Thomas Löfkvist : Mark Cavendish
Mauro Gianetti : Alessandro Petacchi
David Etxebarria : Mark Cavendish
Laura Meseguer : Tyler Farrar
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Bookmaker's favorite : Mark Cavendish
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Interview - Denis Galimzyanov
Denis, after your great stage win in Luxembourg and ending up 13th in the Russian Nationals, how do you feel right now?
I’m feel good. I will try to put myself in show and then we will see.
You have been very consistent in the top5 in almost all your sprints this year. Do you think it will continue in the Tour where the level is that much higher?
It's true the level here is the highest in the world, but the adversaries are the same as always. So I expect to take, more or less, the same results as earlier this year, hoping for a stage win!
You have already been very close to beat Mark Cavendish a couple of times this year, do you think you have what it takes to beat him in the Tour?
Cavendish is the strongest sprinter at the world. I’m happy to be very close to beat him, but I think it’s very difficult in the Tour de France this year because it’s the first time for me.
Are you aiming for the green jersey?
Well, every sprinter thinks about green jersey at Tour de France. I want to finish the race because until the 15th stage there are a lot of options for sprint finishes.
Your Katusha team is 100 % Russian this year in the Tour. Does that bring any extra pressure to perform?
No, for me it does not change anything. At this level the nationality doesn't mean much. However it's a pity that a young sprinter like Porsev is not here. He’s young but he has the quality to be a good last man to lead out my sprints.
Last one. Does the team have any GC-plans this year? I'm thinking about Karpets & Gusev...
I think Karpets it’s a little bit stronger than Gusev for the GC, but this year the main goal for the team is to win a stage.
The Experts' Tour Picks - Stage 2
Thomas Löfkvist : HTC-Highroad
Mauro Gianetti : Leopard-Trek
David Etxebarria : HTC-Highroad
Laura Meseguer : HTC-Highroad
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Bookmaker's favorite : Garmin-Cervélo
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Interview - Ivan Basso
Ivan, thanks for taking time. How did your Tour-preparation come along after your crash on Etna? Are you on the right track?
The crash of Etna took me precious time, but, luckly I had one month to recover. I run Dauphine as training, then I had some mountain training at Passo San Pellegrino. I ended it with a really good feeling and sensation. Of course I had no opportunity to check my shape in a race, but I’m sure to have done everything to be at the top level. The best Ivan Basso you’ll see on the mountain.
Compared to your condition winning the Giro last year, how good are you right now?
As said, before the Giro I had a confrontation in race, this time I don't have that. But my technical info and feeling say that I have the same good shape. I’ll need some stages to find race rhythm but on Pyrenees and Alps I want to be at the top level.
You won the white jersey back in 2002. You have ended 3rd and 2nd in Paris and last year you showed your strength by winning the Giro again. With your experience and results, will you consider anything but a spot on final podium to be disappointing?
Of course, after taking 2nd and 3rd, I need only the 1st to complete. I face this Tour aiming for the best results and I want to end it and be sure I have been spent 100% of my forces. I know that I’m ready, I know that I can compete with the bests. The route will be the judge.
The last many times you have been the leader in a Grand Tour, you have had great riders like Carlos Sastre, Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali to help you in the mountains. This time your Tour-team seems a little bit weaker than normally, do you agree?
No, I don't agree. It’s true that we don’t have a co-captain but the team is suited for this route. Together with me I’ll have strong distance riders able to maintain good rhytm in flat stages and medium mountain, then in hard mountain I have a team mate like Szmyd. An added value will be the motivation: sometimes you can find more energies in mind that in legs. You’ll see during the team time trial how strong is Liquigas-Cannondale.
Speaking of Nibali. He was one of Contador’s biggest rivals in the Giro this year. Have you been talking with him before the Tour about how to beat Contador?
We usually phone each other during the season and we did that as well before the Tour. But there’s no secret or suggests to beat Contador. I know that I need 3 days in the Alps similar to the performance of last year on Zoncolan to beat him on mountain.
It’s a given that Contador and Andy Schleck are the two biggest rivals for the yellow jersey, but who else do you think will be up there to fight for the podium this year?
Well, Alberto and Andy are one step above the others, but I see a huge group of pretenders in really good shape for this Tour. Evans, Gesink, Van den Broeck, Wiggings, Sanchez… it will be a closed and strong competition!
Last question. If you had to pick, what you would take; a stage win in the mountains or a spot on the final podium?
Well, I would like to be on the final podium thanks to a stage victory in the Alps: can I choose this option? (smiling)
The Experts' Tour Picks - Stage 1
Thomas Löfkvist : Edvald Boasson Hagen
Mauro Gianetti : Philippe Gilbert
David Etxebarria : Alessandro Petacchi
Laura Meseguer : Francisco Ventoso
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Bookmaker's favorite : Phillippe Gilbert
Tour de France picks!
Do you want to make the Tour de France stages a bit more interesting?
One way is to bet with your friends and colleagues on the outcome of the stages and show off your big inside. Another way is to put down a wager with a bookmaker and let your knowledge earn you a little extra during the summer. Either way C-Cycling wants to help you!
The following experts all know their way around the professional peloton and each of them will give their best winner bets during the Tour 2011.
The experts are:
Thomas Löfkvist - Rider, Team Sky
Mauro Gianetti - Manager, Team GEOX
David Etxebarria - Ex-rider, ONCE, Euskaltel etc.
Laura Meseguer - Cycling Journalist
One way is to bet with your friends and colleagues on the outcome of the stages and show off your big inside. Another way is to put down a wager with a bookmaker and let your knowledge earn you a little extra during the summer. Either way C-Cycling wants to help you!
The following experts all know their way around the professional peloton and each of them will give their best winner bets during the Tour 2011.
The experts are:
Thomas Löfkvist - Rider, Team Sky
Mauro Gianetti - Manager, Team GEOX
David Etxebarria - Ex-rider, ONCE, Euskaltel etc.
Laura Meseguer - Cycling Journalist
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