2011 Tour de France

[AUbicycles]

Ladies and Gentle,
Let the worlds greatest cycle race begin.

Contadors participation is already being hotly discussed and the Lance Armstrong saga continues in the background.

Cadel Evans has another chance - and is likely to be a bit fresher than Contador though still has the Schlecks challenging.

Who is your hot tip?

[igstar]

Drug scandals aside for the moment... If Contador races I can't see how anyone can beat him, unless he gets involved in a serious crash. He is just so accomplished in both, climbing and time trials. Even with a limited team support he should be able to hold back the challengers. I was just blown away with his form during the Giro.
He's not my favourite rider, but facts are facts.

[skull]

Drug scandals aside for the moment... If Contador races I can't see how anyone can beat him, unless he gets involved in a serious crash. He is just so accomplished in both, climbing and time trials..

I don't know, he will be suffering some good fatigue from his unleashing pain at the Giro

[jules21]

andy schleck in a canter. it's too hilly for cadel - he needs more time trials. i reckon contador will be too tired to match andy (could be famous last words).

outsiders are frank and ivan basso.

[sogood]

But Andy can't TT while Contador can. It'd be hard to beat, even coming after the Giro.

[jules21]

But Andy can't TT while Contador can. It'd be hard to beat, even coming after the Giro.

i thought there was only 1 ITT this year (prologue aside). i'm betting andy will have learnt to do a better TT this year too.

[sogood]

i thought there was only 1 ITT this year (prologue aside). i'm betting andy will have learnt to do a better TT this year too.

Unfortunately he didn't demonstrate such improvements at the ToC recently. Assuming a match b/n him and Contador on climbs, one ITT result may well decide Andy's fate.

[Chuck]

[hannos]

Drug scandals aside for the moment... If Contador races I can't see how anyone can beat him, unless he gets involved in a serious crash.

All it takes is like if 5 Saxo's get attacked by a bear in the mountains

[jules21]

Drug scandals aside for the moment... If Contador races I can't see how anyone can beat him, unless he gets involved in a serious crash.

All it takes is like if 5 Saxo's get attacked by a bear in the mountains

that's why he used to have Vino as a team mate but it never happened so it turned out to be an expensive option. although Vino can also ride pretty well.

[aussieboy13]

I don't want to see Contador win. But I believe that will be the outcome.

I hope Andy Schleck has the goods to beat him.

Who is of the opinion that if Contador wins it will be tainted because of this over hanging drug trial that was postponed.

[BarryTas]

If Contador does race, then I hope that ALL then teams join forces and mark him, track him, box him in etc. hehe.

[Fresh]

I truly hope Contador doesn't win. I hope the Giro spent him. Be great to see Cadel win, but I reckon it'll be Andy.

[toolonglegs]

At the moment I just can't get excited about it .
But I do hope Cadel has a good race...Friday's stage for the Crit de Dauphine starts 500meters down the road from home so will take the kids down...somethings are more important than school .

[gururug]

killer ( fantastic ) route this year, mountain stages spread out, team time trial...... can't wait.

wish we had 40 hour days. oh well, non-stop weekend re-runs it is!!!

schlek's form looks a little down eh? don;t think it will be the big rematch we were all expecting. expect some darkies to loom large.

[AUbicycles]

TLL ... enjoy that, and take your polaroid with you!!

Contador does need better marking..

[igstar]

Looking at the stages, it's probably not even worth watching TdF till last four stages. I think stage 18, 19 (Col de Telegraph, Col de Galibier and finish on Alp-d'Huez, I'm drooling over this already) and the following ITT will decide the winner

[toolonglegs]

got an email the other day...still places left on the etape du tour...bit beyond me for the moment,but others may be interested.

[brentono]

Looking at the stages, it's probably not even worth watching TdF till last four stages. I think stage 18, 19 (Col de Telegraph, Col de Galibier and finish on Alp-d'Huez, I'm drooling over this already) and the following ITT will decide the winner

The Galibier 1911-2011.
Tour will celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the first crossing of the Galibier by the peloton,
the mountain pass which has been visited the most by the race.
The finishing line of the 18th stage will be marked out there at an altitude of 2, 645 metres!
It will be the highest finish in the Tour’s history.
Le Galibier will be climbed twice.
Contador would have the race, at these stages 18/19th, if not before.
Contador for Paris, and Le Tour.
(Contador the most scrutinised sportsman on the planet ATM, unsanctioned and clean)

[Zynster]

I'd say Contador too, though I'll be cheering for Cadel.

How long has it been since someone won the Giro and the Tour in the same year?

[brentono]

I'd say Contador too, though I'll be cheering for Cadel.

How long has it been since someone won the Giro and the Tour in the same year?

I think Cadel (though I'd like to see him do well) has conceeded, already
by competing in the Critérium du Dauphiné. IMO

Marco Pantani 1998 (Giro and the Tour in the same year)

[jules21]

I think Cadel (though I'd like to see him do well) has conceeded, already by competing in the Critérium du Dauphiné. IMO

eh? the Dauphine is a traditional warm up for Tour contenders and cadel has done it in past seasons. he didn't do it last year as he raced the Giro.

[jet-ski]

Question for TLL - is there likely to be any radio stations that do an english commentary in France? Just wondering if it's worth taking an AM-band radio along?

[brentono]

I think Cadel (though I'd like to see him do well) has conceeded, already by competing in the Critérium du Dauphiné. IMO

eh? the Dauphine is a traditional warm up for Tour contenders and cadel has done it in past seasons. he didn't do it last year as he raced the Giro.

"traditional" =Some girls do, some girls don't.
I still have a right to an opinion.
Whatever his plan, and however he has done it in the past, don't matter.
Evans, 34, has yet to prevail in a Grand Tour.
I'd like to see him do well, and the writing will be on the wall/podium, in Paris,
and I'll leave it at that.

[ss--ss]

Hi does anyone know when the official tdf magazine comes out here? I've had a look at the local newsagency but not available yet?