View Full Version : Tour de France predictions
Minnesota Mike
06-24-2004, 02:05 PM
The start of the big race is just over a week away.
Do you think Lance will win #6?
Will it be Jan Ulrich, the main challenger to Lance in most of his 5 victories?
Will this be the year that Tyler Hamilton breaks through?
Or will it be someone else?
suppitty
06-24-2004, 02:12 PM
Tyler Hamilton broke his collarbone last year and still finished in the top 5. He's my pick. Sorry Lance.
i'm gonna have to use the same argument for the tour as people are for the NFC east...until someone shows they can beat Lance, you HAVE to go with him...half a decade of dominance??? unbelievable!
Minnesota Mike
06-24-2004, 05:04 PM
I know Lance's team isn't as strong as it was last year, and Ulrich is on a much stronger team than he was last year, BUT I still think Lance is the man. I think he'll win it.
IndianBaller27
06-24-2004, 05:30 PM
I want Armstrong to win again, but I have a strong feeling he is going to lose. But I voted Armstrong anyways.
Axegrinder
06-24-2004, 07:06 PM
My prediction is that Lance gets drug tested.
Then he goes out and owns the record for himself!
Minnesota Mike
06-25-2004, 12:03 PM
Jan Ulrich picks Lance:
source (http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=afp-cycling_ger_fra_tour&prov=afp&type=lgns)
At least that what he is saying publicly. He probably thinks he will win.
SkinsKY
06-25-2004, 01:13 PM
I've got to go with Lance. The man is a physical freak. Until he loses, you have to root for him. He knows how close he was to losing last year, and I think he'll be ready this year to erase doubts.
Patrick
06-25-2004, 02:02 PM
Voted for Other ......... Broc Lesner ....... He's such a freak, he can do anything!
That's a joke son!
Seebs
06-28-2004, 03:19 AM
Ulrich, for the moment I'm the lone voter for him. Maybe because I'm not from The US...
WackyJacky
07-01-2004, 01:30 PM
I'm sticking with Lance. Ulrich and Hamilton are definitely contenders, but I think it's Lance's race to lose.
Minnesota Mike
07-05-2004, 01:00 PM
No blood yet for the big names. Lance is where he wants to be after Stage 2. The next big stage is the Team Time Trial, but with the stupid rule change some of the teeth have been taken out of it.
A nice Prologue by American Bobby Julich to put himself in the top ten also. He is former high finisher in a previous TdF.
PyroGenic
07-05-2004, 10:36 PM
Lance Baby!... i'll bet on him until he dies/retires/loses his legs
LATrueRedskin
07-06-2004, 12:10 AM
I don't know much about the Tour to even argue anything, but its hard to go against someone who dominates like Lance does. Went with him.
IowaSkinsFan
07-06-2004, 01:02 AM
How can you bet against him? Even if the course was changed to make it tougher on him?
Minnesota Mike
07-06-2004, 09:55 AM
How can you bet against him? Even if the course was changed to make it tougher on him?
Making it tougher for him just makes it tougher for everyone.
Lance Baby!... i'll bet on him until he dies/retires/loses his legs
even then you can't really bet against him...the part that isn't receiving any media attention anymore was the BIG story in his first win...his battle against cancer. this guy just wills himself to win in whatever's going on. as far as making it more difficult on him without doing so to the rest of the field, take the hills away...that's where he wins this race. he gets into the mountains and just drives himself to victory cause he wants it more...that's commitment!
Lance just took the yellow jacket today and has a 10 second lead on second place.
Minnesota Mike
07-07-2004, 02:33 PM
Lance just took the yellow jacket today and has a 10 second lead on second place.
The smart play right now is to worry more about the minute he has over Ullrich, rather than defend the jersey. I wouldn't be surprised to see him give it up in the next week and get it back the last week.
The smart play right now is to worry more about the minute he has over Ullrich, rather than defend the jersey. I wouldn't be surprised to see him give it up in the next week and get it back the last week.
he actually said today that he is expecting to lose it to the sprinters over the next couple of days and take it back in the mountains.
IowaSkinsFan
07-08-2004, 02:50 AM
Well, he is in first place right now. I think that's as early as he has been in first the last couple of years.
Minnesota Mike
07-12-2004, 10:24 AM
Today is the first "Rest Day" on this year's Tour (there is one more). And Lance is probably pretty satisfied with the standings. He doesn't expect to have to worry about anyone in front of him, and the people he is concerned about (Hamilton, Ullrich, Mayo) are all behind him.
To use a boxing analogy, it is just the end of the 3rd round, and nobody has really landed any big punches yet. Lance has stung the field with a couple of stiff jabs, but there is still along way to go, and mostly they have just been dancing.
