TOUR DE FRENCHY 2016 - sweepstake 2/7/16

Roll up, Roll up!

it's that time of year again, la grande boycie sets off from Norman D on saturday.

just think how boring it would be if we all wanted froomy to win again (or even one of the brit's.)

so, to ensure there's no accord within our ranks, we all need a different rider to cheer on (and, by virtue, 179 riders to hate) over the next month.

so, £1's in and on saturday 2/7 we'll draw names at the cafe stop. i've cast my expert eyes (using william hill) over the field and narrowed it down to the likely GC winners.

here they are, from the top:

Chris Froome

Nairo Quintana

Alberto Contador

Richie Porte

Thibaut Pinot

Fabio Aru

Geraint Thomas

Vincenzo Nibali

Romain Bardet

Tejay Van Garderen

Mikel Landa

Alejandro Valverde

Julian Alaphilippe

Tom Dumoulin

Robert Gesink

Fabian Cancellara

Pierre Rolland

Bauke Mollema

Joaquim Rodriguez

Warren Barguil

Roman Kreuziger

Thomas Voeckler

Jakob Fuglsang

Rafal Majka

Simon Spilak

Alexis Vuillermoz

Leopold Konig

Peter Sagan

Rigoberto Uran

Ryder Hesjedal

Tony Martin

That's Bill Hill's top 31, we'll see how many people wish to be entered (so to speak) and draw that many riders form the top; in the unlikely event that none of these win, the top rider from this selection shall be deemed the winner.

here are the full rules:

1. each rider costs a pound
2. winner takes all
3. guy on the podium on the last sunday shall be deemed the winner, (i.e. in 2006 Floyd was the winner and Lance still has 7!!!)


i know, complicated....... however there are 3 more most vital rules that supersede the others...

rule 4. the rider you draw is your rider for the tour, 'he is a surefire winner, has never been involved in any scandal (drugs or podium girl related) and his nationality (culture, language etc.) is the best in the world.

rule 5. all other riders are crap..... (basically the opposite of rule 4) & anyone who supports another rider is deluded &/or a total knob

rule 6. when referring to the sweepstake, you must pronounce all rider's names with a geordie accent (especially all the spaniards, nighhhaaarrewww quinnn tah nahhhh and tineeeeee peeeeennO)

... if we can all stick with these rules it should be a happy and peaceful july.

Won't be out Saturday but would love to have one of those guaranteed winners you have listed. If Bill Hill can credit me £1 for a week or so can someone sensible pick a rider for me. None of your usual pranks like the well known Katusha rider Tossimov or the Italian rider Cappaccino etc.

PS could you go through the rules again. They're a bit hard to follow.