tbf Posted 30 June 2011 Posted 30 June 2011 Fantasy game Here To join my mini league. Go to the game (register here ), pick your team then use the ‘mini league admin' option to join my mini league. The details you need are: League Name: FoxesTalk League password: filbert
Amin Posted 30 June 2011 Posted 30 June 2011 Can't wait for the opening stage on saturday. EDIT: I've applied for your league.
tbf Posted 1 July 2011 Author Posted 1 July 2011 It's a pretty lonely league at the moment!! But i've added you in. Who are you tipping for the Yellow Jersey come Paris? Excluding Contador of course! Does Bradley Wiggins have a chance this year? Are Team Sky strong enough to give him a chance?! So many questions!
Kilworthfox Posted 1 July 2011 Posted 1 July 2011 It's a pretty lonely league at the moment!! But i've added you in. Who are you tipping for the Yellow Jersey come Paris? Excluding Contador of course! Does Bradley Wiggins have a chance this year? Are Team Sky strong enough to give him a chance?! So many questions! Joined
Amin Posted 1 July 2011 Posted 1 July 2011 It's a pretty lonely league at the moment!! But i've added you in. Who are you tipping for the Yellow Jersey come Paris? Excluding Contador of course! Does Bradley Wiggins have a chance this year? Are Team Sky strong enough to give him a chance?! So many questions! I don't want to sound boring but I would of thought Andy Schleck is the only person who can challenge Contador this year. Wiggins does seem to be in a spell of good form and he has a chance, but I can't see him going all the way. I'm also hoping Mark Cavendish can finally win the green jersey.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 2 July 2011 Posted 2 July 2011 I normally just go for the Aussies think Cadel can finish Top 5 and hoping Matty Goss can claim a stage early and maybe Richie Porte snare a top 20 finish but his man role will be getting Contador the Yellow
Amin Posted 2 July 2011 Posted 2 July 2011 Dissapointing race for Contador, A.Shcleck and Wiggins. Advantage Cadel Evans.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 2 July 2011 Posted 2 July 2011 Dissapointing race for Contador, A.Shcleck and Wiggins. Advantage Cadel Evans. Didn't that crash throw a spanner in the works, was glad i stayed up for it massive advantage to Cadel he will need every possible advatage he can get tho.
Amin Posted 2 July 2011 Posted 2 July 2011 Didn't that crash throw a spanner in the works, was glad i stayed up for it massive advantage to Cadel he will need every possible advatage he can get tho. I was in the loo when the crash happened It certainly has mixed things up, but crucially, Contador and Schleck are still together.
shen Posted 2 July 2011 Posted 2 July 2011 I was in the loo when the crash happened It certainly has mixed things up, but crucially, Contador and Schleck are still together. Fränk was up front though. He might become the main threat because of this! Edit. Hmm Andy's time was annulled as he was inside the three-kilometer limit, so he gets the same time as the front group. He is 1:14 ahead of Contador
Amin Posted 2 July 2011 Posted 2 July 2011 Fränk was up front though. He might become the main threat because of this! Edit. Hmm Andy's time was annulled as he was inside the three-kilometer limit, so he gets the same time as the front group. He is 1:14 ahead of Contador Ah, well isn't Contador in trouble. This is also good news for Wiggins.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 Team Time trial tonight so this will really shape the tour early, can see contador pulling a bit back but can see one of the Schelks taking the front running.
New England Fox Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 I think that Wiggins is a legit contender for a podium place, albeit with about 10 other riders but the thing that will prevent him from winning overall is his climbing. Yes he is capable of keeping pace with the very best climbers over the high mountains, but the thing that will hurt is that he is the type of climber who maintains a steady pace throughout. He has never been capable of matching the sudden accelerations that the truly elite climbers are capable of and with this TDF being very mountain heavy I think ultimately that will prevent Wiggins winning. Everyone seems to be picking Andy Schleck as Contador's main challenger but he really hasn't had a good warm up to the TDF. He was poor in both the Tour of California and the Tour de Suisse. I think his brother Frank might actually end up performing better As much as I dislike Contador the fact is, if he reproduces the forum he showed in the Giro then he is going to win, even with the 1 minute plus disadvantage he has from Stage 1. When he is on form there is simply no one who can stay with him in the mountains. Personally, my outside bet for the podium is 39yr old Chris Horner.
