800over

I don't see anyone challenging Contador. He wins it easily unless he falls/mechanical issues. Schleck will be top 3. Randomly add any other for the final podium spot.

wxduff

No he's on the official startlist for team Lampre...

rekmeyata

I too go for Contador and Schleck for either one to place either 1st or 2nd, then Cavendish. But I would like to see Schleck win and I think he can beat Contador because Contador has had some distractions and he's not raced as much...but it could go either way. Cavendish has the experience so he could upset. Or as you know in racing a young upstart no name could come out of the woods to win. But I think Schleck is the one to watch to win.

wxduff

The fact that you put Cavendish in 3rd is ridiculous. He is after the green jersey and state wins. He stands no chance of finishing even in the top 20 for the yellow.

rekmeyata

You may be right, but I am, as we all are, just speculating. But I do stand by my Schleck choice for the yellow, but can't count out Contador for it either. Again it's all speculation.

wxduff

The first two were very reasonable. I just thought your third was a bit outlandish, that is all.

rekmeyata

Are you attempting rhyme? OUTLANDISH...CAVENDISH!!

wxduff

I thought that after I posted. It must have been subliminal...

Moontrane

1. Contador
2. Wiggins
3. Schleck, A

rekmeyata

I was laughing as soon as I read your post. Maybe we have a nickname for him now.

rekmeyata

Wiggins is an interesting choice, but his team isn't a very positive team, Sean Yates publicly said that they have no chance of winning...in other words the very words they speak will doom them before the race even starts.

Kind of Blued

First and foremost, I'm a diehard fan. I will watch the TdF if the riders have horns growing out of their helmet vents. That said, with no intention of crashing the party, I just watched this and I can't suppress the cynicism.


I realize that 2007 was four years ago, but if Contador, Leipheimer, and Evans were hanging with Rasmussen in 2007, what should I think of the guys that are able to hang with Contador, Leipheimer, and Evans in 2011?

Go ahead and give me hell...

rekmeyata

Good point, but Contador has gotten stronger since then and Rasmussen has been fading, he won't be a contender this year.

What's funny watching that video is how fast bicycles are...but then you see people in street clothes running and keeping up with the cyclists!

roadwarrior

Clembuterol. All three jerseys.

Beef. It's what's for dinner.

USAZorro

This new announcer won't be back in 2012.

Kind of Blued

He seems like more of a professional sports announcer than a retired bike racer. That might not be such a terrible thing though.

gear

If Andy Schleck doesn't win GC this year he may never do it because they basically designed this course for him. Fewer ITTs would seem to give him an edge, but I don't see this as much a two man race as it's been so his team could make tactical mistakes if they concentrate solely on Contador.

I don't have a horse in this one but I think it will be more exciting than calculated.

If Contador wins, look for him to be anointed as the greatest grand tour rider of all time (sports reporters like to be the first to make such pronouncements) even though he will be a couple of grand tour wins short of this being true. A triple would seal that.

USAZorro

Al Trautwig and Craig Hummer were from that same mold, and I thought they performed creditably. I'm not sure how they are going to employ this new one, but if he's going to attempt to join Bobke in the later broadcast of the action - lets just say my expectations aren't that high based on this morning.

DXchulo

Is it Schlanger? I was watching a Eurosport feed, but I'll probably end up getting the NBC package so I can watch on demand during the week.

rekmeyata

This is very interesting, because you would think, and so would I, that Contador would be the number 1 pick to win just due to politics, he's their golden boy. And that's where I falter back and forth between my top two picks.

I don't think they would design a course for Schleck, but maybe they could have altered it for him and Contador so the race will be more exciting thus attracting more tourists and viewers.

But Contador is poised to surpass Merckx, and could since he's still relatively young for a cyclist though possibly at his age peak, but Armstrong kept winning in his 30's, and if Contador continues to win in his 30's then I think he could surpass Merckx...note I said could not would.

Laggard

Who was the last overall TDF winner to win a monument in the same year?

diphthong

offhand, i think it might be hinault in 1981, winning the tdf and paris-roubaix. there's gotta be someone more recent than that-right?! 30 years ago?!

roadwarrior

Without looking, yeah, Hinault in 1981.

Laggard

Has it been that long? Wow.

mistertwo

Lolz. wxduff let you off easy. Speculation or not Cavendish has no chance at GC because he can't climb or TT; during mountain stages all he ever does is hang out in the groupetto. First year following le Tour maybe?