Tour de France 2009

[dedja]

Hail the new King ... Alberto Contador.

Blows the peleton away on the climb to Verbier. Lance hangs on for a credible 2nd.

Contador leads the yellow by 1'37" now ... with the ease in which he flew up that climb today how can anyone in the peleton stop this man?

Cadel a credible 7th in todays stage but not in the class of the top climbers though.

[NFC]

Great stage last night, really ennjoyed it. Probably a lot to do with the fact I had half my team in the yellow jersey pack.

[dedja]

The stage tonight is going to be brutal ...4 category 1 climbs, poor bastards.

I expect Contador to blitz the peleton again today. Let's see what Lance has got in the tank, and the Schleck brothers and Sastre are others to watch.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Cadel drop out of the tour. Rumours are abound of team disharmony in Silence-Lotto and that Cadel will quit the team. If he does quit them, then it will be the best decision he has ever made ... that team is useless.

[Squawk]

Here's hoping he does quit S-L.

Someone has to start up an Aussie team a la E-E. Even an Aussie-Kiwi team including the likes of Julian Dean and Hayden Roulston. Fernando Alonso is looking at establishing a Spanish team with Contador at the helm. Astana is going to collapse as Bruneel leaves with Sir Lancelot.

How good would it be to have a team like:

Matt White (Team Director, currently at Garmin-Slipstream) or otherwise Neil Stephens or Brad McGee

9 riders from:

Cadel Evans
Matt Renshaw
Simon Gerrans
Robbie McEwen
Matt Lloyd
Stuart O'Grady (one season maybe)
Heinrich Haussler
Brett Lancaster
Graeme Brown
Alan Davis
Michael Rogers


There are enough other riders in the system and coming through the system (eg through the UniSA team at the Tour Down Under) to build succession with.

How good would it be if someone like Mark Webber could spar at the TDF with Fernando Alonso and their two teams? Webber got a big break via a $50k investment from David Campese in his early years, and has his own Tasmanian event around bike riding for charity. Even the SA Govt could buy in and call it the Tour Down Under Team or similar. All it takes is a mere 6 million euros!

[Squawk]

Plus Jack Bobridge, (who has signed with Garmin for the 2010 season).

Patrick Jonker would be another who could get involved.

[NFC]

Cmon Kloden!

[dedja]

Kloden's looking good with Contador ... the Schlecks aren't going to shake them off.

[dedja]

Squawk, Cadel might have to start a (Aussie) team up himself ... the man doesn't seem to have too many friends at the moment.

[Squawk]

Squawk, Cadel might have to start a (Aussie) team up himself ... the man doesn't seem to have too many friends at the moment.

How about we have a whip around SA Footy?

[dedja]

6 Million Euro you reckon? ... might need a tad more than that.

OK, lets go for it ...

[NFC]

Andy! Needed some more points.

Contador stuffed Kloden, Kloden 6th.

[dedja]

bit of a oopsy by Contador ... don't think Kloden will be amused.

[NFC]

bit of a oopsy by Contador ... don't think Kloden will be amused.

Didn't achieve anything but to stuff up his teammate.

[dedja]

It's cost Kloden a podium finish most likely ... Contador kept looking back in guilt after he dropped him.

[NFC]

Yes he did indeed.

Poor Cadel Evans, what a terrible tour he's having. Feel forry for him, lets hope he ditches his team.

[dedja]

Cadel is contracted for another year ... I think a mutual break of that contract is imminent.

How comfortable was Contador though, even after that brain explosion attack? ... surely unless a catastrophe occurs, Le Tour no. 2 is in the bag.

[NFC]

Contador is a freak!

[dedja]

Remember how he surprised everyone with his ITT 2 years ago ... shouldn't have been a surprise this year then.

It will be interesting to see if Contodor stays with Astana with the rumours of a return of the Kazakh's golden child Vinokourov.

Yes indeed, the man is a freak ... and so is Lance who's comeback after so many years and at his age is just amazing.

[PLETTONIC]

Well apparently there will be a decision on Cadel's future very soon with the likelyhood of him joining Armstrong at the newly announced Team Radioshack a very real possibility.
Silence Lotto are not guaranteeing Cadel that he will be the sole leader of the team next year with the Belgian team wanting their Belgian rider (Van den Broek) to be their number 1 or co captain.

[dedja]

Well apparently there will be a decision on Cadel's future very soon with the likelyhood of him joining Armstrong at the newly announced Team Radioshack a very real possibility.
Silence Lotto are not guaranteeing Cadel that he will be the sole leader of the team next year with the Belgian team wanting their Belgian rider (Van den Broek) to be their number 1 or co captain.

Agree with the 2nd statement but not sure about the first. Van den Broeck has certainly outperformed Cadel this year and being Belgian in a Belgian team does give you an advantage

I'm not sure that many teams actually want Cadel ... will be interesting to see what pans out.