Professional Cycling For the Fans - Podium Guesses??

As of now:

# 1. Alberto Contador Astana in 63:17:56
# 2. Lance Armstrong Astana at 01:37
# 3. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream in 63:19:42 at 01:46
# 4. Andréas Kloden Astana in 63:20:13 at 02:17
# 5. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 63:20:22 at 02:26
# 6. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r La Mondiale in 63:20:26 at 02:30
# 7. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas in 63:20:47 at 02:51
# 8. Tony Martin Team Columbia - Htc in 63:21:03 at 03:07
# 9. Christophe Le Mevel Francaise Des Jeux in 63:21:05 at 03:09
# 10. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 63:21:21 at 03:25
# 11. Carlos Sastre Cervelo Test Team in 63:21:48 at 03:52
# 12. Christian Vande Velde Garmin - Slipstream in 63:21:55 at 03:59

My guess
1. AC
2. Wiggins
3. Andy Schleck

I would have put Armstrong up there but seeing that he couldn't hang with a lot of the top climbers today and with Ventoux coming up I just don't see it happening.

My guess:
1. AC
2. Wiggins
3. Kloden
Kloden is going well and the TT is waiting. Schleck could get in there but only if Kloden is used up to defend Condator's jersey. Wiggins is the wild card. I expect a solid TT and if he maintains in the mountains as he has then he's in there. I expect Schleck to be 4th. He could slip in there but with the solid TT abilities of Kloden and Wiggins I don't see it likely. Then again you never know.

1. Contador
2. Schleck
3. Armstrong

Astana sweep. (Contador, Armstrong, Kloden)

Contador
Schleck
Wiggins

Contador
Kloden
Wiggins

Contador
Wiggins
A Schleck

My guess:
1. AC
2. Wiggins
3. Kloden
Kloden is going well and the TT is waiting. Schleck could get in there but only if Kloden is used up to defend Condator's jersey. Wiggins is the wild card. I expect a solid TT and if he maintains in the mountains as he has then he's in there. I expect Schleck to be 4th. He could slip in there but with the solid TT abilities of Kloden and Wiggins I don't see it likely. Then again you never know.

I'm afraid Kloden will get used up to defend Lance's position. If Kloden is helping Condator he may end up far better off.

Contador
Wiggins
Armstrong

Contador
Sastre
Wiggins

Contador
Wiggins
Armstrong

x2

Although im not completely convinced Wiggins wont crack on Ventoux.

I'm not 100% on feeling it for Bradley. Good on him if he can hold it together, but I'm going with the "A" team.

1. Alberto
2. Andy
3. Andreas

contador
sastre
andy schleck

Can I change my mind?

1.Armstrong
2. Who cares winning is the only thing
3. See above

Can I change my mind?

1.Armstrong
2. Who cares winning is the only thing
3. See above

you're on acid-ac,wiggins,schleck

Al will attack on Ventoux, Lance will blow up bridging the gap, collapsing and crashing into Al giving the victory to Brad.

I keep waiting for Wiggins to slide off the back as well, but he covered every Schleck attack today, dealt with Saxo's crazy pace to the bottom of Petit St. Bernard, and even launched his own attack. He's legit, and he's going to be top 3 in the TT.

you're on acid-ac,wiggins,schleck

Never tried acid but leaving lance off the podium means that your illusions are permanent.

Contador
Wiggins
Sastre

1. Contador
2. Schleck
3. Armstrong

bump

Looking good!! :thumb:

1 Alberto
2 Andy
3 Frank

Alberto
Andy
Lance

Alberto
Andy
Lance

Where were you three days ago. :p

I'm still extending hope that Kloden will rise to the occasion, but I suspect you're going to be right.

Not sure about thrid, but the top two are going to be Contador and Andy.

3rd) well, somebody is going to crack. I have a feeling Wiggins might crack bigtime. Ventoux is a tough climb and there are going to be some serious attacks as the last opportunity for the riders to make up time. Between Armstrong and Kloden, I think Kloden is the stronger rider and he's prven it thus far, but Armstrong will go well on the day if he can recover. And he may try to attack to gain time on Andy. Frank has an outside shot, but if he attacks then which of the Astana guys will chase? If it's Contador, then that plays into Andy's hand. If it's Armstrong, then he might slip a little at the end. Kloden could do it.

I'm pretty sure Saxo Bank will try very hard to get Frank on the podium while Astana will try very hard to keep Lance there. Andy is too far ahead for Lance to get second unless Andy has a very bad day on Ventoux. The rest of the teams will not work up front because they'll have riders in the breakaway.

Peloton will crack on Ventoux but a breakaway will win the day. Could be a nice win for Pellizotti.

Contador
Andy Schleck
Armstrong

We know the first two . . . so this will be fun to watch. There's not much team work on Ventoux . . . it somes down to every man for himself.

Did you see the Armstrong interview about Ventoux? http://www.versus.com/tdfvideos# The Stage 18 pre-race interview where he's wearing the sunglasses. He said if he gets a second on Frank, "he'll be fine on Ventoux". So, it looks like it'll be all out for the podium. It will be a great event to watch, that's for sure. Ventoux suits Armstrong better than the other days climbs, so this should be entertaining.

We know the first two . . . so this will be fun to watch. There's not much team work on Ventoux . . . it somes down to every man for himself.

Did you see the Armstrong interview about Ventoux? http://www.versus.com/tdfvideos# The Stage 18 pre-race interview where he's wearing the sunglasses. He said if he gets a second on Frank, "he'll be fine on Ventoux". So, it looks like it'll be all out for the podium. It will be a great event to watch, that's for sure. Ventoux suits Armstrong better than the other days climbs, so this should be entertaining.


I expect Armstrong to attack on the climb to Ventoux. His new team is annouced and I don't think there is really an alliance with Contador and Astana now.

Agreed, but not because of the new team being announced, but because AC has over 5 minutes on him and there is no danger of him losing yellow. So Lance won't be needed to watch attacks, or protect AC on the final climb by staying with rivals if they fall back, he'll be free to attack and go with any attacks as well. He has nothing to loose or save energy for on that climb, and if he wants that podium spot he is going to have to match the attacks. I think it is going to be a real free-for-all on that climb. Todays (7/24) Cat 2 climb at the end may have a little fiestiness in it as well.

I could see Contador riding for Lance on Ventoux.

I have no alliances to any particular team or rider. I say let the best men rise to the top. Having said that, I do feel that it would be so very cool for the Schleck brothers to take the podium together.

Imagine being their dad, a retired racer himself, seeing his two sons on the podium of the greatest cycling race the world has ever known. I would relish that day forever if I were him.

Frank for third!