(I put "Rest Day" in quotes, because almost all of the riders will still go out and ride 100 or so miles on the rest day, just to keep their legs from freaking out. Their legs have gotten used to the 100 plus mile days and if they don't get that, sometimes they react badly when you try to ride the day after the "rest day".)
Minnesota Mike
07-15-2004, 07:14 PM
Tomorrow will be the first big shake-up day in the overall standings. We will start getting an idea about who is a real contender and who is just playing around.
Saturday will be another tough day too.
Axegrinder
07-15-2004, 08:54 PM
French reporters and Greg Lemond giving it to Lance.http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpNWZic251BF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwN0 aA--?slug=ap-tourdefrance&prov=ap&type=lgns
Seebs
07-16-2004, 03:52 AM
In addition to that, the Czech of the US Postal will probably be soon ejected from the Tour as he has been accused in a doping trial in Italy...
Seebs
07-16-2004, 03:54 AM
It's currently a good Tour for French, yellow jersey, a lot of victories... Hope it will keep on going like that...
frenchskinsfan
07-16-2004, 04:57 AM
Just before the judging high mountains, and despite I'm not from the US, I think it'll be Lance for a record, if he doesn't fall down and hurt himself, which is always a possiblity in this very very difficult race.
GolfFreak
07-16-2004, 08:05 AM
Wow 20 votes for Lance ... go figure.
Minnesota Mike
07-16-2004, 12:11 PM
The first big haymarket was landed today and it was thrown by Lance. He cut Voelker's lead in half and took big time out of everyone (except Basso). Ullrich is deep trouble, it will be interesting to see how he responds tomorrow.
Axegrinder
07-17-2004, 09:01 AM
Lance is making his move,he's up to 2nd!http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpbmdmam0wBF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=ap-tourdefrance&prov=ap&type=lgns
Axegrinder
07-17-2004, 06:49 PM
update http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpNWZic251BF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwN0 aA--?slug=ap-tourdefrance-doping&prov=ap&type=lgns
Minnesota Mike
07-19-2004, 09:58 AM
It definately won't be Tyler Hamilton. He dropped out on Saturday. And Jan Ullrich is looking pretty remote at this point too. He lost alot of time on Friday and Saturday. Ullrich isn't even in First place on his own team at this point.
Right now it looks like only Ivan Basso can keep up with Lance. Another "rest day" today, and then a couple of more rough days of climbing.
Props to Thomas Voekler for hanging onto the Yellow Jersey as long as he has, but I can just about hear Lance saying "give me back my shirt."
IowaSkinsFan
07-19-2004, 10:35 AM
Props to Thomas Voekler for hanging onto the Yellow Jersey as long as he has, but I can just about hear Lance saying "give me back my shirt."
LOL. Lance probably asked him to wash it before giving it back.
Seebs
07-19-2004, 11:06 AM
Kudos to Lance. Great perf, and classy with 'ti-blanc' Voeckler.
Seebs
07-20-2004, 11:38 AM
Another stage win for Lance + the yellow jersey. kudos to him. Basso acted as Lance's pet during the stage, very disapointing...
Minnesota Mike
07-20-2004, 11:50 AM
I don't know what you mean by "acted as pet".
I listened to the live call by Liggett and Sherwin on the internet. I'll watch the race later when I get home. From what I've seen so far, Basso does seem content to secure the #2 spot, and wait his turn next year for a shot at the top spot. Maybe he is planning on pulling a surprise tomorrow on AdH.
Seebs
07-20-2004, 01:57 PM
I just wanted to say that Basso made Voight roll with the US postal guys, and this is sth he shouldn' have done.
Minnesota Mike
07-20-2004, 02:02 PM
I just wanted to say that Basso made Voight roll with the US postal guys, and this is sth he shouldn' have done.
I think that there is still bad blood between Bjarne and Jan, so CSC is really just more concerned about keeping Ullrich off the podium any way they can. Just speculation on my part.
Seebs
07-21-2004, 10:43 AM
Voight stated yesterday on the radio that their objective is the podium. I find that disappointing. If you don't try to win, just don't go for it.
Minnesota Mike
07-21-2004, 02:14 PM
Voight stated yesterday on the radio that their objective is the podium. I find that disappointing. If you don't try to win, just don't go for it.
Phil Liggett was questioning this too, this morning. I think it comes down choosing to fight the battles that you have a chance of winning, and at that point, they just didn't see any point in fighting against Lance.