shen Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 Everyone seems to be picking Andy Schleck as Contador's main challenger but he really hasn't had a good warm up to the TDF. He was poor in both the Tour of California and the Tour de Suisse. I think his brother Frank might actually end up performing better As much as I dislike Contador the fact is, if he reproduces the forum he showed in the Giro then he is going to win, even with the 1 minute plus disadvantage he has from Stage 1. When he is on form there is simply no one who can stay with him in the mountains. Schlecks results don't mean a thing. It's clear that his whole season only depends on his Tour result, so I wouldn't read anything into that. Conversely, many argue that Contador's preparations riding the Giro were not optimal for a TDF defense. With the outcome of the doping investigations looking like it was going to be revealed BEFORE the Tour, it meant that he and Riis had to milk it so they went all out for the Giro. And if Schleck has prepared well and played his cards right, he will be able to stay with Contador in the mountains. Leopard-Trek are likely to do a better TTT than Saxobank are and there's only one other TT this year which speaks to Schlecks advantage.
New England Fox Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 Schlecks results don't mean a thing. It's clear that his whole season only depends on his Tour result, so I wouldn't read anything into that. Conversely, many argue that Contador's preparations riding the Giro were not optimal for a TDF defense. With the outcome of the doping investigations looking like it was going to be revealed BEFORE the Tour, it meant that he and Riis had to milk it so they went all out for the Giro. And if Schleck has prepared well and played his cards right, he will be able to stay with Contador in the mountains. Leopard-Trek are likely to do a better TTT than Saxobank are and there's only one other TT this year which speaks to Schlecks advantage. I disagree that his results don't mean a thing. I know his build up has all been aimed at the TDF but even so, its the general consensus that you need to ride yourself into relatively good form before the TDF starts in order to be in with a shout. Sure its possible to ride yourself into form during the race itself but that's a risky proposition. The Tour de Suisse was only a couple of weeks ago and Schleck really wasn't climbing well at all. Admittedly having only one TT does play to Schlecks advantage but eve with that, Schleck is really an awful Time Trial rider and could still lose minutes to Contador. While I'm debating this i must also mention that I hope that i am wrong, I really hope Schlek is in form and that he or someone else wins instead of Contador. I dont like Contador after his stunt last year when he attacked Schelck while he had a mechanical problem and then claimed he didn't realize what had happened, even though he looked right at Schleck as he rode past.
shen Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 I disagree that his results don't mean a thing. I know his build up has all been aimed at the TDF but even so, its the general consensus that you need to ride yourself into relatively good form before the TDF starts in order to be in with a shout. Sure its possible to ride yourself into form during the race itself but that's a risky proposition. The Tour de Suisse was only a couple of weeks ago and Schleck really wasn't climbing well at all. Admittedly having only one TT does play to Schlecks advantage but eve with that, Schleck is really an awful Time Trial rider and could still lose minutes to Contador. While I'm debating this i must also mention that I hope that i am wrong, I really hope Schlek is in form and that he or someone else wins instead of Contador. I dont like Contador after his stunt last year when he attacked Schelck while he had a mechanical problem and then claimed he didn't realize what had happened, even though he looked right at Schleck as he rode past. Despite his less than impressive showing at the Tour de Suisse he still won the climbers jersey, and while Luxembourg admittedly don't have a wealth of great riders, he still became national TT champion in 2009 and 2010. His TT in the showdown of last years TDF was very impressive too, but as we know the final TT is also very much down to will and to how much is left in the tank. We'll see how it pans out, but personally I still expect him to finish first or second in Paris... I share your dislike of Contador too. And I hope SaxoBank get rid of him after this season, if the case he won't be suspended. Would love to see Porte or Fuglsang get a chance as team leader instead.
Amin Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 Ah, well isn't Contador in trouble. This is also good news for Wiggins. And it gets even worse...
shen Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 And it gets even worse... It was expected that he'd lose time on the TTT
Amin Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 It was expected that he'd lose time on the TTT Yes, but by 28secs?
