tour of california, who do you like?

[redrhodie]

I'm going with Andrew Talansky, as much as I love Horner.

[jobob]

Jens!!! of course.

... oh, you mean to win it? I dunno.

[redrhodie]

I was talking gc, but we can go there. I need to see a couple stages to see who's there. Of the Americans, I'll prove my weird taste with Dave Z.

[ny biker]

I would like to see Horner win again, with Jens helping of course.

But I would also like to see Levi ride well, just to see that he's recovering after being hit by that car.

And I would like to see Ted King light up the road setting the pace for the peleton.

Really I have too many favorites...

[Koronin]

I also have no idea who's going to be there, but of the American's I'll pick Levi.

[pll]

My main hope is for an interesting race, that does not get decided on day 1... For the GC, Vincenzo Nibali should be competitive -- I kind of like him, as well as Peter Sagan.

Tejay Van Garderen should also be competitive.

Anyway, on this page, in the right column, are the teams: http://www.steephill.tv/tour-of-california/

[jobob]

For GC, I'll go for Tejay van Garderen.

At any rate, he's a great subject for a drinking game, over the past year or so he's seemed to have taken on the "must be mentioned at every possible opportunity" mantle that Lance used to have with the Versus/NBC commentators.

I'd be voting for Levi for GC but he's still recovering from the fibula fracture he sustained when he was hit by a car early last month. It's nice that he's starting, but I doubt we'll see him much after today.

[pll]

Taylor Phinney (@taylorphinney) tweeted his prediction:

"Here's my #ATOC prediction: Sagan will win stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, stage 4, and stage 6. And @LeviLeipheimer will surprise you...!"

[jobob]

Hot Dang!

I entered the Road ID ToC Charity Challenge yesterday, and my pick for the winner of today's stage actually won!! Woot!

No spoiler... I won't disclose the name of the winner here.

Yes I'm feeling rather smug ... though admittedly, he was probably picked by a whole lot of people.

[pll]

Congrats, Jobob! It was fun to watch the stage this afternoon. Beautiful area. I wish we had hill out here, in Flatlandia.

Hopefully, starting tomorrow, NBC will air a replay of the stage. Else, I won't be able to watch it.

[Koronin]

Congrats Jobob!

[pll]

The quotes of Horner in this VeloNews article demeaned him in my eyes:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...s-begin_218293

[jobob]

While he was being interviewed on NBC before yesterday's stage he suggested that Levi was playing possum -- wtf Horner?

[jobob]

I picked Tom Boonen to win today's stage. (Now that I've said it out loud, he's doomed. Sorry Tommeke.)

The Road ID ToC challenge is here.

[pll]

While he was being interviewed on NBC before yesterday's stage he suggested that Levi was playing possum -- wtf Horner?

That is precisely the quoted remark that makes him sound very petty. Leipheimer had a fractured fibula not too long ago. He did not gain 20 lbs, that means he is "playing possum" and the fracture must not disrupt his training.