The American team will be led by Giro d’Italia victor Ryder Hesjedal, who will attempt to pull off a Giro-Tour double... :o

Yeah really hope vdv can give it one last push especially since he has never really had the chance to redisplay the strength he had in 08 due to injuries.

It really is a shame he needed to cut out so often due to injuries just when he looked as strong as ever  If he stays clear f injuries this year I think a top 10 placing at least need to be able for him

Nah mate he never had a hope. Didn't you listen to Lance? he is an unworthy rider.

i think the hang over would last for weeks.....

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After the Giro win, a couple of the folks at V-Salon were quick to point out that Ryder wasn't Canadian, he is North American!

I liked the sound of Garmin-Barracuda.
Garmin-Sharp just sounds dull to me! 

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Not sure where to stick this or can be arsed/presumptuous enough to start a new thread but I wrote a piece/diatribe on Garmin and their chances. Since there's actually very little Garmin-centric talk here I'd though it'd be a good starter for what people think their chances are like at the TDF. Without further ado:

Basically JV and Garmin-Barracuda’s focus and parading Ryder as number 1 is all a lot of this. As for “polemics” or “oh noes, who will be leader”, I think its a case of Occam's Razor. They are all capable of “leading” Garmin and will get the chance if it arises.

The way I see it Garmin have 4 cards to play, Hesjedal’s the King, TD and CVV are the Queen/Jack and Martin the Joker. This is fairly obvious and these bloke are some of their strongest GC contenders. The team unity is so high at Garmin right now, not to mention their morale, that I hardly see it a problem that anyone will be annoyed at having to play dom at expense of their ambitions. Plus all 9 riders are like a who’s who of Slipstream riders through the ages, you’d think they’d know how to get along.

Barring a miracle (which I think Garmin has cashed in already) they will realistically be aiming for a high GC place, not the win, which means a wide scope/target of anywhere from 5th to 20th. Any of the quartet can manage that so they’re likely to adopt a wait and see approach, fairly relaxed mindset and expectations coming into the start.

The deal with Ryder? Easy, he’s the king, he won the Giro he can win a GT so he deserves the limelight and why shouldn’t they bill him as bib #n1. G-B get the media exposure for their team and RH gets the adulation he deserves. Which then deflects the attention away from his team-mates which can only help them go “under the radar”. The Giro Effect will happen with him and you can’t predict that he will in top shape, even if the Giro was “Giro-lite” this year its still going to take it out on the riders doing the double. So even if he’s not their best chance, he can still be their leader and at least shield his team-mates and he’s a good enough rider that he can grind out a top20 if needed if the others falter.

CVV must be the rider in top form for Garmin atm. Very strong showing at the Giro and if you can believe the talk that was only form building up for the Tour. Will the Giro be too much riding like with Ryder, it is a possibility but he has to be the most likely favourite of the Garmins to finish high and I’d imagine Ryder wouldn’t even need to be asked to return the favour he gave him on the Stelvio.

Danielson, you really can’t discount and is the same sort of position as CVV, can easily be their best rider and place well, as he showed last year he’s their most recent form rider at the Tour and showed signs of promise at Suisse this season. These 3 were together last year and the other two had no problems riding for him then, I’d imagine that sentiment still stands.

Also you can’t discount Martin as the joker, if for no other reason that the “Slipstream Complex” which states that Slipstream have to place a new rider in the top 10 every year at the Tour (since 09). Although we’re yet to see if a top 20 in another GT nulls it. Regardless, Dan would have to be a plan ‘D’, only scenario likely I see Dan leading is that the 3 others falter/crash/abandon before the early TT and mountains and even though DM is allergic to TTs he comes out of it as best place Garmin rider. If not he’s still a useful domestique over the hills and mountains and good chance of a stage win.

So that’s my theory on it all anyway.

Lizzie Armitstead ‏@L_ArmiTstead
So pleased to see Garmin men's team have got another sponsor