Is any rider able to challenge Contador in his peak form at the 2015 Tour De France?

[Netbalp]

The 2015 Vuelta predictably entais the most obvious question...

 

[LaFlorecita]

All three. New season is a new chapter. Everything is possible.

But realistically, only Froome if there's lots of TT. Only Quintana if lots of mountains. Both if mixed. Nibali if cobbles.

 

[Carols]

New season. Anyone can challenge even someone we've never heard of!

 

[movingtarget]

All three. New season is a new chapter. Everything is possible.

But realistically, only Froome if there's lots of TT. Only Quintana if lots of mountains. Both if mixed. Nibali if cobbles.

Even without a lot of mountains, TT kms or cobbles, those three will challenge Contador unless Contador hurts his leg again. In that case he will unbeatable.

 

[SeriousSam]

Quintana can't TT and probably still can't climb with peak Contador.

Nibali is closer but still not good enough.

Only Froome.

 

[Miburo]

Nibali, froome and quintana. No one else.

It depends on the parcours but it's not that Contador is the main guy right now.

They're all on rather the same level or close at least, that's what makes it exciting.

Can Contador follow or ride away from a 100% Froome? The same about Nibali? Can quintana improve more and will his ITT get even better? There are many questions to be answered.

Should be very exciting, but i give it a 20% chance we'll see them all in the tour at 100%.

 

[hrotha]

Froome and Quintana shouldn't be far off. Nibali too, if he plays his cards right.

Not only will it be a new season, but the Vuelta is not the Tour.

 

[sir fly]

Andy Schleck will destroy them all.
... only to find a team.

 

[cineteq]

Is any rider able to challenge <put your favorite rider here> in his peak form at the 2015 Tour De France?

peak form? what's the reference? this, last year?

 

[Matt92]

Nibali, Quintana and Froome will challenge. Of course, Contador will start as the favourite, but those three are not too far behind.

The route could be decisive in determining who the main challenger will be: with lots of TT, it would be Froome. If the route will be heavily in favour of climbers, it could be Quintana.
Nibali will attack till he falls off his bike in any case .

 

[richtea]

I think you can rest assured that if anyone does challenge, the argument will be made that he is not in peak form.

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

 

[veji11]

Sorry guys but this thread is ridiculous... Come on, yeay Contador won the Vuelta with Froome and Valverde inside the 2 minutes mark "wow the guy is unbeatable"... Well that same guy was 2mn30 behind Nibali after the cobbles stage on the tour.. something many tend to forget, only remembering that he crashed out of a "sure fire" victory...

To me Contador will be one of the favorites, along the 3 other stooges, for the GTs next year, of course, but the 2013 Contador could be back too !

 

[Netbalp]

I think you can rest assured that if anyone does challenge, the argument will be made that he is not in peak form.

Any poll cannot exist without moods of fans and realtists but still. I think Contador is a favorite for more or less balanced route. Froome's chance is heavier if the route includes 2 chronos. Quintana and Nibali should rely on their improvement as compared with their level we could see thus far.

 

[Ryaguas]

The Alien
Nibs
NairoMan
Aru

Since Le Tour always involves a lot of TT (at least more than Giro or Vuelta) the fav will be always Froome cuz his TT, after him I'd put AC... I cant see Nairo nor Nibs improving that much in ITTs.

 

[MBotero]

If this is about a Contador in a form like 2007-2011,no one can really challenge that Contador from those 3.But if you consider the Contador of 2012-2014 i believe that Froome,Nibali or Quintana can challenge him equally.
Why people keep repeat this B.S. that Froome need long TT to win a GT,his no Wiggins FFS.Froome is one of the best climbers,beeing a great time trialist is a bonus,but he won Le Tour at Ax 3 Domaines and Mont Ventoux.

 

[Netserk]

If this is about a Contador in a form like 2007-2011,no one can really challenge that Contador from those 3.But if you consider the Contador of 2012-2014 i believe that Froome,Nibali or Quintana can challenge him equally.
Why people keep repeat this B.S. that Froome need long TT to win a GT,his no Wiggins FFS.Froome is one of the best climbers,beeing a great time trialist is a bonus,but he won Le Tour at Ax 3 Domaines and Mont Ventoux.

Contador 2014 > 2011

Hell I'd even argue he was > 2009 or at least = 2009.

 

[Forunculo]

I agree about "New season, new chapter" but Froome is the most solid rival. In theory he is better in flat ITT and equal on climbs. Not a exactly science of course.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

in a balanced route Froome will be really close/ beat him
In a very mountainious editiion Quintana will be up there for sure
In a very interesting edition Nibali will win hands down

 

[Ryaguas]

If this is about a Contador in a form like 2007-2011,no one can really challenge that Contador from those 3.But if you consider the Contador of 2012-2014 i believe that Froome,Nibali or Quintana can challenge him equally.
Why people keep repeat this B.S. that Froome need long TT to win a GT,his no Wiggins FFS.Froome is one of the best climbers,beeing a great time trialist is a bonus,but he won Le Tour at Ax 3 Domaines and Mont Ventoux.

If you have only mountains a 100% Contador and Nairo will beat him anyday... that's why He needs ITT to win

 

[DFA123]

If you have only mountains a 100% Contador and Nairo will beat him anyday... that's why He needs ITT to win

Where is the evidence that Quintana would beat an on form Froome in the mountains? Froome was the best climber in the world in 2013 by a distance and was probably better than Contador in the first few stages at the Dauphine this year.

 

[MBotero]

Contador 2014 > 2011

Hell I'd even argue he was > 2009 or at least = 2009.

Maybe because i'm not a fan of Contador i see the things a bit different.I don't think Contador 2014 was back at his best level,it's just that people still have fresh in mind the Contador of 2013,and of course the difference is huge.

 

[sir fly]

I was hoping for a return from the Netherlands via Flanders, but it looks like they'll do it through the Ardennes, so more likely the race will be decided on strength rather than skill.
The ttt will most likely feature again with the Alps starring.
The route that all the contenders should approve and no one should feel disadvantaged.

 

[MBotero]

If you have only mountains a 100% Contador and Nairo will beat him anyday... that's why He needs ITT to win

Lol,maybe you need to look back at Froome saga from Vuelta 2011 to Vuelta 2014 than come back and see if he really need ITT to win.He's a climber who can TT well.If he's sucking at climbing,TT won't save him,he's good but not at Wiggo level to make huge gaps.

 

[HappyLoser]

he won Le Tour at Ax 3 Domaines and Mont Ventoux.

I didn't notice that last year... Did I miss something?