Vino attacks everyone said:Don't laugh at Jesus and his buddy Navarro, they have been planning to peak here all year
Noval planned to peak at the xmas all-you-can-eat buffet
The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Vino attacks everyone said:Don't laugh at Jesus and his buddy Navarro, they have been planning to peak here all year
roundabout said:Yes, Henao, Uran and Nordhaug will find it hard against Navarro, Hernandez and Majka.
Lol.
Cimber said:Noval planned to peak at xmas
hrotha said:Saxo will wait for him. Contador can't stand to lose his pet the first day.
staubsauger said:No way Chris Froom is gonna win this Vuelta! Podium yes, but he will fail in the last mountains stages like Sastre & Evans did in the past with the Tour in their legs( Otherwise Froome would be on one step with Robo Basso)!
Contador lacks racing kilometres. I expect him to be much weaker than in past grand tours, like other riders in the 1st grand tour since suspension (Vinokourov, Basso, Scarponi). It could be still enough to win this bike race, sure.
At least this could really turn out to be Robert Gesink finally winning a grand tour. If he is able to stay on his bike and is in shape, he should be in state to match up with Contador this one time!
The big questionmark is still Cobo of course.
But I take the risk to put my money at Rob, besides all skepticism!
His squad seems to be a strong one as well (Altough I would prefer Barredo to be in instead of Garate). So I have some trust.
jens_attacks said:noval has such an important meaning to me that whenever i see his name,i think at nozal,isidro nozal
i wonder what he's doing these days by the way
jens_attacks said:noval has such an important meaning to me that whenever i see his name,i think at nozal,isidro nozal
i wonder what he's doing these days by the way
Publicus said:I think unlike the three you listed, Contador has only been effectively banned for 6 months as opposed to two years or more in their case, so I don't expect him to be much weaker. In fact, he has TWO grand tours in his legs from the past 12 months (Giro and Tdf 2011), which I think is the issue that impacted the other riders (year or more with no grand tour in the legs). So lack of race miles will be an issue, but I don't think it will be a dispositive one.
The Hitch said:Contador-
**** yall, I am going to win my first gt back.
i am going to recon every stage of that gt 50 times.
I will spent the days not reconning the stage in training camps, and the nights picking riders for that gt. People will abandon the Tour in order to help me in that gt.
I will be on daily communication with my trainers, my swimming coaches and my ds.
My life for the next 6 months revolves around winning that gt.
The Cobra said:Lol, nice.
Contador will dominate most likely. However you cant discount Froome, everytime you think he's about to crack he hits the front. He will be Contadors biggest test since Andy in 2010 Tour.
staubsauger said:No way Chris Froom is gonna win this Vuelta! Podium yes, but he will fail in the last mountains stages like Sastre & Evans did in the past with the Tour in their legs( Otherwise Froome would be on one step with Robo Basso)!
Contador lacks racing kilometres. I expect him to be much weaker than in past grand tours, like other riders in the 1st grand tour since suspension (Vinokourov, Basso, Scarponi). It could be still enough to win this bike race, sure.
At least this could really turn out to be Robert Gesink finally winning a grand tour. If he is able to stay on his bike and is in shape, he should be in state to match up with Contador this one time!
The big questionmark is still Cobo of course.
But I take the risk to put my money at Rob, besides all skepticism!
His squad seems to be a strong one as well (Altough I would prefer Barredo to be in instead of Garate). So I have some trust.
Dekker_Tifosi said:If Hesjedal can win the Giro, than Gesink can win a GT
Dekker_Tifosi said:If Hesjedal can win the Giro, than Gesink can win a GT
Did you forget his Vuelta 09 level? He wasn't 6th because he was only 6th strongest. He was 6th because he was 2nd strongest, arguable as strong as Valverde uphill, and had to finish the last mt stage + time trial with a giant hole in his knee... Back then he was just 23.
Gesink has the level to win a Giro or Vuelta when Contador/Schleck are absent.
Dekker_Tifosi said:Gesink has the level to win a Giro or Vuelta when Contador/Schleck are absent.
Paap85 said:Who will be this year's big surprise (like Froome last year, out of nothing)?
Vino attacks everyone said:some young spanish guy, perhaps Landa?
Nothing like froome did last year ofc, but something like Pinot in this years tour would be great
Zinoviev Letter said:The last four Grand Tours have been won by riders who were, on the face of it, riders people could quite confidently have said "he'll never win a GT" about! And not been regarded as idiots for saying it. Evans who had blown his chances and was older than any Tour winner. Hesjedal, who had never been a GT contender before. Wiggins, who spent most of his career in the grupetto. Cobo!
Gesink is absolutely capable of winning a GT. It's just that all of the stars must be correctly aligned. He needs a moderate to weak field, he needs his best form and he needs to stay on his bike. It may be that he never gets this, but if he does, he can win.
Kwibus said:Quintana is more likely, allthough for most of us that wouldn't really be a suprise.
For the more 'regular' cycling fans he will most definately be a suprise.