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OK But... Who Do You Like?

Copy_of_pineapple_face_tiny by Chris... on

We do a lot of analysis around here during the Tour de France, pretty much trying to figure out every move of the race. Now, for a brief respite, instead of who do you think will win, tell us who you want to win. Pretty much everyone I liked got shelled on the road to Hautacam, but I'd still love to see Ricco turn things upside down in the Alps, or maybe Denis Menchov winning for Rabo and Russia. I've never rooted for Evans, but if he wins, he'll certainly have my respect.

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I like Menchov but not Rabobank

So I’ll go for Sastre, would be fantastic if he could finally win

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 16, 2008 12:15 PM EDT   0 recs

You are not like Rabo? Why?

Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.

by Frinking on Jul 17, 2008 4:06 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Sammy Sanchez

There’s no chance, but he’s still one of my favorite riders after last year’s Vuelta.

by Chilltown on Jul 16, 2008 12:17 PM EDT   0 recs

On a personal level

I don’t care who wins. On a who should win based on overall strength and Tour progression, Cadel should win. I would pull for Sastre to win as he’s a humble, respectable guy. Same with Menchov. But, somehow I can’t pull for those guys. Vuelta time I would be pulling for Menchov, just not here. I don’t want to jinx Vdv/CVV so I won’t mention him above.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jul 16, 2008 12:26 PM EDT   0 recs

Sylvain Chavanel!

Oh, wait. Actually, I’d like it if Christian Vande Velde won—if we’re being realistic.

181 & 165

by callmecayce on Jul 16, 2008 12:40 PM EDT   0 recs

CVV +1

But I’m probably just being a homer.

by johnw on Jul 16, 2008 12:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Sastre is my favorite

of the riders who are still in with a chance, but I’d rather see a more exciting rider like SamSan or Valverde win it.

Ricco is an exciting rider, and I love the way he races, but I just don’t feel the affection for him that I have for my favorite riders. I have a feeling that I’d better learn to like him, though, because it looks like we’ll be watching him win a lot of races over the next few years.

by Tifosa on Jul 16, 2008 12:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Ricco on a long escape

I would love to see Ricco go on a long escape in the alps and just bury everyone then just give everyone the finger about the time trial and say some outrageous remarks that get everyone else pissed at him. That would be a change back to the 80’s I think.

Audacity, Audacity and still more Audacity to paraphrase an old French guy.

Vandevelde as an American I guess also, but more as an unheralded guy getting his chance and jumping on it.

by Markk on Jul 16, 2008 12:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Ricco

I’ve been imagining a similar scenario with Ricco just exploding off the front every mountain finish and putting so much time into the others that his poor TT skill makes no difference. Hadn’t imagined him giving everyone the finger and telling everyone else to suck it, but that would make for some good entertainment, and would certainly light this place up

by Jimbo... on Jul 16, 2008 1:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Much as I like Ricco (I know, I know)

he still has to prove to me that he can a) get away from the serious bunch if they are motivated to chase and b) stay away. I do think that within a year or two he will be able to do that as he continues to develop physically, but right now we still haven’t seen anyone who matters try to go after him.

That said, I hope he continues to chip away at the lead until Stage 17, then puts in some big attacks. The other contenders would have no choice but to try to chase him down, leading to one thing – we all win as viewers.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wishing not predicting

Yeah – I don’t think he could really do it, although he would have the best chance of anybody I think, but this is kind of a wishing thread.

by Markk on Jul 16, 2008 2:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

-1000

Does that make it go away?

by Jimbo... on Jul 17, 2008 7:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Sorry man...

... so, so sorry.

Ricco stole my marbles.

by crashdan on Jul 17, 2008 7:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Jens Voigt

I would love to see him as a Tour winner, any tour. I know it is unrealistic but still I wonder what a guy like Jens could do if he had the kind of team support a protected rider has.

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."Emo Philips

by bethie on Jul 16, 2008 12:56 PM EDT   0 recs

Upper limit

I bet he could win a Vuelta. One of the easy ones, like last year. It’d be a reach, but not impossible.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 16, 2008 1:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Sure, why not

Jaja won it and Jens can climb at least that well.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 1:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe

we should hope Sastre wins the Tour, bags the Vuelta, and they launch Jens! in September. I’d like that. Post-stage interviews, Jens! in Spanish… what’s not to like?

