Predict 2009 winner of the Tour de France

What about Menchov. He looked relatively untroubled in the Giro. Better time trailer than Contador? Does the tour have many climbs this year.

Predicting the winner is no longer decided by who finishes first. It's whoever weathers the drug test storm.

As long as they finish the race you get some kudos even if they end up getting busted. Its only right since they are all doped.

Have you asked them? Lance will not win. He is going to be a domestique for Contador, and Contador will win.

I want one of the Schleck's to win, but it ain't happening yet.[/quote]

I've read a lot of funny stoopid shit on this board but this takes the cake. No way in Hell is Lance going to be a domestique for the Contador....

Enjoy it wrote:

I've read a lot of funny stoopid shit on this board but this takes the cake. No way in Hell is Lance going to be a domestique for the Contador....

Yeah a lot of what he says to the press, and what the press will make you think, says that he'll be Contador's domestique. But I agree, there's no way, from the beginning that he'll be working for Contador. But if Lance has some bad days again, like he did in the Giro, where there's no way he can make up time.. he will be working for Contador or Levi.

Interestingly, before Astana's money problems were fixed, Contador was apparently taking to Jonathan Vaughters of Garmin.. trying to make a deal to ride for the US team in the Tour. Kinda wish Astana didn't solve their problems, because VandeVelde most likely isn't going to be ready for the Tour.

My picks are the Schlecks, Sastre, Menchov, and the leaders of Astana. From the least to greatest, since the Schlecks can't time trial.

Sastre will win--the most boring man in cycling. Contador second, menchov third. Lance in the top ten.

1.Lordstrong

2.Cadel Evans

3.Contador

4.Menchov

5.Levi Leipheimer

6.Sastre

Well, Valverde's already out of the question. He won't be competing as he's banned from racing in Italy because of (big surprise) doping allegations, and the Tour will briefly travel through Italy. I guess that's not much a shocker by now, but it'll be one less big name.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/8573170

EPO will win the Tour, just like every other Tour since it became known among cyclists.

It's not just EPO, but the effective use of EPO plus timing to avoid the controls. See it's still a sport!

Sastre the most boring in cycling? Have you ever seen Cadel Evans ride a bike??

Cunego is cooked as a GC rider. People have been wishing to see something of his 2004 form and it isn't happening. Still a good one-day guy though.

Contador, I think, will be the muscle to be reckoned with at the Tour. Hard to bet against the guy, undefeated in grand tours and riding easy onto the podium at Dauphine. His downfall could be intrateam disputes, a la T-Mobile, but I think Johan can keep it together.

Armstrong is my sentimental favorite, though... hard to resist the old American coming back to put down the new talent one last time.

take it with a grain of salt, this could all be one huge mind game by astana to throw other teams off (not likely, but...)

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/31510106/ns/sports-tour_de_france/

I think the most important stages of the first week will be the prologue and the team time trial (stage 6 or 7). Whoever out of lance and alberto have the fastest time coming out of the prologue will be favored to be wearing the yellow or at least will be the highest placed out of Astana after the TTT.

The tour is in HD this year too! Can't wait.

Excellent, informed discussion of bike racing, but also critical-minded discussion of doping in cycling:

www.dailypelotonforums.com

Thanks for the info guys.

Contador all the way. Lance will finish top 10 if he's lucky.

I can't believe they left Chris Horner off of the Astana roster. He looked like a beast before wrecking in the Giro.

bump

Next Stage wrote:

I can't believe they left Chris Horner off of the Astana roster. He looked like a beast before wrecking in the Giro.

is the final astana team posted? last i heard horner was still in the running for one of the last 3 spots. he crashed hard in the giro so this may have played a factor if he were left off.

Yeah, they left off Horner, Benjamin Noval, and Chechu Rubiera. All big playes in past tours.