Tour de France 2012

[E.J.]

Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....

[gnbikes]

Also a real possibility that Radio Shack will not be allowed at all...
G-

[AlohaStyle]

Originally Posted by E.J.

Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....

Wow, I didn't hear this news... that really sucks! I've been wanting him to win the last few years.

[jesseboston81]

Originally Posted by AlohaStyle

Wow, I didn't hear this news... that really sucks! I've been wanting him to win the last few years.

Same here, very disappointing news.
Posted via Mobile Device

[CRIMPS]

Originally Posted by E.J.

Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....

Yep, same here. Sucks.

Sucks that Schleck is out. Figured he was one of the favorites this year. Will be interesting, nonetheless.

[mosesbotbol]

Wiggens is the most obvious choice with Evans or possibly that french guy who had the yellow several times (can't think of his name right now).

[CigarGuy88]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Wiggens is the most obvious choice with Evans or possibly that french guy who had the yellow several times (can't think of his name right now).

You're thinking of Thomas Voeckler

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by CigarGuy88

You're thinking of Thomas Voeckler

Indeed!

I think he could pull a suprise, but is his team up for the challenge?

[CRIMPS]

Cadel Evans will challenge. But, he is 35. Its tough for me to imagine he going back to back. Contador has to be the favorite, IMHO.

[jjmitchem]

I've always liked watching the Schleck brothers riding together. I like Evens, but I have never liked Contador.

What's up with RadioShack? Just saw their facebook post today listing the team.

[gnbikes]

[
What's up with RadioShack? Just saw their facebook post today listing the team.[/quote]

The Lance USADA charges may hit Bruyneel's ability to even be on the team.
Garry

[CRIMPS]

oh trust me, I hate Contador. I think he is a snake.

I suspect the RadioShack Team is going to be disbanding in the near future. Nothing to base that on.

[E.J.]

Contador ate too much steak ...he won't be riding in the Tour this year.

[E.J.]

Odds makers currently have it Wiggins, Evans, Menchov, Van Den Broeck, Froome, Nibali, Gesink and Sanchez.

[mosesbotbol]

Radioshack is on the verge of collapsing. There are a few articles on this, but the owner is light on money and Radioshack as company isn't in great shape either. I read they missed some payroll.

[Don Fernando]

Keep an eye on Mollema.

[E.J.]

So Cancellara wins the Prologue to give RS a nice start and wears yellow.....

Congrats to Sagen for his first TdF stage win today. Chatter that he didn't take pulls(a pull) with Cancellara and wheel sucked to a win. Sounds like Sagen knew where he was at/his limits and rode a great race. “I waited to see if I could attack and I wanted to hold on because I knew it was a long finish… I couldn't ride with Cancellara. I know he’s very strong… but I did succeed in getting a win.”

So, should Cancellara just slowed and said, if you don't take a pull, neither of us will win....?

