Dauphine; where are

....the predictions?

Andre wrote:
...the predictions?

Two positives and one DQ for elevated HC

Two positives and one DQ for elevated HC

Seriously, it is getting to the point that the doping scandals are more
interesting than the racing.

Andre wrote:
...the predictions?





Dumbass -


Traditionally rbr has a prediction thread for the big one day classics,
but not stage races.


thanks,

K. Gringioni.

wrote:
Two positives and one DQ for elevated HC

Seriously, it is getting to the point that the doping scandals are more
interesting than the racing.

I can just hear Phil and Paul plugging the new show on OLN...

"Don't forget, coming up on Cyclysm Sundays after the Tour de France...
'Surprise Random Drug Tests'!!! Tune in next Sunday to see whose house
the vampires will visit next. Will it be big George Hincapie, Floyd
Landis, or Ivan Basso? Who will take over the mantle of World's
Most Tested Athlete? Don't miss a second of the leeching action
on Cyclysm Sundays!!!"

~bob

"Andre" wrote in message
oups.com...

...the predictions?

You can't make any predictions if you don't know who is riding. Do you have
some sort of link to the Dauphine?

Tom Kunich wrote:
"Andre" wrote in message
oups.com...

...the predictions?

You can't make any predictions if you don't know who is riding. Do you have
some sort of link to the Dauphine?



Landis, Leipheimer, Valverde, Vinokourov, Hincapie, Popovych, Mancebo,
Moreau, Menchov and Mayo. To name a few.

Tom Kunich wrote:
"Andre" wrote in message
oups.com...

...the predictions?

You can't make any predictions if you don't know who is riding. Do you have
some sort of link to the Dauphine?

Golly, you'd think someone would of written some sort of computer
program to help with these sort of queries...

wrote:
Tom Kunich wrote:
"Andre" wrote in message
oups.com...

...the predictions?

You can't make any predictions if you don't know who is riding. Do you have
some sort of link to the Dauphine?

Golly, you'd think someone would of written some sort of computer
program to help with these sort of queries...

Not a computer program but a computer article.



Starting in Annecy on Sunday with a flat 4 km prologue, the 58th
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré will feature a feast of climbing, and
is considered the ideal race for the Tour de France contenders to hone
their form. After eight challenging stages, it finishes on June 11 -
just under three weeks before the start of 'La Grande Boucle'.

The prologue will be suited to a powerful short distance specialist,
and Rabobank's Thomas Dekker, who hasn't raced since
Liege-Bastogne-Liege, is said to be targeting it along with the race's
second time trial on Wednesday. Also of interest are Bradley Wiggins
(Cofidis) and George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) - the latter in his
first race since his crash in Paris-Roubaix. His team director Johan
Bruyneel said before the start, "I've got no idea about his form right
now."

One rider who will be missing from the start list is Brad McGee
(Française des Jeux), who is skipping the Dauphiné in favour of the
Tour de Suisse. He has recovered from his back problems that forced him
out of the Giro d'Italia, but his form isn't quite up to scratch to
start in Annecy.

The next two stages on Monday (Annecy-Bourgoin-Jallieu, 207 km) and
Tuesday (Bourgoin-Jallieu-Saint-Galmier, 203 km) should be favourable
to the sprinters - not that there are many competing in the Dauphiné,
as usual. Even Tuesday's stage, with its four category four climbs,
could produce a selection of GC riders and prevent a mass finish. But
in the case of a sprint, look out for Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole),
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Danilo Napolitano
(Lampre-Fondital) and Peter Wrolich (Gerolsteiner).

Stage 3 on Wednesday is a 43 km time trial starting and finishing in
Bourg-de-Péage. This is a tough, up and down stage, and will be a good
yardstick for riders such as Floyd Landis (Phonak), Levi Leipheimer
(Gerolsteiner), Dave Zabriskie (CSC), Alexandre Vinokourov
(Astana-Wurth), Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery), Denis Menchov and Thomas
Dekker (Rabobank), and Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval).

But the time trial is only the start of the difficulties. Stage 4
starts in Tain-l'Hermitage and finishes 186 km later on top of the
mighty Mont Ventoux, the 1909m 'Giant of Provence'. The following stage
from Sisteron to Briançon isn't much easier, as it features the even
mightier Col d'Izoard (2360), with just a descent to the finish.

And wait, there's more! Stage 6 is almost the same as the Tour de
France's 16th stage, starting in Briançon, ascending the mightiest of
all, the col du Galibier (2556m, via the tunnel), then down into
St-Jean-de-Maurienne, up the Col du Glandon/Croix de Fer (2067m), then
over the Col du Mollard (1638m), before descending into the valley and
tackling the final climb up to La Toussuire (1700m) after a total of
169 km. It's the first time that the Dauphiné has had a stage finish
in La Toussuire.

The final stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Grenoble is somewhat
easier, with the cat. 3 Col du Barrioz the main difficulty, but there
are nearly 60 km to go to the finish after that climb.

Is Ladbrokes posting doping DQ odds?
Best,
Bill Black

bob sullivan wrote:
wrote:
Two positives and one DQ for elevated HC

Seriously, it is getting to the point that the doping scandals are more
interesting than the racing.

I can just hear Phil and Paul plugging the new show on OLN...

"Don't forget, coming up on Cyclysm Sundays after the Tour de France...
'Surprise Random Drug Tests'!!! Tune in next Sunday to see whose house
the vampires will visit next. Will it be big George Hincapie, Floyd
Landis, or Ivan Basso? Who will take over the mantle of World's
Most Tested Athlete? Don't miss a second of the leeching action
on Cyclysm Sundays!!!"

~bob