Can IB beat AC/AS in TdF '11?

[joy118118]

Szmyd said Nibali would go to Giro, Basso and he would go to Tour next year.

 

[ttrider]

On super form i cant see him being far off, but fact is there isnt a Zoncolan or Mortirolo in France, Contador would struggle to beat him on one of those, lets not forget Shlecks 1:10 headstart on contador on the cobbles at this years tour before calling it close

 

[jaylew]

No. I just don't think there's a course that could be designed where Basso could beat an on-form Contador.

 

[therealtimshady]

basso can challenge but only if he doesnt do the giro but he probably will. however surely contador can time trial as badly as he did this year - lets face it schleck didnt improve in the final TT, contador had a shocker

 

[ttrider]

yeah the course length profile wind was all worst possible for Contador unlikely to see a repeat bad performance again

 

[icefire]

I read some posters here stating that Basso could beat Contador on a typical Giro course. Well, he can be close if Contador comes to the race right from the beach

 

[El Pistolero]

On super form i cant see him being far off, but fact is there isnt a Zoncolan or Mortirolo in France, Contador would struggle to beat him on one of those, lets not forget Shlecks 1:10 headstart on contador on the cobbles at this years tour before calling it close

Why would Contador be at a disadvantage on these epic(if I may call them that) mountain cols?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43JIBQo56s&feature=related

If these mountain cols were included Andy Schleck wouldn't even stand a chance against Contador. Contador IS very good at steep climbs. Especially the longer ones(even if the climb is not too long he's still good at it, just look at the Montée Laurent Jalabert which should be renamed Montée de Contador if he keeps winning there or placing high)

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

2006 Basso would crush these posers.

 

[blaxland]

No way he can beat Contador(Without Crashes)but yes he could beat A.Schleck if things went right for him....No one will beat Alberto Contador in a Grand Tour that he is ridnig to win..No-One....

 

[Climbing]

2006 Basso would crush these posers.

Yes... but those posers would be powered up like him, if you get my point.
Now I see the trend has changed, simply watching the slower times in every race.
Everyone seems more human, but maybe here is not the place to talk about those things.

 

[ttrider]

Basso is awesome above 15% for long periods so is Contador but im not convinced Contador would have beaten Basso on the Zoncolan

 

[Climbing]

Basso is awesome above 15% for long periods so is Contador but im not convinced Contador would have beaten Basso on the Zoncolan

Maybe Basso is even stronger there, but it doesn't matter because in the TdF there are no such ascents.
And his TT abilities are now subpar compared to old times.
So it's almost mission impossible against Contador in top form (that counts for everyone), but you never.
Since his comeback he's becoming stronger and stronger, and he could manage certainly a podium if he prepares specifically for the Tour.

And that would leave Giro for Nibali as captain!

 

[Mich78BEL]

No way he can beat Contador(Without Crashes)but yes he could beat A.Schleck if things went right for him....No one will beat Alberto Contador in a Grand Tour that he is ridnig to win..No-One....

really? Schlech was really close to him this year, it wouldn't surprise me if schleck beats him next year

 

[Parrulo]

shleck was close to an off-form contador. i don't think a contador at 100% can be beaten by anyone atm

 

[Mich78BEL]

shleck was close to an off-form contador. i don't think a contador at 100% can be beaten by anyone atm

Whats the garantee he will be 'on-form' next year? The Tour was his main goal this year and he was on a team with less distractions (no Armstrong or Bruyneel) and more focus on him and he was in worse form then the previous year. How can that be explained? Even Contador himself doesn't know.

Plus Schleck is 3 years younger and continues to improve, Contador doesn't have much room for improvement i think. Contador will still be the favorite over Schleck but only just imo.

 

[El Pistolero]

Whats the garantee he will be 'on-form' next year? The Tour was his main goal this year and he was on a team with less distractions (no Armstrong or Bruyneel) and more focus on him and he was in worse form then the previous year. How can that be explained? Even Contador himself doesn't know.

Plus Schleck is 3 years younger and continues to improve, Contador doesn't have much room for improvement i think. Contador will still be the favorite over Schleck but only just imo.

