Pro / Tour de France predictions for 2010?

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Permalink Reply by Gary Ares (a.k.a. VeloChef) on December 5, 2009 at 11:44am

My first thought is LA doesn't plan on being the 1st place loser in the TDF-10, period. I believe he recently called it "being competitive"....ya, right. Everything else before this event, for me alone, will be a backdrop. It won't be easy, and he'll be adding up milli-seconds, but it's the final best time that wins. They'll we watching the film in Austin during the off season looking for the smallest cracks in the armor for each of the main rival teams.

One the other hand is Rock Racing, who if it was around during the earlier days of mountain biking might have really made an impression and possibly even help to catapult it to another level, instead now they're just called LOUD (talented, but loud).

Basically, I'm rooting for all American teams, riders, and sponsors! Floyd always had my vote, George had better not wait again for a "gift-win", and the Shack will always have my watch battery business.

Finally, there's Alberto. Talented rider - absolutely! However, I believe there is a certain wise senior citizen of the peleton who will F with the boy's mind, divert his attention, and BLAM off goes Mr. Contador into the ranks of the "also-ran"; as in win, place, show, and also-ran.

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Permalink Reply by VeloReviews on December 5, 2009 at 11:56am

I agree with you about some of your points regarding Contador. I think Big Tex is going to put a mental vex on AC, but I still don't see Contador imploding. More likely, it will take one or two tactical errors to knock Contador off the top of the podium. My reasoning is IF Contador is brought to the foot of each climb along side Lance (yes that's THE big if) I've seen nothing yet to suggest that he can't mark LA. Then it comes down to time-trialing and I think AC has the advantage.

For the record, I am NOT an AC fan.

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Permalink Reply by michael baldwin II on December 5, 2009 at 1:32pm

Im sick of all the negative talk about contador to be honest. This ridiculous plot to make him look like a childish arrogant guy is getting old. If you all are really that naive about LA then i can understand how you may think this things about contador are true. The power that LA has in his team, let alone cycling in general, allows these bullshit allogations actually flourish into something that generates way too much press. Contador was most likely in the most uncomfortable posistion ever for an elite athlete, being on a team where you are easily the most talented rider (lepheimer 2nd), but not being able to feel any trust from your team or director. I can imagine the paranoia contador felt every moment outside of the actual race. But regardless of the past, i do think that contador will repeat this year albeit a lot more competition from andy schleck, levi lepheimer, cadel evans and maybe even michael rogers. Lance will be there but i dont believe him to be one of the more serious threats. Through out the ttt this year and he would have finish what...? 7th or 8th. I believe evans will be quite strong and also look out for valverde if hes allowed to race. Sammy sanchez could be a guy to sneak up from behind as well. My dream podium...Evans 1st, tom danielson 2nd and brad wiggins 3rd. Realistic podium...conti 1st, schleck 2nd, lepheimer 3rd. Also forgot about gesink. i think he ll slip into top 5 overall. As far as the rest of the season, i see menchov repeating at the giro. Gilbert winning flanders. Thor and boonen battling again in roubaix with thor winning. Gesink winning paris nice and the vuelta. Cancellara winning every tt plus worlds road race. Cav may win one or two races with farrar and ed boasson hagen slipping some wins in there also. Farrar may be up there in the classics too.

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Permalink Reply by VeloReviews on December 5, 2009 at 4:47pm

Hey Michael,

I love the fire! As I stated above, I am not an AC fan...but I also did not state that I was an LA fan. In fact, I'm not. However, I do respect his ability to use his celebrity for important causes.

My favorite pro is....Levi. I admire his humble demeanor given his tremendous talent. I'm also looking for Farrar to really blossom. He also seems completely grounded with an exciting raw talent. In fact, all of the Americans on Garmin impress me. I've met Christian....he's also a humble guy, while Dave Z is kinda out there and comes across like he doesn't care about much. Also, I too was bummed when George fell short of the Yellow jersey in the last tour...but I don't blame Garmin. It was George's to win.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Ares (a.k.a. VeloChef) on December 5, 2009 at 7:32pm

Mr. Baldwin, I bow to you in respect of a well developed response, and your views as well. One of the better pieces of thoughtful writing I"ve seen, and it reads like the words would have just rolled off your tongue. Good stuff.