Minnesota Mike
07-21-2004, 02:21 PM
After today's big stage Lance has things pretty well in hand. It would require something out of the ordinary for him to not finish on top now:
Overall Standings through Stage 16
1. Lance Armstrong (USP) in 67h53'24" (41.265km/h)
2. Ivan Basso (CSC) at 3'48"
3. Andreas Kloden (TMO) at 5'03"
4. Jan Ullrich (TMO) at 7'55"
5. Jose Azevedo (USP) at 9'19"
6. Francisco Mancebo (IBB) at 9'20"
7. Georg Totschnig (GST) at 11'34"
8. Carlos Sastre (CSC) at 13'52"
9. Pietro Caucchioli (ALB) 14'08"
10. Levi Leipheimer (RAB) at 15'04"
Seebs
07-22-2004, 03:17 AM
I'm wondering if it won't be Lance last Tour. If he wins (and it seems that he will), he will be the victories recordman (6! oh My!), and he has already expressed at least twice on the fear he has with all the spectators (between 700,000 and 1,000,000 yesterday along the 15 Km of the stage). What's your opinion?
IowaSkinsFan
07-22-2004, 03:25 AM
I'm wondering if it won't be Lance last Tour. If he wins (and it seems that he will), he will be the victories recordman (6! oh My!), and he has already expressed at least twice on the fear he has with all the spectators (between 700,000 and 1,000,000 yesterday along the 15 Km of the stage). What's your opinion?
What does he have left to prove? He should go out on top!
Seebs
07-22-2004, 07:21 AM
What does he have left to prove? He should go out on top!
I agree with that, unless if he has a teammate that he want to help win th tour (that's What Bernard Hinault did with Greg Lemond).
Minnesota Mike
07-22-2004, 11:40 AM
(that's What Bernard Hinault did with Greg Lemond).
...well sort of. But I won't open that old wound right now though.
With six Tour wins, the only record left for Lance in the TdF (besides 7) would be days in yellow and stage wins. He is way behind The Canibal's record for days in yellow, and even if he rode for 4 more years, the way top rider's ride the Tour these days, it is unlikely that he would catch up. I might be wrong, but I think he is far adrift from the stage win record as well.
There was some talk that he might try a Giro/Vuelta double next year, just to mix things up. I have a feeling he might have more of a problem with the Italian crowds than he has with the TdF crowds, so I really don't think that is serious talk.
He did say that when this is over, he promised Sheryl that would follow her around on one of her tours.
(Excuse me while I go puke.)
Seebs
07-22-2004, 11:53 AM
Lol.
Well, it's not because I'm French, but Giro or Vuelta are nothing close to the Tour. It seems that he has already signed for the new partner of US postal.
Minnesota Mike
07-22-2004, 12:07 PM
Lol.
Well, it's not because I'm French, but Giro or Vuelta are nothing close to the Tour. It seems that he has already signed for the new partner of US postal.
Are you laughing at the puke line or the Hinault/LeMond line?
I'm sure the team would have struggle mightily to secure a new sponsor without Lance. Somehow Floyd Landis just isn't a name that captures American's attention like Lance Armstrong does. So having his name in the mix right now is completly expected. Whether or not he has the drive to push himself to prep for the race again come next year could be a completely different thing.
I don't really put much weight in the Giro/Vuelta talk. One reason being what you stated about the stature of the races, one being as I said Lance and the Italian fans, and several others.
I seriously doubt that if Lance were to enter the TdF next year it would be for any other reason than to win the whole thing (not to help Floyd or someone else win it).
But for the next few days, I just plan on enjoying watching one of the most dominant performances in all of sports and try and appreciate it for that. I'll leave the speculation to others.
When he does retire it would be great if he could lend his name and some time to developing youth cycling programs in the US, to encourage the growth of the sport here in this country. That way future generations of American cyclists could continue to ensure that another 20 years pass before a French cyclist wins the TdF. (That was a completely callous and unnecessary cheap shot, but I couldn't resist.)
Seebs
07-22-2004, 12:14 PM
It was the puke line. well, i won't notice the Lemond/hinault thing or the 20 years. It could have been worst, you could have talked about the Fignon's 8 seconds...
Seebs
07-22-2004, 12:15 PM
Btw, it was a good tour for French, Voekler has been very good. We won some stages (when LAnce didn't). Dotted jersey is for Virenque (7th time, it'is a record)
Minnesota Mike
07-22-2004, 03:50 PM
Being in Paris, I guess you were behind Fignon. My understanding was that the rest of the country never really liked the man when he was in his prime. And I guess with me living not far from LeMond's home town here in Minnesota, I probably should have said something about that.
Voekler and Virenque have certainly been highlights for the locals this year, not to mention Nazon and Mouncoutie, the other stage winners and even Casar, right up there for the White Jersey with Voekler.
