Tour de France - any predictions?

[Dan B]

An exciting run-up: Armstrong not-so-strong on the Monteux, Mayo and Tyler on a flyer, Jan (barely) takes the Swiss, Vino involved in crash ...

I'm willing to start the debate flying.

GC:
10. Julich
9. Gibo
8. Leipheimer
7. Heras
6. Lance
5. Sevilla
4. Basso
3. Jan
2. Iban
1. Tyler

Maillot Vert:
1. Petacchi
2. Zabel
3. MacEwen

Maillot Pois:
1. Mayo
2. Virenque
3. Laiseka
4. Geslin

I'm willing to banter this one out ...

[the other Steve Dennis]

that top ten is a whos who in modern cycling... that alone makes it improbable.

interesting that Lance is 6th - if he doesnt win just how much will he lose! OOohhhh

There's bound to be a few unknowns in the top and it would be typical if an outside won and left Jan in 2nd again.

Mayo is definately gonna have a great last week, but what are the other teams gonna do to him before then and dont forget he will have to make up about 2 mins after the team tt.

Saying that my money is stil in my pocket as I need to get out my list of riders names before laying it out in numbers.

So I shall do so soon.

In the meantime lets get this thread going...........

[Daren L]

My bet is that David Miller will win ... the top of the 'let's blame someone else' excuses rankings.
As for the race itself....

[Elliot M]

yeah i was thinking that, i can't see him finishing if not 1st.

For what it's worth

1 Ullrich
2 Hamilton
3 Mayo

Does anyone know the odds? I can't see betting sites here

[simonfrench]

Question is, when do we know the teams? Don't they have an anouncement deadline?

Oh and
1. Armstrong
2. Hamilton
3. Mayo
4. Ullrich

unless Armstrong gets caned onthe first mountain stages in which case keep the order and move up one.

[Dan B]

There's no real limit to naming teams, until it comes time for the pre-race medical. So you see a lot of the teams that have named names are indicating first and second reserve riders (e.g. USPS' Joachim and Pena).

With Brad McGee posting brilliant results in both the Giro and now the Route de Sud, chances are he'll fit into the eleven riders in my top ten.

There might also be room for Zubeldia, Mayo's super-domestique.

I edit my list all the time, but I'm sticking with the pantheon as it is. For now.

DB

[Andy]

[quote="Dan B"]An exciting run-up: Armstrong not-so-strong on the Monteux, Mayo and Tyler on a flyer, Jan (barely) takes the Swiss, Vino involved in crash ...

I'm willing to start the debate flying.

GC:
10. Julich
9. Gibo
8. Leipheimer
7. Heras
6. Lance
5. Sevilla
4. Basso
3. Jan
2. Iban
1. Tyler

Maillot Vert:
1. Petacchi
2. Zabel
3. MacEwen

Maillot Pois:
1. Mayo
2. Virenque
3. Laiseka
4. Geslin

I'm willing to banter this one out ...

[Dan B]

Here's some predictions, courtesy of Agence France Presse:

Bradley McGee (rider): 1. Armstrong; 2. Ullrich; 3. Hamilton

Jean-Patrick Nazon (rider): 1. Armstrong; 2. Ullrich; 3. Mayo

Richard Virenque (rider): 1. Armstrong; 2. Mayo; 3. Ullrich

Jean-Francois Pescheux (race official involved in designing course): 1. Armstrong; 2. Ullrich; 3. Hamilton

Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (former rider): 1. Hamilton; 2. Ullrich; 3. Mayo

Bernard Hinault (five-time Tour winner): 1. Ullrich; 2. Armstrong; 3. Hamilton

Charly Mottet (former rider): 1. Armstrong; 2. Mayo; 3. Ullrich

Raymond Poulidor (former Tour great): 1. Ullrich; 2. Armstrong; 3. Mayo

Stephen Roche (1987 Tour winner): 1. Ullrich; 2. Hamilton; 3. Mayo

Yves Hezard (former rider): 1. Ullrich; 2. Hamilton; 3. Mayo

Roger Legeay (Credit Agricole team manager): 1. Armstrong; 2. Mayo; 3. Hamilton

Francis Van Londersele (Cofidis team manager): 1. Mayo; 2. Armstrong; 3. Hamilton

Marc Madiot (team manager Fdjeux.com): 1. Ullrich; 2. Armstrong; 3. Mayo

Laurent Jalabert (former rider): 1. Hamilton; 2. Ullrich; 3. Armstrong

Ronan Pensec (TV pundit and former rider): 1. Hamilton; 2. Armstrong; 3. Ullrich

Bernard Thevenet (TV pundit and former Tour winner): 1. Ullrich; 2. Armstrong; 3. Hamilton

Thierry Cazeneuve (organizer of Dauphine Libere): 1. Armstrong; 2. Hamilton; 3. Ullrich

Patrick Cluzaud (French cycling official): 1. Armstrong; 2. Ullrich; 3. Hamilton

Jacques Augendre (journalist): 1. Ullrich; 2. Hamilton; 3. Armstrong

[Elliot M]

amazing!

sadly i predict (but hope i'm wrong) a big drugs bust halfway through.

[jeffmesie]

Got to be Mayo. If he hasn't peaked too soon he has got to have a good chance. What are the bookies offering?

[David Lombari]

I don't mean to be blasphemous but isn't the Tour really boring this year? I guess it's suffering, like F1, from a lack of competetiveness at the top end. Roll on the Vuelta, I say.

[siwickm]

I have found it far from boring. I think you have to stand back in awe at LA, he has been awesome along with his team. Shame that Ulrich was ill early on but I have found it a superb tour, although not as nail biting as last year. I think that before the tour everyone was wondering what LA could manage and I think he has shown everyone that he has worked off his socks to get to where he is this year.

Cheers

Marek....

[simonfrench]

Same here. I've been hanging onto it - and only now feeling like Armstrong has it in the bag has reduced the excitement. Very impressed with Voekler and BLB in general, and Basso and CSC. Nice to see new faces in the 2, 3, 4... spots who can do better next year...

[David Lombari]

Oh, must be just me then. I think that LA has been superb and Voekler inspirational but, especially since Mayo crashed, there doesn't appear to have been anyone to have really attacked for the overall with any meaning. Basso looks good, but isn't he just taking Beloki's place, (trying) to sit next to LA for three weeks to pick up second overall? And still haven't seen the Cycling Weekly ad.

[Elliot M]

lance's win yesterday was pretty exciting!