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2006 Tour de France - Floyd Landis

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Folanator

Folanator

Brawndo's got electrolytes...
Well it is that time again. Time for my favorite non Buckeye Football sporting event. I have been a huge fan of the tour ever since I saw Andy Hampston win the L'alpe Duez stage back in the 80's. Since I seem to be the dude that like the offbeat sports, I will start the thread.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

In a post Lance era, this will be a very exciting event if you like close and hard fought races. There are two clear favorites in Ivan Basso and Ian Urich. Basso just came off of a dominating Giro victory and Ulrich has been laying in wait till Lance retired.
<O:pThere are many Americans have a chance to make an impact. Look for George Hincappie of Discovery and Floyd Landis to be in the mix for the overall GC (general classification i.e. winner).

Should be a lot of fun. I am actually looking forward to a real race instead of the Lance love fest of years past.

<O:p
 
PARIS, June 23 - Penpix of the favourites for the Tour de France, which starts on July 1:

JAN ULLRICH (Germany) Age 32. Team: T-Mobile.

Tour results: winner 1997, second 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, third 2005, fourth 2004. Stage wins: 7

Wins in 2006: Tour of Switzerland.

Other major results: Olympic road race champion 2000, Tour of Spain winner 1999, world time trial champion 1999 and 2001.

Seven-times champion Lance Armstrong described Ullrich as his main rival in the Tour and he will want to take control of the world's greatest cycling race following the American's retirement last year.

Ullrich had a difficult Giro d'Italia and was outclassed by Ivan Basso in the mountains before flexing his muscles to power to his second Tour of Switzerland victory two weeks ago.

- - - -

IVAN BASSO (Italy) Age 28. Team: CSC.

Tour results: third 2004, second 2005. Stage wins: 1

Wins in 2006: Giro d'Italia.

Other major results: Tour of Denmark 2004.

Considered by Armstrong as the rider most likely to take over his crown.

Basso has set himself the objective of becoming the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year after riding well in both in 2005. He dominated the Giro and his performances time trial stages and his strong team give him an advantage.

- - - -

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE (Spain) Age 26. Team: Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Baleares.

Tour results: Pulled out during the 13th stage in 2005. Stage wins: 1.

Wins in 2006: Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Fleche Wallonne.

Other major results: Second in world road race championship 2005 and 2003, third in Tour of Spain 2003.

The gifted Spaniard was forced to retire with tendinitis in his knee during last year's Tour after winning the 10th stage in Courchevel.

A formidable climber, he will probably be one of the hot favourites in the Pyrenees and the Alps even though he could lose ground in the time trials.

- - - -

LEVI LEIPHEIMER (U.S.) Age 32. Team: Gerolsteiner.

Tour results: sixth 2005, ninth 2004, eighth 2002. Stage wins: none.

Wins in 2006: Dauphine Libere.

Other major results: Tour of Germany 2005.

A former team mate of Armstrong at U.S. Postal, Leipheimer is aiming to follow in his compatriot's footsteps after claiming an impressive victory in the pre-Tour Dauphine Libere stage race.

Strong showings in the time trials and the mountains mean he could bother Basso and Ullrich.

- - - -

ALEXANDER VINOKOUROV (Kazakhstan) Age 32. Team: Astana-Wuerth

Tour results: fifth 2005, third 2003. Stage wins: 3.

Wins in 2006: Tour of Castille and Leon.

Other major results: Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2005, Paris-Nice 2002, 2003, Amstel Gold 2003, Dauphine Libere 1999, Olympic road race silver 2000.

A former team mate of Ullrich, Vinokourov quit the German's T-Mobile team to join Liberty Seguros, whose manager Manolo Saiz resigned earlier this month amid a doping investigation in Spain. Astana took over the sponsorship after Liberty Seguros withdrew their support.

Vinokourov won the fifth stage and the overall standings in the Tour of Castille and Leon but was a shadow of himself in the Dauphine Libere, especially in the mountains.

Other riders to watch: Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery Channel), George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), David Zabriskie (CSC), Christophe Moreau (AG2R Prevoyance), Francisco Mancebo (AG2R Prevoyance), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto), Floyd Landis (Phonak), Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Iban Mayo (Euskaltel), Gilberto Simoni (Saunier-Duval), David Millar (Saunier-Duval).<!--end leftcol -->
 
