippo Pozzato (ITA), Liquigas 0:01
9. Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank 0:01
10. Oscar Pereiro (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne 0:01
11. David Millar (GBR), Garmin-Chipotle, 0:01
12. Juan Jose Cobo (ESP), Saunier Duval 0:01
13. Matteo Carrara (ITA), Quick Step 0:01
14. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 0:07
15. Thor Hushovd (NOR), Credit Agricole 0:07
16. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), CSC 0:07
17. Andy Schleck (LUX), CSC 0:07
18. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle, 0:07
19. Samuel Sanchez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:07

It was a perfect stage for Valverde's abilities.


Looks like Valverde was smart to grab a stage win when he could.

Looks like Valverde was smart to grab a stage win when he could.

I stand corrected