Stage 18 - pick the winner

Pinerolo > Galibier 200kms

 

Sir Alex Ferguson calls the final weeks of the english football season "squeaky bum time" with it's squeaky bum time on the TdF. Three huge climbs today, one at the finish is gong to shape the outcome of the race for sure and I'm getting nervous for Cadel.  the schlecks have each other, Contador and Sanchez seem to have some Spanish alliance going on, Cadel seems to be all on his own once his team mates can no longer hang on.

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I'm going for Contador but all the GC contenders will be not too far behind him, hoping Voeckler can hang on to yellow and Cadel can take that off him tomorrow on the Alpe d'Huez. God, this is exciting.

Tags: Cadel, TdF

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Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on July 21, 2011 at 9:36
Cadel
Permalink Reply by Dahondude on July 21, 2011 at 9:59

Sadly I agree with you Patrick. I reckon Contador is going to finish several minutes ahead of both Evans and the Schlecks. Contador was just playing with them last night. And it'll be a repeat on Friday night too. Despite the entire nation suddenly becoming Cadel supporters and cycling experts (doesn't Tomalaris give you the sheets with his outrageous "expert predictions")  Cadel just isnt a big mountains man and he doesnt have enough of a lead over Contador to buffer him for the next two stages.

My prediction for the final podium

Contador (looking demoralised while being booed by the crowd. With any luck he'll drop the stupid pistol act)

Evans (crying, second....again)

Sanchez

 

I think this year they should hand out two special awards. One to Denmark ( 4 wins, yellow jersey for days) and one to Voeckler for living up to the Liggetism of "when you wear the yellow jersey you ride like two men". Even if Contador wins, the last few days of racing have been worth it!

Permalink Reply by Jon H on July 21, 2011 at 11:37

Denmark?? I will let you off slightly due to it being up there close to the arctic circle, and allowing for fatigue due to being more than halfway through a month of no sleep

 

NORGE

 

and i say they have one more in them, Boasson Hagen, with one more huge lump of youthful exuberance, Cadel to hang on to Contador's wheel until about 5k and then be dropped but he will take yellow tonight

 

 

Permalink Reply by Dahondude on July 21, 2011 at 17:03

Crap, sorry Jon. Writing a paper about Denmark so had it (and not Norway) in my head.

 

Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on July 21, 2011 at 11:59
Don't agree, Contador is not firing on all cylinders. If Cadel stays out of the crashes he will win the TDF.
Permalink Reply by Iordan Kostadinov on July 21, 2011 at 12:16

yeah, cadel has been able to match all the attacks so far and looks comfortable. i don't think he has the legs to attack on the climbs, but i think he'll be able to hang on then do enough on the time trial

 

but yes, i think contador will win tonight without much of a lead on the rest of them

 

Permalink Reply by Dahondude on July 21, 2011 at 12:56
The only reason he didn't drop everyone last might was cos he ran out of hill to climb. Contador was defo showing the kind of form that made him a clear winner last year.
Permalink Reply by JDL on July 21, 2011 at 15:02
Looked to me like the only gap Contador opened last night was going down the hill not up it... However I agree Cadel may struggle on the higher altitude climbs over the next two days... He's normally ordinary in the Alps, especially Alpe d'Huez from memory.. Hopefully he can surprise us though..
Permalink Reply by Slammin on July 21, 2011 at 13:27
I hope your wrong and cadel has the form to hold on. He is in better form than I've ever seen him in for the TDF. So all he needs to do is mark the attacks from Contador and drop that pescky french man in yellow. The Schlecks won't worry Cadel IMHO.
Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on July 21, 2011 at 17:17
Three special awards Hoogerland deserves one (probably share it with Flecha)
Permalink Reply by Ben Nicol on July 21, 2011 at 11:53
Contador to win tonight, and if he gets more then a minute on Cadel he will get the overall in Paris.  Then Cadel will get yellow in August thanks to CAS ruling.  Not a nice way to get it, just ask Oscar.
Permalink Reply by Darren S. on July 21, 2011 at 13:13

Agree with Patrick and DD.....Contador will launch a huge attack in the hills tonight to try and make up some time. Will it work? Dunno. I am, however, predicting a repeat of the hype from the 2007 TdF.....

 

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