Excluding former leaders out of contention (Vino, Menchov), who do you think is the best? You can't just look at the standings; intagibles have to be considered.

My vote would go to Chris Horner with Popovych a close second. Both are strong, smart riders with decent form. I give the nod to Horner since he has been "the man" before and probably has a better sense of humor.

Excluding former leaders out of contention (Vino, Menchov), who do you think is the best? You can't just look at the standings; intagibles have to be considered.

My vote would go to Chris Horner with Popovych a close second. Both are strong, smart riders with decent form. I give the nod to Horner since he has been "the man" before and probably has a better sense of humor.


Cedric Vasseur, who won today, spent most of the first week at the front, bringing back breaks so Tom could sprint. His work has resulted in 3 stage wins. (Boonen, Steegmans, and himself).

I'd go with a grisly old veteran like Jens or Boogerd.

Excluding former leaders out of contention (Vino, Menchov), who do you think is the best? You can't just look at the standings; intagibles have to be considered.

My vote would go to Chris Horner with Popovych a close second. Both are strong, smart riders with decent form. I give the nod to Horner since he has been "the man" before and probably has a better sense of humor.

My vote is for Popovych. He has been in the thick of things and has made a difference.

Horner is doing very well. But I haven't really seen where he has helped Cadel. He seems to be close enough to make a difference should Cadel have any problems.

Some interesting points. I hadn't thought of a sprinter's domestique.

I chose Horner because he has pulled Evans to the point where he could bridge across to the breaks he's been in and then kept an eye on those he was around and made sure the group didn't drag someone like Vino up to Cadel. I also think Horner's past experience in winning races is ever so slowly pushing Evans out of his wheelsucking comfort zone.

in some early stages

Popo has been in the thick multiple times but he's kinda a dom/stagiare. I dig his riding style.
Jens is kinda the same way.

How about Gusev?

what is sad, and usually is, is we don't get to see about 70% of the dom work which is done by the roulers. Big deal that the climbing Dom helps the final 15K of the last climb. How about the guy that pulled 40-80K in the wind leading up to it?

Well IMO if you still consider Vino the leader of Astana, clearly Kloden is the best domestique of the peloton, especially considering is very good chances of winning now! If not Andreas, my vote is to Popo/Gusev as they've been fighting like dogs every day it seems for Levi and maybe now Alberto C.

Popo and Gusev, IMHO.

Zabriski?

Are you talking about the tour or best domestic in general.
A co-leader is not necesarry a domestic because at some point he will think that he can win and he do not need to go and get bottles or break the wind.

One of my favorites was Eki and Padronos. But now is Marzio Bruzeghin from Lampre.
Noval is good and now Horner because he know his job.

In recent years past, I thought Ekimov and Guerini were good ones. Guerini used to work his a$$ off for Ullrich in the mountains. Also, Axel Merckx was a good one last year for Phonak. I also like the guys from different teams who turn it into a contest to see who can carry the most water bottles.

in some early stages

Popo has been in the thick multiple times but he's kinda a dom/stagiare. I dig his riding style.
Jens is kinda the same way.

How about Gusev?

what is sad, and usually is, is we don't get to see about 70% of the dom work which is done by the roulers. Big deal that the climbing Dom helps the final 15K of the last climb. How about the guy that pulled 40-80K in the wind leading up to it?

I agree that Jens is more of a stagiare most of the time, and up to now in the Tour, that's been his deal. However, in the Mtns on the Tour, he tends to work really hard for his leader, often breaking things up. I don't think he's done anything to be called a major domestique thus far in the Tour, but my opinion might change in the Pyrenees.

Excluding former leaders out of contention (Vino, Menchov), who do you think is the best? You can't just look at the standings; intagibles have to be considered.

My vote would go to Chris Horner with Popovych a close second. Both are strong, smart riders with decent form. I give the nod to Horner since he has been "the man" before and probably has a better sense of humor.



GEORGE HINCAPIE ALL THE WAY BABY! YEAR AFTER YEAR
:thumbsup:

GEORGE HINCAPIE ALL THE WAY BABY! YEAR AFTER YEAR
:thumbsup:

Not this year. Boogerd and Steegmans have been the best in 2007.

Leipheimer.:D

Somebody had to say it......

Leipheimer.:D

Somebody had to say it......

Boogerd and Popo - I think Popo has an edge. Both helped Contador and Rasmussen, all the way to and including the mountains. Popo picked it up and shed some key contenders multiple times, and the time when he went with Soler, then dropped back to pace Contador was pretty cool move - even though in the end it didn't produce desired result...

I think Popo has been the best by far. He is also having a great tour and will likely finish in the top 15