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 Despite his less than impressive showing at the Tour de Suisse he still won the climbers jersey, and while Luxembourg admittedly don't have a wealth of great riders, he still became national TT champion in 2009 and 2010. His TT in the showdown of last years TDF was very impressive too, but as we know the final TT is also very much down to will and to how much is left in the tank. We'll see how it pans out, but personally I still expect him to finish first or second in Paris... I share your dislike of Contador too. And I hope SaxoBank get rid of him after this season, if the case he won't be suspended. Would love to see Porte or Fuglsang get a chance as team leader instead. This would make me very, very, very happy. Also happy to see Contador loose time and was stoked by Cadels team having a great ride. Certaintly shaping as a great tour but would still have Contador as favorite for the tour, he has some good riders with him.
shen Posted 3 July 2011 Posted 3 July 2011 Yes, but by 28secs? Yes, that was expected. Riis seemed very happy with his team's performance seeing as they've not got a single TT specialist apart from Contador and possibly Vandborg. Don't forget that Cancellara, Fuglsang, Voigt and O'Grady went to Leopard-Trek, and I probably don't have to outline their TT pedigree. Losing just 24 seconds to that lot is quite impressive!
Jonezy Posted 4 July 2011 Posted 4 July 2011 I share your dislike of Contador too. And I hope SaxoBank get rid of him after this season, if the case he won't be suspended. Would love to see Porte or Fuglsang get a chance as team leader instead. Fuglsang is a Leopard and will be a Schleck helper in the tour for the next few years. I understand the dislike for Contador and it is hard to have sympathy for him, but I still find myself rooting for him this year, as that would be sweet revenge for Riis after most of what he has built up for the Saxo Bank team just turned their back to him and created Leopard Trek. I do realize it is probably not that black and white, but I do find the whole Saxo Bank/Leopard Trek thing a bit odd, and for now I have sided with Saxo Bank. Its a blessing, that Contador has lost time already, as that will force him to be aggressive in the mountains and hopefully create a blast of a tour. I know, I can't wait to see the fireworks from stage 12 and onwards.
shen Posted 4 July 2011 Posted 4 July 2011 Fuglsang is a Leopard and will be a Schleck helper in the tour for the next few years. I understand the dislike for Contador and it is hard to have sympathy for him, but I still find myself rooting for him this year, as that would be sweet revenge for Riis after most of what he has built up for the Saxo Bank team just turned their back to him and created Leopard Trek. I do realize it is probably not that black and white, but I do find the whole Saxo Bank/Leopard Trek thing a bit odd, and for now I have sided with Saxo Bank. Its a blessing, that Contador has lost time already, as that will force him to be aggressive in the mountains and hopefully create a blast of a tour. I know, I can't wait to see the fireworks from stage 12 and onwards. Yeah, brain fart on my part. Pointed it out myself as well. Obviously it's not as black and white, but I find it odd that Danes still support SaxoBank, what with the doping history of Riis and having both Hamilton, Jaksche and Basso on the books who were so obviously doped while there. Riis doesn't even pass off as a sympathetic guy if you ask me.
Jonezy Posted 4 July 2011 Posted 4 July 2011 Yeah, brain fart on my part. Pointed it out myself as well. Obviously it's not as black and white, but I find it odd that Danes still support SaxoBank, what with the doping history of Riis and having both Hamilton, Jaksche and Basso on the books who were so obviously doped while there. Riis doesn't even pass off as a sympathetic guy if you ask me. Danes support Saxo Bank, because it is a Danish team based in Denmark. There are doping ghosts allover cycling, and my personal belief is, that all the top riders have used or are using some kind of 'help'. I remember Frank Schleck got caught paying an alleged 'doping' doctor quite a large amount of money for a so-called 'training program'. Kim Andersen from Leopard Trek has also been around doping accused riders for just as long as Riis. I don't find Riis especially unsympathetic compared to others, actually he seems to be the kind of guy, who always support and help his riders the best way possible. Guess we just have different opinions. At least we can agree to hoping for an enjoyable and action packed tour, where Contador really gets challenged for the yellow jersey. We are off to a good start.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 5 July 2011 Posted 5 July 2011 I agree it's going to make the tour a lot more exciting, Contador looks like a man who is lacking a bit of confidence. Maybe all the booing, media pressure regarding the expectation of the tour and all the doping claims including the pending hearing is having an adverse effect on his confidence and results. Either way i'm happy Cadel is looking good i don't think he can win, but i'm more upbeat in his chances after hearing an interview about a week out from the tour, how he has just been going about his preperation really well claims it was his best lead up to a tour he has had and about the team they have put together. Combined this with his start is getting me a little excited. Tonights stage has Gilbert written all over it.
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