After Stage 1

1. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, in 5:05:32
2. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :7
3. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :7
4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at :10
5. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, Sky, at :11
6. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at :13
7. Philippe GILBERT, BMC Racing, at :13
8. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :17
9. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :18
10. Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Barracuda, at :18
11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :19
12. Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank, at : 21
13. Maxime MONFORT, RadioShack-Nissan, at : 22
14. Janez BRAJKOVIC, Astana, at : 22
15. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Barracuda, at : 22
16. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at : 22
17. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at : 23
18. Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at : 23
19. Marco MARCATO, Vacansoleil-DCM, at : 23
20. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at : 24
21. Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, RadioShack-Nissan, at : 24
22. Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at : 24
23. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at : 24
24. Daniel MARTIN, Garmin-Barracuda, at : 24
25. Nicolas ROCHE, Ag2r La Mondiale, at : 25
26. Michael ROGERS, Sky, at : 25
27. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at : 25
28. Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky, at : 25
29. Robert GESINK, Rabobank, at : 26
30. Koen DE KORT, Argos-Shimano, at : 27
31. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at : 28
32. Simon GERRANS, Orica-GreenEdge, at : 29
33. Dries DEVENYNS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at : 29
34. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at : 29
35. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Barracuda, at :31
36. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at :33
37. Michael ALBASINI, Orica-GreenEdge, at :34
38. Arthur VICHOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :34
39. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at :35
40. Eduard VORGANOV, Katusha, at :35
41. Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :37
42. Dominik NERZ, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :37
43. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-ISD, at :37
44. Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :37
45. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at :38
46. Andriy GRIVKO, Astana, at :38
47. Matthieu LADAGNOUS, FDJ-BigMat, at :38
48. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :40
49. Jelle VANENDERT, Lotto-Belisol, at :40
50. Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana, at :42
51. Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA, Movistar, at :42
52. Nick NUYENS, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at :43
53. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar, at :45
54. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :45
55. Samuel DUMOULIN, Cofidis, at :46
56. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :47
57. Jerome COPPEL, Saur-Sojasun, at :48
58. Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :52
59. Christophe RIBLON, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :52
60. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Rabobank, at :53
61. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :53
62. Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha, at :57
63. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:01
64. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 1:01
65. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 1:05
66. Vasili KIRYIENKA, Movistar, at 1:05
67. Mikael CHEREL, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:06
68. Ruben PLAZA MOLINA, Movistar, at 1:06
69. Juan Jose COBO ACEBO, Movistar, at 1:07
70. Giovanni BERNAUDEAU, Europcar, at 1:08
71. Cyril GAUTIER, Europcar, at 1:09
72. Johnny HOOGERLAND, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:10
73. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 1:18
74. Bram TANKINK, Rabobank, at 1: 20
75. Alessandro PETACCHI, Lampre-ISD, at 1: 21
76. Dmitriy FOFONOV, Astana, at 1: 21
77. Yann HUGUET, Argos-Shimano, at 1: 22
78. Danilo HONDO, Lampre-ISD, at 1: 23
79. Andrey KASHECHKIN, Astana, at 1: 24
80. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1: 26
81. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1: 29
82. Sébastien HINAULT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:30
83. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:30
84. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 1:41
85. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana, at 1:42
86. Marcus BURGHARDT, BMC Racing, at 1:44
87. Amaël MOINARD, BMC Racing, at 1:46
88. Maxime BOUET, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:47
89. Federico CANUTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:48
90. Laurens TEN DAM, Rabobank, at 1:55
91. Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano, at 1:56
92. Fabrice JEANDESBOZ, Saur-Sojasun, at 1:57
93. Maxim IGLINSKY, Astana, at 1:57
94. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 2:01
95. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-ISD, at 2:01
96. Davide MALACARNE, Europcar, at 2:02
97. Yukiya ARASHIRO, Europcar, at 2:03
98. Peter VELITS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:09
99. Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:18
100. Roy CURVERS, Argos-Shimano, at 2: 22
101. Luis Angel MATE MARDONES, Cofidis, at 2: 22
102. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 2: 27
103. Kristijan KOREN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2: 29
104. Daryl IMPEY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 29
105. Sebastian LANGEVELD, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2: 29
106. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:30
107. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:30
108. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:31
109. Sergio Miguel MOREIRA PAULINHO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:31
110. Cyril LEMOINE, Saur-Sojasun, at 2:32
111. José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar, at 2:33
112. Alessandro VANOTTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:33
113. Daniel OSS, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:35
114. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:36
115. Johan VAN SUMMEREN, Garmin-Barracuda, at 2:37
116. Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank, at 2:37
117. Imanol ERVITI, Movistar, at 2:40
118. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:40
119. Nicki SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:40
120. Sylvester SZMYD, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:41
121. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, RadioShack-Nissan, at 2:43
122. Kevin DE WEERT, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:44
123. Jonathan CANTWELL, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:44
124. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 2:45
125. Borut BOZIC, Astana, at 2:45
126. David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis, at 2:46
127. Kris BOECKMANS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:46
128. Baden COOKE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:46
129. Karsten KROON, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:47
130. Aliaksandr KUSCHYNSKI, Katusha, at 2:49
131. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:50
132. Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank, at 2:51
133. Matthieu SPRICK, Argos-Shimano, at 2:52
134. Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis, at 2:54
135. Romain ZINGLE, Cofidis, at 2:55
136. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:56
137. Cédric PINEAU, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:57
138. Marco MARZANO, Lampre-ISD, at 2:59
139. Vincent JEROME, Europcar, at 3:04
140. Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD, at 3:09
141. Ruben PEREZ MORENO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:09
142. Anders LUND, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 3:10
143. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 3:13
144. David MILLAR, Garmin-Barracuda, at 3:19
145. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 3: 20
146. Jérémy ROY, FDJ-BigMat, at 3: 23
147. Bert GRABSCH, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3: 27
148. Adam HANSEN, Lotto-Belisol, at 3: 29
149. Michael SCHÄR, BMC Racing, at 3:30
150. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:37
151. Sébastien MINARD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:39
152. Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:41
153. Brice FEILLU, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:42
154. Pierrick FEDRIGO, FDJ-BigMat, at 3:44
155. Jurgen ROELANDTS, Lotto-Belisol, at 3:46
156. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Barracuda, at 3:53
157. Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:53
158. Stephen CUMMINGS, BMC Racing, at 3:59
159. Greg HENDERSON, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:01
160. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 4:02
161. Richie PORTE, Sky, at 4:03
162. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:04
163. Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:05
164. Michael MORKOV, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 4:05
165. Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Barracuda, at 4:05
166. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 4:07
167. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Barracuda, at 4:07
168. Anthony ROUX, FDJ-BigMat, at 4:08
169. Biel KADRI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4:09
170. Manuel QUINZIATO, BMC Racing, at 4:09
171. Marcel SIEBERG, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:09
172. Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis, at 4:12
173. Jérôme PINEAU, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:12
174. Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano, at 4:15
175. Albert TIMMER, Argos-Shimano, at 4:15
176. Juan José HAEDO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 4:15
177. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:18
178. Juan HORRACH RIPPOLL, Katusha, at 4: 23
179. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4: 25
180. Yohann GENE, Europcar, at 4: 25
181. Julien FOUCHARD, Cofidis, at 4: 25
182. Nicolas EDET, Cofidis, at 4: 28
183. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, Rabobank, at 4:32
184. Grega BOLE, Lampre-ISD, at 4:33
185. Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank, at 4:35
186. Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano, at 4:44
187. Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD, at 4:46
188. Martin VELITS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:49
189. Julien SIMON, Saur-Sojasun, at 4:59
190. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 5:13
191. Bernhard EISEL, Sky, at 5: 22
192. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar, at 6:13
193. Yuriy KRIVTSOV, Lampre-ISD, at 6:30
194. Pablo URTASUN PEREZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:46
195. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:12
196. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 7: 26
197. Jean Marc MARINO, Saur-Sojasun, at 7:45
198. Guillaume LEVARLET, Saur-Sojasun, at 9:43

[mosesbotbol]

It would be the most exciting to me to see either win the TdF

Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Barracuda
Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar

[Don Fernando]

Voeckler won't win, he's not even a real challenger. He's not a real climber, not a real time-trial specialist. He's got heart though and that brought him far last year but in the end he's just not good enough for a 3 week race.