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 16, 2008 2:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed

Though I wish this had happened 2 years ago when he was a little younger.

Jens is like SpongeBob in any language – always amusing. You haven’t seen good tv until you’ve seen SB in French. Or as they call it, ‘Bob le ponge.”

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Where can you see that?

I love SpongeBob. I ask my 2 yr. old grandson, “who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” He replies ‘Ponge Dob carepans.” He may understand the french version better. :-)

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."Emo Philips

by bethie on Jul 16, 2008 2:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Christ, that sounds like French to me

I was actually in France at the time, watching it with my buddy’s niece and nephew. The voices are a bit different but Patrick is still Patrick. ‘Nuff said right?

You have seen the SpongeBob movie, right? And it’s correlation to The Odyssey? Brilliant stuff.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL! I just finished about a week of doing SpongeBob

product packaging design/production. I’ve had my fill of SpongeBob for now! ;-)

by Veloki on Jul 16, 2008 2:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I could see

where one could get oversaturated, and feel a little crabby. ;-)

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me."Emo Philips

by bethie on Jul 16, 2008 2:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 2:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh, that's just terrible

But funny :-)

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Won week long Tours

Well he’s won week long tours like Germany, so it might be possible. But could he really keep himself in check? I can see him ripping off the leaders Jersey, saying, “screw this, I’m going” and heading out into the wind.

by Markk on Jul 16, 2008 2:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

tour of germany

not good enough for you?

and all those crit. internationals???

by R Mc on Jul 16, 2008 3:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Chris..

You are so underestimating the Vuelta..

Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.

by Frinking on Jul 17, 2008 4:10 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The Sastre Fan Club

can count me as a member.

I like that he’s worked at it for years and made some steady progress. I want to see how CSC plays their cards in the Alps.

by KevinK on Jul 16, 2008 1:04 PM EDT   0 recs

I would love a win for Sastre

with CVV and Schleck on the podium. I don’t put CVV there as an ex CSC but rather for the huge recognition it be for Garmin and a well deserved success for a talent that hasn’t been given the chance to fully explore his own potential.

by Jens on Jul 16, 2008 1:11 PM EDT   0 recs

That would be my dream podium

I’ve been pulling for Carlos for a few years now, and I hope all his hard work over the years pays off big time.

by Veloki on Jul 16, 2008 1:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Me, too. I'm a big fan of Carlos', always have been. I would really, really

like to see him win. And considering the CSC dynamic, it would be such an honor for his teammates, as you know they all lay it on the road for their “Kapitan.”

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor. - George Carlin

by Ruthann on Jul 16, 2008 3:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Menchov is my favorite

I’m not crazy about the guy but he is a solid rider. He has been very quite so far. I think he will attach and drop Cadel E. maybe on Alp and then just blast him in the final time trial.

by Cyclingfan on Jul 16, 2008 1:13 PM EDT   0 recs

Hard to choose, its a tossup between Cadel and Christian.

Cadel really endeared me to him yesterday with his emotional podium time. It clearly wasn’t only about money, he was overwhelmed with being in yellow. I like that. I like to see a man really enjoy life like a human being not a macho “don’t ever let them see you cry” robot.

As for Christian, enough said for now. No jinxing going on here.

Go Team Zoe!
Cavendish, Di Gregorio, Fothen, Kirchen
, Kreuziger, Lowe, Siutsou
, Ten Dam
, Y.Trofimov and Vandevelde

by ZoeRochelle on Jul 16, 2008 1:15 PM EDT   0 recs

Sastre here too

for many of the reasons above. Humble, hard working, good history…

CVV for sure as a homeboy fav., but that’s too far out to comprehend really.

