Record Aussies in 2012 Tour
AUSTRALIA is on the cusp of a Tour de France record after Queenslander Jonathan Cantwell was selected to debut for Saxo Bank.

Cantwell is the sixth Australian rider confirmed to start in next week's Tour, but that number is set to swell into double figures on Sunday when Orica-GreenEDGE unveils its nine-rider roster.

With up to five riders from the Australian-owned team expected to be announced, plus Matt Lloyd from Lampre-ISD, the Australian tally could jump to 12 - bettering the previous record of 11 in 2010.

Defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC), Mark Renshaw (Rabobank), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol), Team Sky pair Michael Rogers and Richie Porte and Cantwell are assured of starts.

The group is expected to be bolstered by Orica-GreenEDGE's Stuart O'Grady, Matt Goss, Simon Gerrans, Brett Lancaster and Baden Cooke - as well as Lloyd.

Australia two years ago paraded Evans, Gerrans, Hansen, Lancaster, Lloyd, Robbie McEwen, O'Grady, Renshaw, Luke Roberts, Rogers and Wes Sulzberger.

Strugglers Saxo Bank will use the Tour to chase points to improve its ranking after the suspension of Spaniard Alberto Contador.

Cantwell will team with four Danish riders - Chris Anker Sorensen, Nicki Sorensen, Michael Morrkov and Anders Lund - Belgian Nick Nuyens, Dutchman Karsten Kroon, Portugal's Sergio Paulinho and Argentine Juan Jose Haedo.
http://m.news.com.au/MoreSports/fi1626598.htm

The favorites for yellow.
The favorite

Cadel Evans owes his status as favourite to being the current title holder. A duel with Bradley Wiggins is looking likely. The Englishman is virtually unbeaten (like the Australian last year) on the stage races he has taken part in this year. He won Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandy and the Critérium du Dauphiné. If the time-trials are to be the crucial point, then the Team Sky leader has the edge. However, Evans has the advantage of already having won Le Tour and being a better all-round rider: probably a better climber, especially in the sequence of difficulties on the programme in two mountain stages (the 11th, in the Alps, and the 16th, in the Pyrenees), undoubtedly a better puncher, with a capacity to pick up seconds through short, intense bursts of effort (at the finishes in Seraing, Boulogne-sur-Mer, la Planche des Belles Filles, and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine), and certainly a better downhill racer!

The ambitious

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) holds the role of official challenger. Fifty years after the first Englishman in yellow (Tom Simpson in Saint-Gaudens) has the time come for an Englishman to wear yellow in Paris… five days before the Olympics Games start in London? It is a question of time: this Tour gives time-trials, his speciality, pride of place.

Denis Menchov (Katusha), after the most discrete start to a season of his career, is making is comeback on Le Tour. On his last participation (2010), on the podium in Paris he stood next to the two major absentees of this year thanks to a major feat in the final time-trial. Already a winner of the Vuelta and the Giro, he will be waiting for the opportunity to spring an ambush…

Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) will be flying the flag for Italy’s hopes and the new generation against the thirty-somethings. Having won the Tirreno-Adriatico race, he is focusing his 2012 season on Le Tour. His experience of victory on the Vuelta (in 2010) and the assistance of Ivan Basso can also be added to his status as a fine overall rider with plenty of stamina.
Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) is growing in stature. Third on the Tour of Switzerland, a place he also occupied on the podium on the Tour de France in 2007, the American does not see his age of 38 years as a handicap. The time-trials could put him in a position from which only a fall (to which he is rather prone) could knock him off.

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) is a different man since he won the Tour of Italy. Following in the footsteps of Cadel Evans, previously a mountain biker who has been a latecomer to road racing, the Canadian has all the qualities and now the confidence in his abilities to transform his 7th place on Le Tour in 2010 into a podium finish.

Riders who could spring a surprise

Chris Froome and Richie Porte are the two emerging riders in Team Sky, able to take on the baton from Bradley Wiggins in case of problems, like in 2011 (when the Englishman withdrew after breaking his collar bone following a fall). Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) does not intend to content himself with his victory on the Tour of Oman. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) in recently winning the Tour of Slovenia may have taken a step on the way to greater things… Bauke Mollema is an alternative, in the Rabobank team, to leader Robert Gesink, who promises much but does not always deliver. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) is reaching riding maturity to take up the reins from Thomas Voeckler, who is suffering with knee problems. Chris Horner, now a tricky forty-something, pulled out of the hat by RadioShack-Nissan, is capable of superseding Fränk Schleck as a replacement for the latter’s injured younger brother Andy.

Stage 16. May actually kill someone :lol:

Stage 16. May actually kill someone :lol:

I think the commentators due an excellent job on this, very professional and knowledgeable.

