total shock coming from the mind behind nine tour wins. The guy just wrote a book, "We might as well win", now, it's like he's rewriting the title to read, "We might as well loose" ! Question: JB is a strategist. a psychologist above all else so, is this some pre-tour psych 101 strategy where he'll sneak in the guns in the form of his new prodigy JB Junior; is it a future strategy to get back with AC later after LA retires (see the flight encounter toward end of article); OR is he just being for real?
JB: We don't have to win the Tour
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It sounds more like he is saying "we have nothing to prove" after winning the tour nine times. If he loses the tour this year, his reputation and legacy, as well as Armstrong's, will still be intact. No one thinks any less of Eddy Merckx for not winning his last tour.
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I think he's just being realist, prepared for the harsh reality that his team cant and wont win this year...
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Perhaps he didn't finish the sentence. "We don't have to win the Tour, we just need to get invited".
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He's probably just being humbled. LA has as good a chance as most. And I think if LA can get yellow on his back conti, or anyone else, will have a hard time taking it away from him. He's a fierce competitor and between him and JB they've got some seriously impressive tdf tactical knowledge. Not to mention the shack has an incredible team heading into july. Ok I'm salivating now. Can't wait for the tdf this year
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Plenty can go wrong that aren't all that odd.jd3 said:
1. Miss another break, this time 5-10 minutes
2. Bunch Crash
3. TT crash
4. Bad day in the mtns
5. DQ due to doping scandal (even if he gets cleared later)
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Contis has been outclimbed by both Evans and brakjovic at seperate points this year. So I don't fully understand why everyone is acting like contador is a shoe in due to his great climbing.
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Contis is a def favorite heading in. I'm just saying that I do not think its a sure thing for him at all. There are just too many teams with a shot at gc. He'll be getting attacked constantly and having to chase down soo many breakaways. Its gonna be tough for someone as tactically lacking as conti. Not saying he's an idiot. Just that he doesn't always do the wisest things
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None other than Lord Lance has shown us mulitple times in his Tour winning streak that getting beat by rivals in the months leading to the Tour doesn't mean you wont be ready to beat them in the Tour... Evans is staying close to his 100% almost all season long. If Contador peaks at the right time, I don't think Evans or Brakjovic can beat him up the climbs of the Pyrénées, they might even have trouble following him. Contador hasn't been at his best yet this season... I'm not saying he will win easily, or win at all, but he is the top favorite, even his rivals are thinking so.tommyrhodes said:
Don't know where people are getting that Contador has shown weakness this year. He has not. He's not and never will be a top notch classics racer..just not suited for that. With stage races, Contador has learned he doesn't need to go all out with these "lesser" races, similar to what Lance did years ago.
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Conti wanted to win the dauphine.
I don't think anyone is foolish enough to say that conti cannot win.
But you have to admit he's not looking as dominating as most people expected.
I don't think anyone is foolish enough to say that conti cannot win.
But you have to admit he's not looking as dominating as most people expected.
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If TdF is anything like the Giro was this year, expect the unexpected...
He may be a realist...but I think this is surprising and kind of poor form. Did Phil Jackson ever suggest "we don't have to win the championship" just because he's won in the past?izzyfly said:
Maybe an off day, maybe not accurate reporting? It seems kind of odd to me.
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