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Le Tour 2012

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Jethro Tah

Bob Loudon (25)
Forgive me father for I have sinned - it has been too long since my last post on GAGR. I have been busier than a brick layer in Baghdad … but I have been lurking.

Only 10 more sleeps till the start of Le Tour 2012 !!

The below piece by Rupert in the SMH got me motivated to write:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/evans-elects-not-to-select-his-tour-team-20120620-20olz.html#ixzz1yQdtbVaS

Most notably:
“This year's Tour de France could see a record 12 or 13 Australians take part on latest count. With Cadel Evans (BMC) defending the title he won last year, the Tour peloton could also include - pending final selections in the next days - Michael Rogers and Richie Porte (Sky), Matt Goss, Simon Gerrans, Stuart O'Grady, Brett Lancaster, Baden Cooke and/or Allan Davis (Orica-GreenEDGE), Mark Renshaw (Rabobank), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Bellisol), Matt Lloyd (Lampre-ISD) and Luke Roberts (Saxo Bank). But wait, there's more ... The start by Orica-GreenEDGE will be the first by an Australian team in the Tour. And here's one to keep Aussie fans cheering - with Evans out for back-to-back yellow jerseys and Goss gunning for the green jersey as winner of the points competition, Lloyd's planned tilt for the red and white polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains could provide an unprecedented podium picture come the finish in Paris on July 22.”

Now Rupert is not wrong in his suggestion that three Aussies could end Le Tour in yellow, green and red & white but realistically the odds are stacked against it.

Firstly to Cadel. Seeing him ride into Paris last year in yellow was a day I will never forget, and I really hope he can back it up. With Andy out injured and Contador in the naughty boy corner, Cadel might just do it. The biggest threat is Wiggins with a good team behind him and two long individual TT stages but he may have hit peak form too early in winning the Dauphine, and Cadel is the better climber. I fear though he may come unstuck with the pressures of the yellow jersey as Cadel prefers to stay out of the spotlight and seems to prefer the underdog tag. My heart says he will win but my Tahs tainted head expects to be disappointed. Good speed Cadel !!

To the green jersey, I think Goss and others will only be fighting it out for second place after Cav. Both had their moments in the Giro but to me Cav just looked more comfortable and it would a lot to ask of GreenEdge in their first Le Tour as a team. I will be cheering for Goss but actually enjoy watching a Cav sprint – he is a machine. But maybe he will have one eye on the London Olympics and hold back a bit, just maybe …..

I am not a cyclo by religion and know little more than what Rupert writes so fell free to advise of the realistic contenders.

Anyway, good Tour to you all. Should you be watching the coverage on tele, look out for me in the Alps on Stage 11, Thursday 12th July as I will be beside the road on the Col de la Croix de Fer “yelling for Cadel”.
 

Joe Mac

Arch Winning (36)
Paris Tah, excellent post and welcome back.

I mistook you for P.Tah on the forum and was quite excited that I may see you again for a beer in the Wales V Wallabies game this weekend. Alas he is not you... At least we will always have Paris... Cracking night!

Back to the cycling... Wiggins is going to be very hard to beat this year, based on his form leading into the race. His whole team look rearing to go however has he peaked too early?

Great to see GreenEdge in the tour this year, its a great effort to have an Aussie team in the comp. Cadel and Porte are off contract next season so hopefully we can lure them across to the team and have a crack at the GC next year. Cadel could even ride for Porte next season?
 

MrTimms

Ken Catchpole (46)
Staff member
I got into it late last year and I must say, as a tour intro it was awesome.

I am going to get into it earlier this year.

Is Schleck my balls in this years race? I think one of them is out, but both?
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Frank #schleckmyballs is still around, he'll no doubt be hanging off Cadel's back wheel for long mountain climbs
 

Joe Mac

Arch Winning (36)
I feel sorry for Andy getting injured but this is probably the best tour for him to not participate in. He and Frank are too light and stand no chance with so much time trialling to go on...
 

Scarfman

Knitter of the Scarf
People worry about Wiggins's blood readings. Should I worry too or just relax and enjoy the tour?

I don't know much about blood testing, but I do like my cyclists to look like they're in pain going up the steep climbs, not talking to their crew and taking drinks.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
Starting to warm up to it now. I exhibited extremely poor form and didn't catch the prologue stage, but have since rectified.
 

light

Peter Fenwicke (45)
Only watched the first 100km last night but surely this can't just be a two man race. What happened to the likes of Sammy Sanchez and Dave Millar?
 

Joe Mac

Arch Winning (36)
Only watched the first 100km last night but surely this can't just be a two man race. What happened to the likes of Sammy Sanchez and Dave Millar?

Robert Gesink and Vincenzo Nibali are favoured by Liggett as dark horses and Ryder Hesjedal must be a chance after winning the Giro this year.

Peter Sagan looks to be the sports next superstar but winning his first tour is probably a little too much!
 

Cutter

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Robert Gesink and Vincenzo Nibali are favoured by Liggett as dark horses and Ryder Hesjedal must be a chance after winning the Giro this year.

Peter Sagan looks to be the sports next superstar but winning his first tour is probably a little too much!

Hesjedal will demonstrate the theory that you can't ride hard in the Giro and be at your best for the TdF in the same year. Cadel failed miserably two years ago, Basso struggled too, Contador wasn't at his best last year. Hesjedal won't have the strength either.

Menchov, Rogers might be there or there abouts.
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Did I just get a bad impression, or is Cavendish a complete wanker?
 

Cutter

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I used think he was cocky, but I don't mind him now. He's supposed to be a pretty nice fella in the flesh.
 

Gagger

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Staff member
Geez, pretty brutal today

Cav is winning these sprints for fun

And I say it every year, but why don't they show the speed and elevation on screen for the #TdF ?
 

Jethro Tah

Bob Loudon (25)
I used think he was cocky, but I don't mind him now. He's supposed to be a pretty nice fella in the flesh.
Ditto. Whereas Wiggins is supposed to be a bit of a knob and not overly liked in the pelaton. Sagan could tone down his act but I guess in his first TdF he can get away with it.
 
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