OK, this is where you stick your neck out with predictions for outcomes of this years TdF.

I've been unimpressed with peoples' "expert" knowledge of this sport (which is really a show btw).

I'll go first:

Contador surprises many with an epic win on Alpe d'Huez, matching Pantani's previous record climbing speed, but Contador does it after an entirely brutal stage and an entirely brutal 3 weeks already ridden.

He gains minutes with his attack but it still leaves him in 3rd position on GC but only a minute behind 1st.

The UCI kicks Contador out of the tour before the ITT, for a ridiculous reason like Rasmussen but does not strip him of last year's title.

Frank and Andy continue to take turns accelerating, turning around to watch riders trying to nail them back, and then slowing back down. Cadel and Alberto keep marking them, and every time Basso and Voeckler get gapped a bit, they fight their way back on. Sammy Sanchez shakes his head at all this foolishness, gains modest amounts of time on three mountain stages, and the decision comes down to a duel between him and Voeckler in the ITT, with Tommy barely hanging on.

Oscar Periero and Carlos Sastre sneak into the race and finish third and fourth respectively. Vino fumes over missing his big chance, and accidentally transfuses someone else's blood in the hospital on the rest day.

(two can play the somewhat delusional game)

Might as well get really crazy, since few of the predictions this year from us arm-chair quarterbacks seems remotely on-point.

Nice call on Voeckler scenario--I like it!

Andy wins, Evan finally gets dropped next week. TV gets a podium spot.

R

I think Contador is going to do a "Landis" in the Alps and win the whole thing. Unfortunately, that may mean he does a "Landis" once he's finished the Alps, too.

I predict Team Radioshack will have one member finish the race....maybe.

No predictions for actual winner. Strategy so far seems to revolve around watching Contador who may/may not be in contention.

I predict that your legs will look like this after 15 years of the Tour de France.

1. Evans
2. Voeckler (+0' 16")
3. A. Schleck(+1' 05")

Even here in the BF people understood right from the beginning that this year it would not be a two man race. Unfortunately for the Schlecks that message still hasn't reached them, they are totally focused on Contador. Reading the post stage comments from yesterday, it was all about Contador. Andy Schleck must be hiding some TT prowess that he is about to unleash, otherwise this strategy just isn't making sense.

At one point on yesterdays' climb AS seemed to be challenging Voeckler to attack, why would Voeckler attack? He is well up in time, he's in yellow, what the heck?

I'm beginning to think it will be:
1.) Evans
2.) Basso
3.) Voeckler

I hate to count AC and AS out of the podium but one guy is having problems and the other seems to be trying to beat the first guy rather than win the race.

Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich, and Floyd Landis will come in last.

Evans, Voekler, Basso, in that order. Contador doesn't have it this year, and the Schlecks attacks have been too short to stick. Unless someone employs a different tactic in the Alps, it'll either be Evans or Voekler for the win, with Basso hanging on for third.

Voeckler will lose time in the ITT.

How does Sammy Time Trail.

I'm tired of watching Attcklets maybe we should call them Schlecklets.

I'm pulling for Sanchez, Basso, Tommy V, or cuddles in that order. Hope none of the prerace favorites make the podium but that's probably too much to hope for.

Voekler lost 1:58 to Evans on the same course in the Dauphine. But, he wasn't in the yellow jersey & Cadel was competing for a podium spot. Voekler seems to indicate that he went fast for him in the Dauphine ITT because he got caught by Janez & then he was able to stay with him. I think if he still has the yellow & the same time gap to Cadel, he'll hold him off. Of course those are big if's, but I hope he does it.

Holy cow!! Who's leg is that? Seriously.

As for predictions, am I allowed to nominate Lance Armstrong? Just because if he WERE there, he would win, and give "the look" to somebody.

On a serious note, most probably a Scleck. Although in this year's tour, or any Tour since 1999, I would not call any of them real wins. Just riding to the finish line with a small group and doing glory sprints in the last 2km.