Initial Top 10 for the TDF

[greenedge]

After 1720 posts, I have decided to create my own thread which is my first. To alleviate my own boredom ( no races are on at the moment ) I think with the course release having been out for a while, most people have now formulated views as to who can or can't go well.

Of course it depends on who will actually participate and who will be injured leading into this race but for now, list your ideas and then come back in 7 months and look at your initial predictions ( and see how wrong/ right you were ).

Enjoy.

 

[greenedge]

My top 10;
1. Cadel/ Contador
2. Contador/ Cadel
3. Wiggins/ Menchov
4. Menchov/ Wiggins
5. Andy Shleck
6. Levi Leipheimer
7. Samu
8. Frank Shleck
9. Brajkovic
10. It could include anyone from : Kloden, Kern, Horner, Rolland, Cunego/ Scarponi, Voeckler, JVDB, Gesink, Vino, Kessiakoff, Tony Martin ( lol ), Dan Martin ( would have to gain 3 min on every climb ), Kruijswijk, Velits, De Weert, Peraud, Roche, Uran, Froome, Henao, Porte, CVV/ Danielson/ Hejsedal, Coppel, Valverde, Tarramae, Seeldrayers, Jeanneson and of course Nibali ( who should really be around in 6th if only because of his palmares )

 

[Ferminal]

Contador
Evans
Schleck
Froome
Schleck
Sanchez
Wiggins
Nibali
Gesink
Van den Broeck
Menchov

 

[just some guy]

Contador
Evans
Schleck
Froome
Schleck
Sanchez
Wiggins
Nibali
Gesink
Van den Broeck
Menchov

When did you step up to Mr Admin ?

edited by mod: this week

 

[Ruudz0r]

1 Contador
2 Evans
3 Wiggins
4 A Schleck
5 Menchov
6 Gesink
7 VDB
8 Danielson
9 Sanchez
10 Peraud

 

[just some guy]

Evans/Contador *
Contador */Evans
Wiggins
Samu
CVV
Levi
Kloden
Andy
Nibali
Peraud
Fränk

* if he riders thats why there is 11

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

1. Andy Schleck
2. Van den Broeck
3. Sanchez
4. Evans
5. Nibali
6. Kloden
7. Vande Velde
8. Froome
9. Valverde
10. Peraud

 

[Kvinto]

Contador
Evans
A.Schleck
S.Sanchez
Menchov
Scarponi
Van den Broeck
Wiggins
Gesink
F.Schleck

 

[gregrowlerson]

My top 10;
1. Cadel/ Contador
2. Contador/ Cadel
3. Wiggins/ Menchov
4. Menchov/ Wiggins
5. Andy Shleck
6. Levi Leipheimer
7. Samu
8. Frank Shleck
9. Brajkovic
10. It could include anyone from : Kloden, Kern, Horner, Rolland, Cunego/ Scarponi, Voeckler, JVDB, Gesink, Vino, Kessiakoff, Tony Martin ( lol ), Dan Martin ( would have to gain 3 min on every climb ), Kruijswijk, Velits, Peraud, Scarponi, Uran/ Froome, CVV/ Danielson/ Hejsedal, Tarramae, Seeldrayers, Jeanneson and of course Nibali ( who should really be around in 6th )

1. Contador
2. Evans
3. Sanchez
4. Nibali
5. Menchov
6. Kloden
7. Monfort
8. Wiggins.
9. F Schleck
10. T Martin

Predicting A Schleck and Scarponi to ride the Giro, plus Basso of course.

 

[bicing]

Contador
Sanchez
Evans
Nibali
Menchov
Wiggins
A.Schleck
Velits
Kloden
[Peraud or Coppel] or [Garmin dude: Martin, Talansky or Vande Velde]

 

[greenedge]

In the bold prediction thread i said Froome would finish ahead of Wiggins but i think i shall only make that claim later on in the year ( in a pre TDF Top 10 )

 

[theyoungest]

Contador
Schleck
Evans
Menchov
Wiggo
Nibali
Froome
Rolland
VDB
Taaramae

Of course, utterly useless. Half of them will crash out.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Contador
Evans
Wiggins
Menchov
Samu
Gesink
A Schleck
Nibali
Danielson
F Schleck