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If someone smarter than I wants to set up the v-bet, here are the odds I found.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Ivan Basso
</TD><TD>6/5<INPUT title="Click to bet on Ivan Basso" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535780 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jan Ullrich
</TD><TD>9/4<INPUT title="Click to bet on Jan Ullrich" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535781 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Alejandro Valverde
</TD><TD>10/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Alejandro Valverde" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535782 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Alexander Vinokourov
</TD><TD>12/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Alexander Vinokourov" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535783 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Floyd Landis
</TD><TD>14/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Floyd Landis" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535784 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Yaroslav Popovych
</TD><TD>28/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Yaroslav Popovych" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535785 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Levi Leipheimer
</TD><TD>25/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Levi Leipheimer" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535786 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cadel Evans
</TD><TD>28/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Cadel Evans" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535787 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Iban Mayo
</TD><TD>50/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Iban Mayo" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535788 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Andreas Kloden
</TD><TD>40/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Andreas Kloden" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535789 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>George Hincapie
</TD><TD>40/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on George Hincapie" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535790 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Denis Menchov
</TD><TD>40/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Denis Menchov" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535791 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Andrey Kashechkin
</TD><TD>80/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Andrey Kashechkin" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535792 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Michael Rasmussen
</TD><TD>50/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Michael Rasmussen" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535793 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Haimar Zubeldia
</TD><TD>66/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Haimar Zubeldia" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535794 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Francisco Mancebo
</TD><TD>33/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Francisco Mancebo" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535795 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Vladimir Karpets
</TD><TD>66/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Vladimir Karpets" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535796 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Oscar Pereiro Sio
</TD><TD>66/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Oscar Pereiro Sio" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535797 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Alberto Contador
</TD><TD>66/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Alberto Contador" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535798 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Joseba Beloki
</TD><TD>66/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Joseba Beloki" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535799 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Damiano Cunego
</TD><TD>66/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Damiano Cunego" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535800 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Christophe Moreau
</TD><TD>100/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Christophe Moreau" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535801 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Carlos Sastre
</TD><TD>100/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Carlos Sastre" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535802 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>Field
</TD><TD>5/1<INPUT title="Click to bet on Field" onclick=checkWC(); type=checkbox value=1535803 name=lineID></INPUT>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Click to expand...
 
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I think it's Basso's to take. Popovych has been handed the keys to a well-oiled machine of a team though, and I think he could challenge Basso. Ullrich will be strong as usual, but I think his best days are past.
 
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<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 540826" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>Folanator</TD><TD class=alt2>Should be a lot of fun. I am actually looking forward to a real race instead of the Lance love fest of years past.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I followed the race pretty close the last several years; however, without Armstrong (or another American in contention to win) I'm not too enthused about the race this year.
 
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jlb1705 said:
I think it's Basso's to take. Popovych has been handed the keys to a well-oiled machine of a team though, and I think he could challenge Basso. Ullrich will be strong as usual, but I think his best days are past.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that this particular tour route is very heavy on the Time Trials. This will clearly favor Ulrich though Basso has improved his TT'ng in the past two years.

I still think that my dark horse clearly is Georgie Hincappie. He can climb (as proved in his victory on the hardest Mountain stage victory last year), he is very tough (Roubaix), he has a great team behind him, the best coach/tactician in Jon Bruneal, and also is a very good time trial'er. He has a good shot if Basso gets sick as he has done in the past and Ulrich has a bad day on the steeps.
 
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Do you think Bruyneel and Co. are gonna put everything behind Hincapie as opposed to Popovych? I know last year they said they were grooming Popovych to be The Man this year. I'd love to see Hincapie get that opportunity, but I'm just not so sure it will actually happen.
 
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"The french just keep trying to take away Armstrongs titles.
If you ever knew or saw anyone on steroids they would not look nothing like Armstrong."

LOL, you have no idea what you are talking about. I am not saying that Armstrong has taken anything, but there have been a significant number of doping cases over the past decade in which super small, super slender guys are busted (festina affair, raimondas rumsas, david millat, etal). These aren't necessarily performance enhancing drugs, not just steroids.

Pretty damaging article regarding Tyler Hamilton came out, pointing towards rampant drug use. I see the guy all the time, he is a buck thirty in a wet shirt...
 
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akronbuck said:
The french just keep trying to take away Armstrongs titles.
If you ever knew or saw anyone on steroids they would not look nothing like Armstrong.
Click to expand...

The real question surrounding him (or virtually any other cyclist, for that matter) is not so much steroids as it is blood doping. Cyclists aren't trying so hard to build muscle mass like most athletes in American sports - they're trying to find ways for their blood to carry more oxygen to the muscles during exertion - thus achieving greater endurance and sustained strength.
 
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jlb1705 said:
Do you think Bruyneel and Co. are gonna put everything behind Hincapie as opposed to Popovych? I know last year they said they were grooming Popovych to be The Man this year. I'd love to see Hincapie get that opportunity, but I'm just not so sure it will actually happen.
Click to expand...

I would really look for it to hash itself out once you get through the first ITT and the first mountain stage. The nice thing is Discovery has no reason to pace the peleton like they have over the past seven years, which should keep all three of their key GC guys (popovych, hincapie, savoldelli) fresh. My guess is you will see rubiera and acevedo doing the pacing for those guys in the first few mountain stages, then the weakest of the three will also be put into a support role. I think the only way they identify a true Team Leader is mid-race, if one rider is out-shining the rest.
 
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I think it is highly unlikely that any top rider in the peleton is clean. I believe they all are doing something. Shit, they just busted a rolling hospital in Spain with 60 bags of blood that were centrifuged to get their hematocrit levels to the max.

There is no question that doping is rampant. It would be great if we could keep the drug talk to a minimum and actually talk about the race. Drugs or not, it is one of the greatest spectacles in sports. I do not want this thread to go down the same old "did Lance dope" road.

To add...there is NOTHING in sport that compairs to watching a bunch of dudes going up a 14% grade for 8 miles beating the shit out of each other mano a mano in front of 1 million people that have been camping out and drinking for 2 days at 10,000 feet. The mountain top finishes to see who is the baddest MF'er on the road??? Foget about-it. The point where the rider is beaten and has to look up and see his rival ride away up the road??? Nothing like it. I love the big tours. I think this one will be an absolute classic.

K? :)
 
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