This.

Very nearly the best part about watching, listening to those 2.

Nothing beats the climbing battles for the golden jersey

Squads: All 198 riders on the 22 teams for the 2012 Tour de France
Have a look at the 198 riders, including a record 12 Australians, who make up the 22 teams that will line-up for the 2012 Tour de France.

* Australian riders in bold

Ag2r-La Mondiale
Maxime Bouet, Mikael Chérel, Hubert Dupont, Blel Kadri, Sébastien Minard, Lloyd Mondory, Jean-Christophe Péraud, Christophe Riblon, Nicolas Roche

Argos-Shimano
Roy Curvers, Koen de Kort, Johannes Fröhlinger, Patrick Gretsch, Yann Huguet, Marcel Kittel, Matthieu Sprick, Albert Timmer, Tom Veelers

Astana
Jani Brajkovic, Borut Bozic, Dmitry Fofonov, Andriy Grivko, Maxim Iglinskiy, Andrey Kashechkin, Fredrik Kessiakoff, Robert Kiserlovski, Alexandre Vinokurov

BMC Racing Team
Marcus Burghardt, Steve Cummings, Cadel Evans, Philippe Gilbert, George Hincapie, Amael Moinard, Manuel Quinziato, Michael Schar, Tejay van Garderen

Cofidis
Luis Angel Mate, Remi Di Grégorio, Samuel Dumoulin, Nicolas Edet, Julien Fouchard, Jan Ghyselinck, David Moncoutié, Rein Taaramae, Romain Zingle



Europcar
Yukiya Arashiro, Giovanni Bernaudeau, Cyril Gautier, Yohann Gène, Vincent Jérôme, Christophe Kern, Davide Malacarne, Pierre Rolland, Thomas Voeckler

Euskaltel-Euskadi
Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Gorka Izaguirre, Egoi Martinez, Ruben Perez, Samuel Sanchez, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun, Gorka Verdugo

FDJ-BigMat
Sandy Casar, Pierrick Fedrigo, Yauheni Hutarovich, Matthieu Ladagnous, Cedric Pineau, Thibaut Pinot, Anthony Roux, Jeremy Roy, Arthur Vichot

Garmin-Barracuda
Tom Danielson, Tyler Farrar, Ryder Hesjedal, Robbie Hunter, Dan Martin, David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Johan Vansummeren, David Zabriskie

Katusha
Giampaolo Caruso, Oscar Freire, Vladimir Gusev, Joan Horrach, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Denis Menchov, Luca Paolini, Yuriy Trofimov, Eduard Vorganov

Lampre-ISD
Grega Bole, Danilo Hondo, Yuriy Krivtsov, Matthew Lloyd, Marco Marzano, Alessandro Petacchi, Michele Scarponi, Simone Stortoni, Davide Vigano

Liquigas-Cannondale
TBC

Lotto-Belisol
Lars Bak, Francis De Greef, André Greipel, Adam Hansen, Greg Henderson, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Jelle Vanendert

Movistar Team
Juanjo Cobo, Rui Costa, Imanol Erviti, Iván Gutiérrez, Vladimir Karpets, Vasil Kiryienka, Rubén Plaza, José Joaquín Rojas, Alejandro Valverde

Omega Pharma-Quick Step
Sylvain Chavanel, Kevin De Weert, Dries Devenyns, Bert Grabsch, Levi Leipheimer, Tony Martin, Jertme Pineau, Stijn Vandenbergh, Peter Velits

Orica-GreenEDGE
Michael Albasini, Baden Cooke, Simon Gerrans, Matt Goss, Daryl Impey, Brett Lancaster, Sebastian Langeveld, Stuart O'Grady, Pieter Weening

Rabobank
Laurens Ten Dam, Robert Gesink, Steven Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema, Mark Renshaw, Luis Leon Sanchez, Bram Tankink, Maarten Tjallingii, Maarten Wynants

RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
Fabian Cancellara, Tony Gallopin, Chris Horner, Andreas Kloden, Maxime Monfort, Yaroslav Popovych, Frank Schleck, Jens Voigt, Haimar Zubeldia

Saur-Sojasun
Jerome Coppel, Anthony Delaplace, Jimmy Engoulvent, Brice Feillu, Fabrice Jeandesboz, Cyril Lemoine, Guillaume Levarlet, Jean-Marc Marino, Julien Simon

Team Saxo Bank
Jonathan Cantwell, Juan Jose Haedo, Karsten Kroon, Anders Lund, Michael Morkov, Nick Nuyens, Sergio Paulinho, Chris Anker Soerensen, Nicki Soerensen

Team Sky
Edvald Boasson Hagen, Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Chris Froome, Christian Knees, Richie Porte, Michael Rogers, Kanstantsin Siutsou, Bradley Wiggins

