For me the favourite for this classic is Alejandro Valverde. He is rested and he surely wants to win, because of all it's happening to him. Also with the Vuelta approaching, he's with good form. And if the arrival to the finish he's a good sprinter, better than those who arrive with him in this type of classics.
Besides Valverde, there's also Kim Kirchen with good form from the Tour and hungry for victories, since he missed the ardennes classics. He's also a good sprinter, and has always a strong team to support him.
Janez Braijkovic from Astana will have a thing to say in this classic, I think. He was good in Giro di Lombardia last year, achieving a second place behind Cunego. But of course you can always argue that the field in last year race was weak.
In Liquigas we have the three from the Tour has the liders for this race. But I see Vincenzo Nibali with greater chances. Then in Quick-Step, there's Allan Davis if he could make the final, which I believe he can. But if he can't, there's Sylvan Chavanel and Carlos Barredo. From Katyusha, you have Sergey Ivanov, the winner of Amstel Gold Race and he'll have a role in this race.
Then, there's Saxo-Bank with Schleck brother's and Kolobnev, who allways performs well in the second half of the season. He was second last year in this race and I see him as a favourite.
Also the other favourites are, Oscar Freire, Cadel Evans, Cunego, Nocentini, Duque, Fabian Wegmann. All good names that will be there for the final.
Finally, the big question mark for this race, for me, is Juan Jose Cobo. I don't know where he stands form wise. He hasn't raced and he doens't have any significant results. Maybe we'll want to prove something in this race, since his team wasn't invited for the Vuelta.
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