Hermes

The TdF commences July 4th in Monaco with the prologue time trial. It should be a great grand tour.

Versus has been running highlights of Lance Armstrong's memorable stages last weekend and all this week. I missed many of these when they occurred but they are cool to watch now. I read Bruyneel's book "You Might as Well Win" which discusses his relationship to Lance, racing tactics and many of the races. Having read the book and now seeing some of the video from the races discussed in the book makes for great viewing.

oilman_15106

If he is healed from all the crashes in Giro, my money is on Levi.

Hermes

I like Levi a lot. He is a local cyclist and it would wonderful if he won. The problem is he peaked too early (Lance's take). He was a little flat in the Giro.

Having said that, I think Contrador will repeat baring any crashes or sickness. And I think it is going to be a great show seeing Contrador, Levi and Lance working together.

snaproll

I've got to go with Alberto. He's just got too much going for him this tour. He's in great shape and has a strong team, I'd like to see him win it and think he has a great chance.

I'm also hoping Tyler Farrar does well and can shut Cavendish up (unlikely, but it would sure be fun!). I liked Cavendish last year but his mouth has outrun his legs.

All in all I'm more excited about the tour this year than I have been in a long time, and it's not all about Lance. The course is exciting and the competition should be great. Stage 20 will be a nail biter for sure, and it will be interesting to see if Lance is strong enough to contend in that stage. He has said that he has unfinished business on Mont Ventoux and I'll be pulling for him on that stage.

It's going to be a great tour!!

Rick@OCRR

I agree, if forced to pick I'd go for Alberto too. On the other hand, I'd like to see a great race from Carlos, and the Andy-Frank (Saxo Bank) Team!

Plus, yes, it will be interesting to see how much Lance helps Alberto (or not). All kinds of fun in France in July!

Rick / OCRR

BluesDawg

Another vote for Contador with a lot of help from Lance and Levi, but watch out for Armstrong if Alberto falters at the wrong time. My dark horse choice is Andy Schleck. I think he is about ready to start making some big noise.

There should be many exciting stages, but that next to last stage ending atop Mont Ventoux is going to be insane! I'm expecting it to be a real slugfest between Astana and Saxo Bank.

Hermes

Carlos is a fantastic climber, his TT is greatly improved, last year's TdF winner and lots of experience. I am not sure if the Cervelo Test team has enough fire power to support him on the climbs or in the yellow jersey to win as GC. I think he will be on the podium.

BikeWNC

It's going to be a very tactical race for sure. Best case scenario for Astana would be to have Saxo or Lotto in the yellow after the 1st day. That way they can follow and put the leadership controversy on the back burner until later in the Tour. If Evans wins the Prologue TT that will doom his team for the mountains. Saxo could pull it off with the riders they have if they had to. I wouldn't count out a surprise winner for the first TT. Garmin with Millar or Z have a real chance.

Hermes

Watching more of the Look Back on Versus. Lance versus Ulrich in a 49 Km time trial in the rain. The Ulrich versus Armstrong was a great match up for several tours.

stapfam

The TDF is the big one of the year. All the teams will have their best possible riders out there and this event will be the first time that they have all met on the same event.

There are too many riders that have shown well this year on the European circuit but to choose one at this stage for the win is almost impossible.

Cadel evans would be my favourite- If Lotto have managed to get a team to back him up. But has he peaked too early?

So I will give my prediction to win in about 20 days time. Once I have gauged how well the preparation has gone amongst the best riders in the world.

SaiKaiTai

I don't know... I like Cav but I'm thrilled that they're letting Snortin' Tom Boonen ride.
Should be a great match up.

As for Lance... well, he's the whole reason I'm riding now. I'd love to see him do it but he *is* 37. Still, when I see what our man. Hermes is doing... or, heck, so many of you here.... I'm not counting him out.

I'd love to see Vandevelde take it all.

BluesDawg

Cavendish and Boonen aren't going to be the only sprinters going for the green. Keep an eye out for Tyler Farrar.

Come on, stapfam. Don't wuss out. We'll all be adjusting our predictions 20 days from now. Who do you think - today- it will be?

stapfam

It will have to be Cadel. But with a big proviso. I don't like him- as a personality and as a rider but I have to admire him. He does it on his own as the other riders in the Lotto team can't support him. They just aren't good enough.

And to get you all green now.

GB Eurosport will for the next 22 days be covering the TDF on a daily basis. Today the programme starts at 2.30pm and finish at 7pm. Just in case I can't get to watch all the coverage- there will also be a highlights programme later in the Evening- but I have left the next 3 weeks free so that I can gain 20lbs sitting on the sofa watching the box non-stop when I come home from work.

Hermes

Farrar beat Cavendish once. The US has not a sprint victory in 20 years. We are overdo. The problem with shutting up Cavendish is that one has to do it with your legs and he is very strong.

Hermes

Here are the Editor's picks this morning from L' Equipe the French News...

Alberto Contador
**** Carlos Sastre, Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov
*** Andy Schleck, Lance Armstrong
** Levi Leipheimer, Fränk Schleck
* Andreas Klöden, Roman Kreuziger, Luis León Sanchez

George

Lance Armstrong looked good and thought he may be faster than Levi. What a surprise for me. I guess Levi must be smoother. I think all of them are going to have there hands full with Alberto Contrador.

snaproll

One thing for sure, if Lance can avoid a Tour ending crash there won't be any French riders ahead of him in the final standings. That is pretty sweet in itself.

Hermes

Stage 1 is complete and Canchellara will wear the yellow jersey for stage 2. I was impressed with Astana getting 4 riders in the top 10 with Lance 10th.

Monaco is a fantastic place. My wife and I have been there twice. On the 4th of July, we were on a ship in the harbor and saw a wonderful display of fireworks as part of an international competition. On one trip, we were in Nice, France and drove to Monaco via the High Road. It is a spectacular drive and has been featured in many James Bond films. I did go into the casino and made one bet at the roulette table.

It was interesting that most of the racers did not use a trispoke front for the TT. I suspect it is due to the climb. They went with a lighter but less aero front wheel.

obie

Eddy and Lance hanging. Cool.

https://www.livestrong.com/lance-arms...-9b5bca79f7ad/

Hermes

I do not like Cervelo Test Team's new jersey. They seem more like a Halloween skeleton costume from the back. And I like white kits that are well designed when they are clean, new and dry but once they get old (thin), dirty and wet, well, following guys in a paceline with wet white shorts is...

stapfam

Only thing is- I wonder how that smart black team strip that Cervello have been using- would add to body heat in that European sun. And plenty of different strips about at this years TDF. I like the new AGR2 strip and another team has Brown shorts. Suppose its getting ready for the Mountain descents.

roccobike

Wouldn't it be cool if the TDF had an age range race. Something like a 40+ leader, 50+ leader and 60+ leader. I know it won't happen due to the folks that run the TDF, but I think this approach would inspire cycling amongst seniors and pre-seniors which means more bicycle sales and a larger cycling base.
IMHO, it would be cool (and profitable for the bike companies).

obie

Yea, that would be cool. Listening to Eddy in the Lance video he (Eddy) talks about the "Legends Race" they did on the TT course that morning. Said they did something like 8 laps and Zabel won.

Hermes

Hermes

Cav looked really strong in stage two. Tyler was on his wheel with 100 meters or so to go and Cav dropped him by a few bike lengths at the finish.