Carlos Sastre. Rides with the strongest team, CSC. Has kept a very low profile so far, but is now 49 seconds behind the overall leader, who is his team mate Frank Schleck. My prediction is that Sastre proves to be dominant over the remaining mountain stages, including l'Alpe d'Huez.
He better stomp everyone in last mountain stages because he can't time trial. My bet is Menchov who would have done a lot better Sunday if he hadn't managed to crash going uphill.
this might be out on a limb.....but I can't say anyone....its open to any of those guys that are in 1 min....if vandevelde holds his own on wednesday, then he'll win beat the other guys in the TT, but I don't think he will....I still like schleck though
That last long time trial is sweet for Evans. If he can just hold on through the alps, he's my pick.
I'll go with Schleck, Evans, Menchov, Vandevelde, Sastre in that order because I think Schleck has the best team support. I'm cheering for Vandevelde, though.
Schleck and Sastre are going to need to crush it during the remainder of the Alps to have a chance. Seems like they're all decent climbers, so the time trialists have the edge. I'd bet Evans, VdV, and Menchov will occupy the final podium, but positioning's up for grabs.
Actually, Kohl's still in the picture and looking very strong in the Alps. Surprised that he's not on anyone's radar screen.
Schleck has won Alp d' Huez before and can do it again.
Is Schleck the Luxembourg dude? We need a winner from Luxembourg unless we can get one from Andorra. Otherwise, I don't care.
I pick the dude who doesn't get cought doping :-)
bye bye wrote:
I pick the dude who doesn't get cought doping :-)
Actually, while watching the Tour this year (I haven't missed very many sages since 97), I've noticed something very different- no one looks like they are doping (except for the dude who got caught). They look tired at the end of 130 miles in the mountains. What do you know?
Menchov, but that depends on how far when the time trial comes about. Evans if he is close enough and the weather conditions are fine on the time trial day.
cooker wrote:
He better stomp everyone in last mountain stages because he can't time trial. My bet is Menchov who would have done a lot better Sunday if he hadn't managed to crash going uphill.
He is better at the TT than he used to be. However, not only can does he have problems with the TT, but he has even more pressure under pressure - look what he faltered badly in the Vuelta several years ago.
There could be large time gaps on the last mountain stage (or even tomorrow's) but it will still go to the TT to determine the winner.
I think that CSC will push the climbs tomorrow not only for the chance to drop someone but also for the chance to take a lot out of them before Wednesday. For instance, if they have to chase back after the last climb it will take a lot out and CSC might have horses still there to pull or at least two GC guys together.
Still, I think that the most likely guy is Menchov (experience) even if he does make mistakes sometimes (he is not as good a tactician, especially given that he has the best background).
Finally, enjoy the next two days.
I think Evans will win. Although I believe on the next two mountain stages team Csc will push very hard to try and drop Evans and gain as big a lead as possible on him. He can take a lot of time off a guy like Schlek in the final time trial and they know that. I think Kohl will just try and take king of the mountains but could suprise by getting a big time gap in a climb. Schlek has dropped Evans on the past two high mountain stages so will probably do that on the next two also. I think it could all come down to the final time trial with Evans taking it out with a killer ride!
i wanted the drug cheat to win.. just like a few years ago i wanted lance armstrong to win. as if the drug cheats aren;t more underdogs than the clean guys, they run the risk of not only being kicked out of the tour but also being banned from cycling professionally and thus losing their livelyhood. they have much more to lose than a clean athlete, go the drug cheats.
Sastre is the man.
So far Sastre hasn't done any real damange in the mountains, and given he's weak in the TT it's hard to see how he can win. Think Evans still holds the cards, he knows he "just" has to defend on Alp D'Huez and he's there. Doubt anyone will be able to sustain a big break today.
All will be decided tomorrow. The time trial will be the icing on the cake for whomever takes l'alpe d'huez
Schleck needs to take another two minutes on alpe d'huez and have an incredible time trial to win. Three minutes and he's the favorite going into the TT.
I'm rooting for Schleck, but I'd say Evans has the advantage as we stand now. He looked good climbing today, but a bad day on l'alpe can easily cost a two or three minutes.
What happened to VdV? Did he crash or something?