"I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore." -- Eddy Merckx, after winning his first bike race

by ELVISGOAT on Jul 16, 2008 1:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Cadel and

I’m rooting for Cadel. It’s all about the shoes – yellow kangaroos on em, how could you not like that? And it would be good to see an Australian get it, seems like they have put a lot into the sport. Plus he thought about wearing a Free Tibet shirt to the rest day interview, not to interject politics ;)

Hate to relegate Sastre to another near miss, but I’m rooting for Frank and CVV for the other two podium spots.

by kimchi on Jul 16, 2008 1:23 PM EDT   0 recs

I would be happy with

the strongest rider winning it all. It’s rather vanilla I guess, but I like all the guys in contention to one degree or another. It’s nothing like last year where I was completely turned off by Rasmussen until he got himself DQ’d.

This Tour has been quite exciting and if it continues to follow that pattern I’ll be buying a copy of it for this winter’s trainer sessions.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 1:24 PM EDT   0 recs

ooohh "the strongest rider winning"

Strong statement there,

Wuss!

by Jens on Jul 16, 2008 1:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Alright, fine, have it your way -

I hope any non-Swede wins. If it’s a Norwegian all the better.

Happy now?

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I would love to see CSC put two on the podium but

I would much rather it be Schleck the Elder on the top step. I just don’t think CS has the cojones to win the whole thing.

“Build me a Tour team Bjarne” ... Who is he, some latter day Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder (“build me a car and I’ll win Daytona next year”)?

If you are going to say stuff like that or ask that things like that be done for you, you have to back it up, and I just don’t see CS backing it up.

I think it takes something spectacular to win a Tour, and I don’t see spectacular in CS’s bag of tricks.

OTOH, I’d love to see Cadel smash everyone in the final TT and win the whole thing.

Sometimes you have to give luck a kick in the balls - Jens Voigt

by mikelpearce on Jul 16, 2008 1:29 PM EDT   0 recs

Valverde

I have a great amount of respect for him, especially since he was universally derided as valv.piti.

I agree that he’s a sub-1500 meter rider, but I really love his style on the bike. And the Spanish-color Pinarello rocks!

by samboo on Jul 16, 2008 1:38 PM EDT   0 recs

I do like that bike of his

Here’s hoping he can at least stick in the Alps so we continue to see it.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The whole kit is great

especially with the yellow highlights.

by dheadrick on Jul 16, 2008 2:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Evans

I`d hate to imagine a contest where the best man didn`t prevail

by Rapscallion on Jul 16, 2008 1:49 PM EDT   0 recs

Tough question to answer

I would love to see Ricco win after attacking like a maniac on multiple stages just for the sheer entertainment of it all. And also, for showing that a non-TT expert can also win the Tour and maybe open up the racing in future tours.

One of the Schlecks on top would also be fun. CVV would be great.

But I have to go with Sastre. I’d love for him to win it also by a monstrous attack on Alp D’Huez, leaving all the others in the dust. Now that would be sweet.

by lyne on Jul 16, 2008 2:18 PM EDT   0 recs

that's what I want to see too

A contest on the switchbacks until Carlos cracks the field.

That stage is going to be intense! I can’t wait.

by KevinK on Jul 16, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Dream (a.k.a., unrealistic) podiums

Dream podium
1. CVV
2. Kirchen
3. Ricco

Dream VDS podium
1. CVV
2. Baby Schleck
3. Cunego

Funny quote from Evans: “When told that Vande Velde was in third place at 38 seconds back, race leader Cadel Evans said, "Oh, good for him."” http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80226/vande-velde-off-the-radar

by dheadrick on Jul 16, 2008 2:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh yeah, and the other "dream" jerseys

Green – Zabel
Pois – Ricco
White – Schleck the Younger
Team – Sexy Back
MAR – Jens!

by dheadrick on Jul 16, 2008 2:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And while we're at it

I’d like a pony.

I do like your dream podium though. Very unconventional.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Cadel Evans

is not a warm and fuzzy guy.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 16, 2008 2:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It won my wife over

in a heartbeat. I felt really good for him too I must admit. it got a little misty in our living room.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And simply because

it’s always appropriate

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 2:43 PM EDT   0 recs

I see your rhymenocerous

and raise you too many mutha uckers

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 16, 2008 2:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Did Steve tell you to say that?

... Steve :(

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 3:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If only

there was an emoticon for a clenched fist…..........

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 3:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Dan's got the one for the finger... :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 16, 2008 3:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It's been said here before but

there ain’t not party like my nana’s tea party….

