79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 06/23/2017 04:20 PM |
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Who do you guys like?
I would love to see Contador win it but I think that is a hopelessly long shot. Froome most likely. But you all know I am a fan of Quintana and a scenario I can imagine (and dream for) is having Contador see a Sky weakness, go and be followed by Quintana. I can imagine Bardet also getting in on that. So, hoping Quintana doesn't lose seconds early, maybe:
Quintana
Froome (further back wouldn't upset me at all, but I am trying not to dream too much)
Contador (I wish) or Bardet (more likely w/ Contador in the next two places.)
So toss up those picks!
Ben
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 06/23/2017 06:03 PM |
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Froome
Quintana
Fulsong
Froome looks more ordinary this year, and I'm probably wrong to pick him first. Porte too often has his "jour sans" but if he doesn't, he could win it all |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/23/2017 08:36 PM |
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Froome.
/thread
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/23/2017 08:39 PM |
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Longer version - look for Froome to try a knockout blow early on Porte. He has been masterful at the mind games....so look for him to try something early to catch Porte off guard early.
Don't be surprised if it happens on Stage 5....jus' sayin'. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 06/24/2017 05:48 PM |
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| If this was the Giro I'd question your picks...but this is the Tour which doesn't tend to spring surprises. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 06/24/2017 08:41 PM |
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Sigh. I'd prefer more drama.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 06/25/2017 08:28 AM |
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| And who the heck is Fulsong? Lol |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 06/25/2017 08:58 AM |
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Fuglsang. Sorry. Auto spell checker.
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Spud
Posts:525
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| 06/25/2017 11:57 AM |
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Froome
Quintana
Contador
Might I add, we're pretty excited to see Brambi riding in his first Tour de France. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 06/29/2017 02:30 PM |
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| Bump. So who do you guys have winning the 14km prologue? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/29/2017 02:43 PM |
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Tony Martin.....race is in Duddeldorf and he is rounding into top TT form. You don't think he has had July 1 circled on his calendar since last fall, do ya?
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 06/30/2017 07:58 AM |
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1 - Porte
2 - Froome
3 - Bardet
Dark Horse - Contador
Actually, I'd be OK with anybody but Froome.
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 06/30/2017 08:56 AM |
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Posted By Stefan Eckardt on 06/30/2017 07:58 AM
1 - Porte
2 - Froome
3 - Bardet
Dark Horse - Aru
Actually, I'd be OK with anybody but Froome.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/01/2017 11:49 AM |
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Thank you for watching...this Tour is done.
And hopefully that is not a career ender for Valverde. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/01/2017 12:23 PM |
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If the conditions had been dry, I'd agree that the Tour is over on Day One...but I'm gonna hold out hope that it is not over yet.
That will happen on Stage 5, as I predicted earlier.
As for Valverde, it might well be a career-ender. Knew right away that he had broken his leg....wasn't trying 'to stand, motioning towards it and the mechanic taking the bike away. Then the guy with the red jacket trying to cover the leg with his jacket.....haven't seen an official announcenemtn, but everything indicates a compound leg fracture. How hard are you gonna be willing to try and come back from that at 37? |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/01/2017 03:09 PM |
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| Damned shame about Valverde. I watched a mechanic's feet slipping on that greasy tarmac. Organizers, do you check this stuff? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/01/2017 05:00 PM |
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Official word is Valverde has a broken kneecap, a deep gash on his leg and a broken talus bone.
Dunno that organizers could have done much about it....when it rains, stuff gets slippery. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/01/2017 06:20 PM |
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CK didn't you say Froome boy was gonna take time on Stage 5? So that would be nail in coffin. LOL.
Four Sky bots in top 10. It's done and dusted.
Valverde dang that's even worse than feared. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 07/01/2017 06:23 PM |
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CK, wheat the officials can do is see to it that riders who crash in the most expected places don't slide into barriers that are themselves a hazard. I remember mattresses protecting us from road signs in a Cat 3,4 crit. Here they could have put sandbags against the legs. Rain was predicted yesterday. THe Tour could have called (at least int he US) the local sand and gravel company and say "we might need 100 bags tomorrow. It's the Tour. They'd be there. (If in Europe every town doesn't have a sand and gravel co, use bags wheat. Again, it's the Tour. Losing Valverde? An easy 100 bags. If it had been Froome or Quintana? 1000.
This isn't rocket science. If a rider is going down, where is it likely to happen? And where will he end up? Valverde crashed at the apex of the turn (looking to me from the painted stripe) and kept going straight . Funny how much that sounds like what I learned in physics 45 years ago. (Maybe it is rocket science.)
Ben
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/01/2017 07:04 PM |
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| I'm going to stay on my rant for one more post. Wet pavement happens. But so slippery that the mechanic with the large grippy contact patch of shoes is slipping - this is more than just wet pavement. Large diesel spill? Brand spanking new pavement? Sabotage? |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 07/02/2017 01:10 AM |
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| I had high hopes that Valverde would liven things up. I suppose it makes it easier to not have to follow religiously. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/02/2017 09:00 AM |
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Man...Machado is just sitting on the front today, working his ass off. Very impressive.
Wonder if that lid he is wearing is a new aero road helmet from Giro. They sponsor Katusha and that is definitely not a current design. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/02/2017 10:29 AM |
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Yup....new lid from Giro, replacing the older Air Attack. Looks much better in the BMC colors than the ones Katusha were using.
http://www.velonews.com/2017/06/bikes-and-tech/spotted-new-giro-aero-helmet-for-tour_441976
Congrats to Mini-Phinney on getting to wear a jersey. Long day out front....at least he got a reward!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/03/2017 11:51 AM |
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| No surprise today...Sagan made that look easy, even after he pulled his foot out of his pedal. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 07/03/2017 03:01 PM |
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And popped to the front earlier than ideal, had to take it from the front. Matthews was almost there.
Amazing finish. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/03/2017 05:14 PM |
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| Not certain Porte really grasps what a 3 week race is all about....big effort today for nothing. Picked up a sense of "riding scared" today....I think the TT unnerved him. |
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 07/03/2017 10:07 PM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 07/01/2017 11:49 AM
Thank you for watching...this Tour is done.
And hopefully that is not a career ender for Valverde.
Man, I sure hope this doesn't turn into another 3 week Sky victory lap around France. |
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