Le Tour de France 2013: who will win?

[Altitude]

Froome can't climb with Schleck or Contador if they are in top condition. There's those two then there's the rest. Froome will be battling for a distant third.

 

[Ferminal]

But Evans could?

(With Schleck)

Froome is certainly not worse than Evans 2011.

 

[Altitude]

I do not think Schleck was in top form in last years Tour. But yeah, I'd take 2011 Evans over Froome for sure.

 

[babastooey]

I am more interested in the question -- What position overall will Bradley Wiggins finish in? Top 20? Top 30?

 

[airstream]

'Froome can't can't match Schleck and Contador' and 'Froome is a diesel' are completely spinned out of the air. Apparently people like to live by the 2009 rankings, they don't consider the 2012 Tour a competition whatsoever or something.

 

[ILovecycling]

'Froome can't can't match Schleck and Contador' and 'Froome is a diesel' are completely spinned out of the air. Apparently people like to live by the 2009 rankings, they don't consider the 2012 Tour a competition whatsoever or something.

There werent real climbers

 

[Ferminal]

I don't think Purito will do the 2013 Tour either.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Lol airstream Froome was not around in 2009

 

[greenedge]

I do not think Schleck was in top form in last years Tour. But yeah, I'd take 2011 Evans over Froome for sure.

2007 i would as well.
I think Shleck was, he was just too cautious/ too tactical until Galibier. Alpe D Huez he rode badly as well, since he was tired from being with Contador.

 

[airstream]

There werent real climbers

What do 'real climbers' imply? But there was a grandiose team mountain work probably the most impressive one since CSC in the 2008 Tour. Froome is not a real climber? Are you kidding? While on form the guy is able to burn out any uphill. He's got an excellent explosive power. He is better than say Andy in this regard, however he is allegedly a real climber.

 

[Marco Pantani]

What do 'real climbers' imply? But there was a grandiose team mountain work probably the most impressive one since CSC in the 2008 Tour. Froome is not a real climber? Are you kidding? While on form the guy is able to burn out any uphill. He's got an excellent explosive power. He is better than say Andy in this regard, however he is allegedly a real climber.

Contador couldn't drop Andy from 2010 on. Andy matched his accelerations immediately, except from Mende, where Andy was on a bad day.

No way, Froome accelerates harder than Andy.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador couldn't drop Andy from 2010 on. Andy matched his accelerations immediately, except from Mende, where Andy was on a bad day.

No way, Froome accelerates harder than Andy.

In 2013 we will see the real Alberto, Andy and Froomedog will cry cos they get their *** beaten so badly.

By the way what about Alpe dHuez 2011? Or stage 16 (?)

 

[Marco Pantani]

You can answer yourself, I think.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

What do 'real climbers' imply? But there was a grandiose team mountain work probably the most impressive one since CSC in the 2008 Tour. Froome is not a real climber? Are you kidding? While on form the guy is able to burn out any uphill. He's got an excellent explosive power. He is better than say Andy in this regard, however he is allegedly a real climber.

How do you even know this when he never faced the riders that are considered top climbers? Sure, he climbs better than JVDB, Nibali and Wiggins on relatively easy MTF's. But hey, outclimbing JVDB, Nibali and Wiggins is a walk in the park for Contador and in-shape Schleck.

That' why this TDF will be so exciting; for the fist tim we'll actually get to see how Froome does against the best climbers. Finally, after almost two years we'll get to see what Froome is really worth. Is he going to keep up with the big climbers on a real climb, like say, Ventoux. This is the question we're all asking, and we don't have an answer, we jus have our own speculations, up untill we see it happen in June.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You can answer yourself, I think.

No I can't

 

[The Hitch]

Contador couldn't drop Andy from 2010 on. Andy matched his accelerations immediately, except from Mende, where Andy was on a bad day.

.

Gap.

10 characters

 

[ILovecycling]

What do 'real climbers' imply? But there was a grandiose team mountain work probably the most impressive one since CSC in the 2008 Tour. Froome is not a real climber? Are you kidding? While on form the guy is able to burn out any uphill. He's got an excellent explosive power. He is better than say Andy in this regard, however he is allegedly a real climber.

IMO Froome is not a 'real climber',but it is only speculation.I dont know,you dont know if he is or isnt,we all hope that will see next year.
Real climber for me is a guy who can accelerate multiple times in mountain stage and puts down destroying attacks against the best climbers (Schleck,Contador) and hurt them with his attacks

to 1.bolded:
He is not able to do this against explosive riders like Purito,Alberto or Andy.

to 2.bolded
He is not more explosive than Andy,you will see on Vetoux(where will Andy attack IMO)

 

[Marco Pantani]

No I can't

Ok I' ll clear up.

Ascent to Alpe, Contador was no threat anymore, different to the early attack. Andy cared about Evans only.

Stage 16....was Contador dropped by Evans' accelerations on Galibier? No, he just suffered that day.

