Professional Cycling For the Fans - Dark Horse GC

My vote goes for Christian Vande Velde.

David Miller?

EDIT: Wait, are we serious here? If we are, Carlos Sastre of course

Bradley Wiggens
even if he doesn't podium a top 5 for him will be fantastic.

Tony Martin - although I think that when the climbs get hot and heavy, he'll have trouble.
Nibali - not quite as good on the TT, but climbs a little better.

David Miller?

EDIT: Wait, are we serious here? If we are, Carlos Sastre of course

Yes, we are serious here :lol:


Stage 13 promise to be an exciting stage, being it is a "no radio" stage. I hope Garmin is able get some time back for CVV, then just hang in there til' the last TT. With all that and bit of luck he may be in a the mix for a podium spot. :D

armstrong and contador fall out of contention in a violent fist-fight on the alps. levi takes over for the win.

Black beauty - The ultimate Dark Horse

http://www.impawards.com/1994/posters/black_beauty.jpg

my choices for dark horse are:

1) wiggins

2) levi

3) sastre

ed rader

Still no love for the Man Kloden? He is a beast, and a hell of a teamate. It kills me when he nurses Jan or Vino when they are about to crack.

Richard

I too am voting for Ed Rader.

Menchov!

kreuziger or luis leon sanchez

kreuziger or luis leon sanchez

Dead horse or dark horse:(

Oops, meant to respond with this to Suzie's post!

I too am voting for Ed Rader.


:lol:

Leipheimer

If I had a say, I would pick Levi............ after all he has done for LA he deserves one for himself

If I had a say, I would pick Levi............ after all he has done for LA he deserves one for himself

Here's Levi's pathway in the pro peloton:

1998–1999 - Saturn
2000–2001 - US Postal
2002–2004 - Rabobank
2005–2006 - Gerolsteiner
2007 - Discovery
2008 – Astana

What is all this he's "done for LA"? He's never even ridden in the Tour on the same team as him before.

I agree w/Ed that Sastre seems most capable of pulling off some incredible day on, e.g., Ventoux and picking up a huge amount of time (he'll probably need close to 5 minutes after whatever he loses in the TT), but it strikes me as a bit odd to call the defending champ a dark horse candidate.

I agree w/Ed that Sastre seems most capable of pulling off some incredible day on, e.g., Ventoux and picking up a huge amount of time (he'll probably need close to 5 minutes after whatever he loses in the TT), but it strikes me as a bit odd to call the defending champ a dark horse candidate.

Look at the stages where Sastre has made big time on his competitors in the past year or so. There's a common factor here.

Steep finishing climb after a long, grueling stage with several other climbs.

This Tour doesn't have that on the menu, so I doubt Carlos will be putting a lot of time into folks.

If I had a say, I would pick Levi............ after all he has done for LA he deserves one for himself

And just what work would that be that Leipheimer has done for Armstrong?

Leipheimer was on Postal in 2000, 2001, but did not start the TDF.

Following a strong Veulta in 2001 (in which he was riding behind Heras, not Armstrong), Leipheimer went to Rabobank, (a move which some found disloyal at the time.) Leipheimer was on Rabobank or Gerolsteiner the rest of Armstrong's career.


Since both Armstrong and Leipheimer have been on Astana, Astana supported Leipheimer in winning the TOC, and Armstrong rode support for Leipheimer in the Giro.

It would appear that if anyone deserves some support, it would be Leipheimer supporting Armstrong. Also it's his job.

Edit: Damn I should have read down to Zorro's comment and saved the trouble

Greg Lemond


Kenal0

Dead horse or dark horse:(

Oops, meant to respond with this to Suzie's post!

You probably have it right! :D

:deadhorse2:

You probably have it right! :D

:deadhorse2:

I was really hoping he would go to the tour with the same form he had in the Giro. He put on a spectacular show!

Look at the stages where Sastre has made big time on his competitors in the past year or so. There's a common factor here.

Steep finishing climb after a long, grueling stage with several other climbs.

This Tour doesn't have that on the menu, so I doubt Carlos will be putting a lot of time into folks.

Plus he had a super strong team. This year a strong team has been even more important. It's not going to come down to a time trial with Sastre pitted against another favorite still suffering from a previous crash.

Lance Pharmstrong? Lol.

Wiggins.... unless he has to tow Vande Velde through the alpine valleys.