Future GT Winner (Edition 2022)

[tobydawq]

Herzog is gigantic and weighs nearly 75 kg. He would have to slim down immensely if he ever wanted to be a GC threat in a grand tour. He is much more of a Schachmann type of rider.

I weigh a couple of kilos more (78) and am certainly not gigantic!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Herzog is gigantic and weighs nearly 75 kg. He would have to slim down immensely if he ever wanted to be a GC threat in a grand tour. He is much more of a Schachmann type of rider.

I think there is a long interview with Herzog in French, and he doesn't seem to have any ambition in that direction anyway.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Skjelmose is actually an interesting case. I have yet to see him perform well in real mountains, but he's very young and has a great skillset for stage racing (maybe not necessarily 3 week racing, who knows). He should definitely improve in the mountains, but by how much? At this point he's sorta like Primoz without the climbing ability, quite explosive and great in the time trials. He will have a crack at either the Giro or the Vuelta next year most likely, and then we should get to know some more about him

 

[staubsauger]

Skjelmose is actually an interesting case. I have yet to see him perform well in real mountains, but he's very young and has a great skillset for stage racing (maybe not necessarily 3 week racing, who knows). He should definitely improve in the mountains, but by how much? At this point he's sorta like Primoz without the climbing ability, quite explosive and great in the time trials. He will have a crack at either the Giro or the Vuelta next year most likely, and then we should get to know some more about him

I don't understand why these guys don't try to win Switzerland first, like in the 90s.

 

[hayneplane]

Very interesting to note that all the previous poll winners that have subsequently won a Grand Tour took their first title the very next year with the exception of Remco who was 2 years on (injury impact here).

Will be very tough for anyone to break through next year as the top tier of Jonas/Tadej/Remco/Primoz/Egan is both largely very young and at a super high level at least equivalent to Froome/Quintana/Contador/Nibali but even deeper.

Uijtdebroeks Is an interesting case as winning L’Avenir so young should be a great indicator but you have to also factor in that 3 of the top 7 in the final Vuelta GC including 2 of the podium were young enough to be age eligible to have ridden L’Avenir but didn’t do so.

Ayuso looks to have it but would still need a favourable wind of going for Vuelta with the Giro and Tour being brutal like this year to stop double bids.

 

[BigCoward]

Wiggins wouldn't survive those mountains or descent attacks

He wouldn't have had to. The train would have done it for him.

 

[JosefK]

He wouldn't have had to. The train would have done it for him.

That 2012 train at the TDF was insane. I think that was the most dominating train, ever. (And the most discouraging for everyone not in Sky.) Even more than U.S. Postal/Discovery in the Lance era.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Only one in last year's thread to raise his hand for Hindley:

Thanks Netserk!

Even a broken clock is right twice a day as they say

 

[gregrowlerson]

I voted for Ayuso, Mas and Vlasov.

Given his exploits at such a young age it would seem likely that barring injury, Ayuso will win at least a Vuelta one day.

Mas could still win a Vuelta. Though I think it might be a good idea to also give the Giro a go (when there are low ITT kms).

Vlasov....has developed a winners confidence. Only in one week races, but I think it more likely he transfer that to three weeks, then a 4-10th level guy like Gaudu becoming a GT winner.

As for the others; Arensman....almost as likely for Sivakov to have a magical winter and be as much in the GC GT picture. Landa and MAL still pretty good, but probably missed their chances. Rodriguez a solid chance, but you can't say yes to too many with all of the current GT winners to fight against.

Nobody has mentioned Pidcock anywhere here. Will be interesting to see if he can improve his climbing further.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Just checked my betting apps and a certain Irish bookmaker has yet to offer odds on Archie Ryan winning the Tour. Maybe they had few takers when they did with Eddie Dunbar.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Skjelmose is actually an interesting case. I have yet to see him perform well in real mountains, but he's very young and has a great skillset for stage racing (maybe not necessarily 3 week racing, who knows). He should definitely improve in the mountains, but by how much? At this point he's sorta like Primoz without the climbing ability, quite explosive and great in the time trials. He will have a crack at either the Giro or the Vuelta next year most likely, and then we should get to know some more about him

And now he won his first race.

Chances are he won't, we will get a lot more information next year.

 

[Red Rick]

He wouldn't have had to. The train would have done it for him.

We're time traveling the entire team now too?

I think the 2012 team gets a bit overrated due to half the field crashing out and the field not being stellar in the first place. I think Froome was the only guy in that race who was a top 5 climber of 2012.

 

[Pantani_lives]

And here's the round-up:

1. Juan Ayuso 95
2. Carlos Rodríguez 46
3. Cian Uitdebroeks 31
4. Thymen Arensman 19
5. Enric Mas 16
6. João Almeida 16
7. Aleksandr Vlasov 9

After finishing on the Vuelta podium at the tender age of nineteen it's no surprise that Juan Ayuso wins this poll. The Catalan rider has the confidence of the forum to become a grand tour winner in the future.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Hey there! Being a future GT winner sounds like an amazing goal to have! While we can't predict the future with certainty, it's always fun to explore possibilities.

Thanks for this valuable insight, perhaps a mod can now erase you from existence. @Red Rick