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Permalink Reply by michael baldwin II on December 5, 2009 at 9:30pm

ps. i do not dislike LA. I just feel that he had his time, and as incredible as it was, its only proper for sport to hail a new king...or kings. I think conti is a bit better than the rest but still quite beatable. Levi had him in the 08 vuelta but i believe "took one for the team" which allowed conti to keep his streak alive. I personally am a huge fan of both Dave Z and cadel evans for polar opposite reasons. I like the refreshing way that Dave Z seems to look at life and the sport itself. Its nice to see someone able to put so much work into something but not get overly excited or depressed with the ups and downs of pro cycling. Makes you sit and understand that lifes not worth sweating the small stuff, especially work, which i believe that at some point every pro cyclist looks at the sport. My fondness for cadel comes straight from the heart. I believe he is the most misunderstood cyclist out there. The determination i see in his eyes at every race is second to none. The passion is ever flowing in that mate, which tends to put him in very awkward media situations. You want to get an interview with no bullshit, you go to him or brad wiggins. They make your headline easy..."Dont step on my dog or ill cut off your head". Classic in my eyes. And speaking of george, it was terrible seeing him so close to yellow and not getting it, but thats bike racing. Very excited to see his documentary when i get a chance. Best movie trailer ive ever seen..."i dont understand why the fuck you havent won roubaix, i dont get it". Just looks brilliant. Anyone seen it yet?

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Permalink Reply by VeloReviews on December 5, 2009 at 9:37pm

I post the trailer a while back back, but I didn't know the film was out. I'll have to investigate. Yah...the trailer is genius.

Why hasn't he won Roubaix? Tubes.

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Permalink Reply by michael baldwin II on December 6, 2009 at 7:23am

Tubes and a stem. Think his best shot was the year his stem broke and put him in the ditch with eyes full of tears.

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Permalink Reply by george johnson on January 20, 2010 at 4:39am

My podium, 1 Lance 2 Alberto 3 Andy. I think as long as Shack keeps healthy no way they are not coming home without the win. Contador is very strong as always and if it were him against Armstrong one on one Contador all the way BUT Shack's team is just too strong. With Andy unless I see sometime this year that he has gotten better at time trialling third is the best I see for him. Thats my $.02.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Dedenbach on January 31, 2010 at 7:02pm

With March issues of both VeloNews and Cycle Sport being a giant lovefest for team Sky I just wanted to vent a little bit. I hope they are a complete flop. OK, they already have the coolest kit I've ever seen, but aside from that I hope they are a complete flop...:)

The way they have ripped through the pro cycling teams like they were ordering from an ala carte menu; just purchasing anything that they wanted pretty much makes my stomach turn. I'm hoping that they are in for a rude awakening come TDF time when results on the road can't be purchased.

I think Bradley Wiggins should be ashamed of his behavior. Garmin was the team willing to give him a shot a year ago and when he showed promise they immediately threw the weight of the entire team behind him including Vandevelde to push him into as high a spot as possible. I'm not saying he should become a slave to Garmin but at least have the decency to finish out your contract. We now learn that he was talking with Sky as early as the first rest day in the 2009 TDF??? You've got to be kidding me!!! What a complete scumbag! Then to top it off the comment he has been quoted as saying including in the Cycle Sport Issue: "To win the Champions League you go to Manchester United, and I'm probably playing at Wigan at the moment" This is clearly an undeserved slam to Garmin even though Wiggins claims he said it in a loving way. What a load of crap. I hope these guys fall flat on their faces especially Wiggins.

I'm hoping that the pressure delivered to the team by the fact that their backers seem to think they have already won the 2010 tour will be unbearable and that come tour time Contador, Armstrong, A Schleck, Evans, and Leipheimer will all put Wiggins in a world of hurt and maybe he will realize that the direction and support he got from Garmin actually were top notch and probably deserve a little bit more respect from him.

i'm out
scottyd

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Permalink Reply by Fun Run Robbie on February 1, 2010 at 11:10am

Lets face it contador could have the Verulam CC social ride squad of which i an one as team mates and he would still win the 2010 Tour De France, we have not seen the best of the wee man yet, the rest well they are fighting for the silver medal.

Fun Run Robbie

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