Sea Green Sky

Because the filters will turn the entire word into "********". Much like it will with "**** ***".

colombo357

I think RS is going to take the entire podium, LA, Kloden, Leipheimer. Not necessarily in that order. I want to see Kloden win actually.

SunSwingsLow

JMO

A podium would be amazing but i see around a 5th place finish.

ps. Is LA the #1 on Radio Shack?

daytonian

+1 his TTing since he returned is horrid and he admits it. That long TT will be bloody on his GC hopes. In addition to Contradoper, Schlong, and B. Wigs, he will also have Vino, Evans and Basso to deal with on the climbs who weren't there last year physically (Vino)(Basso) or mentally (Evans). CVdV will be in the mix for awhile until he crashes and I'm betting Horner crashes too. They always find a way to whether it's theur fault or not. All of these guys except for Basso and Horner will put time into Livestrong over the 50kms. I'm sure he's planning his 2nd retirement right now with plans to be Gov. of TX in the next decade.

guadzilla

So what is life like in that alternate universe of yours?

FlashBazbo

Kloden has, by far, been the strongest rider on Radio Shack these last couple of months. Unless they again relegate him to chase up and down the mountains to carry Lance drinks and hors d'oeuvres, Kloden could be a strategic surprise winner. (But is Lance man enough to allow that? I doubt it. The only way Kloden wins, thanks to Lance, is if Lance sustains an injury on the cobbles and drops out early.)

mrrabbit 

If he keeps his mouth shut, focuses on his own performance and no-one elses, he has a shot at #1.

If he whine or makes subtle comments, or has hissy meetings in the team camp about others who dare to "take the lead" that he thinks belongs to him...

...he'll finish right behind whoever that was...

=8-)

USAZorro

Tony Martin has as good a shot as Lance. Better if Rogers slips up early on.

ultraman6970

Guys remember that alberto contador is racing for astana this year, and lance have nothing to do with him at all so it means that the star in Radio Shack is LA. Now the question this year is... vino will race for contador or not?

colombo357

Word has it that Vino will be racing for Armstrong, believe it or not. (Believe it). If he gets booted out of his own team for mutiny, Borat will take his place.

guadzilla

Having Borat in the peloton is a good way of making sure no one holds HIS wheel.

mmmdonuts

Vino will attack. That's all we have to know...

ultraman6970

....

Jay68442

Right around this time last year I remember reading similar threads. Where will Lance finish? In these threads many thought Lance didn’t have a chance in hell at sitting on the podium. If I remember correctly many counted him out of the top 10. But there he was finishing in 3rd place. Can he do it again this year? I think so. He has a very loyal and strong team. No TTT will hurt his chances but I see Lance finishing in the top 5 barring any mishaps.

Staarkhand

I'm thinking you didn't actually read what I posted. Get to sentence 2 at least before you hit reply.

DXchulo

Did anybody read the CoveritLive thing they did on VeloNews today? They put a poll in there of who would win and Contador (40%) and Lance (39%) were neck and neck. What the hell is wrong with people?

https://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...-monday_123567

USAZorro

There's a contest at Vs. to pick the podium. I'm astounded at the percentage who are picking Frank Schleck. Obviously, there are a lot of people who are very casual followers of the sport.

Hezz

My guess is that his heart is not fully in this one and he is already planning his escape to avoid federal investigators. Or figuring out if he can get some kind of a plea deal. If Horner can stay on his bike through the duration of the race he will probably be in the top ten. If Armstrong cannot get his blood during the race due to heightened security will he still continue or will he pull out and claim that he is not up to the task.

cjbruin

It's interesting that no one has pointed out that he finished 3rd last year despite the training setback from breaking his collarbone. Yes, he's aged one more year but he's also had another year of training to improve his endurance. I'm not saying he's going to win but it seems he has at least as good a chance to podium as he did last year.

FlashBazbo

What do Trek, Giro, Livestrong think about Lance's chances? I don't know. But in two LBS's yesterday EVERYTHING related to Lance Armstrong was on clearance sale. (How many yellow and black helmets, sunglasses, bikes would you sell after the Lance-asm subsides -- or worse -- when it fizzles?)

TechKnowGN

It's his last tour. That stuff sitting after the last tour will not sell as well unless he wins. Im not overly surprised things are on sale. And I doubt it has anything to do with his expected performance. There are new model lines for this summer too, so it might be just that a clearance of older stuff.

People read way too much into everything.

border reiver

This, plus he also admitted he's skeered of descending in the wet and he obviously can't match the accelerations in the climbs anymore.

Without these qualities it's game over for Lance.

FlashBazbo

But let's put it all into perspective. I don't see anyone saying Lance isn't going to kick the buttocks of over 90% of the pro peloton at the TdF. Top 10% of the top 200 elite cyclists in the world isn't a bad place to be.

Keith99

Third was a great result. But it was in a race where the TTT all but eliminated a few contenders and it was also a very controlled race, in large part because Contidor was forced by management to ride a race that favored Lance.

Neither of these will happen this year.

Also look previous 5 time winners. Merckx and Indurain both dropped off significantly and suddenly. Hinault simply retired at the top. (I'm not sure about Anquetil).

I expect this years tour to be a legbreaker once they hit the mountians and if that prediction holds I expect to see Lance in major trouble. I thihnk he will likely handle it well, where some others will totally crack. BUT I expect several others to not crack and put major time on Armstrong when the Tour is broken to pieces.

For Lance the best thnig to happen would be Contidor leading by a small margin where his smart move is to mark and where he looks strong enough others do not attack. Worst for Lance is a good climber in 4th (with virtually nothing to lose) starting the attack and counter early on a hard stage.

cjbruin

The TTT keeps getting brought up...and yes, it is a factor in The Tour but do you realize what the actual time gaps were?

Garmin-Slipstream - 18"...not enough to get Wiggins on the podium
Saxo-Bank - 40"...enough for F. Schleck to tie for 3rd but who knows how the other stages would have played out
Liquigas - 51"...not enough for Nibali to make the podium

The way this comment keeps coming up you'd think Astana took 5 minutes on this stage.

Again, I'm not saying that LA is going to win but I think the majority of you are underestimating his chances.

EDIT - By the way Keith, it's Contador.