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Dotty Doodlez

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The King of the Mountains classification is always hard to predict. Very often, a young unknown rider, like say Juan Mauricio Soler, is able to slip away from the field and snap up the points. Often, we expect failed GC riders to chase the Pois, but in truth, it doesn't happen all that often. The typical tactic for the KOM is lengthy breakaways. Can someone win it from the main field? Certo, it simply hasn't happened lately. This year's course may well favor an escapist, with the tricky middle mountain stages. For now, there is no KOM specialist in the bunch, a rider like Richard Virenque or Laurent Jalabert, in his later year, whom we can expect to chase the Dots. Rémy DiGrégorio would someday like to fill that role, but this year may come too soon for his chances.

Me, I don't know who to predict for the King of the Mountains. In the end, I am nearly always surprised by the winner.

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Comments

Display:

Commenting on my own post is lame...

But I’m going to do it anyway.

I wouldn’t put it past Tommy V to try to hold the Dots all the way to Paris. He could ride the breakaways and is never going to be mistaken for a GC rider.

Also, I like the chances of John Gadret in the mountains. I wonder if he is more interested in a stage win than the KOM? Certo, he’s a good KOM go-to rider, if he decides to chase it.

by gavia on Jul 9, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Gadret should target KOM

I know he can climb, I just don’t know for how long and how often. When you consider that he also rides a full cross season (had to work that in) his road riding is quite exceptional. The last guy I can think of who was good in cross and on the road is Adri Vanderpoel. And he was great at both disciplines.

I am now openly routing for Gadret.

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

by Drew... on Jul 10, 2008 10:05 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

it would be cool if he did

he’s shown some flashes of brilliance. but missed some time to crashes and whathaveyou.

i’d love to see him go well.

by gavia on Jul 10, 2008 12:45 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Venga RUSD!!

I love that guy.

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

by Chris... on Jul 9, 2008 11:44 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

me too

he’s so totally my fave. venga!

by gavia on Jul 9, 2008 11:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh and

you’ve outdone yourself. Which is saying something.

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

by Chris... on Jul 9, 2008 11:56 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

really?!

lol, it was fun. wish i had some real graphic toolz, so i could really play.

dear santa cluas…

by gavia on Jul 9, 2008 11:58 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

oh crap

i probably won’t get any good presents, if i spell his name wrong, will i. sigh.

by gavia on Jul 9, 2008 11:58 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

lol

actually, that took far less time that it appears :-)

it’s the wordy posts that suck time. that one? all fun and games.

by gavia on Jul 10, 2008 7:37 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

i second that motion

i do think this post is particularly cool. now a request from chris, on behalf of all podiumcafe users we would sincerely love to see some more flowcharts later in le tour

i am master of my fate, i am captain of my soul

by randie on Jul 10, 2008 9:00 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That's the question!

Stay tuned… we should know by Sunday.

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

by Chris... on Jul 10, 2008 12:46 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

i catch now, duhh

some spanish….txurruka or de la fuente.

by semprenaroda on Jul 10, 2008 12:58 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Txurruka!!!!

2 !! = VDS rider

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

by Chris... on Jul 10, 2008 4:59 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

p.s.

I’ve been lobbying Ricco for over a week. Also would love to see what Remy’s got. And why o why isn’t Gesink here? Maybe Rabo doesn’t want him to start emulating the Chicken.

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

by Chris... on Jul 9, 2008 11:45 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Frank Schleck should get over trying to be top ten

I love the guy but he crashes a lot at inopportune moments, ‘07 Lombardia and Amstel Gold, and he can’t TT worth a damn. Send him on some long mountain climbs.

by brunopitton on Jul 10, 2008 12:11 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

love it

wonder if my optometrist can use this chart from now on

KOM is wide open , fun fun fun

by lyne on Jul 10, 2008 12:15 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Moreau

The only thing easy to predict obout KOM is that Moreau will occasionally waste lots of energy chasing a few points but will not with the maillot pois

by cyclingchallenge on Jul 10, 2008 12:47 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Since I missed some of the TT fun

I’m tossing in C’s name. Not as a KoM but he’ll be there with the leaders. Lowe maybe off in an early break so C and team doesn’t have to work as hard right away. C’s used to pulling in the mountains for GC guys so it will be fun to see him hanging tough at the ends of them this year!!!

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

by nikki on Jul 10, 2008 1:10 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

?

“C’est ma treizième participation et je cherche des points dans la montagne et ne pas me fixer sur le général.”

by lucybears on Jul 10, 2008 8:00 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

so...

you’re saying moreau is a pick for the points. okay.

add him to the list.

by gavia on Jul 10, 2008 12:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

lol

but i’m not re-doing the graphic ;-)

by gavia on Jul 10, 2008 12:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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