[Duma]

Dauphine all over again...
Froome very impressive, shame he was held up in one of the crashes a few days ago or sky would have some interesting desicions esp wrt last years vuelta. having said that, wiggins looked fine holding cadel's wheel when he attacked, never out of the saddle. sure he'll reassert authority in the TT on monday as well.

[Will Hunt]

I've never watched the Tour before. I'm hooked!

Come on Wiggins!

[Stubbs]

Sagan, like a  boss!

[Palomides]

It's 2012 !!!

My predictions for this year:

The GC contest will be a Wiggo/Evans grind-a-thon in the mountains with them both doing turbo-diesel paces until it's just them left.

There will be occasional flashes of interest as FrankS, Gesink, Westra, Nibali, Rolland and Van den Broeck attack but only get about 10s.

Final podium will be Evans, Wiggins and one of the above in that order (after Wiggins starts to look ragged in the third week).

Hesjedal and Scarponi will put in a lot of effort, but then realise that they are both still cooked after the Giro.

Greipel will win more sprint stages than Cav. Farrar will be second or third three times. Sagan will win more stages than anyone expects and take the green jersey (and then repeat this every year for the next 10 years).

I think I got almost everything wrong (apart from Sagan in green and that was pretty safe).

Wanna buy some raffle tickets?

[mr__j5]

It's that time of the year again.
This year it feels harder to predict than ever. More of the riders seems to have unknown form. Froome is the only one with a proven good run up to the event, but he has no previous of actually getting the job done.

I am going for a slightly controversial:

Contador
Froome
Evans
Schleck
Valverde
van Garderen
Porte
Rodriguez
Fuglsang
Gesink

[Duma]

Conti and froome to fight it out. Tj to beat Evans. Schlecklet to struggle to make top ten. I'd like to see Quintana and Costa beat valverde too. Rodriguez should well. Gesink  nowhere. Pinot top ten.

[nash1]

Top 5 - in order:
Froomy
Contador
Quintana
Rodriguez
Porte

Froome to win with 90 seconds.

Green: Cav or Sagan? Hmmmm - Cav.

Yellow after first day: Cav (or wil he crash?)
Champs Elysees: Cav

Schleck - rubbish, Evans - will crack, but still in top 10.

Someone will be chucked out for dope...

[tregiffian]

Pinot is only 23 so Pinot age shouldn`t be  a problem.

[Will Hunt]

I don't really follow this sport like some do. I have no idea of form.

However I fully expect Contador to dance on his pedals to a firm victory.
Even if fitter, Froome won't know how to tactically deal with the constant, remorseless, lung shredding attacks of Spain's finest cycling drugs mule.

Evans will do OK to start but slowly drop off the back as Delhi Belly sets in. Too many Croque Monsieurs on the rest days.

Sagan will suffer from groin strain, or possibly VD, allowing Cav a relatively uncontested victory.

Voeckler to defend the Polka Dots. WE LOVE YOU, TOMMY!
Voeckler to win on Bastille Day climbing the Ventoux.

[Duma]

I doubt froome is any cleaner than contador.

INRNG has a good overview in recent posts, and is a great site in general. He makes a good point re Cav vs Sagan - type of stages, and their position in the race, will prob not give sagan much chance (plus Cav has a great team around him)

who said pinots age will be a problem?

fuck voeckler and his stupid gurning play acting bullshit. hope he pulls out and spares me the pain.

[Stubbs]

I'm hoping Ryder and Talansky have good races, so many exciting young guns about at mo!

[north_country_boy]

No mention of a potential dark horse for GC top ten... Dan Martin. It is certainly not cut and dry that Hesjedal will be there primary focus...

Can't see past Froome on current form and fitness to be honest, but with every other team looking to hurt Sky it will be a tough three weeks.

Contador
Van garderen
Valverde
Rodriguez
Porte

Evans will feel the pace again I suspect....

Hopefully I will witness Cav make it five in Paris in just over three weeks...

[rich d]

Cunt-a-door has been proven to be a drugs cheat. Froomie has just had an increase in form once he's not ill. I'm hoping there's a world of difference! However previous cycling shows that I may just be gullible. However this is as we all know is just the warm up for next year's tour de god's country. 

[tomtom]

. However this is as we all know is just the warm up for next year's tour de god's country.

Well said!

[mrconners]

Cunt-a-door has been proven to be a drugs cheat. Froomie has just had an increase in form once he's not ill. I'm hoping there's a world of difference! However previous cycling shows that I may just be gullible. However this is as we all know is just the warm up for next year's tour de god's country.

Its the "proven" bit that counts. They are all still at it.


However I reckon the Sky machine will put Froome on the top step of the podium. Would love to see Cav get the green.
Mountains? No idea.


Still love the TDF whatever the outcome.

[lukeyboy]

Anyone interested in a TdF fantasy league (or is there a UKB one already)?

http://fantasy.cyclingnews.com/team.aspx

League - UKB
Pword - ukbleague999

Free transfer window closes @ 18.00 today

[mr__j5]

Joined

[sidewinder]

joined

[iain]

Joined.

Not done this before. How limited are the transfers once you start, are you supposed to use them to tailor your team to each stage?

[mr__j5]

It says that you get 8 a week to use.

[iain]

That'll be the big red 8 I managed to not see.

Thank you

[Will Hunt]

Joined.

I've never done one of these fantasy whatsits before and don't really know how the scoring works. I spunked all my money up the wall on Froomey, Contador, Team Sky, Sagan, and some other heros. Had to have some right chaff riding Domestique.

[Duma]

I have attempted to join. no idea if it worked. do I have to wait for lukeyboy to approve me? since I missed the 1800 time do I not score points for stage 1?

[Will Hunt]

I think we await approval of the admin. My take on it is that you'll still get points tomorrow but that up until 6 o clock you could piss about with your team as much as possible without affecting your transfers. Now, after 1800, if you want to make changes it'll cost you transfers.

It seems that other fantasy leagues are offering points for intermediate sprints and KOM sections. Is that not the case for the Cycling News one?

[lukeyboy]

Sorry for the delay, I've accepted everyone onto the league now. Duma and Will only 5 mins ago, so you may not show up on the league page for 24 hours or so. But as long as your team is set up then you should still earn points etc.