2009 TDF: Stage 3 : Monday 6 July : Marseille > La Grande-Motte : 196kms - Page 4

nonns · #46 07-07.-2009

Sadly Evans never gets the right combination of team, form, luck, good judgement, equine growth hormone (neigh neigh and thrice neigh) together to pull himself up to the win in the Tour de France. Trouble is I think you need all of those things.

He should change teams.

Oh and also I'm not entirely convinced that threatening to cut peoples heads off

endears him to the press or the public but that was an outburst at a sensitive point.

I'd like to see someone other than Contador win also. Actually Sastre seems like a nice unassuming guy. Keeps his head down works hard....

I think Contadors going to win it. Lance might get to the podium but I have my doubts (I hope he does). Evans another second or a third. Sastre mebbe a second or a third.

Personally I'd like to see Lance win it. I don't know if he's doping or not. Frankly I suspect they all are. If not Lance then Sastre or Evans. Evans cos I'd like to see him do something other than come second and he works like a demon.

wolfix · #47 07-07.-2009

Briiliant move..........Maybe Conti planned it at the break. The riders must focus on LA now, and Al Conti will be able to sit and watch.At the end, Conti will be given the race lead by Bruyneel.

"Hey Muzzin, we got ourself a race now!"

Chavez · #48 07-07.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by limerickman

Sean Kelly tipped Cancellara to win the 2009 Tour de France.

I think Canc is ridiing very well this year.

Last year, Canc was more than adequate in the mountains.

If Saxo can protect him the way they protected Sastre last year, I think it's possible. Not likely, but possible.

Andrija · #49 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chavez

Last year, Canc was more than adequate in the mountains.

If Saxo can protect him the way they protected Sastre last year, I think it's possible. Not likely, but possible.

No, it's not even possible. If Riis decides to protect Cancellara, that would be an easy task for other contenders to break him. He can't follow attacks in mountains, he can just follow pace on less steep climbs. Also, there are some nasty climbs long before the finish line in this year's race, so he could be broken on them too. Schleck's pacing Cancellara after attacks from Contador, Sastre and others is wasting of team, they can pace him just to limit loses on under 10 minutes per HC climb.

**limerickman** · #50 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrija

No, it's not even possible. If Riis decides to protect Cancellara, that would be an easy task for other contenders to break him. He can't follow attacks in mountains, he can just follow pace on less steep climbs. Also, there are some nasty climbs long before the finish line in this year's race, so he could be broken on them too. Schleck's pacing Cancellara after attacks from Contador, Sastre and others is wasting of team, they can pace him just to limit loses on under 10 minutes per HC climb.

Canc was superb in the mountains in last years Tour de France.
(don't ask me how/why he improved).

It would not surprise me if Saxo's main GC rider is Canc.
Several journalists and former riders have backed Canc to win overall this year.

**steve** · #51 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by limerickman

Canc was superb in the mountains in last years Tour de France.

He lost almost 2 hours in last years Tour de France.

JAPANic · #52 07-08.-2009

Did I read somewhere that Cancellara has lost 7kgs since last year?

**steve** · #53 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAPANic

Did I read somewhere that Cancellara has lost 7kgs since last year?

really? can you post a link?

**limerickman** · #54 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve

He lost almost 2 hours in last years Tour de France.

I distinctly recall Canc flogging himself in the mountains last year.
He did massive turns on the front in order to help the Schleck Bros.

Didn't realise that he lost time.................must be getting more forgetful!

**limerickman** · #55 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAPANic

Did I read somewhere that Cancellara has lost 7kgs since last year?

Yeah, he has lost a lot of weight - hence the speculation about him being Saxo's man for GC.
Look at him on the podium this year and compare his frame to last year.

A lot of commentary in Europe is backing Canc as a possible overall GC contender.

Andrija · #56 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by limerickman

Canc was superb in the mountains in last years Tour de France.
(don't ask me how/why he improved).

It would not surprise me if Saxo's main GC rider is Canc.
Several journalists and former riders have backed Canc to win overall this year.

He was superb when he could make in breakaway and then join his team mates on climb, pull for couple of kilometers and that's it. He was nowhere near on last climbs when he was with the bunch. He sure isn't the first one who'll be dropped on climb, but he's not the one who can follow either.

**steve** · #57 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by limerickman

I distinctly recall Canc flogging himself in the mountains last year.
He did massive turns on the front in order to help the Schleck Bros.

Didn't realise that he lost time.................must be getting more forgetful!

True, he did do a lot of work throughout the race.

**steve** · #58 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by limerickman

Look at him on the podium this year and compare his frame to last year.

Do you have an photos handy?

He wouldn't be any heavier than Indurain was, maybe he can get over the climbs?

b1_ · #59 07-08.-2009

I think Lance has a chance. He's in pretty much the perfect position anyway. He couldn't have dreamed of a better start.

If the others want to beat him they'll have to crack him and when was the last time that happened? Yeah yeah, he's past it, too long out, too old, but this is Lance, and this is the Tour. I don't envy those with the task of over hauling him.

The only way I see him capitulating tamely is if he's off the juice now, presuming he took the juice before, and has returned clean for whatever reason, and consequently lost his Lance mojo.

**limerickman** · #60 07-08.-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve

Do you have an photos handy?

He wouldn't be any heavier than Indurain was, maybe he can get over the climbs?

In Beijing 2008

Google Image Result for http://www.velonews.com/files/images/MensPodium.JPG

Podium Monaco 2009

Google Image Result for http://images30.fotki.com/v485/photos/1/1292031/7641080/uzigerRomanMartinTonyPIC41372S-vi.jpg

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