Early prediction: Garmin's 2012 TDF top 10'er

[bicing]

2012 ?
2011 Tom Danielson (previous GT-best 6th, Vuelta 2006)
2010 Ryder Hesjedal (previous GT-best 47th, TDF 2008)
2009 Bradley Wiggins (previous GT-best 71st, Giro 2009)
2008 Christian Vande Velde (previous GT-best 24th, TDF 2006)

Since its inception Garmin Slipstream Chipotle H30 Cervelo team, led by Jonathan Vaughters, has produced a surprise packe5t for the GC of the Tour de France. It's been a new gay each time, and it's come out of the blue (... and orange in argyle).

I know it's early but I'm bored, and more importnatly JV just posted and hopefully he votes in this incredibly importabt poll.

I'm not drunk

 

[Fetisoff]

Thomas Dekker

 

[Ferminal]

Haussler for sure... See "Haussler as a GC rider" thread after Colmar.

 

[jens_attacks]

thomas dekker

 

[miguelvazpinto]

Thomas Dekker

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I don't think it's very likely that Dekker will have the requisite level in the mountains, even on this time triallist's course. Le Mevel is a good climber but he's not top 10 level.

Dan Martin would be the obvious pick, but no way on this parcours.

 

[bicing]

Jv please reply

 

[maltiv]

Andrew Talansky.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Andrew Talansky.

Highly unlikely, but one of the few who would be just about conceivable in so far as he can both climb and TT. In reality though, if he goes, it would be strictly as a team mate. After all, the parcours is pretty nice for Vande Velde and Danielson, so they are hardly likely to be putting pressure on a kid in his 2nd GT.

Garmin's top 10 this year will come from an established GC rider.

 

[Richeypen]

Would have gone for Martin apart from all the TTing. Went for Dekker purely because noone has a clue as to what he will perform like next year.

 

[Kvinto]

Christian Vande Velde, if he won't crush and with some amount of luck it might be either of Le Mevel and Hesjedal. I don't think D.Martin can top-10 the Tour, it would rather be Talansky (as it is mentioned above) but he is probably too young...

 

[bicing]

Highly unlikely, but one of the few who would be just about conceivable in so far as he can both climb and TT. In reality though, if he goes, it would be strictly as a team mate. After all, the parcours is pretty nice for Vande Velde and Danielson, so they are hardly likely to be putting pressure on a kid in his 2nd GT.

Garmin's top 10 this year will come from an established GC rider.

You do realise you're suggesting the team enter completely uncharter waters... something that has never happened before in the history of the team... I don't see it

 

[maltiv]

Highly unlikely, but one of the few who would be just about conceivable in so far as he can both climb and TT. In reality though, if he goes, it would be strictly as a team mate. After all, the parcours is pretty nice for Vande Velde and Danielson, so they are hardly likely to be putting pressure on a kid in his 2nd GT.

Garmin's top 10 this year will come from an established GC rider.

Of course it's unlikely, but I reckon it's more likely than most people on this poll...Unless Daniel Martin somehow learns to time trial cause his Vuelta TT was utterly horrible. Realistically though the top 10 will come from Danielson but that's not what this poll is about

 

[Panda Claws]

This is probably a dumb thing to say but

Why is everyone voting for Haussler, isn't he a sprinter?

 

[Kvinto]

but isn't Tour 2012 - the race for sprinters?

 

[l.Harm]

No one I think, maybe Millar.

 

[Havetts]

Voted too soon before seeing Dan Martin in it. Voted for Wegmann, who becomes 10th on the final mountain stage which is won by 9 minutes by the breakaway.

Mark these prophetic words !

 

[El Pistolero]

Safe to say I didn't vote seriously. I wonder what Hrorta's reason was for voting on babyface.

I wanted to vote no one, so I voted for him instead.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Sep Vanmarcke did it quite well in the hills in paris rubaix

 

[hrotha]

Safe to say I didn't vote seriously. I wonder what Hrorta's reason was for voting on babyface.

I wanted to vote no one, so I voted for him instead.

Because upon reading the thread title, before seeing who was in the poll, the image of Vanmarcke flashed before my eyes for a second. Of course, my head was telling me "Sep? No way, it's impossible," but I recognize a sign when I see it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

thomas for sure. with itt kilometers

 

[Mellow Velo]

Clearly, no one here has bothered to read the Thomas Dekker thread.
If Dan Martin were 50% Tony Martin, it would be a no brainer.
Unfortunately, he isn't so I think I'll vote for NOTA.

 

[theyoungest]

Clearly, no one here has bothered to read the Thomas Dekker thread.

Well, if he's now at the level of Dave Zabriskie, that's not a bad point to be at after only a few months of racing. But if I had to choose between the two for next year's Tour, I'd pick Zabriskie.

 

[Moondance]

Martin seem most likely, even if two TTs will make it tough for the Irishman... Although I hope those advocating Thomas Dekker are joking.

 

[El Pistolero]

Because upon reading the thread title, before seeing who was in the poll, the image of Vanmarcke flashed before my eyes for a second. Of course, my head was telling me "Sep? No way, it's impossible," but I recognize a sign when I see it.

You'd earn a lot of money if you put a bet on that and get it right