Let's see what Contador won prior to the Tour this year:

# Volta ao Algarve

* Winner overall classification
* 1st, Stage 3

# Paris–Nice

* Winner overall classification
* 1st, Stage 4

# Vuelta a Castilla y León

* Winner overall classification
* Winner combination classification
* Winner Spanish rider classification
* 1st, Stage 4 (ITT)

# La Flèche Wallonne

* 3rd position

# Critérium du Dauphiné

* 2nd, overall classification
* 1st, Prologue (ITT)
* 1st, Stage 6
* Winner points classification

---

He peaked numerous times during this season and perhaps he was already a bit exhausted when the Tour started. He also was sick and on antibiotics just before the Tour started. Next year he'll ride a totally different season as he'll do both the Tour and Vuelta. There for he will not ride such an exhausting "pre-Tour" season.

What Schleck won prior to the Tour this year:

Nada

 

[jens_attacks]

if ivan skips the giro and bring his 2006 form or even 2010 giro form in le tour,yes i think he might do it.i know il giro is very important to him but he already won it twice,he deserves at least one tour de france.if he will decide to focus on le tour,contador & schleck will have a big problem.plus liquigas is always a strong team.

 

[El Pistolero]

if ivan skips the giro and bring his 2006 form or even 2010 giro form in le tour,yes i think he might do it.i know il giro is very important to him but he already won it twice,he deserves at least one tour de france.if he will decide to focus on le tour,contador & schleck will have a big problem.plus liquigas is always a strong team.

1. Ivan Basso
2. David Arroyo +1'51"
3. Vincenzo Nibali +2'37"

--

1. Alberto Contador
7. Vincenzo Nibali +7'35"

Just saying...

 

[staubsauger]

basso even wouldn't be the winner of the giro now, if mentsjov, ricco and pellizotti would have been there. he just isn't an explosive climber anymore and has a bad tt. so a clear no. his giro win this year was more a victory of a strong liquidas team, not of a strong basso (except the zoncolan stage).

 

[Epicycle]

I think he can. Contador hasn't dominated the GT's he's won and Schleck could have won this year or come extreeeemely close without the dropped chain. If you are winning by small margins eventually it catches up with you. There's a clinic discussion involved but there's also probably the few year's extra training and racing that Basso has put in since he came back from his suspension, he's built that base up again.

 

[The Hitch]

1. Ivan Basso
2. David Arroyo +1'51"
3. Vincenzo Nibali +2'37"

--

1. Alberto Contador
7. Vincenzo Nibali +7'35"

Just saying...

1. Alberto Contador
4 Braddley Wiggins + 6′ 01

1. Ivan Basso
40 Bradley Wiggins + 25 minutes

Just saying...

 

[icefire]

1. Alberto Contador
4 Braddley Wiggins + 6′ 01

1. Ivan Basso
40 Bradley Wiggins + 25 minutes

Just saying...

1. Alberto Contador
2. Andy Schleck +39 seconds


1. Vincenzo Nibali
DNF Andy Schleck

Neither Basso nor Contador nor Schleck will win the 2011 Tour

 

[jens_attacks]

1. Ivan Basso
2. David Arroyo +1'51"
3. Vincenzo Nibali +2'37"

--

1. Alberto Contador
7. Vincenzo Nibali +7'35"

Just saying...

lol.different years,different stories bro.basso in giro 2006 was one of the most dominant athletes in sport i saw.and he's back step by step at that form.

 

[staubsauger]

lol.different years,different stories bro.basso in giro 2006 was one of the most dominant athletes in sport i saw.and he's back step by step at that form.

bro basso in 2006 was one of most just juiced to a pure robot riders i have ever seen. even sella's perfomance in 2008 had more athletic caracter as it was just heroic how he was fighting and biting to defeat the pain in the mountains every day. in 2006 (and 2005 giro) basso even suddenly learned how to tt. that performace was a shame and laughable for every cycling fan. and that's the word of a ricco fanboy

 

[El Pistolero]

1. Alberto Contador
4 Braddley Wiggins + 6′ 01

1. Ivan Basso
40 Bradley Wiggins + 25 minutes

Just saying...

1. Alberto Contador
24. Bradley Wiggins + 39' 24"

Just saying

But I should add that I'm just being sarcastic here. But it's kind of foolish to say that Ivan Basso is better because he won more dominantly while Contador didn't. I'd like to see Ivan Basso being dominant while competing against Menchov, Contador and Andy Schleck(not necessarily directed at you).

lol.different years,different stories bro.basso in giro 2006 was one of the most dominant athletes in sport i saw.and he's back step by step at that form.

What? Guttierez won the 2006 Giro.

It's not hard to look dominant when the 2 best GT contenders don't bother with the Giro (for now).