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 3:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Heyyyy... Hoooooo

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 4:32 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Took you long enough

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 16, 2008 4:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I've had a busy day

Wake up, watch Tour, go to work, watch feed of Tour, go to gym, go to breakfast, finally go to work… and start reading PdC again. Busy, busy day.

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 6:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

anyone but evans

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Jul 16, 2008 2:51 PM EDT   0 recs

I want to see Menchov

wear that great face when he id dying on a mountain ….

and then see him win

by cyclingchallenge on Jul 16, 2008 2:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Well...

Realistically… I’d love to see CVV win because I’m a homer and because the cynic in me believes that he is truly unbesmirched by the taint of doping for this race and I can believe in his achievements whole heartedly.

Fantastically… I’d love a two horse race between Cavendish and Ricco… screw all the other riders… I want to find a way for those two to just go head to head. It might have to be table tennis or dominoes, I just want to see those two compete directly against each other.

Dreamily… JENS!... or… Bettini. God that’s … that’s such a hard choice… Bettini is sort of off the back of my head for the time being… crowded out mostly by remembering the look on Jens!’ face climbing up Hautacam…

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 3:00 PM EDT   0 recs

uuhhhh, huh, huh

he said “taint”.

by itswells on Jul 16, 2008 4:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I knew it as soon as I hit "Post"...

... that I should have used some other word… any other word.

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 4:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Do I even need to post.... who do I want to win?! HA!

No doubt I would I LOVE to see Christian win the whole damn kit and caboodle!!!!

Other favorites I’d just die happy seeing up there in Paris in my dream would be George, Jens!, or baby Schleck. :-)

A podium happy day would be:
CVV
Schleck
Jens!

C would have completed his dream of finishing in front of Andy (per Famous Dave’s BBQ dinner fun) and it would be hilarious to see Jens! up there. He’d pick up C and little Andy and carry them off on his shoulders!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 16, 2008 3:01 PM EDT   0 recs

I gotta disagree with a part of that...

... I don’t really see Big George in Yellow in Paris. But I would give much… verrrrrry much… to see him covered in mud kissing a Cobble in April.

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 3:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

This is a dream remember... :-)

But oh my – I would give anything to help George get that damn P-R win!!!!! I think that would mean by far so much more!

I would still be tickled to see him up there in Paris. I just really like him and he’s one who has been in that support role in GT’s for so long that he missed a chance for doing it for himself. Another reason I love watching C go for it! Did you see the pic of George and C with the burrito thing yesterday. Warmed my heart. Such good friends they are. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 16, 2008 3:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

See... I don't think a Yellow Jersey in Paris...

... was every really something Hincapie wanted (not that he would have objected)... but I know he’s lusted after that fucking Cobble since the womb. Seeing him win in the Velodrome would be the ultimate pay back for someone that gave everything to loyalty… and has had solid, solid chances at it ruined by Fate.

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 3:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I totally agree!!! +100!

I guess I look at the yellow in Paris though as something that would still mean a lot and that most tour riders would have a dream or two about.

But yes – the P-R Cobble would so score him utopia way more than a yellow in P. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 16, 2008 3:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

no. where is this burrito pic of George and CVV?

link please?

Go Team Zoe!
Cavendish, Di Gregorio, Fothen, Kirchen
, Kreuziger, Lowe, Siutsou
, Ten Dam
, Y.Trofimov and Vandevelde

by ZoeRochelle on Jul 16, 2008 4:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Awww... George is so happy for Christian.

Thanks itswells. It would be so much fun to hang out in the village on rest day.

Go Team Zoe!
Cavendish, Di Gregorio, Fothen, Kirchen
, Kreuziger, Lowe, Siutsou
, Ten Dam
, Y.Trofimov and Vandevelde

by ZoeRochelle on Jul 16, 2008 5:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ohh man you can see the sparks flying between their eyes...

After a hard day of watching a Tour stage, I like to unwind with Verbotene Liebe

by crashdan on Jul 16, 2008 6:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

OK, now I know CVV won't podium

his arms are way to muscular. Those things are supposed to be emaciated sticks unable to perform any meaningful function beyond operating a gear/shift-lever.

by Jens on Jul 17, 2008 5:40 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs