dracs

Where's the big jump? All 4 of those guys have good TT credentials going back years. We are all entitled to be cynical after the last few years, but we should avoid jumping on the bandwagon. Sky have $ and have built the strongest team around. And people better qualified than me have who have analysed climbs and the like say there is nothing super-human about any of Froome's performances on climbs (quite unlike the Alberto of olds performances on a number of GT climbs - amongst many others)

Hmmm supposedly suffering from allergies. Either way reckon the odds will have shortened on Froome overnight after that TT....

I believed everything he said until the last sentence...

haha honda's secret 2nd fuel tank springs to mind....

Ja i think its more like 30 to 40mm now (not sure baout back then). but agree - great skill and amazing we don't see more spins in the wet. We forget how good these guys are!

I don't think it was proven or disproven that they used an illegal TC system. What was proven is they had such an illegal system during the season and it was available to them at any time. It was just not proven that they used it in competition. That said, its common belief that beneton did indeed run such a system in 94. The 10 taps a second story sounds like a good smokescreen though!

Dinkum? Whats it made out of and who does it?

yup I have chatted to him before but not on shoes - found him very helpful and not doing a big sell like that other tri shop in Sunninghill.... will def go chat to him when I replace shoes in next few months.

No and don't plan too! That description just brought back some painful memories... I have definitely popped one or 2 anti-inflammatories in my time - but never during a race or while training - only after. Same can't be said for a significant portion of the comrades field...

haha yes lets see. All the experience in the world won't get tired old legs over Alpe D'huez twice in one day as quick as the "young" guns (plus 'Berto)

there was a similar reg when schumi won at benetton too... That didn't stop them having a TC system... Hence today's common ECU...

Cadel did way better than I expected in order to podium at the Giro, but he was hanging on for dear life at the end, and I'm not sure he would have done so had the high mountain stages in week 3 not been curtailed... Just don't see how he can repeat and improve on that at the tour.... Wouldn't mind being wrong - but I just can't see it. Meanwhile,Teejay was in full control at the tour of California...

So DaveM you had the basic quick assessemnt not the full monty I assume. Or, being the hardcore true IM you are - you are such a good customer for SBR that Mike gladly waived his fee....

wow. why do I suddenly feel like popping a voltaren!?

Give us the précis...?

Does Mike charge for this assessment?

Yep - such as Porte I'd say. I liked him as a podium darkhorse, but between Uran at 200/1 or even (80/1 depending who your bookie is) and Porte at 25/1 - I'd take a punt on Uran any day.

Logical I'd say. Everyone other than BMC management know that TJ will be a stronger contender at the tour than Cuddles. OK probably they know it too - but they are going through the motitons out of respect or whatever. Don't expect TJ to be carrying any bottles for Cadel though...

sounds pretty speculative to me - but who knows!

Agree... nice to see so many columbians coming on song

Speaking of Moviestar you didn't mention this guy: http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2013/04/who-is-nairo-quintana.html

Ja I think you are correct actually...

no he got the same soft-cock suspension in the off season the rest of them got.

Well yes him and the bookies...! Actually some interesting wild cards I would consider a flutter on (if I were a betting man)... Uran - 200/1, even J-Rod at 14/1.... C Froome 10/11 M Scarponi 300/1 B Feillu 500/1 A Contador 15/8 P Sagan 300/1 L L Sanchez 500/1 Joaquin Rodriguez 14/1 R Kreuziger 300/1 S Gerrans 500/1 T Van Garderen 25/1 T Martin 300/1 B Wiggins N Quintana 25/1 F Kessiakoff 300/1 S Casar 500/1 R Porte 25/1 R Costa 300/1 V Kiryienka 500/1 A Schleck 25/1 T Voeckler 300/1 M Moser 500/1 C Evans 25/1 N Roche 300/1 G Thomas 500/1 A Valverde 25/1 J C Peraud 300/1 C Le Mevel 500/1 R Hesjedal 50/1 J Gadret 400/1 D Arroyo 500/1 J Van Den Broeck 66/1 J Brajkovic 400/1 P Gilbert 500/1 D Martin 80/1 J Vanendert 400/1 F Cancellara 500/1 T Pinot 100/1 C A Sorensen 400/1 P Velits 500/1 P Rolland 100/1 R Taaramae 400/1 M Nieve 500/1 A Talansky 150/1 L Westra 400/1 M Monfort 500/1 R Gesink 150/1 A Kloden 400/1 H Zubeldia 500/1 T De Gendt 150/1 B Mollema 400/1 E Boasson Hagen 500/1 D Cunego 200/1 P Niemiec 400/1 B Intxausti 500/1 R Uran 200/1 I Anton 400/1 R Kiserlovski 500/1 S Henao 200/1 L Leipheimer 500/1 D Pozzovivo 500/1 I Basso 250/1 F Pellizotti 500/1 S Kruijswijk 500/1 J J Cobo 300/1 M Rogers 500/1 D Navarro 500/1 J Coppel 300/1 C Kern 500/1 C Horner 500/1 J Fuglsang 300/1 edit - sorry tables don't paste well - heres a link: http://www.paddypowe.../tour-de-france And here: http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/3630084/Tour-de-France-2013-Winner.html Chris Froome 17/10 Alberto Contador 14/1 Joaquim Rodriguez 20/1 Nairo Quintana 22/1 Alejandro Valverde 25/1 Andy Schleck 25/1 Tejay Van Garderen 28/1 Cadel Evans 33/1 Richie Porte 33/1 Ryder Hesjedal 40/1 Jurgen Van Den Broeck 50/1 Pierre Rolland 50/1 Thibaut Pinot 66/1 Samuel Sanchez 80/1 Rigoberto Uran 80/1 Robert Gesink 100/1 Damiano Caruso 100/1 Daniel Martin 100/1 Denis Menchov 100/1 Domenico Pozzovivo 100/1 Haimar Zubeldia 100/1 Igor Anton 100/1 Jakob Fuglsang 100/1 Rein Taaramae 100/1 Sergio Henao 100/1 Thomas De Gendt 125/1 Franco Pellizotti 150/1 Andrew Talansky 150/1 Benat Intxausti 150/1 Daniel Moreno 150/1 Edvald Boasson Hagen 150/1 Frederik Kessiakoff 150/1 Janez Brajkovic 150/1 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke 150/1 Juan Jose Cobo 150/1 Michael Rogers 150/1 Michele Scarponi 150/1 Roman Kreuziger 150/1 Vasil Kiryienka 200/1 Andreas Kloden 200/1 Damiano Cunego 200/1 Geraint Thomas 200/1 Ivan Basso 200/1 Jean-Christophe Peraud 200/1 Kevin Seeldraeyers 200/1 Levy Leipheimer 200/1 Mikel Nieve 200/1 Nicholas Roche 200/1 Paolo Tiralongo 200/1 Peter Sagan 200/1 Peter Velits 200/1 Rui Costa 200/1 Sergey Lagutin 200/1

Yup that simplifies things - now he just has to deliver. No pressure!!