Your TDF Predictions

[Julibird]

Alrighty! It's time to make your 2008 TdF predictions. Below are the
prediction categories and further below are the "rules":
>
> 1. Green Jersey (top 3)
> 2. Final Podium (top 3)
> 3. KOM (top 3)
> 4. Young Rider (top 3, but feel free to pick fewer)
> 5. Most agressive rider (daily? might not be an overall jersey, more trouble
than it is worth to predict?)
> 6. Most stage wins
> 7. Winning team
> 8. How will the French teams do this year?
> 9. Will you enjoy the Tour more than you expected to?
> 10. Will you become a fan of any cyclists that you'd never previously heard
of?
> 11. Your random thoughts on this years Tour:

Allez, y'all!

[lizardbiker]

I predict that I won't watch one minute of the tour this year.

[SpinBob]

I predict the Tour will, unfortunately, get more press for alleged doping violations than for the cycling.

[like2bike]

Alrighty! It's time to make your 2008 TdF predictions. Below are the prediction categories and further below are the "rules":

Based on some reading & following along that I've been doing, here are my pics. Jules what do we win if we pick all the right answers? :wink:

1. Green Jersey (top 3)
Thor Hushovd
Robert Hunter
Robbie McEwen

2. Final Podium (top 3)
Alejandro Valverde
Cadel Evans
Carlos Sastre

3. KOM (top 3)
Andy Schleck
Carlos Sastre
Frank Schleck

4. Young Rider (top 3, but feel free to pick fewer)
Andy Schleck
MAYBE Mark Cavendish
MAYBE Thomas Lovkvist

5. Most agressive rider (daily? might not be an overall jersey, more trouble than it is worth to predict?) Not sure on this one. But it will be interesting to see this unfold.

6. Most stage wins
Alejandro Valverde

7. Winning team
CSC Saxo Bank--Denmark
Rabobank--Netherlands
Silence-Lotto maybe?--Belgium

8. How will the French teams do this year? Hmmm.....I believe France is the country hailing the most teams this year, thus they should do somewhat well. But not good enough, IMHO.

9. Will you enjoy the Tour more than you expected to? Yes, I always enjoy the Tour.

10. Will you become a fan of any cyclists that you'd never previously heard of? I think so.


11. Your random thoughts on this years Tour: DOPERS NEED NOT APPLY. :mad: Show me the blood, sweat and gears! (well maybe not the blood). ;)


Allez, y'all!
Assez bon? :)

[SpinBob]

how me the blood, sweat and gears! :)I like this, mind if I steal it?

[neil]

I have a feeling this year's TdF will be very dull (but hope I'm wrong). There are no Armstrongs or Pantanis any more to cause mayhem in the peloton - the winner will be the best of an average bunch. When the mountains come, the contenders will sit watching each other until the final climb, and then try and steal 2 mins.

As for overall, I will go for Valverde if he can stay upright. I really hope Cadel Evans doesn't win, can't stand watching him sit on others' wheels for 3 weeks and then hope to nick it in a TT. Come on man, you're Australian - do what they do in other sports and try and batter the opposition. For the Green, Robbie McEwan. Mark Cavendish might be in the mix for some stage wins the first week, but I think he'll then go home to get ready for Beijing.

As for the French teams, they'll be poor as usual, although a French rider may get a breakaway win.

[like2bike]

I like this, mind if I steal it? You may. :grin:

[Funhog]

I'm kinda expecting an exciting Tour. Mostly because it's wide open, some new blood, and whoever wins, or comes close, will set up for a very exciting 2009!

I'm thinking Valverde for yellow, and I too really hope it's not Cadel Evans. If he's going to "wheel sit" like Neil said, he better pull off some amazing efforts as well. Lance sat on a lot of wheels, but when the time came, he really performed!

Other possibilities are Menchov (twice a Vuelta winner), with Sastre possibly in the top 3 (not much of a time trialist, and the longer 2nd time trial might put him out of contention). Cunego maybe?

Green? Since Boonen's out, it will be McEwen if he can avoid being DQ'd because he's so dang slow on the climbs (his team is often at the very tail end pushing him along to make the time cut). I prefer Thor Hushovd, but he's not as much as a pure sprinter. It would be kind of neat to see Zabel grab it again, at his age! He's still a very fast racer!

KOM? Up for grabs! We saw Soler wear it for awhile (although he fell today - don't know yet if he's going to be ok). One website made this prediction: "Look for a bunch of skinny Spaniards with no GC hopes to try and lay their claim to the polka dot jersey!"

White? don't know much about the younger riders. I keep seeing the name of Robert Gesink from Rabobank who's only 22 but has lots of ability.

I'd really love to see Georgie win a stage again, and thoroughly expect to see Zabriskie win a time trial or two. Not much hope for other Americans, but that's ok! I mean, 7 years in yellow, it's time to share the love! ;-)

For those who are abstaining from the Tour this year, I'm sorry to hear that. You might as well not watch the Olympics (I mean, all those Track and Field athletes surely must be dopers). And baseball - never mind that. And forget the football in the fall (and hockey and basketball). And with the excitement of tennis these days, there's no way they're not on the juice, right? Sigh... for those not watching the Tour on purpose, better yet, give up all sports forever.

Not me! Cycling is still beautiful, still exciting, still daring, and in my mind, fresh and new! And as you watch them ride through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world - fields of sunflowers, river valleys, high remote mountains, through medieval villages, in the shadow of 15th century castles, next to Roman ruins, etc, you get a lot more for your money than just watching any old sport in a stadium! It's a colorful feast for the eyes!

Vive le Tour! :)

[megale3]

Go Team Columbia! Home town team gota pull for them....
Meg

[Funhog]

Another American near the top of the GC??!! The West Virginian almost had a stage win! In the pouring rain and lots of wind, with lots of crashes - not fun for the riders, and scary to watch, but ya gotta admit it, adrenaline producing excitement! Who says the TDF isn't as exciting as ever?

Valverde out of yellow, he and his team are probably a little grateful for that, as they don't have to exhaust themselves to defend it. He'll have his eye on it later though...

[megale3]

Anyone have any thoughts on the commercial "Taking the Tour Back" where they show Jan Going back wards and Landis getting the yellow put on only in reverse? Is that callous or necessary? Is there unreasonable humility in it?

[sandy]

Anyone have any thoughts on the commercial "Taking the Tour Back" where they show Jan Going back wards and Landis getting the yellow put on only in reverse? Is that callous or necessary? Is there unreasonable humility in it?

I was trying to figure out the green jersey wearer was. I know the other person in the TT was Vino.

As far as thoughts..its a little unnecessary. They are trying really hard to build the reputation of pro cycing back up. I can see the point, my issue with it is do they really have to show it every 3 minutes?

[megale3]

I was trying to figure out the green jersey wearer was. I know the other person in the TT was Vino.

As far as thoughts..its a little unnecessary. They are trying really hard to build the reputation of pro cycing back up. I can see the point, my issue with it is do they really have to show it every 3 minutes?
Then you really dig the SAAB commercials then.... :D

[sandy]

Then you really dig the SAAB commercials then.... :D
Oh yea, thats my next car, just because I've been brainwashed. And I'm even thinking about the male enhancement sample packet!

[megale3]

And I'm even thinking about the male enhancement sample packet!
I just got mine in the mail so if you will now excuse me I have some research to do for USDA approval:cool:

[like2bike]

You guys remember last year's Tour? They played that "Ready, Steady, Go" Paul Oakenfold song so much (I don't even remember what the commercial was for) that I was about to hang myself if I hear it one more time. :shock:

[megale3]

SAAB again Lori that was three years running on that commercial
M