Vacansoleil-DCM
Kris Boeckmans, Johnny Hoogerland, Kenny van Hummel, Gustav Larsson, Marco Marcato, Wout Poels, Rob Ruijgh, Rafael Valls, Lieuwe Westra
http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sports/tour-de-france/squads-all-198-riders-on-the-22-teams-for-the-2012-tour-de-france/story-e6frf5hu-1226403331110

WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE GREEN, WE RACE TO THE FINISHING LINE!
The favourite: Mark Cavendish (Team Sky)

As winner of last year’s Tour de France points ranking, it is only logical that Mark Cavendish should be a contender for a second green jersey in Paris. His clutch of stage victories – which amount to twenty from his last four events – promises another points victory. The British rider is easily the world’s fastest. For him, the crucial part of the event will be played out over three days, between Rouen and Metz, after a first meeting with the other pure sprinters in Tournai (2nd stage). But Cavendish cannot expect to be handed victory on a plate. Mainly because of stiff competition from two young winners: Peter Sagan and Marcel Kittel. This Slovak gets everywhere! Cavendish’s other handicap is the presence of his teammate Bradley Wiggins in Team Sky, who has also set his sights on the overall ranking. The two teammates are expected to give priority to mobilising the team from the end of the first week, in other words from the moment when those battling for the green jersey are likely to stumble on the intermediate sprints. Sky will not annihilate all the stragglers if it means compromising priority objectives, Cavendish’s main goal being to prepare for the London Olympics!

Setting their sights on victory

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) is a major contender for the green jersey as he can win all kinds of sprints: on the flat and especially on the slopes (he should enjoy Seraing and Boulogne-sur-Mer!). He also knows how to make his mark in the intermediate sprints and has enough stamina for anything – even over three weeks!
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) has already chalked up an impressive track record, by the middle of his second pro season. That of a real winner. In mid-June, the German beat Cavendish twice in the sprint. He should not therefore rule out any hopes of a Tour victory and especially not that of winning the green jersey in Paris… even if this is only a medium-term goal.
Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) carries on his shoulders the sole objective announced by the promoters of new Australian team Green Edge, when it was first created - that of winning the green jersey. The word “green” is even part of its name! The world’s runner-up champion has only notched up one victory this year, a stage in the Giro, but it points towards further successes.
José Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) won the green shirt last year before passing it to Mark Cavendish, but he remains a serious candidate as he was (almost) placed in the massive sprints and has been consistent in his performance on different terrains. However, the return of his team and training partner, Alejandro Valverde, reduces his room for manoeuvre.
André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol), world No.1 in terms of victories (13) before the national championships, is a sprinter of such quality that the green jersey is definitely within his reach. But he only succeeded in beating Cavendish once during the 2011 Tour, whose flair reduces his self-confidence. But if the road ahead is clear…

A few names that could take us by surprise

Tyler Farrar, winner of the third stage in Redon last year, won against the clock as part of his team with Garmin-Barracuda, but failed to win any sprints before this year’s Tour de France! Yauheni Hutarovitch, who has also yet to win a sprint, unlike the young riders from FDJ-BigMat (Démare, Bouhanni), hopes to come out of his shell… Oscar Freire (Katusha), green jersey winner in 2008, is preparing for the Olympics. Retirement beckons. He might well make the most of this last opportunity! Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD), winner of the points ranking in 2010, snapped up the Giro, which makes him more likely to win the Tour despite being 38. Mark Renshaw has left the Cavendish camp, with the aim of making a name for himself by sprinting for Rabobank, which expects more than a single victory (fourth stage of the Tour of Turkey). Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Nissan) gained a taste for the green jersey on the Dauphiné, but was beat to the finishing line by Cadel Evans. A great all-rounder and incisive, he is able to pick up points almost everywhere!
http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/actus.html

Love this, go Cadel Evans and Greenedge, i think Cadels biggest rival will be Bradley Wiggins. The thing that shocked me about cycling is its not simply about who has the strongest legs, there are many tactical and strategic elements, its a pity Australia doesnt get some kind of tour that incorporates mountains because i find flat tours preety boring apart from the final sprint.

Maybe turn this thread into the cycling thread roar;o? just a thought.

Whats the Prologue?

prologue
A short individual time trial before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage.

Straight from wiki.

I reckon Fabian Cancellara will win it tonight.

Armstrong has been officially charged with doping apparently. Awks.

Straight from wiki.

I reckon Fabian Cancellara will win it tonight.

Oh ok it on SBS?



Ah shit, does that mean the second places get 1st from prev tours? Jan Ullrich who finished 2nd several times behind Armstrong also got cought had his 2nd stripped meaning 3rd will become winner l0l