Tour de Fantasy

By Ian Melvin
Jul 3, 2003, 16:21

It seems to me that which-ever magazine or internet site you read, there’s always some rider telling you who’s hot and who’s not.  And then there’s the pundits telling me who their top tips and favorite’s for the race are – what do they know!  But I figure...well if you can’t beat them, join them!

Now, I refuse to pay hideous amounts on a phone call to play any TdF fantasy league game so I don’t know what budgets are this year but I hasten to add that my line up will probably cost double that of US Postal!

Team Leader:

Lance Armstrong (US Postal) – it doesn’t matter what you say about Armstrong, but this guy is the best in the business when it comes down to the Tour.  Nobody else prepares as meticulously or is as single minded in their quest for glory as the big Texan.  A fifth successive victory beckons unless he suffers a crash or illness.

Super Domestiques:

Dave Millar (Cofidis) – after starting the season brightly Millar suffered a nasty crash in Belgium when he collided with a motorbike.  After a lengthy rest he returned to score an excellent result in Les Classique des Alpes and then third behind Armstrong in the Dauphine Libere.  As he say’s himself, he has his “climbing legs on at the moment” and anything could happen for the Scot.  The podium is unrealistic this year but a sure fire bet for top ten.

Ivan Basso (Fasso Bortolo) – winner of last year’s White Jersey, this young Italian can climb and time trial with the best on his day.  Similarly to Millar, the podium will be out of reach this year but he’ll be up there and certainly one to mark out as a future winner of the Grand Boucle.

Sprinter:

Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) – it’s Cookie time!  Pushing Zabel, McEwen and O’Grady all the way last year, it’s time for the young Aussie to come through.  He’s had some strong performances already this year and with McGee leading him home we can expect to see at least one stage win.

Climbers:

Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) – second place behind Armstrong in the recent Dauphine, Mayo was the only rider to push him all the way and ask any real questions of him.  Backed by a strong Euskaltel-Euskadi team, expect to see the little Spaniard dancing off the front of the bunch in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Roberto Heras (US Postal) – Armstrong’s lieutenant at Postal and the rider who will take over team leadership if anything happens to the American.  Team insiders say he is back at his best and we can again expect to see him pacing Armstrong up the climbs and if opportunity arises, going for a stage victory himself.

Domestiques:

Michael Rogers (QuickStep-Davitamon) – the rider who can do no wrong in Europe at the moment.  Recent victor of the Tour of Belgium, Tour of Germany and, Ruta del Sol.  Expect to see ‘Dodger’ placing top five in the prologue and maybe stretching his legs on one of the early road stages.

Bradley McGee (FDJeux.com) – a stage win last year into Alencon and recent winner of the time trial in the Tour de Suisse.  McGee is improving each season and this year, besides some strong performances against the watch and some breakneck speed lead-outs, expect at least one good day in the mountains from this twenty six year old.

David Etxebarria (Euskaltel-Euskadi) – Dudu’s not here so it’ll be down to the diminutive Etxebarria to get into those early breaks in the vain hope of staying away for a chance of a stage victory.  This guy can climb on his day so a stage victory could come anytime during July.

Think you’ve got a better line-up?  Let me know.  Drop me an email at Cycletw@aol.com .

Even better, let’s play our own Fantasy league TdF.  Here are the rules:

• Top ten riders in each stage all collect points; decreasing from 10 points for 1^st place to 1 point for tenth.
• Wearer of the yellow jersey each day collects 5 points, green jersey and KoM 3 points, and white jersey 2 points.
• You are only allowed to enter 1 team and there will be no rider transfers during the race – the team you start with is the team you finish with.
• All entries are to reach me before 14.35 GMT on Saturday July 5^th (Sorry it’s late notice but I’ve just had the idea to do this whilst I’m here doing my day job)
• All teams are to include: 1 leader, 2 ‘super’ domestiques, 1 sprinter, 2 climbers and three domestiques.  You are not allowed to attempt to pass, e.g. Tyler Hamilton off as a Sprinter or Santiago Botero as a Domestique and all such entries will be excluded from the competition.

The winner of the Roadcycling.com Tour de Fantasy will be interviewed by yours truly for the web site and the interview will be published along with a photo of you!

Good luck guys, I look forward to receiving your entries.

Oh, just thought I’d get this one in nice and early, my tip for 2004.  Who else!  He’s gonna take a record breaking sixth victory and then announce his retirement from the sport (assuming that he’s broken his duck at Amstel Gold in the spring) after a short series of show races to say his “au revoir” to the fans and a gold medal in Athens.  Behind Lance will be Ullrich, Hamilton, Beloki and Millar - although what do I know?  I’m just a pundit!

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