In the same way Andy wasn't outpaced that day, in my opinion. Also, he didn't knew tactically, what to do. Waiting for Fränk, working together afterwards? Sure, Andy suffered from the weather.

I'll go out now, please be patient for further answers.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ok I' ll clear up.

Ascent to Alpe, Contador was no threat anymore, different to the early attack. Andy cared about Evans only.

Stage 16....was Contador dropped by Evans' accelerations on Galibier? No, he just suffered that day.

In the same way Andy wasn't outpaced that day, in my opinion. Also, he didn't knew tactically, what to do. Waiting for Fränk, working together afterwards? Sure, Andy suffered from the weather.

I'll go out now, please be patient for further answers.

Yes of course

 

[airstream]

Contador couldn't drop Andy from 2010 on. Andy matched his accelerations immediately, except from Mende, where Andy was on a bad day.

No way, Froome accelerates harder than Andy.

WHY? Because no one can't be on their level or what? Lol. Froome's manner is more sharpened for attacks. It's quite obvious.

Stage 16....was Contador dropped by Evans' accelerations on Galibier? No, he just suffered that day.

Would Contador have been dropped if Evans hadn't pulled so brutally? Of course not. It's an excellent justification not to look up to other's strength. Was he dropped cos' he suffered. . It's sort of a captivity of stereotypes like a superclimber can not be dropped with rapid steady pace. But this is not the case. because everyone can be dropped.

He is not able to do this against explosive riders like Purito,Alberto or Andy.

It's wrong. You do conclusion on Froome mostly on the 2012 Vuelta where he lost rather to his bad shape than to Contador. However when you rate Contador, you act like Vuelta didn't exist. Ok, let's declare that since Vuelta there are two or three equal climbers - Contador, Purito and Alex. Agree? But when one says Froome is not an explosive climber... I don't know how one should watch races to think so.

He is not more explosive than Andy,you will see on Vetoux(where will Andy attack IMO

Unfortunately, it is an old light-geared Andy. Nowadays he pedals in a more thickset way. After 2009 his trainers changed his work a bit to improve TT skills almost unsuccessfully.

Sure, he climbs better than JVDB, Nibali and Wiggins on relatively easy MTF's. But hey, outclimbing JVDB, Nibali and Wiggins is a walk in the park for Contador and in-shape Schleck.

It was so in 2010, what it is going to happen in 2013 we can only guess. Nibali doesn't have a tag 'i'll never be able to climb like schleck and contador' on his forehead. Froome is on the biggest rise among current big guns.

 

[ILovecycling]

It's wrong. You do conclusion on Froome mostly on the 2012 Vuelta where he lost rather to his bad shape than to Contador. However when you rate Contador, you act like Vuelta didn't exist. Ok, let's declare that since Vuelta there are two or three equal climbers - Contador, Purito and Alex. Agree? But when one says Froome is not an explosive climber... I don't know how one should watch races to think so.

Unfortunately, it is an old light-geared Andy. Nowadays he pedals in a more thickset way. After 2009 his trainers changed his work a bit to improve TT skills almost unsuccessfully.

1.No,it is not conclusion from Vuelta,its conclusion of all races 2011 and 2012 what has Froome raced.Its simple,I believe that Contador and Schleck can repeat or improve their best performaces and so beat Froome,I believe that Froome might improve 2012 level,but it wont be enough to match Contador and Schleck in Ax3,Ventoux,Dhuez.Anyway I dont expect big gaps.

2.I mean when Andy goes allout on big climb Froome cant resist,thats my thing.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

It was so in 2010, what it is going to happen in 2013 we can only guess. Nibali doesn't have a tag 'i'll never be able to climb like schleck and contador' on his forehead. Froome is on the biggest rise among current big guns.

That was exactly the point of my post. Froome has shown things that suggest he might be a real threat to AC and AS, but he hasn't proved a thing against them yet. However, he hasn't had the chance to either; and since he seems to climb better than the rest, it'll be great to see how he'll fare against the two riders who are currently considered the best climbers. Maybe those two will affirm their status, maybe Froome will show to be as good a climber, or maybe he'll do better. Who knows. But as long as he didn't actually beat the best climbers, there's no point in saying Froome is one of the best climbers. He simply hasn't had a proper chance of showing whether he is or isn't at the moment.

 

[Mongolian Torque]

Hesjedal...

Hmmm...

HESJEDAL!

 

[SafeBet]

Wanted to vote for Berto but apparently I can't vote.
Don't remember voting before but maybe I was drunk. Who cares anyway.

 

[winkybiker]

I don't know who will win, but I will be very disappointed if "Froome-dog" gets much airtime. His riding is just so f*&^ing ugly. The head-bobbing, the stupid white glasses, the bony arms.....the whole package. Add in the air-head trophy girlfriend and his privileged upbringing. I just have this (completely irrational) dislike of the guy.