ProTour Punditry Predictions

[SWSteve]

Sorry for missing the LR, my pick: Kevin Reza (EUR)

 

[montage]

GC: Gerrans
KOM: Gerrans
Sprint jersey: Gerrans

Stage 1 - Jens V
Stage 2- Gerrans
Stage 3 - Gerrans
Stage 4 - Kittel
Stage 5 - Gerrans
Stage 6 - Kittel

LR - Van Poppel

 

[montage]

Adelaide best dressed

 

[The Couch]

So... am I right that we (the "experts") all had the first stage wrong?

At least, there is upside for the people who put Gerrans in the overall sprint and/or GC jersey (which of course I didn't )

 

[smutchin]

Sorry for missing the LR, my pick: Kevin Reza (EUR)

No need to apologise - you're not obliged to make predictions for any category if you choose not to! And you're not obliged to make all your predictions at once.

LR - Van Poppel

Boy or Danny?

 

[smutchin]

After stage 1, it's me and The Couch tied in the lead on 2pts, everyone else on 0pts.

No one fancied Steele Von Hoff, then? Must admit I've never heard of him before, but what a great name - sounds like a Bond villain.

Here are the rest of my predictions...
Stage 2: Richie Porte
Stage 3: Jan Bakelants
Stage 4: Andre Greipel
Stage 5: Richie Porte
Stage 6: Marcel Kittel

 

[smutchin]

Stage 3: Jan Bakelants

Actually, scratch that - I'll back my boy, as he seemed to finish pretty strongly today...

Stage 3: Geraint Thomas

 

[The Couch]

No one fancied Steele Von Hoff, then? Must admit I've never heard of him before, but what a great name - sounds like a Bond villain.

Here are the rest of my predictions...
Stage 2: Richie Porte
...
Stage 5: Richie Porte

Or at least a "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" actor
What's up with the Richie Porte predictions... I (though I) had your back with the Geraint predictions and you dump him yourself?!?
Now I am stuck with him

EDIT: Aaaah, okay, now I see you holding on to your word (a bit)

 

[VamP]

One of the original Baywatch cast surely...

I'm sticking with my predictions for the rest, it does seem a bit unsporting to actually follow the race and select the riders that display good form

 

[smutchin]

I'm sticking with my predictions for the rest, it does seem a bit unsporting to actually follow the race and select the riders that display good form

Ha! Tbh, I would have made my predictions sooner but I hadn't studied the parcours yet. (On which subject, the stage 2 finish looks perfect for a Sagan vs Gilbert vs EBH bunfight - shame none of them are racing.)

The deadline applies per stage, though, and I'm happy for anyone to change their predictions if they wish (cue lots of people switching to Gerrans for today's stage). Another way to look at it is that it would be unfair to force someone to stick with an early prediction for stage 6 if their man pulls out through injury on stage 2.

No changing GC predictions after the race has started though!

 

[The Couch]

it does seem a bit unsporting to actually follow the race and select the riders that display good form

He does make a good point @smutchin

 

[VamP]

I was only joking, of course you are free to amend stages. I am just speaking from the moral high ground of lazitude.

 

[The Couch]

... (cue lots of people switching to Gerrans for today's stage)...

Naaa, I'm sticking with the guy that already got dropped on the less heavy stage 1 (I never was a bright one, me)
... whatever points I am behind, I'll just make it up in the Vuelta Heheh (you're gonna be hearing that a lot this year, boys... but at least hope I won't be in front at any point in the season, cause then the taunting would really get bad)

 

[VamP]

Naaa, I'm sticking with the guy that already got dropped on the less heavy stage 1 (I never was a bright one, me)
... whatever points I am behind, I'll just make it up in the Vuelta Heheh (you're gonna be hearing that a lot this year, boys... but at least hope I won't be in front at any point in the season, cause then the taunting would really get bad)

It's fine, the Winter Olympics are starting soon, and I'll get my fill taunting Belgian (and British) sports fans.

 

[smutchin]

Winter Olympics? What's that?