Guess I'll start this a few weeks early with the word that Andy Schleck withdrew....:-)
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Also a real possibility that Radio Shack will not be allowed at all...
G-
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Wow, I didn't hear this news... that really sucks! I've been wanting him to win the last few years. :-)
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Same here, very disappointing news.
Posted via Mobile Device
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Yep, same here. Sucks.
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Sucks that Schleck is out. Figured he was one of the favorites this year. Will be interesting, nonetheless.
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Wiggens is the most obvious choice with Evans or possibly that french guy who had the yellow several times (can't think of his name right now).
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You're thinking of Thomas Voeckler
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Indeed! :-)

I think he could pull a suprise, but is his team up for the challenge?
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Cadel Evans will challenge. But, he is 35. Its tough for me to imagine he going back to back. Contador has to be the favorite, IMHO.
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I've always liked watching the Schleck brothers riding together. I like Evens, but I have never liked Contador.

What's up with RadioShack? Just saw their facebook post today listing the team.
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oh trust me, I hate Contador. I think he is a snake.

I suspect the RadioShack Team is going to be disbanding in the near future. Nothing to base that on.
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Contador ate too much steak ...he won't be riding in the Tour this year.
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[
What's up with RadioShack? Just saw their facebook post today listing the team.[/quote]

The Lance USADA charges may hit Bruyneel's ability to even be on the team.
Garry
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Odds makers currently have it Wiggins, Evans, Menchov, Van Den Broeck, Froome, Nibali, Gesink and Sanchez.
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Radioshack is on the verge of collapsing. There are a few articles on this, but the owner is light on money and Radioshack as company isn't in great shape either. I read they missed some payroll.
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Keep an eye on Mollema.
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So Cancellara wins the Prologue to give RS a nice start and wears yellow.....

Congrats to Sagen for his first TdF stage win today. Chatter that he didn't take pulls(a pull) with Cancellara and wheel sucked to a win. Sounds like Sagen knew where he was at/his limits and rode a great race. “I waited to see if I could attack and I wanted to hold on because I knew it was a long finish… I couldn't ride with Cancellara. I know he’s very strong… but I did succeed in getting a win.”

So, should Cancellara just slowed and said, if you don't take a pull, neither of us will win....?

