Tour de France - Who are you rooting for to win the tour?

It seems like a lot of big names have left the tour such as Lance Armstrong, Michael Rasmussen, Alberto Contador, Ulrich, Alexandar Venakurov...perhaps more that I can't think of. I'm surprised Contador didn't come back to defend his title. I know a lot of the guys above were banned form the tour for doping or suspicion of...but how come Contador didn't come back to defend hit title? Any how, this has made the tour some what boring for me personally, but I think I'm rooting for Ricco Riccardo aka the Cobra. He's in 9th and states he doesn't want to win the tour...but I think he could very well do it. It's always fun to root for someone. Wish Lance would come back, lol.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/manofstee/ricco.jpg

It seems like a lot of big names have left the tour such as Lance Armstrong, Michael Rasmussen, Alberto Contador, Ulrich, Alexandar Venakurov...perhaps more that I can't think of. I'm surprised Contador didn't come back to defend his title. I know a lot of the guys above were banned form the tour for doping or suspicion of...but how come Contador didn't come back to defend hit title? Any how, this has made the tour some what boring for me personally, but I think I'm rooting for Ricco Riccardo aka the Cobra. He's in 9th and states he doesn't want to win the tour...but I think he could very well do it. It's always fun to root for someone. Wish Lance would come back, lol.

This has to be a joke of some kind. Either that, or you just started watching the sport last week.

Contador is not defending his title because the Tour, owned and run by ASO, is by invitation only. Astana was not invited. There were reasons for that, and if you do a search you will find copious amounts of information on the reasons.

You know that Contador rides for Astana, correct?

We are sorry that the tour is boring for you, but for some of us that have actually raced bikes, some even paid to do it, it's actually very interesting from a tactical standpoint.

Hey, there's always NASCAR...

This has to be a joke of some kind. Either that, or you just started watching the sport last week.

Contador is not defending his title because the Tour, owned and run by ASO, is by invitation only. Astana was not invited. There were reasons for that, and if you do a search you will find copious amounts of information on the reasons.

You know that Contador rides for Astana, correct?

We are sorry that the tour is boring for you, but for some of us that have actually raced bikes, some even paid to do it, it's actually very interesting from a tactical standpoint.

Hey, there's always NASCAR...

I watch the tour every year, but I really don't keep up with all the behind the scenes stuff that goes on. I could have swore Contador rode for Discovery when he won that last year's TDF. It is interesting from a tactical standpoint, and being a beginner and have never raced, I watch it more for entertainment probably more so than learning from it. But hey, you don't have to race and do what these guys do to enjoy watching the sport. I was bored...for me watching a sport it's more fun rooting for a team or a specific player. Ricco has made the tour more fun to watch, which is why I'm rooting for him. So I take it your not rooting for anyone?

Cadel.

lance Armstrong back?
hope not,he controled everyone and his dog
the tour would have been decided on the first day!
at least the tour is still wide open

Man I can't believe I just posted who I was rooting for and Ricco tests postive for EPO. Ok, I'm pulling for Menchov now. Menchov is solid and has been in the tour for quite some time and has never tested positive.

:twitchy:

lance Armstrong back?
hope not,he controled everyone and his dog
the tour would have been decided on the first day!
at least the tour is still wide open

Problem with this logic is that if they included all the world's cat3/4/5 riders there would be even more uncertainty and maybe even more people would come to watch(immediate families mainly), more advertising revenue etc...I'd go fishing though.

I think I'm rooting for Ricco Riccardo aka the Cobra. He's in 9th and states he doesn't want to win the tour...but I think he could very well do it. It's always fun to root for someone. Wish Lance would come back, lol.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/manofstee/ricco.jpg

Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood. Who is your 2nd choice? :lol:

... Brad

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI!!!!!

GO CADEL!

:thumb:

My favorite rider will probably always be Jens Voigt, even though he'll never win the tour.

This year, I'd really like to see Cadel win. I like him better every time I hear him speak. Second choice is probably Vandevelde. I also wouldn't mind seeing Frank Schleck do well, especially after his swan dive in the Tour of Switzerland.

Valverde WAS my choice before stage 10. After I get over my disappointment I think I'll be rooting for everyone BUT Cadel Evans, with my new number one being Denis Menchov followed by Frank Schleck.

