After the Culling in Holland....

[ludwig]

Who's Left?

Legitimate contenders....

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 10:07:18
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:00:05
59 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:00:15
11 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
12 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:17
14 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
24 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:43
38 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:01:27
41 Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:01:36
43 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
50 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:02:07

Dark Horses....

3 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 0:00:01
8 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 0:00:12
10 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:16
17 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram 0:00:24
33 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:11
34 Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram 0:01:13
36 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Astana 0:01:22
37 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:26
44 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:01:41
47 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 0:01:57

 

[Oldman]

Who's Left?

Legitimate contenders....

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 10:07:18
3 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 0:00:01
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:00:05
59 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:00:15
11 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
12 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:17
14 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
24 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:43
38 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:01:27
41 Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:01:36
43 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
50 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:02:07

Dark Horses....

8 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 0:00:12
10 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:16
17 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram 0:00:24
33 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:11
34 Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram 0:01:13
36 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Astana 0:01:22
37 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:26
44 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:01:41
47 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 0:01:57

Main contender in blue
Opportunists in Red

 

[santacruz]

Go Vladimir Karpets!! does he still have an awesome mullet??

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He does still have the mullet. I'm gutted at some of the riders losing time, but with Pozzovivo losing 7'59", and Moncoutié and Urán losing 14'47", I'm starting to feel like the fight for the KOM might be more interesting than the GC here.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No, I refuse to believe that. Remember the awesome comeback Rujano made in 2005, when he even almost won it in the end.

They give space to people far away in the GC, and guys like Pozzovivo and Uran might just profit from that

 

[issoisso]

Did you just name Millar as a contender?

 

[Straßenrennen]

Gerdemann for the win! Or at least possibly the top 5! Positive hes gonna come in under the top 10. Certain to be in the top 20. Absolutely defiantly gonna finish the race!

 

[mr. tibbs]

Go Nibali go!

 

[theswordsman]

It could make the composition of breaks really interesting as guys who would normally be marked might be allowed to go out and stretch their legs. And as nervous as the racing has been, the break is the safest place to be right now.

 

[red_flanders]

On this course, anyone within 5 mins who can climb well has a shot. Anyone fit that bill?

 

[Night Rider]

Vino, Basso, Evans, Sastre are contenders.

Nibali = dark horse.

Everyone else = pretenders.

 

[issoisso]

Vino, Basso, Evans, Sastre are contenders.

Nibali = dark horse.

Everyone else = pretenders.

Nicely put.

With Nibali, the question is how much will his form improve before the third week. Personally, I don't think it'll improve enough.

 

[Runitout]

Nicely put.

With Nibali, the question is how much will his form improve before the third week. Personally, I don't think it'll improve enough.

I would add Vino to Night Rider's list. He may not have the greatest history in the high mountains, but he's won a Vuelta and is in sensational form.

 

[taiwan]

I would add Vino to Night Rider's list. He may not have the greatest history in the high mountains, but he's won a Vuelta and is in sensational form.

Like so?

Vino, Basso, Evans, Sastre are contenders.

Vino, Nibali = dark horses.

Everyone else = pretenders.

 

[Ferminal]

Will be best to review after the TTT.

The best thing is, Cuddles is going to have to animate the mountains, unless he thinks he can do a Franco up the Kronplatz.

 

[Cobblestones]

Will be best to review after the TTT.

The best thing is, Cuddles is going to have to animate the mountains, unless he thinks he can do a Franco up the Kronplatz.

Uh, oh, he should be careful with that.

 

[Boeing]

Go Vladimir Karpets!! does he still have an awesome mullet??

Not since Viatcheslav Ekimov has the peloton see such a fine hairdo. Barry Melorse is jealous.

I like Karpets in this race as well

what is it with the Ruskies and the mullet cut anyway?

 

[cyclegeek]

Carlos Sastre.

 

[Ferminal]

Uh, oh, he should be careful with that.

It's ok, Uncle Pat looks after the Anglos.

 

[taiwan]

Not since Viatcheslav Ekimov has the peloton see such a fine hairdo...

You underrate the mullet of Maxim Iglinskiy.

 

[santacruz]

I think all these eastern europeans are in love with McGuiver or something?? hence the mullet!

 

[taiwan]

I think all these eastern europeans are in love with McGuiver or something?? hence the mullet!

Karpets wins.

 

[ludwig]

Did you just name Millar as a contender?

Accident, lol...now remedied. Millar has demonstrated enough ability on the hills to be with the dark horses at least.

 

[ludwig]

Karpets wins.

Mullet-man, soon to be fan favorite!!!!

The GC looks to be an interesting race, and Vino's participation is a big part of what will be interesting.

 

[Boeing]

You underrate the mullet of Maxim Iglinskiy.

No way, I totally say dude on Cops last night.