American 1, 2, 3 in TdF?
 

With the drug charges knocking out Basso & Ullrich, call me crazy, but i can see an American 1, 2, 3 finish.:eek:
1) Floyd Landis
2) George Hincaipe
3) Levi Leipheimer

These guys were all considers contenders [and i contended they would all finish in the top 10]. Wouldn't it be great for cycling here in the States? Just a thought. :rolleyes:

Until there's a discovery that they received more aids than just bottled water.

The Hincapie choice is interesting, isnt Acevedo the #1 on Discovery? I havent been following this years races but is Hincapie peaking for the tour he generally likes all the classics.

I think Floyd and Levi both have excellent chances of winning this baby. If you take out the 4 minutes that Basso finished ahead of them they are all very close from last years TdF.

Excited for the US chances and Sad that the best wont be riding it at the same time. When Armstorng won his first it wasnt till he beat Ullrich the following year that he was considered beyond a fluke. I fear if an American wins the same story will follow them.

Azevedo is #1 because Discovery handed out the bibs in alphabetical order....


By the way, the podium for the US could include Bobby Julich. He could be riding for some serious team pride this year.

julich may move in to the team leader role with Bassso out, did'nt he podium a few years ago?

Excited for the US chances and Sad that the best wont be riding it at the same time. When Armstorng won his first it wasnt till he beat Ullrich the following year that he was considered beyond a fluke. I fear if an American wins the same story will follow them.[/QUOTE]



I wouldn't be Sad at all. Clearly if most of the top riders have been cheating then how could they have been the best? If Lance was clean, it makes his accomplishment even more impressive that he beat pharmacologically advantaged bikers. Same with the top US finishers last year - if they were clean they might have placed even higher.

There could be 5 or so Americans in the top 10 this year.

I agree here too.

there's aguy named sastre.

Yes, in 1998 he finished 3rd. Anyone see any irony if he finishes on the podium this year?

Hey Im all for a clean event, but I am also for a fair process. You test positive you should be out of Cycling. I realize France is a common law country which basically means you are guilty until proven innocent, but you will have to forgive me if I am just a little pissed off that the tour wont have its best riders based on implication and and not conviction.

Time will tell who will be convicted but until a conviction these riders are still innocent. Especially without a positive test on ay of them. That they will not participate based on the current information is sad.

Presumption of Guilt?
 

France is a Napoleonic Code country, not a common law country. But yeah, they seem to have weird laws. Like Louisiana.

Levi for the win.....I think Acevedo will shine as the best disco

I'm still pulling for George. It'd be great to get one of his own after all those years helping Lance. :rolleyes: I know i'm still just as excited even in the absence of Ullrich and Basso!:D

I'd love to see the reaction of the French after an American podium sweep. Crybabies.

Cadel Evans (AUS) is now also likely to make a podium finish.

So would I. 7 years of Lance followed by another American might cause them to disband the event. LOL

Hmmmm, I'm tipping 'le tour' was going about 80 years before any seppo's won it, I think it might just survive the seppo arrogance a little longer

True, or they'd be forced to have a 'French only' Tour if things continue to look this bad for French cycling.
Maybe even ban American pros for some odd reason, like desecration of French fries at McDonalds.

It is truly amazing, the American success and overall high rider profile today, especially since the US participation in Euro cycling has only come fairly recently. And in the face of current Euro competition too, given the depth of cycling in say for example, Italy!

I also think it'll be sastre for CSC if his form is on in the mountains. I think he finished 8th overall in 2004.

I'm pulling for Levi. Team Gerolsteiner has gotten off to a fairly mild start, but levi and the rest of his gang will shine in the mountains

George doesn't have the climbing legs to podium in the tdf.

I am not so sure about that. I think the guys left in the Tour that can drop George on the climbs with accelerations are not the best at time trials.

There are still many capable riders in this tour even though you would not think so from all of these posts. I suspect the US will get a podium finish, but it will not be a cake walk. I haven't heard much about Moreau but he is a very dangerous opponent.

Richard

Honestly, they wouldn't give a ****, because they know they have nobody presently that can make it to the podium. They'll be happy if Moncoutié wins his usual stage in the Alpes, and if they win the stage on 14th July, Bastille day.

Other than that, you can be damn sure they'll find it very weird, if those guys win stages in the mountains with large advances. Let's see:

Hincapie: 32 - 9 participations in the Tour (104th, 53rd, 78th, 65th, 71st, 59th, 47th, 33rd, 14th)
Landis: 31 - 4 participations (61st, 77th, 23rd, 9th)
Leipheimer: 32 - 3 participations (6th, 9th, 8th)
(Source: Tour de France - participations with abandons not included)

Don't get me wrong. These guys are very good, but if they make it all to the podium, we'll have a fun story to tell here again.

Didn't George win the toughest mountain stage last year?

I don't know that it'll be all that strange. I don't think Hincapie has ever tried to actually do well in the GC.