Criterium du Dauphine 2014 - Who's gonna win?

[rune1107]

5 days away from the TDF warm up race. So i figured it would be interesting to start discussing the race!

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

Voted for Nibbles because I'd like to see him in a good form But I do't think he'll show anything yet. In 2012 he was bad in CdD and great in the TDF. It will surely be between Contador and Froome.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Should be a good test and I like the route. I will go with Froome, he seemed back to his old self at Romandie after an early season setback. Contador is obviously the main danger and should both of those turn up in good form then I can't see anyone else getting near them.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Froome should take it, but it will not be a walk in the park.

FROOME Christopher
KIRYIENKA Vasil
LOPEZ David
NIEVE Mikel
PATE Danny
PORTE Richie
THOMAS Geraint
ZANDIO Xabier

It will be interesting to see if Porte really is back in business.

 

[SafeBet]

This is when people understand that Contador is back to his old self. Which means best rider in the world. And the others start worrying.

 

[jens_attacks]

i doubt that alberto even in 2009 form will go for the win here...my pick is richie porte

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Yeah I don't think Alberto will win the Dauphine, even if he'll win the TDF.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Contador's team:

CONTADOR Alberto
VALGREN Michael
SøRENSEN Nicki
SUTHERLAND Rory [new]
PIRES Bruno [new]
HERNáNDEZ Jesús [new]
BELTRAN Edward [new]
PAULINHO Sérgio [new]

Looks somewhat B-ish.

Perhaps one of the youngsters gets a chance to do something in between the GC action. Guys like Beltran and Valgren maybe.

 

[Eclipse]

Froome. Sky's team is strong even if everyone isn't riding well and Froome looked good at Romandie.

 

[veji11]

unfortunately, I can't see Froome not taking it. I mean look at that team on the slopes : Lopez/Kyrienka first stage of the rocket, Nieve/Thomas second stage, Porte third, Froome finishes it.. Rinse and repeat 3 times.. Beurk.

 

[Arredondo]

Easy pick, Froome of course.

Contador second, Kwiat third.

 

[Cookster15]

Contador to pip Froome for the win.

But I really hope Porte rides well to show he's getting into the similar form he had in last years TDF. Too bad he missed the Giro.

 

[LaFlorecita]

i doubt that alberto even in 2009 form will go for the win here...my pick is richie porte

Contador is following the sky approach, which means win Dauphine. Contador needs to beat Froome.

 

[christopherrowe]

Contador is following the sky approach, which means win Dauphine. Contador needs to beat Froome.

You think he needs to? As a Tour predictor you mean, or as some kind of statement?

I voted with my head (and thus Froome) instead of my heart (I hope Contador beats him, but don't think he will unload to the degree he would need to in order to beat Froome here.)

 

[Publicus]

I picked Froome because I don't think Contador cares one wit about winning the Dauphine. Froome NEEDS a win IMO. Romandie was a win against a weak field. I hope Contador just rides on his wheel. I look for Nibbles to lay down a marker or two as well.

 

[Arredondo]

Based on al the comments, it looks Contador is the current TDF champion, and that Froome is the man why has to beat him to get confidence.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Based on al the comments, it looks Contador is the current TDF champion, and that Froome is the man why has to beat him to get confidence.

And it is of course the other way around.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I picked Froome because I don't think Contador cares one wit about winning the Dauphine. Froome NEEDS a win IMO. Romandie was a win against a weak field. I hope Contador just rides on his wheel. I look for Nibbles to lay down a marker or two as well.

Contador hasn't beaten an on-form Froome uphill since la Vuelta 2012. You don't think he wants to see if he can now?

 

[LaFlorecita]

You think he needs to? As a Tour predictor you mean, or as some kind of statement?

Both actually.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Nibali to show the pretenders how its done.

 

[Publicus]

Contador hasn't beaten an on-form Froome uphill since la Vuelta 2012. You don't think he wants to see if he can now?

Nope. What would it mean to go deep to beat him in June and then falter in July when it counts? To me, at least, it would be much more meaningful if he just rode his wheel (can you tell I'm stuck in 2009 ). Don't get me wrong, I would love it if he won, but he's never ridden the Dauphine for the overall victory and I don't expect him to start now (he strikes me as fairly superstitious).

 

[RichieTheBest]

the situation of froome attacking anf contador following him is a fight ftw for the second one automatically.

contador was chilling in the dauphine when he knew he would anyway be #1 fav having both climbing and tt superiority. its not the case today. he needs a mental boost and wants to win a lot for sure

 

[Publicus]

Holy cow Nibbles is THIN. The TdF is going to be absolutely, positively, NUTS.

 

[Publicus]

the situation of froome attacking anf contador following him is a fight ftw for the second one automatically.

contador was chilling in the dauphine when he knew he would anyway be #1 fav having both climbing and tt superiority. its not the case today. he needs a mental boost and wants to win a lot for sure

Why is this the case exactly? He's had a pretty good first half of the year. Much better than all of Team Sky's protagonists. It would seem to me THEY need a mental boost of sorts. To re-establish their dominance from last year. Reclaim their swagger.

This is precisely why if I were Contador I wouldn't go deep, I'd only follow Froome's wheel.

 

[christopherrowe]

Why is this the case exactly? He's had a pretty good first half of the year. Much better than all of Team Sky's protagonist. It would seem to me THEY need a mental boost of sorts. To re-establish their dominance from last year. Reclaim their swagger.

This is precisely why if I were Contador I wouldn't go deep, I'd only follow Froome's wheel.

Agreed. I mean, really, he has won a lot this year, hasn't he? People have talked about how his climbing has looked better, but his time trialing hasn't been shabby. Only Tony Martin beat him at Pais Vasco. It would be fun to see Contador beat Froome (for me) at the Dauphine, but it would be a lot more fun to see him beat Froome in Paris, and what little I know about the way each man expends and budgets energy suggests to me that Contador is better off letting Froome dig deep in the prep race.

Not that I want either man to win in Paris, mind (go Rui Costa!), but of the two, I'd certainly prefer to see Alberto win.

As for his mental state, Contador strikes me as pretty sanguine about how he's going. He doesn't need to win the Criterium to prove anything. He just needs to ride it well to prepare to prove something in July.