pre-Tour race analysis

[Nerius Landys]

So who will win this year's Tour?  While I am rooting for Bradley Wiggins (I think it would be nice to see him win), I don't think he'll do it.

In the first week of the Tour things are very hectic and there are many crashes.  Bradley is so thin and frail, any small crash and his bones are broke.

If he manages to make it past the first week, he won't stay with the leaders in the final mountain stages.  He just doesn't have enough meat on him.  Look at Evans, he's more of a bulldog with lots of energy reserves.  Unless Bradley gets on the Pro Cyclist Drug Plan, he'll be too wasted in the final week of racing.  Time to upgrade his recovery drink formula?

[Paul Nevins]

The hero of the Giro
Ryder rules.

[Nerius Landys]

So Andy won't be in the Tour because of a cracked bone sustained after a crash in a windy time trial while he was riding a disk wheel.  "Don't let equipment get to your head."

[Wade Duchene]

Nerius, I'm starting to get excited about the Tour myself.

Although I'm a Garmin fan and will be rooting for Ryder Hesjedal, it is probably a two man race (Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins).

My upset pick is Robert Gesink, he is time trialing very well and has always been a super strong climber, and besides, after beating on the boards to root him home on Baldy I feel we are linked.  I think he will be on the podium.

Ursula's Peter Sagan for the Green Jersey - (Bet the mortgage on this).

Chris Horner (if he is selected) is time trialing poor enough that the peloton might give him enough freedom to go for Polka Dots but my guess would be a Frenchman - someone like David Moncoutie.

White Jersey - I'll be rooting for Americans Andrew Talansky and Teejay Van Garderen but Wilco Kelderman of Rabbobank took both California and Dauphine so he's probably strongest right now.


Wade