Tour de France

How about Tejay van Garderen, I haven't checked that he,s riding tho.

Teams won't be announced until next week, Hugh, but Tejay will almost certainly be racing.

Shall I put you down for him?

Been watching Tejay in the tour de Suisse - doesn't seem to finish very well

Ian, Geraint did some super riding supporting Froome last year, even came back after he went over a barrier!

GT is one of those people who has a high reputation (largely within UK newspaper reporing - by people that for 49 weeks in the year have no interest in cycling) that is simply not based on facts or achievements, His record in three week tours is appalling.

Do you want to swap from Porte to Thomas!

NO! Sticking with Richie!

just saying, sometimes, someone you think isnt doing well surprises you

Been having a look at the course for this year.

It has plenty of mountain stages (great! ) and only two time trials of about 40 and 17 km.....so the results shouldn't be too distorted in favour of the TT specialists (as in the Wiggins year).

The first day is a 'proper' stage, not a prologue (albeit flat) and most importantly, there are two mountain stages just before the run-in to Paris......so hopefully the fight will go to the bitter end.

Watch out for the famous Ventoux stage (about stage 15 from memory).

Should be a good Tour 

Ian - Nairo Quintana

Goldie - Chris Froome

TtDa - Romain Bardet

Kennine - Alberto Contador

Pliers - Marcel Kittel

Runrig - Fabio Aru

SteveL - Richie Porte

HughR - Tejay Van Garderen......maybe?

Any more takers?

 

Thanks tda, have done, but I think I'll keep my powder dry till the full teams are posted.

nab Warren Barguil while you can

Well go on then. Not sure if his team is strong enough, and don't particularly want to choose a Frenchman, but he seems to be a genuine contendor, so that's my choise Ian...,..,Warren Barguil.

Is Tom Dumoulin riding, anyone know. He must be in with a shout of a stage win at least.

As I said before, Nellie - he has been cited as a possible successor to Bernard Hinault.

(But then again, so was Jean Francoise Bernard......who never did much at all.....).

He has been held back in earlier Tours as his team concentrated on the sprints with Marcel Kittell.

Should do very well (although he just slipped back in the Tour de Suisse today ).

Is Tom Dumoulin riding, anyone know. He must be in with a shout of a stage win at least.

Teams won't be announced till next week, TtDA......

Ian - Nairo Quintana

Goldie - Chris Froome

TtDa - Romain Bardet

Kennine - Alberto Contador

Pliers - Marcel Kittel

Runrig - Fabio Aru

SteveL - Richie Porte

HughR - Tejay Van Garderen......maybe?

Nellie - Warren Barguil

Any more takers?

Is Tom Dumoulin riding, anyone know. He must be in with a shout of a stage win at least.

He doen't seem to be listed at present in the Giant-Alpecin team in the Tour de Suisse, but is in the full team listing on their web-site.