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

[will10]

His TT was already pretty good last year, he's the national U23 champion after all. Actually climbing-wise I haven't been too impressed this year, that's where I would have expected him to shine. But maybe last year's Avenir just didn't have a very strong field, I mean, Quintana won it... need I say more?

lol, Colombian trolling

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I like him as a rider but obviously I'm not happy he's not riding for Britain.. Still we have Froome with us and he's Kenyan..

It's British Cycling's fault that he declared for Ireland, really.

 

[Richeypen]

Yeah you're right, I didn't check out who voted.

I like him as a rider but obviously I'm not happy he's not riding for Britain.. Still we have Froome with us and he's Kenyan..

And a Belgian Bradley Wiggins

 

[Hugo Koblet]

So does anyone have any ideas as to what races Talansky will be doing next year? I think he could do very well in various one week races.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

His TT was already pretty good last year, he's the national U23 champion after all. Actually climbing-wise I haven't been too impressed this year, that's where I would have expected him to shine. But maybe last year's Avenir just didn't have a very strong field, I mean, Quintana won it... need I say more?

lol @ troll

 

[Cobblestoned]

Should be Millar

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

That'd be the most logical bet.

whoa. Talansky is still young, unproven in GTs. I even suspect sarcasm rather then reality in your post.

Considering your emphasis with reducing the expectation in regards to dekker, I find it odd that you would expect such a performance from a rider in just thier 2nd year. Unless of course you don't expect any of your riders to be near the front, and Talansky is only logical in comparison. Now I agree he appears to be an excellent tt'r, and the course no doubt suits a rider of his abilities, but top 10 in the 'biggest race' of the calander year seems like a massive stretch. Like youngest points out there just hasn't been enough signs that he can cope in the mountains, untill I see otherwise I can't imagine him challangeing a top 10. no way.

 

[CanSprint]

Ryder Hesjedal

Definetly Ryder Hesjedal he crashed last year and is always the strongest on garmin in the third week!

 

[Eric8-A]

Prior to the 2010 season, I'm sure JV was having high hopes for Zabriskie to be their top 10 guy in the Tour with the departure of Wiggo. He said in some video that Zabriskie will surprise, and even in an article, he was saying that either Millar or Zabriskie will be their surprise riders in the Tour.

I want to go with Zabriskie given that he's my favorite rider. The amount of time trial kilometers play to his advantage, but what about the climbing? Seeing him struggle on stage 4 of this year's Tour of California can give away the fact that a top 10's not possible. But he has shown that he can climb on good days (5th at the '07 Dauphine). So it's a bit 50/50 for me. If he really wants it, I'm sure it's something he'll be able to achieve.

 

[scullster46]

whoa. Talansky is still young, unproven in GTs. I even suspect sarcasm rather then reality in your post.

Considering your emphasis with reducing the expectation in regards to dekker, I find it odd that you would expect such a performance from a rider in just thier 2nd year. Unless of course you don't expect any of your riders to be near the front, and Talansky is only logical in comparison. Now I agree he appears to be an excellent tt'r, and the course no doubt suits a rider of his abilities, but top 10 in the 'biggest race' of the calander year seems like a massive stretch. Like youngest points out there just hasn't been enough signs that he can cope in the mountains, untill I see otherwise I can't imagine him challangeing a top 10. no way.

If you look at it logically though, Talansky probably actually does have the best shot. Remember that the Garmin trend is a tdf top ten by someone who hasn't top tenned before. That takes out most of the strongest guys. You're left with Martin, who proved this Vuelta that unless his tting improves by clinic like proportions, he won't be top ten, Millar and Zabriskie who both have climbing troubles, and Talansky.

Dekker might be the only one who could be as good a choice as Talansky, but it would be expecting way too much of him in his first year back.

 

[Eric8-A]

Talansky's still out of the top 10 picture for right now. He only has 1 grand tour under his belt right now and probably doesn't have what it takes to be competitive in a three week race.

Dekker could possibly do it if he can get back into the feel of things. I think it was JV who said he was struggling in Portugal because of the tempo.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If you look at it logically though, Talansky probably actually does have the best shot. Remember that the Garmin trend is a tdf top ten by someone who hasn't top tenned before. That takes out most of the strongest guys. You're left with Martin, who proved this Vuelta that unless his tting improves by clinic like proportions, he won't be top ten, Millar and Zabriskie who both have climbing troubles, and Talansky.

Dekker might be the only one who could be as good a choice as Talansky, but it would be expecting way too much of him in his first year back.

for it to be logical I'd need to see some decent results in the mountains in a WT race.

The logical choice is none.

 

[scullster46]

for it to be logical I'd need to see some decent results in the mountains in a WT race.

The logical choice is none.

But saying none isn't as fun to do

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

But saying none isn't as fun to do

That is true. By the same token I suppose the logical choice for a tour top 10 from greenedge is... goss?

 

[Ferminal]

If the route wasn't so TT heavy Stetina would have seemed more "logical" than Talansky.

@Timmy - O'Grady.

 

[scullster46]

That is true. By the same token I suppose the logical choice for a tour top 10 from greenedge is... goss?

I could see Goss being in the top 10 for a few stages

 

[Eric8-A]

If the route wasn't so TT heavy Stetina would have seemed more "logical" than Talansky.

@Timmy - O'Grady.

Isn't Stetina a fairly good time trialist?