Re:
Re his Tour-team, I see a decently strong team. Mollema, Pantano and Felline for the mountains and he will have a couple of very good rouleurs available. Question is how many riders Trek will devote for Degenkolb - they won't help pull the breaks in, but they might use a couple of guys which could prove crucial at some point in time. See Porte last year. Overall, it shouldn't really be a problem and if Contador shows he is up to the task in the important races leading up to TdF, its really not a question. Degenkolb can't win bunch sprints either.
Anyways, as much as some posters will make it out to the team's fault, it will first and foremost come down to if he has it himself. Tinkoff has supported him very well in Tours 2013-2015 and would have in 2016 if he didn't crash.
Edit: Contador riding Giro + Vuelta in 2018 would be great, but as he said himself, much can change. And much changes. Say, if he wins the Tour, will he defend his title or rest his case? And if he crashes again, what then?
Yes. Its a very hard finishing climb, especially for early March, but on top of that it will be more of a 'real' mountain stage which favours the more consistent climbing, the tempo and endurance grind where Contador hasn't looked brilliant in a couple of years now due to that climb beforehand and the nature of Couilloule. Cant wait.Forever The Best said:And it has Col Saint Martin before Couilloule:
That is the stage I am waiting about Contador to see his form totally.
Re his Tour-team, I see a decently strong team. Mollema, Pantano and Felline for the mountains and he will have a couple of very good rouleurs available. Question is how many riders Trek will devote for Degenkolb - they won't help pull the breaks in, but they might use a couple of guys which could prove crucial at some point in time. See Porte last year. Overall, it shouldn't really be a problem and if Contador shows he is up to the task in the important races leading up to TdF, its really not a question. Degenkolb can't win bunch sprints either.
Anyways, as much as some posters will make it out to the team's fault, it will first and foremost come down to if he has it himself. Tinkoff has supported him very well in Tours 2013-2015 and would have in 2016 if he didn't crash.
Edit: Contador riding Giro + Vuelta in 2018 would be great, but as he said himself, much can change. And much changes. Say, if he wins the Tour, will he defend his title or rest his case? And if he crashes again, what then?