Dauphine: time to throw down

I think he WANTS to win on ventoux. That is the one mountain top finish he wants bad. I think he will go full out in the proloque, the TT and the next day ventoux. And the last day he wants to see if his team can control......

Just my 2 cents.....could be wrong😎

hombredesubaru said:

We can start a thread or poll about who wins Dauphine, but no one really cares or should.
The only and inevitable question will be as usual does Armstrong look good or good enough, recall last year's ITT up Ventoux when he did well but not great, then went on to win. Everyone was so excited about Mayo and Hamilton. Where did Basso come in on the ITT up Ventoux, yet he was the only guy to stay with Lance in the mountains when it counted.
Ventoux will feature again.
None of the big contenders will be there.
I do NOT think Armstrong cares about winning on Ventoux., I think he will go hard but not ramp it to the max. He is older and needs to save it all for the Tour. He will give his team a good workout on controlling the race. Should be fun.
Is any one else racing Dauphine?

Armstrong is not in very good form this year so expect some others putting on a show.... Mayo will be more restrained this year and Basso did not race last year and is not entered this year. It is a French race so you will see less of the Italians in the peleton. If anyone had a chance to see the Giro when Basso was on song was to see his attacks. They looked remarkably like Armstrong style of attacks in 2000. They were so fast and powerful and no one could keep up ! Look out in July, coming to a mountain near you !

My tip for the Dauphine is for a young Michael Rogers (Quick Step) to do something special.

Jan was looking to ride but has now opted for the Tour of Switzerland... good choice me thinks. Don’t want a head to head with Armstrong yet !

I also like the look of Landis; He is being very cautious and under stated this year which puts him in good steed for the Tour. My only concern is his lack of experience as a leader and tactical ability in the peleton.

Does anyone know where i could find a profile of the race stages?

Would be interesting to know just how big the climbs are.

Eldrack said:

Does anyone know where i could find a profile of the race stages?

Would be interesting to know just how big the climbs are.

criterium.ledauphine.comcriterium05Open ↗

check this site plz.

whiteboytrash said:

Armstrong is not in very good form this year so expect some others putting on a show.... Mayo will be more restrained this year and Basso did not race last year and is not entered this year. It is a French race so you will see less of the Italians in the peleton. If anyone had a chance to see the Giro when Basso was on song was to see his attacks. They looked remarkably like Armstrong style of attacks in 2000. They were so fast and powerful and no one could keep up ! Look out in July, coming to a mountain near you !

My tip for the Dauphine is for a young Michael Rogers (Quick Step) to do something special.

Jan was looking to ride but has now opted for the Tour of Switzerland... good choice me thinks. Don’t want a head to head with Armstrong yet !

I also like the look of Landis; He is being very cautious and under stated this year which puts him in good steed for the Tour. My only concern is his lack of experience as a leader and tactical ability in the peleton.

Is Mayo riding Dauphine?

I agree about the Basso attacks. Maybe just not quite as explosive as Lance in the initial acceleration but all the same devaststing. He like Armstrong like to ramp the spped up high and keep it that way so the little climbers cant make a move on short steep sections, everyone is just gasping to hold on, if they can. Should be fun in July.

hombredesubaru said:

I do NOT think Armstrong cares about winning on Ventoux., I think he will go hard but not ramp it to the max. He is older and needs to save it all for the Tour. He will give his team a good workout on controlling the race. Should be fun.

Agreed. I think he's still getting himself into form and so doesn't want to go into the red zone just yet. Might see Vinokourov or Kloden go hard to get in a good victory prior to working for Jan in the Tour. Kind of like Devolder getting de Panne then working for Hincapie in P-R even though P-R is a race that he's well suited to. (Or Popo getting Catalunya then working for Armstrong in July). Michael Rogers is not a bad call also.