[email protected] (Cyrus) wrote in message
news:<
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>
[email protected] (Phil Shibano) wrote in message
> news:<
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> > Here's a list of the guys who could beat Lance if he finally has a bad day in the Tour:
> >
>
> > Hamilton - Great spring, beat Lance at Liege.
> If he is in form for the tour he's my Number 2. He has also Carlos Sastre at his side.
>
> > Botero - Can't have a bad day but usually does.
> Yes, but there are too many co-leaders in Telekom this year: C.Evans and Savoldelli are also GC
> contenders and Zabel will certainy _not_ work for any of them.
>
> > Beloki - A pretender, but capable of hanging on.
> Without Igor GDG, Sainz will perhaps finally focus 100% on Beloki. But I am not sure if this
> enough, because ONCE always has the vuelta on the back of their minds.
>
> > Gonzalez - Great Vuelta last year, has the tools.
> If he uses the giro to prepare himself for the tour. If he continues to contest the giro GC he is
> not in form for the tour anymore. See Hamilton last year.
>
> > Simoni - Great climber, attacker.
> Giro and tour back-to-back? Doubtful. And the time trials in the tour are longer than in the giro.
>
> > Herras - Best climber but he's a teammate.
> What a shame!
>
> > Garzelli - Will he be there?
> See coment for Simoni.
>
> > Perez - Will not be there but a hope for the future.
> Which one? Milaneza-Perez? Can't time trial. But fun to watch in the mountains.
Milaneza Perez. He was smokin' at Romandie.
>
> > Ulrich - Will he be there? Does he have the form?
> After all this trouble? I think we will see a rather quite Ullrich at the tour.
>
> > Pantini - Not the same without the dope. Kinda like Pedro Delgado..
> Maybe next year, but probably never again.
>
> > Casagrande - Won't be there because of Rumsas
> Can't time trial well enough anyway. Remember Garzelli's giro win?
>
> > Rumsas - Won't be there because of his mother in law...
> I think we saw the best Rumas last year anyway. He couldn't do it then, he won't do better
> next time.
>
> > Zulle - Won't be there
> I never understood why Phonak signed him up in the first place. He was with Coast for 2 years and
> they didn't get a wildcard. Why should Phonak get any now?
>
>
> > Who else?
>
>
> Leipheimer Not with Booger on the block. He (and Freire) won't win anything as long as the team
> works for the Booger.
A great talent, but just how many Americans can we hope for on the podium?
>
> Ivan Basso I doubt he has improved that much.
>
> Cadel Evans See comment for Botero.
>
> Savoldelli See comment for Botero.
He's had his 15 minutes - he won't get 15 more.
>
> Igor GDG Next year maybe. If he can learn to climb some vuelta cols.
>
If his asthma doesn't get him first. Wore yellow last year but still had to work for Beloki.
> Frigo Don't expect to do him any better than last year.
>
Could suprise.
> Angel Casero Does he still stick with Ullrich or what?
>
> Popovitch Can't wait to see how well he does in this giro! Maybe in 2-3 years, where he will be
> ridng against:
>
> Oscar Sevillia I hope he is doing better than last year!
This guy needs a rabbit's foot - or two.
>
> Christophe Moreau We will see how many times he crashes, then we will decide.
He's French and that automatically eliminates him from contention in the TdF.
>
> Some Alessio guy?
>
> Some Banesto guy?
>
>
>
> Who else? Patrice Halgand of Jean Delatour? ;-)
>
>
> My Top5 favorites so far:
> 1. You-know-who 2-4: Beloki, Botero, Hamilton (in any order)
> 5: Ullrich
Can't argue with this. I only hope that its at least a little competative this year. Last years
Vuelta and this year's Giro were both competative and fun to follow. The 2002 TdF was a snoozer
unless you're rabid about the green jersey. I'd like to see Botero crack this race open for a while
to make it interesting. Hell, I'd like to see him win. (He is American, after all....)
