Betting on the Tour?

[endurancerider]

Anyone want to bet on a winner?
I've had a tough time deciding for myself--but after today, Contador.

[mtkitchn]

Contador sure looked good.
I think Andy Schleck might be a contender...
But I can't count Lance out! Old age and treachery...

It's gonna be a great tour!

[malkin]

Andy is so cute, I could never bet against him!

[jobob]

Whee!

I got up late this morning and I just finished watching about five hours of tour coverage I had recorded from early this morning on Versus (thank gawd for DVRs and being able to zip past commercials - oh lookie, it's Bob again ... )

That was a fascinating time trial, it seemed to depend nearly as much on bike handling skills as on raw speed. I was wondering if we would even possibly lose a contender in a crash today, yikes.

Heh, I didn't dare check my computer before I finished watching it, I wanted the outcome to be a surprise.

I don't have anyone in particular I'm rooting for, yet, but I'd love to see Evans do well, and Andy Shleck, and Sastre, and Menchov, and especially Vandevelde (back injury recoverers unite!!), and Levi & Lance (hey, what the heck), but I do think Contador might be head and shoulders above them all. Which is very cool IMHO.

[Tri Girl]

In heart, I'd love to see ol' George win (but that's not going to happen), so I have to put my money on Lance. How can I bet against Lance?

Really, no matter who wins, I just LOVE TDF time of the year.

[Kelly728]

I like Cavendish.. But what do I know??
He isn't too hard on the eyes either.

[Eden]

I like Cavendish.. But what do I know??
He isn't too hard on the eyes either.

For the overall? Sprinters in general (unless you are Eddy, the cannibal, Merckx) and Cav definitely doesn't have the climbing ability to make it over the mountains without losing massive amounts of time. He'll have to work hard to just not get time cut. Also, most overall contenders these days don't want to mix it up in the sprints for fear of being crashed out.

Barring accident or incident, I'd put my money on Contador. He's got the climbing legs and a great team to back him up. The only fear I have is that the team may have too many chiefs and not enough indians.... unless the team gets 100% behind him, he will struggle.

[papaver]

I put my money on Contador, but i'm hoping for Cancellara. I'm conviced he can do it, but I'm not sure he thinks the same.

It is not a climbers tour, so...

[Reesha]

If I had to pick someone it would be Cancellara. I'd love to see him win.

Plus, he looks like a long lost member of my Dad's side of the family

[Kelly728]

For the overall? Sprinters in general (unless you are Eddy, the cannibal, Merckx)

Thats why I said what do I know, because I really have no clue!

[Flur]

I'm rooting for Cavendish to win the green jersey, and for Vandevelde to win the overall. I know CVV is a bit of a dark horse, but I think he can do it.

[AnnieBikes]

I am for Levi! But, I think that Lance can pull it off. I actually hope he does!

[Trek420]

MONTPELLIER TEAM TIME TRIAL CONTEST

Team Time Trial Contest: State the time Team Astana will stop the clock in the Team Time Trial at the Tour de France Tuesday WITHOUT going over the team’s actual time. [Example: For a winning time of 29.40.04 a guess of 29.40.05 would be too high, but a winning time could be 29.40.01 if no one else was closer] Be specific in your guess: use decimals!!

Email guess to : astanacycling@gmail.com One entry per emailaddress.

Email subject line must contain the words “TdF TTT Contest” or it will not be opened.

The prize is a complete set of rider cards autographed by the entire 2009 Tour de France squad.

In case of tie, time stamp of earliest correct answer will prevail.

Contest closes at 9AM GMT +1 on July 7 or whenever 200 entries have been received.

The value of the prize is 20 Euro.

No purchase required.

Contestants must be 21 years of age.

The winners of the prize awarded will be notified by e-mail within 10 days after selection. The prize will be sent to the contestant with postage paid for by Team Astana.

More info here:

http://www.astana-cyclingteam.com/sp...nteststg4.html

[emily_in_nc]

I would love to see Lance win #8.

[Trek420]

I dunno. I think the sport neeeeeeeds a new generation of heroes, especially here where most non-cyclists and non-TdF fans think Lance IS the be all and end all of cycling.

We like to see our heroes leave on top "yeah, he had another Tour in him". I don't think see him bonk in the Alps or dropped, I think he'll do well. he could even win. I'm not saying he's over the hill, but the sport needs to go on and have new heroes. People act like cycling stopped when Lance left, it went on, other riders won.

Let the Tour continue without Lance, and let Lance live on without the Tour.