Axegrinder
07-22-2004, 08:47 PM
Armstrong wins another leg in the Tour de Lance.http://sports.yahoo.com/sc;_ylc=X3oDMTBpcTFwOGVtBF9TAzk1ODYyNzYwBHNlYwN0bg--
Nobody owns the mountains like that guy!http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpanQyYm1pBF9TAzk1OTEyNTc0BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=ap-tourdefrance&prov=ap&type=lgns
Seebs
07-23-2004, 03:36 AM
Being in Paris, I guess you were behind Fignon. My understanding was that the rest of the country never really liked the man when he was in his prime. And I guess with me living not far from LeMond's home town here in Minnesota, I probably should have said something about that.
Voekler and Virenque have certainly been highlights for the locals this year, not to mention Nazon and Mouncoutie, the other stage winners and even Casar, right up there for the White Jersey with Voekler.
Even if it has evolved the last 10 years, winners have always been suspect in France, we always like the 'Magnifique Looser'. Or dislike the always winning guy...
I'm French, so usually I'm for French guys, but I'd like Lemond a lot. Concerning Lance, I don't know if I like him or not, maybe because I don't really know if he is doped or not... At least I can say that he is warmer now than some years ago, and I prefer the Lance of this Tour than the LAnce of his first Tour win.
dj_stouty
07-23-2004, 06:58 AM
Why do people still question if Lance dopes? He has taken 100s of drug tests (a lot at random) and has yet to fail one.
Seebs
07-23-2004, 07:30 AM
Why do people still question if Lance dopes? He has taken 100s of drug tests (a lot at random) and has yet to fail one.
Just as lot of other cyclist. Virenque never failed a drug test, as Millar, as Riis and lot of others.
GolfFreak
07-23-2004, 08:02 AM
Wow - lead now over 4 minutes, pretty darn awesome.
Minnesota Mike
07-23-2004, 09:59 AM
At least I can say that he is warmer now than some years ago, and I prefer the Lance of this Tour than the LAnce of his first Tour win.
The pre-cancer Lance was very unlikable. He was brash, cocky, arrogant... The cancer definately humbled him.
Minnesota Mike
07-23-2004, 10:35 AM
I'm wondering if it won't be Lance last Tour.
Here is an article from today on the subject:
link (http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-tourdefrance-armstrong&prov=ap&type=lgns)
Axegrinder
07-23-2004, 07:44 PM
Madison Ave. loves Lance...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5498116/
Axegrinder
07-24-2004, 05:22 PM
Tour De Lance is Locked Up!http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpanQyYm1pBF9TAzk1OTEyNTc0BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=ap-tourdefrance&prov=ap&type=lgns
IowaSkinsFan
07-25-2004, 01:11 AM
He did say that when this is over, he promised Sheryl that would follow her around on one of her tours.
(Excuse me while I go puke.)
I'd follow her to the bathroom.
Axegrinder
07-25-2004, 02:15 AM
I'll be the first to say it here on our boards,Congrats to Lance for owning the alps,the Tour,and the alltime record. :beer:
flave1969
07-25-2004, 02:23 PM
I think Lance Armstrong will win.
flave1969
07-25-2004, 02:25 PM
Seriously, Phenomenal effort by Lance, 2100 miles in 17 days, never any doubt after the first day in the mountains.
congrats to Lance for an effort only a Texan could have provided ;)
AGibbsGirl
07-25-2004, 09:56 PM
This is Lance's day!
Congratulations from someone who is really impressed by this accomplishment...
PS: I've got my yellow bracelet!!!
Seebs
07-26-2004, 03:43 AM
Lance has said on French TV, that even if has not firmly decided yet, he'll be on the tour next year. He said it is the biggest cylcing event in the world and that he can't miss that race!
Good news!
frenchskinsfan
07-26-2004, 06:25 AM
L Armstrong can be now called "the Greatest Ever".
Patrick
07-26-2004, 07:33 AM
The guy is just awesome...... WTG Lance.
Minnesota Mike
07-26-2004, 11:24 AM
Congrats to Lance - and to the two people who voted in this poll AFTER the race was over!
My favorite part of the whole 3 weeks was the following irony. Last year Lance struggle mightily to win, and just barely held off Ullrich to win by the smallest of his margins, a mere 61 seconds (of course to Fignon 61 seconds wouldn't have been that narrow). People were taking that as a sign that Lance was getting too old and his days were numbered and that this year might be Ullrich's year. But then this year on each of the two most critical days of this year's tour, the two individual time trials, Lance finished first, gaining 61 seconds on each day, ahead Ullrich who was in second both days. The race was won in Pyrenees, but Lance stamped his domination on it in those two individual days - 61 seconds at a time.
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