**As announced this afternoon…Pretty much as expected, though no Davis, Rubiera or Padrnos is a bit of a surprise. Anticipated roles in parentesis, though those are my assumptions. **
Levi Leipheimer (GC)
Alberto Contador (Climb)
Vladimir Gusev (Domes)
George Hincapie (Super Domes)
Egoi Martinez (Climb)
Benjamin Noval (Domes)
Sergio Paulinho (Domes)
Yaroslav Popovych (Super Domes)
Tomas Vaitkus (Domes)
Exactly why I don’t even have them in the top 3 teams in my TdF pool.
I’m a bit surprised by Chechu, but maybe that’s because he’s going to mount an actual attempt to do well at the Vuelta and they want to rest him for a while. Big George didn’t look that great at the Giro (but was just coming back from injury) and his best years may be behind him as far as even taking a role in a TdF team that’s aiming to control the race. He rode pretty well at the Giro and knows the way to ride the Tour.
The biggest problem that Discovery will have is that they will have to get 100% behind Levi and be willing to work unconditionally for him. last year part of their problem was no one was willing to dig that deep when there wasn’t a leader and wasn’t even a real plan.
however - i do think putting Levi in the top 3 is realistic. and if Valverde (i mean Piti, i mean Valv-Piti) doesn’t start or crashes out again his chance of top 2 looks even better…
As much as I want to believe that Levia can get to the podium, I have Vino, Kloeden, Rogers, Valverdipiti, Evans and Kash and my top 6 right now. Levi gets a Top 10 if he TT’s well enough, but that a mighty big IF…
Bob
Pretty much as I figured but I had Devolder on the team instead of Noval or Vaitkus. He’s been riding really strongly, but he’s defnitely not the smartest rider tactically speaking. Bruyneel’s stated goals for the team this year:
levi on the podium
contador winning the white jersey
winning a stage
I think they’ve got a decent shot at all three, but we’ll see. I’m looking forward to seeing how Contador does.
It’s a strong team but will be inferior to the teams Caisse d’Espargne and Astana will field.
You didnt hear it from me.
Kloeden is going to have a bad tour. Kash is going to be a good dosmistique.
Vinokurov will probably win the Tour. With Leipheimer and Evans somewhere in the top 5.
Rogers is not going to do that well this year.
and… ahem… CSC
possibly…
No Tommy D…bummer
Dave in VA
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Brakjovic’s having back issues, I read. Too bad, cause it looks like he can climb like a mutha. Danielson being sick hurts them too.
I want to believe that Vino and Valverde will implode somehow and Levi will have a chance, but I’m not holding my breath.
I think the "surprise" of this team though is gonna be Contador. He looks like he has the goods…if not this year then very soon.
Jani B is going to be the go-to guy for the Vuelta, though I think Tommy D will have some good stages there…
My only concern about Contador is hanging tough for three weeks. He’s never been asked to do that, so who knows. But, it’ll be an interesting battle between he and Dekker for the White Jersey. Contador can climb, but Dekker isn’t too shabby, so that jersey might come down to the TT’s as it did last year.
Something about Valverde doesn’t sit right with me this year. I don’t know why, I cannot say really, but something doesn’t sit right about his chances.
Bob
Contador rode the tour in 2005 with Liberty-Seguros, 3rd best young rider, 31st overall.
Right I know that, but in 2005 he finished almost an hour back of the leaders. He’ll be asked to be a leader his year and not lose that hour. Don’t get me wrong, I think the kid is awesome, but it’s much more pressure than in 2005. Let’s hope he can handle that.
Bob
I can’t remember when a Tour has generated as little excitment as this one though…
This is the most excited I’ve been about a tour in years.
I may be in the minority though.
well the Tour does start in 10 days and we still don’t know who’s actually going to be there at the start. Pattachi - maybe not, Kessler -no way, Valv.Piti - who the f** knows, oh and how about the “men in black”, no one even knows who they are… but everyone thinks it’s Vino and co. even his own team.
plus Unibet is sueing the ASO, the UCI still have their heads in the sand and more then 60% of the riders haven’t yet signed the agreement to give up a year’s salary if the UCI fucks up their drug test.
oh yea - this is going to be damn exciting as a Tour! i’m thinking that the way things are going they might have Toyota-United and the Roubaix Velo Club lining up for the Tour next year…
Tommy D just isn’t experienced and consistent enough for the tour. It is no surprise that he isn’t going.
my money is on Vino, as it was last year before Puerto.
As much as I’d love levi to podium, Disco just doesn’t have the support.
Popo hasn’t done anything this year to get included, but then again, very few Disco guys have done well this year.
Danielson has a virus affecting him (uch like Gunn Rita Dahle-Flesha) and is currently undergoing treatment. He was ruled out of the Tour about a month ago. I think he is on the Vuelta team, though.
Bob
Can’t wait until they’re owned by some Chinese corporation…
Nothing against Levi, but I’m hoping to see them BOP for 3 weeks. At least will be spared the “All Lance, all of the time” VS coverage…