I think Vande Velde will blow up on the next mountain stage and fall back in the gc bringing him and Vaughters back to reality.

I want somebody from the CSC to win. Frank Schleck.

Vandevelde

Any rider that does not use doping of any kind with a reputation for riding and racing clean with the public and other riders will make an excellent winner. BTY it is not Ricco.

hincapie!

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI!!!!!

GO CADEL!

:thumb:

How is it that in a country full of interesting characters, your best TdF rider is a personality-deprived wheelsucker? I half expect Evans to rip off his rubber mask like Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible movies, and reveal that he's really Levi Leipheimer. I respect Evans and his talent. But I have a hard time "rooting" for a guy with so little panache.

O'Grady's P-R win, now -- that I can get excited about. Oi Oi indeed.

Levi, but he's not riding...:(

Levi, but he's not riding...:(

Yeah, it's really surprising he's not defending his third place finish this year!

The aussie.

OP you have to take some time to read VeloNews or something, even if you've watched the Tour from Day1 you should've known this, it was heavily covered on VS earlier in the race.

I've been pulling for Evans. yes he's a wheel sucker, but he is a great tactician and an overall great rider AND CLEAN.

Whomever doesn't fail doping controls? The win is entirely in the hands of the organizers and doping controls and that isn't sport so who cares.

How is it that in a country full of interesting characters, your best TdF rider is a personality-deprived wheelsucker? I half expect Evans to rip off his rubber mask like Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible movies, and reveal that he's really Levi Leipheimer. I respect Evans and his talent. But I have a hard time "rooting" for a guy with so little panache.

O'Grady's P-R win, now -- that I can get excited about. Oi Oi indeed.

You think Evans is boring? I've seen Menchov interviewed in Spanish and Dutch and the guy just nods and grunts. If he wins the Tour it'll be the worlds shortest victory speech.

Evans is a wheel sucker? How often did you see Sir Lance out there pulling a group along?

OP you have to take some time to read VeloNews or something, even if you've watched the Tour from Day1 you should've known this, it was heavily covered on VS earlier in the race.

I've been pulling for Evans. yes he's a wheel sucker, but he is a great tactician and an overall great rider AND CLEAN.

They're all clean



.... until they're not

I'm rooting for Vandevelde, but only because i like rooting for quasi-impossible long shots.

I'll go ahead and say anybody but Evans. I can't stand that guy. He cried the first day he was in yellow. I understand "it had been along time coming" but he could have had it in the past if he was a little more ballsy (or ballsy at all for that matter).

VDV FTW

Well, any of these 4 guys:

Cadel Evans (AUS)
Christian Vande Velde (USA)
Denis Menchov (RUS)
Kim Kirchen (LUX)

because they're the GC contenders on my Kenda fantasy team ;)

You think Evans is boring? I've seen Menchov interviewed in Spanish and Dutch and the guy just nods and grunts. If he wins the Tour it'll be the worlds shortest victory speech.

No doubt.

How hard is it to have a guy contend in the Tour some year who (a) is entertaining and lively, but also respectful and humble, (b) attacks at least once in the twenty-one days, and (c) isn't doping?

Ricco = (b), but nothing else
Evans = (c), but not really (a), and not (b)
Menchov = (c), but not really (b), and not (a)
Landis = (a) and (b), but not (c)

All three? Voigt, but he's not contending. Who else?

I was hoping that Zabriskie could be that guy. Maybe still some day.

Another vote for Hincapie./ Regardless of performance, we always stay true fans to a favorite. Among our favorites are Hincapie, Evans , and the Chavanel brothers.

Oh, you guys are talking about winning the post-ride "Miss Congeniality" talent quest.... and I thought you were talking about winning the bicycle race :rolleyes: ....in that case I'll go for whoever looks best in a bikini, that's the most crucial 'stage win' after all :p

Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood. Who is your 2nd choice? :lol:

... Brad

Now that Ricco is gone....good writtens....I'm Going for Menchov...aka Russian Assassin. I like Menchov because this guy gets no attention at all...and hardly any attention from the cameras as well...yet there he is, sitting at #5 overrall. Cadel would be my 2nd pick.