Le Tour 2012

[Jon Crofts]

Starts June 30 in Liege.
Ends July 22 in Paris.
20 stages covering 3749 kms.

Wiggins & Cavendish finish the most grueling sporting event on the planet 6 days before the Olympics start.

Could 2012 be Wiggins' year, what about the Schlecks & Basso?

No Contador the dope cheat, he's suspended until August.

[lovejoy]

I expect Cav will back out before the mountains to prep for the Olympics as he's won the maillot vert but no Olympic Gold. this will give team Sky the opportunity to assist Wiggo in a course which is favourable (he has the Olympic golds but not the Tour podium). I suspect the lack of mountains and focus on time trials will make Evans the favourite. The Schleks seem to have fallen out with their team manager Johan Bruyneel so not expecting much from them I'm afraid.

[seanthevillan]

I expect Cav will back out before the mountains to prep for the Olympics as he's won the maillot vert but no Olympic Gold. this will give team Sky the opportunity to assist Wiggo in a course which is favourable (he has the Olympic golds but not the Tour podium). I suspect the lack of mountains and focus on time trials will make Evans the favourite. The Schleks seem to have fallen out with their team manager Johan Bruyneel so not expecting much from them I'm afraid.

Agree about the Andy Schlek - the course doesn't suit him at all and his form has abysmal. Evans and Wiggins have to be the favourites, in that order, purely because of the amount of time-trialling and they have strong teams - but both could be vulnerable on the toughest mountain stages. I really hope Wiggins stears clear of the crashes early on and gives himself a chance - it would be amazing to have a tour winner and world champion at the same time.

Obviously the Olympics coming just after isn't going to be easy - but all the best riders are at the tour, and they ride thousands of miles all season anyway. I think Cavendish would be a bit unwise to throw in the Tour cause he should win the Green Jersey, and the road race will be difficult to win anyway. In any case he is a legend and the fastest sprinter - I hope he goes for both.

I hope a few younger riders come through, and Cav smashes all the sprints.

[Meanwood Villa]

Cav has said he wants green jersey and Olympic gold so don't think he'll drop out. I'll believe it when I see it with Wiggins. I don't think he's good enough in the mountains to win the whole thing. I notice Andy Schleck at least won the 2010 tour this week, although his quote "it's not the same" sums it up really.

[seanthevillan]

Cav has said he wants green jersey and Olympic gold so don't think he'll drop out. I'll believe it when I see it with Wiggins. I don't think he's good enough in the mountains to win the whole thing. I notice Andy Schleck at least won the 2010 tour this week, although his quote "it's not the same" sums it up really.

I'm sure that before he has said he recognises Contador as the winner of '10 and supports him against the ban.

[Sister of Top Cat]

I have a friend who's a mad TDF fan so I'm going with her to Paris for the final day. 

[SteveN]

I think Cav completed the Giro d'Italia in order to improve his "climbing legs" and will be looking to complete the Tour and win the green jersey.   I hope so, he is, as Sean the V says, a legend.

The Olympic course is not ideal for him, 8 circuits of Box Hill is pretty stiff.  If Paris had won the Olympic bid and Cav was French then I'm sure the course would have been pan flat and guaranteed a bunch sprint finish.

Wiggins looks to be in great shape, Evans not so good, Wiggins has to be in with a real shout.  I think Sky have enough about them to support both Cav & Wiggins.

[lovejoy]

I wouldn't read too much in to poor pre Tour form. A lot of riders focussing on the Tour will forgoe all other races a la Armstrong.

[Mac]

I can't see someone who's carrying the Rainbow Jersey and contender for the Maillot Verte disrespecting the tour and pulling out. But I do think Sky should concentrate on Wiggins' podium push.

[Eckybloke]

I think we'll have to see a very different approach from Cav this year.  The HTC train was a sight to see but I don't think the Sky one is as good especially with Geraint missing the TDF, so Cav may have to pick the wheel of someone like Matt Goss and go from there at times. 

Did he not have to do something similar when Renshaw was kicked off the tour in 2010 though?

Be good to see how Wiggins does at the Dauphine.  His Gran Canaria training seems to be working for him this year.  Hope he does well.

[Meanwood Villa]

Cav has said he wants green jersey and Olympic gold so don't think he'll drop out. I'll believe it when I see it with Wiggins. I don't think he's good enough in the mountains to win the whole thing. I notice Andy Schleck at least won the 2010 tour this week, although his quote "it's not the same" sums it up really.

I'm sure that before he has said he recognises Contador as the winner of '10 and supports him against the ban.

They do tend to stick together on these issues. Wasn't 2010 the year when Contador attacked after Schelck's chain fell off? That alone should have seen him stripped of the title!

[Jon Crofts]

Quite right, Armstrong & Ullrich managed to honour the code.
Incidentally Armstrong is in training for Ironman in Kona Hawaii, he's been doing pretty well so far on the Ironman 70.3 race circuit this year, first time full Iron distance & first time Kona though, he's not going to pull up any trees.

[Dave Cooper please]

I know they swim, cycle and run but they have to pull up trees as well?
Blimey, tough sport.

[seanthevillan]

Quite right, Armstrong & Ullrich managed to honour the code.

Bit different though - I thought it was fair enough that Contador raced on, Schleck messed up a gear change.

Did he not have to do something similar when Renshaw was kicked off the tour in 2010 though?

Yeah he did, and sure he was fine - basically if there is a bunch sprint and he's in anything like a good position there is a good chance he'll win. I think the bookies had him at evens for all the sprint stages last year.

[Dave Cooper please]

Quite right, Armstrong & Ullrich managed to honour the code.

Bit different though - I thought it was fair enough that Contador raced on, Schleck messed up a gear change.

He broke an unwritten rule of the Peleton.