And some other predictions; KOM - Dan Martin, Green - Cav, White Jersey - Uran (partly because I don't really know who is elegible apart from him, but he has a good shot)

Scarponi and Basso will do the giro, therefore not included here, and Froome will do the Vuelta. All hypothetical of course

 

[theyoungest]

And some other predictions; KOM - Dan Martin, Green - Cav, White Jersey - Uran (partly because I don't really know who is elegible apart from him, but he has a good shot)

Scarponi and Basso will do the giro, therefore not included here, and Froome will do the Vuelta. All hypothetical of course

Taaramae, Poels, Van Garderen, Kruijswijk. And Boasson Hagen, Sagan, but I think the course is not that bereft of climbing.

 

[McLovin]

I see some of you don't think about "élément de surprise" like Rasmussen 2005, Dessel 2006, Kirchen 2007 (and may I say Contador?), Vandevelde 2008, Wiggins 2009, Hesjedal 2010 and Voeckler 2011.
Every year at least one ryder is a topic after first mountain stage and remains in Top 10 until Paris.

 

[maltiv]

Taaramae, Poels, Van Garderen, Kruijswijk. And Boasson Hagen, Sagan, but I think the course is not that bereft of climbing.

Taaramae is the most logical bet. Would surprise me if he doesn't win it. Anyway, the top 10:

1. Contador
2. Menchov
3. Evans
4. A. Schleck
5. Klöden
6. Leipheimer
7. Wiggins
8. Gesink
9. Taaramae
10. Talansky

 

[theyoungest]

Taaramae is the most logical bet. Would surprise me if he doesn't win it.

He could never really mix it with the heads of state this year though. Uran actually looked much better, until the Galibier.

I forgot Talansky, for the white jersey. But I don't think he has that three week ability yet.

 

[greenedge]

I think the white jersey would include contenders such as Taaramae, Talansky, TJVG ( if he does not burn himself to a crisp ),Kruijswijk, and Uran. Jeanneson could do ok as well, maybe even Phinney/ Castrajevo if they can climb ok. I think it comes down to Kruijswijk or Uran though Taaramaes' ITT is good. Is Rolland still eligible?

Basso, Rujano and Kreuziger are omitted, from my selections as they shall do the Giro.. Froome i think shall do the TDF and Vuelta. Cunego/ Scarponi will do the Giro and the other will do the TDF

 

[auscyclefan94]

2012 TDF Top 10

1. Evans
2. Menchov
3. Wiggins
4. Sanchez
5. Nibali
6. A Schleck
7. Velits
8. Leipheimer
9. Horner
10. Van Garderen + White jersey

 

[The Hitch]

1Contador

2(1) Menchov

3 (2)Sanchez
4(4)Andy Schleck
5(3) Evans
6(5) Wiggins
7(7) Nibali
8(6) Valverde
9(8) JVDB
10 (9) CVV)
(10) Frank Schleck

 

[will10]

1 Contador
2 A.Schleck
3 Evans
4 Nibali
5 Wiggins
6 F.Schleck
7 Van den Broeck
8 Sanchez
9 Danielson
10 Menchov

 

[Havetts]

Assuming Contador doesnt ride and Schleck goes to the giro.

1. Menchov
2. Evans
3. Wiggins
4. Sanchez
5. JVDB
6. Gesink
7. F Schleck
8. Nibali
9. Decent climber that got 13 minutes in a breakaway.
10. Kruijswijk to surprise.

 

[Angliru]

1. Andy Schleck
2. Van den Broeck
3. Sanchez
4. Evans
5. Nibali
6. Kloden
7. Vande Velde
8. Froome
9. Valverde
10. Peraud

Please no! Don't let it happen!

1. Contador

2. Evans
3. Menchov
4. Wiggins
5. Kloden
6. Sanchez
7. Andy
8. Valverde
9. Nibali
10. Pinot

 

[Carstenbf]

Not much faith in Voeckler or Rolland, eh?

 

[Zaschrona]

1. Andy Schleck
2. Frank Schleck
3. Alberto Contador
4. Cadel Evans
5. Bradley Wiggins
6. Michele Scarponi
7. Vincenzo Nibali
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck
9. Samuel Sanchez
10. Robert Gesink