Tour de France
Well, the Criterium du Dauphine is over and Chris Froome won it again. In the past, this has led to him winning the biggest of the Grand Tours.
So it's time to place your bets.
I'm going to get in early and go for someone who avoided the Dauphine and, as is the (sad) custom of today the Giro, as preparation for LeTour.
I'm going for Nairo Quintana.
I believe that no Columbian has won the Tour before (although several stages have been won by them). He isn't the greatest of time triallers, but I'm going to chose him anyway.
Any more takers?
Comments
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No change from last year for me; Chris Froome again. Before anyone else nabs him!
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Not sure who will win, but let's just hope for a good "clean" contest and also hope the spectators behave themselves so that we don't see any repeats of last year's disgraceful scenes!
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Well, both my top tips have gone, (Froome and Quintana), so I will go with someone different, and hope for a French victory! Romain Bardet. Came second in Dauphine. Looking forward to it starting, great Summer of Sport again!
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The course might suit Contador who will be hoping to make a mark this year after all the doping controversy. He is a good climber and the time trials might be a good length for his style.
I have never been Contador's greatest fan, but I think he could do well.----- A podium place perhaps.
K
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Would be lovely to see a Frenchman win it. Rolland is pretty good as well! I haven't checked team lists yet, need to do some homework. Wondering if Olympics will mean a few riders either don't start, or pack in at some point.
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To be chosen for this, the worlds biggest, most prestigious and most supported sporting event in the world, and then pack up without a major injury, would be an insult to the event, to their fellow riders and to the spectators.
The olympics is a non-event in comparison.
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I'm hoping to see Marcel Kittel back in action this year.
Any other CT people off to watch the race? We're in the Camargue, birdwatching at the moment, but we've a campsite booked in Bedoin, for the Ventoux stage. Then we've booked a site in Grand Bornand, through the Club, to catch the later stage there.
I don't cycle anymore, I became a disaster waiting to happen, but Hubby has his Pinarello packed and ready to tackle a col or 2.
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So, tbe voting so far is:
Ian - Nairo Quintana
Goldie - Chris Froome
TtDa - Romain Bardet
Kennine - Alberto Contador
Pliers - Marcel Kittel
Any more takers?
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May I suggest to the undecided....
Warren Barguil - a French rider, not yet tested in Le Tour, but some have him as a possible successor to Hinault.
Tejay van Garderen - an American with mixed success but always worth a punt.
Vincenzo Nibali - the Italian who won two years ago and still has a great chance of winning again.
Andrew Talanski - another American with high hopes for the future.
Thibaut Pinot - a young French rider with great form and another possible 'return to glory' hope for France.
Joachim Rodriguez - the Spanish rider may be past his best, but don't write him off.
Personally, I would go for Warren Barguil if I hadn't already chosen.
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I would have favoured Quintana, but can't see it going beyond Nairo, Frome or Contador.
As those three are taken I will have to go with Fabio Aru even though I don't like Astana. He will have had a right good kicking from Vinakurov after the Dauphine.
One for the future, Estoban Chaves, I will back him for the white jersey.
First time in ten years not getting out to see it.
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Ian, where can I find a list of each team's riders? I've tried Le Tour web site but can't find the composition of each team.
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The teams don't usually declare their final team line ups until after the Dauphine and Tour of Switzerland, I presume they must have a deadline.
But you can guess who most of the team leaders will be (Astana and BMC might find it a little challenging)
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Ian, where can I find a list of each team's riders? I've tried Le Tour web site but can't find the composition of each team.
Write your comments here...Nellie, check out cyclingstage.com
names teams and riders on there
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You are probably right run rig, but gives a taste of who is likely to be competing.
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Ian, where can I find a list of each team's riders? I've tried Le Tour web site but can't find the composition of each team.
Final selections are not made yet, Nellie.
You can get a list of the full team rosters from web sites such as the one above, or wait for the final selection about a week before the start. Or live dangerously.......
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Ian, where can I find a list of each team's riders? I've tried Le Tour web site but can't find the composition of each team.
Write your comments here...Nellie, check out cyclingstage.com
names teams and riders on there
Thanks tda, have done, but I think I'll keep my powder dry till the full teams are posted.
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Anyone know if Peter Sagan is likely to be riding? I like Peter Sagan, such a character. Somewhere on YouTube is a weird video of him and his girlfriend re-enacting the Olivia Newton John/ John Travolta "One a That I a Want" song! Crazy!
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Been watching Tejay in the tour de Suisse - doesn't seem to finish very well
Ian, Geraint did some super riding supporting Froome last year, even came back after he went over a barrier!
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Been watching Tejay in the tour de Suisse - doesn't seem to finish very well
Ian, Geraint did some super riding supporting Froome last year, even came back after he went over a barrier!
GT is one of those people who has a high reputation (largely within UK newspaper reporing - by people that for 49 weeks in the year have no interest in cycling) that is simply not based on facts or achievements, His record in three week tours is appalling.
Do you want to swap from Porte to Thomas!
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