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Hello, Pigale, Cancellara rides for Team TREK.
He is probably the most popular rider in the peloton. Nickname, Spartacus!
Thomas rides for Team Sky, who interestingly enough, have chosen Irishman Nicholas Roche as their captain on the road. I do not think they have chosen Ben Swift for the Tour.
Cavendish will be pleased Marcel Kittel is not riding.
He is superfast!
I have a wee bet on Cancellara to win on Saturday.
My head says Tony Martin but my heart says Cancellara!
I also took Pierre Rolland to win King of the Mountains, and Thibaut Pinot to win Le Tour.
Just small fun bets to add a little spice to the race for me.
So, Pigale! Who do you think will win?

I could never understand Cavendish joining Team Sky.
A team going for the overall cannot afford to devote men to look after a sprinter.
I always thought BMC would be a perfect team for Cav but I am sure he knows his business best!

Quite frankly, I have no idea before I see what happens in the first couple mountains days.

Re BMW and spinters - they already have Zabel.

I think that like you I would like to see Pinot or Voeckler do well, but I am always very cautious of Contador even though he is racing for a Russian team - I don't know any of his team mates !

Pigale, Zabel has been retired for a few years.
He must be mid-forties now.
Contador is a great rider, against the clock and in the high mountains.
I think the Tour will be decided on the second last day, on Alpe d'Huez.
The first week is very hard, cobbles, Mur de Huy, etc.
I can see lots of crashes.
And how will the climbers like the cobbles!
Interesting!

When we went up the Alpe d'Huez (late 80s?), there was a race on, so we had to go up the "back road". We stopped in a layby near the top, and two cars came in, one very close in front of us, the other very close behind. Several swarthy men piled out and one said "We're Libyans". I said "That's OK, we don't like Thatcher either", and all was smiles!

We went down the route.

Great story Chrise, and what presence of mind you had in your quick reply !

...........but I meant it!

Well Rusty, I obviously don't see the years go by!

But is it possible he has a son, a (much) younger brother or simply a name sake ? Because there is, according to my mag a R. Zabel, sprinter in BMC team.

and by the way, I am still warm!

Elle, are you there?
Have you attended your Hudl lately?
Mine is doing an update on Hudl doings and Android.
Been at it for 15 minutes now.

Erik Zabel was the great sprinter - I didn't know that he had retired, though.