2010 Tour de France

[GameTipper]

Yeah, I managed to see the last 5 mins of the coverage this morning - he's just so good at getting into the right places Cav - not the last one he'll win if he gets through the mountains in decent shape. Renshaw is a gun, any team would greatly benefit having him on board as a main lead-out man.

Funny to look through all the Aussies riding in this tour (From the start) We could just about make up a full and unbeatable team from those riders alone! Ahhhh if only!

I really should catch up on this thread again... Have had a shocking few days

[jeffers]

Could be a good finish today. Cancellara will stay in yellow I think, the climbs aren't big enough.

Comms are talking about Voeckler potentially attacking...I agree he could be one to go for it today.

[GameTipper]

On a bright note, Cadel Evans is now in the Yellow jersey by 20sec after a brilliant ride over the mountains. Also happy to say that Andy Schleck was one of the 4 riders I backed for the win on this stage! Slowly pulling back to evens...

Now that the World Cup is over, I may actually get the time to get stuck into this thread again!

Rest Day tomorrow - time to catch up and try and select some more stage winners in the coming climb stages.

[jeffers]

Great finish to the stage today. Things of note...

- Armstrong is dead in the water...no big shocker there.
- Schleck looks very very good...and Contador couldn't go with him at the end there...
- Cadel looked slightly done at the end too, he blew up when Contador and Schleck went at the end.

Worth looking at Schleck for the outright now imo, he's been there or thereabouts before, and he looked very strong today. I think a lot of the riders are struggling after the harsh early pace in the tour, and the 35+ degree conditions. The names being dropped by the peleton today was like a who's who...Schleck however looks fit as a fiddle.

[GameTipper]

I completely agree with this. Schleck, although brotherless now, still has huge support from the team and will get lead out everywhere. He is certainly looking good at this stage. Cadel, well he fell early and I thought, while looking spent at the end, did huge things for himself on this stage. If only he got the same sort of support past winners have had, he'd be right up there. I just don't understand how he can keep pushing for the lead with little to no help, it's amazing!

Armstrong should have given the tour away after last year I reckon, his legs are just not holding up and i would not be surprised that if he falls one more time (I think he's gone down 3-4 times already) that he'll just retire. Poor bastard doesn't deserve to go out this way...

The weather has been hell for the riders this year and it's going to be very interesting to see the conditions further up the mountains. Looking forward to the rest of the race...

[GameTipper]

Stage 9: Morzine-Avoriaz > Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 204.5km (high mountains)

This is going to be a tough one with the tour heading through winter ski country in the searing heat of summer! The only saving grace here is that they've come off a rest day to tackle a few giants which lay ahead. The climb index reads: Cat 4, then into a Cat 1, Cat 2, Cat 1 and then a massive un-categorized giant! To top it all off, there is an 11km run to the finish after the decent which would normally suit the sprinters, but somehow I don't think any of them will get there to contest a stage win. Cadel Evans holds a 20sec GC advantage going into this stage, but I have serious doubts he'll be holding it by the end of the day if he falls off the back before the decent to the finish. Expect a couple of other climbers to keep pace and try to hold the likes of Schleck, Contador and Menchov from skipping away.... but for this stage, I reckon one of them will come through.

I like the following riders for a Stage 9 win:
A Contador @ $7.00 (5 units)
A Schleck @ $8.00 (4 units)
D Menchov @ $61.00 (1 unit)

Other riders to mention:
S Sanchez ($6.00), I Basso ($61.00) & C Evans ($15.00)

[GameTipper]

Stage 9 has been run and won... Congratulations to: Sandy Casar ($61.00)
Some major moves also on the mountains has seen A Schleck claim the Yellow Jersey with Contador making up lost ground to be only 41sec behind. But for the Aussie Cadel Evans, his day plummeted down the time sheets quicker than a break a way on the decent, still reeling from an injured elbow dropping way way way out of contention.

Stage 10: Chambéry > Gap, 179km (medium mountains)

Classed as a medium mountain stage, the race to Gap will keep some serious pace and may also spring a few surprises towards the end, after all, it is Bastille Day! The Climb rating runs as; Cat 1, Cat 3, Cat 2 and finishes after a long decent into Gap itself. Those who are willing to test the pelaton early may get burnt on the last climb, the LeNoyer mountain pass, and get overhauled fairly easy by the stronger climbers. Having said this, the only way to beat the main GC rated riders IS to kick off early and try to outlast, because once your over the last major climb, it's fairly easy going from there. This only makes it harder to pick a clear cut man for the stage win here, so I may go for a bit of a spread of different types of riders, but ALL FRENCH! Ahh yes, I have some romance left in me!


I like the following riders for a Stage 10 win: (Total of 10 Units)
T Voeckler @ 11.00 (3 Units)
Any Other French rider (minus Voeckler) to win the stage @ 3.40 (3 Units)
S Chavanel @ $14.00 (2 Units)
A Moinard @ $36.00 (1 Unit)
D Monier @ $91.00 (1 Unit)

Other riders to mention:
L Leipheimer ($226), I Basso ($501), M Rogers ($151)
Note: Odds sourced from Sportsbet

[jeffers]

I like the following riders for a Stage 10 win: (Total of 10 Units)
T Voeckler @ 11.00 (3 Units)
Any Other French rider (minus Voeckler) to win the stage @ 3.40 (3 Units)
S Chavanel @ $14.00 (2 Units)
A Moinard @ $36.00 (1 Unit)
D Monier @ $91.00 (1 Unit)

I like these picks given it's Bastille day mate. Voeckler has to have a decent chance, Bbox will have to go well if he is to.

I like Minard @ $56, Moinard @ $36, and I think Caisse D'Erpagne have been going well this tour and so also Moreau @ $76 and Perget @ 51. Le Mevel is an interesting one, but not at $21...too short!

I think we've covered the French well there!!

I'm also quite interested in Menchov v Leipheimer. Menchov is $2.38 here and I've had a nibble. He's going really well without setting the world alight...he's due and he'll beat Leipheimer home for my money.

[GameTipper]

I'm also quite interested in Menchov v Leipheimer. Menchov is $2.38 here and I've had a nibble. He's going really well without setting the world alight...he's due and he'll beat Leipheimer home for my money.

This one has some legs (excuse the pun!) - Menchov has been VERY quite yet has kept pace with the other front runners to date and I agree, is going to leap out at some stage. Leipheimer has been effectively given the lead of the RadioShack team over Armstrong, so will also be trying to push his case, although I think that due to this change in team structure, that he may suffer from lack of support to get him over the climbs from other team mates who will still look after Armstrong.

Well spotted jeffers - now to sit back and watch it unfold!

[GameTipper]

Stage 10 has been run and won... Congratulations to Sergio Paulinho! (No quote $)

Stage 11 preview and winner selections later today!