Tour de France 2012

[dracs]

I am going with Wigo - fantastic team he has, lots of very capable helpers, great team spirit and depth, and in great form this year.

 

Same can certainly not be said for the Schlep Sisters and their team.

 

Cadel ... well, I think Brad is stronger in body and mind, and has the better team.

 

Talking about Wiggs and Bosens ... I wonder if they will find the elusive hypothetical Higgs Boson down the road at CERN this year.... ?

Yes but they are going to also be working for stage wins and sitting on the front of the peleton on every stage other than the big mountain stages... that will test them and I think counts against wiggins... (would love to see Froome get some time on him early to keep him in the game)

['Dale]

If Andy can ride a decent TT for once, he'll be in with a shot with the team he has riding for him.

 

More than 100 kms of TTing...

It really makes it a Grand Tour for a TT specialist like Wiggo or Cadel to LOSE.

I always wonder how 'Berto would've done over this distance.

[Heckflosse]

Twiggo is red hot to take this.

Cadel will have to fight fire with fire.

i just think Evans is mentally tougher.

[headhunter]

Crashes aside.....

IMO there probably isn't much to chose from between the favorites e.g. Wiggins, Evans, Hijsedal (not convinced he can win TdeF after the Giro effort) etc.

 

Punchy, I believe it will come down to the team and who's team is the strongest and has the durability in numbers to survive the 22 days. Garmin and BMC, even LiquiGas are not in the same class as SKY at the moment and leading up to the TdeF IMO. I don't believe that the other teams have the quality in depth in their TdeF 9 man teams. Last year's TdeF was a weakk one IMO and Cadel shone predominately, as the BMC team had depth to support him.....they may have depth this year but no where near to what Sky can put on the road.

Edited June 8, 2012 by headhunter

[Christie]

Imo it will be very very close between Wiggins & Evans, excluding disaster. Sky is strong enough to control the race, the chances of success of a long break by Wiggins' opponents is small. It will be decided mostly in the TTs, there are only 3 summit finishes, which I think is not enough for the strong climbers, since there are no time bonusses.

My prediction:

1 wiggins: strongest team, best tt ability.

2 evans: I think he will get isolated at some point, don't think bmc team has the right feel to it. Evans will peak right, and wiggins will perhaps be a little over kooked, Im giving Wiggins the edge due to his team.

3 Leipheimer: Wild guess here, but Im putting him here as a wildcard.

[rattlesnake]

What about Juan Jose Cobo - anyone remember his climbing prowess at last years Vuelta? he did lay the hurt down on the others las t year.

Anyone know how well he TT's?

Edited June 8, 2012 by rattlesnake

[Thedocter43]

Does anybody know about chris froome, remember last year when he beat wiggins in the vuelta? He has a good oppurtunity to finish in the top 10 this year if he's racing

[kosmonooit]

..would love to see Froome get some time on him early to keep him in the game

 

He and Richie Port, and BH are all going to be working for Brad in Sky. Chris will only go for stage wins in the climbs if Brad falters like he did in the Vuelta last year, but that just an uninformed opinion, Chris has also been ill this year but is looking to get back some form, was in the top 10 of the TT yesterday so that's a good sign.

['Dale]

i just think Evans is mentally tougher.

 

Agree.

He's come a long way.

[splat]

It will be on sale in leading stores and bike shops nationally for R79.95 from TODAY

['Dale]

@ Christie

@ Headhunter

 

Agree, the team depth is crucial to the success at the Tour.

Team Sky looks awesome.

Look how they controlled the World Champs.

 

BMC had some personnel changes but carries some good strength in there, despite Thor's withdrawal.

[BikeBailing]

I back Froome. I imagine that he will be high in the GC supporting Wiggs and then who knows, maybe the opportunity will present itself.

['Dale]

Robert Gesink from rabobank not mentioned. Sure he will be close if not on the poduim.

 

Poll edited.

He took Cali with a great finish up Mt Baldy and TTed to a screaming victory.

[KnobbyMech]

What about Frank Schleck?

['Dale]

I back Froome. I imagine that he will be high in the GC supporting Wiggs and then who knows, maybe the opportunity will present itself.

 

That is not too far down on my wish list.

He is definitely Sky's Nr 2.

 

3 weeks is a long time and it is definitely possible.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Puncheur

[rattlesnake]

What about Juan Jose Cobo - anyone remember his climbing prowess at last years Vuelta? he did lay the hurt down on the others las t year. Anyone know how well he TT's?

 

No thoughts on Cobo??