After Stage 1

1. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, in 5:05:32
2. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :7
3. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :7
4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at :10
5. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, Sky, at :11
6. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at :13
7. Philippe GILBERT, BMC Racing, at :13
8. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :17
9. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :18
10. Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Barracuda, at :18
11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :19
12. Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank, at : 21
13. Maxime MONFORT, RadioShack-Nissan, at : 22
14. Janez BRAJKOVIC, Astana, at : 22
15. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Barracuda, at : 22
16. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at : 22
17. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at : 23
18. Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at : 23
19. Marco MARCATO, Vacansoleil-DCM, at : 23
20. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at : 24
21. Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, RadioShack-Nissan, at : 24
22. Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at : 24
23. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at : 24
24. Daniel MARTIN, Garmin-Barracuda, at : 24
25. Nicolas ROCHE, Ag2r La Mondiale, at : 25
26. Michael ROGERS, Sky, at : 25
27. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at : 25
28. Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky, at : 25
29. Robert GESINK, Rabobank, at : 26
30. Koen DE KORT, Argos-Shimano, at : 27
31. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at : 28
32. Simon GERRANS, Orica-GreenEdge, at : 29
33. Dries DEVENYNS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at : 29
34. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at : 29
35. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Barracuda, at :31
36. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at :33
37. Michael ALBASINI, Orica-GreenEdge, at :34
38. Arthur VICHOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :34
39. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at :35
40. Eduard VORGANOV, Katusha, at :35
41. Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :37
42. Dominik NERZ, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :37
43. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-ISD, at :37
44. Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :37
45. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at :38
46. Andriy GRIVKO, Astana, at :38
47. Matthieu LADAGNOUS, FDJ-BigMat, at :38
48. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :40
49. Jelle VANENDERT, Lotto-Belisol, at :40
50. Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana, at :42
51. Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA, Movistar, at :42
52. Nick NUYENS, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at :43
53. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar, at :45
54. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :45
55. Samuel DUMOULIN, Cofidis, at :46
56. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :47
57. Jerome COPPEL, Saur-Sojasun, at :48
58. Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :52
59. Christophe RIBLON, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :52
60. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Rabobank, at :53
61. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :53
62. Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha, at :57
63. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:01
64. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 1:01
65. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 1:05
66. Vasili KIRYIENKA, Movistar, at 1:05
67. Mikael CHEREL, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:06
68. Ruben PLAZA MOLINA, Movistar, at 1:06
69. Juan Jose COBO ACEBO, Movistar, at 1:07
70. Giovanni BERNAUDEAU, Europcar, at 1:08
71. Cyril GAUTIER, Europcar, at 1:09
72. Johnny HOOGERLAND, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:10
73. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 1:18
74. Bram TANKINK, Rabobank, at 1: 20
75. Alessandro PETACCHI, Lampre-ISD, at 1: 21
76. Dmitriy FOFONOV, Astana, at 1: 21
77. Yann HUGUET, Argos-Shimano, at 1: 22
78. Danilo HONDO, Lampre-ISD, at 1: 23
79. Andrey KASHECHKIN, Astana, at 1: 24
80. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1: 26
81. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1: 29
82. Sébastien HINAULT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:30
83. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:30
84. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 1:41
85. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana, at 1:42
86. Marcus BURGHARDT, BMC Racing, at 1:44
87. Amaël MOINARD, BMC Racing, at 1:46
88. Maxime BOUET, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:47
89. Federico CANUTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:48
90. Laurens TEN DAM, Rabobank, at 1:55
91. Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano, at 1:56
92. Fabrice JEANDESBOZ, Saur-Sojasun, at 1:57
93. Maxim IGLINSKY, Astana, at 1:57
94. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 2:01
95. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-ISD, at 2:01
96. Davide MALACARNE, Europcar, at 2:02
97. Yukiya ARASHIRO, Europcar, at 2:03
98. Peter VELITS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:09
99. Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:18
100. Roy CURVERS, Argos-Shimano, at 2: 22
101. Luis Angel MATE MARDONES, Cofidis, at 2: 22
102. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 2: 27
103. Kristijan KOREN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2: 29
104. Daryl IMPEY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:-)9
105. Sebastian LANGEVELD, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2: 29
106. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:30
107. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:30
108. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:31
109. Sergio Miguel MOREIRA PAULINHO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:31
110. Cyril LEMOINE, Saur-Sojasun, at 2:32
111. José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar, at 2:33
112. Alessandro VANOTTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:33
113. Daniel OSS, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:35
114. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:36
115. Johan VAN SUMMEREN, Garmin-Barracuda, at 2:37
116. Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank, at 2:37
117. Imanol ERVITI, Movistar, at 2:40
118. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:40
119. Nicki SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:40
120. Sylvester SZMYD, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:41
121. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, RadioShack-Nissan, at 2:43
122. Kevin DE WEERT, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:44
123. Jonathan CANTWELL, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:44
124. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 2:45
125. Borut BOZIC, Astana, at 2:45
126. David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis, at 2:46
127. Kris BOECKMANS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:46
128. Baden COOKE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:46
129. Karsten KROON, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 2:47
130. Aliaksandr KUSCHYNSKI, Katusha, at 2:49
131. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:50
132. Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank, at 2:51
133. Matthieu SPRICK, Argos-Shimano, at 2:52
134. Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis, at 2:54
135. Romain ZINGLE, Cofidis, at 2:55
136. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:56
137. Cédric PINEAU, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:57
138. Marco MARZANO, Lampre-ISD, at 2:59
139. Vincent JEROME, Europcar, at 3:04
140. Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD, at 3:09
141. Ruben PEREZ MORENO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:09
142. Anders LUND, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 3:10
143. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 3:13
144. David MILLAR, Garmin-Barracuda, at 3:19
145. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 3: 20
146. Jérémy ROY, FDJ-BigMat, at 3: 23
147. Bert GRABSCH, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3: 27
148. Adam HANSEN, Lotto-Belisol, at 3: 29
149. Michael SCHÄR, BMC Racing, at 3:30
150. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:37
151. Sébastien MINARD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:39
152. Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:41
153. Brice FEILLU, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:42
154. Pierrick FEDRIGO, FDJ-BigMat, at 3:44
155. Jurgen ROELANDTS, Lotto-Belisol, at 3:46
156. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Barracuda, at 3:53
157. Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:53
158. Stephen CUMMINGS, BMC Racing, at 3:59
159. Greg HENDERSON, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:01
160. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 4:02
161. Richie PORTE, Sky, at 4:03
162. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:04
163. Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:05
164. Michael MORKOV, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 4:05
165. Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Barracuda, at 4:05
166. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 4:07
167. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Barracuda, at 4:07
168. Anthony ROUX, FDJ-BigMat, at 4:08
169. Biel KADRI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4:09
170. Manuel QUINZIATO, BMC Racing, at 4:09
171. Marcel SIEBERG, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:09
172. Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis, at 4:12
173. Jérôme PINEAU, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:12
174. Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano, at 4:15
175. Albert TIMMER, Argos-Shimano, at 4:15
176. Juan José HAEDO, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 4:15
177. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:18
178. Juan HORRACH RIPPOLL, Katusha, at 4: 23
179. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4: 25
180. Yohann GENE, Europcar, at 4: 25
181. Julien FOUCHARD, Cofidis, at 4: 25
182. Nicolas EDET, Cofidis, at 4: 28
183. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, Rabobank, at 4:32
184. Grega BOLE, Lampre-ISD, at 4:33
185. Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank, at 4:35
186. Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano, at 4:44
187. Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD, at 4:46
188. Martin VELITS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:49
189. Julien SIMON, Saur-Sojasun, at 4:59
190. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 5:13
191. Bernhard EISEL, Sky, at 5: 22
192. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar, at 6:13
193. Yuriy KRIVTSOV, Lampre-ISD, at 6:30
194. Pablo URTASUN PEREZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:46
195. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:12
196. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 7: 26
197. Jean Marc MARINO, Saur-Sojasun, at 7:45
198. Guillaume LEVARLET, Saur-Sojasun, at 9:43
[Reply]

It would be the most exciting to me to see either win the TdF

Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Barracuda
Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar
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Voeckler won't win, he's not even a real challenger. He's not a real climber, not a real time-trial specialist. He's got heart though and that brought him far last year but in the end he's just not good enough for a 3 week race.
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