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Most likely to challenge Contador?

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Who is most likely to rival Contador in GTs?

  • Someone else(write in below)

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  • Total voters
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That's why you crash going DOWNHILL where momentum is easier to pick up. The more advanced of you may want to crash going downhill on a switchback so as to land on the road ahead and go forth. This does have some drawbacks, as Óscar Pereiro would tell you, however.
 
Libertine Seguros said:
That's why you crash going DOWNHILL where momentum is easier to pick up. The more advanced of you may want to crash going downhill on a switchback so as to land on the road ahead and go forth. This does have some drawbacks, as Óscar Pereiro would tell you, however.

Falling downhill seems a lot more painfull... That's my main concern
 
Aug 6, 2009
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theyoungest said:
Right now the obvious answer is Andy Schleck, although I don't see how he'll ever be remotely as strong as Contador in a TT, which he'll have to be.

Well Contador is going to try to do the double in 2011 that might give Andy an edge. Of cause that's just a cariation of the commenly stated view that no one is likely to beat Contador if Contador is in top form.
 
Nibali.

I think we'll see him develop a bit more over the next two years, and his team has a lot of other cards that they can play to take pressure off of him while he does. In fact, I think if anyone can fill the T-Mobile 05 role (attack the strongest guy with lots of guys who could potentially win), it's Liquigas, not Radioshack or Saxo. That'll help him, Kreuziger, and Pellizotti, but I think Nibali will develop into the best all-rounder out of the three.

His consistent performances across the big climbs in last year's final week give him the nod, I think.
 
Oct 29, 2009
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I voted for "other" because I think there are three major competitors. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nibali emerge as a major threat in the near future. Also Andy Schleck, obviously, but he'll never truly have a great chance of winning until he can at least limit his losses in a TT. The one I see truly defeating in AC is Airborne Allergens. If he shows up at a GT, AC might as well stay home. Either that or incorporate Zyrtec into his program.
 
Aug 6, 2009
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ImmaculateKadence said:
I voted for "other" because I think there are three major competitors. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nibali emerge as a major threat in the near future. Also Andy Schleck, obviously, but he'll never truly have a great chance of winning until he can at least limit his losses in a TT. The one I see truly defeating in AC is Airborne Allergens. If he shows up at a GT, AC might as well stay home. Either that or incorporate Zyrtec into his program.

Well I can see your point, but I just don't see Airborne Allergens actually winning the Tour. His TT is abysmal, way worse than Andy's and while his climbing is strong his decent is abysmal.
 
mr. tibbs said:
Nibali.

I think we'll see him develop a bit more over the next two years, and his team has a lot of other cards that they can play to take pressure off of him while he does. In fact, I think if anyone can fill the T-Mobile 05 role (attack the strongest guy with lots of guys who could potentially win), it's Liquigas, not Radioshack or Saxo. That'll help him, Kreuziger, and Pellizotti, but I think Nibali will develop into the best all-rounder out of the three.

His consistent performances across the big climbs in last year's final week give him the nod, I think.

I voted Nibali too. I like him. If Leaky can hang on to him and Kreuziger, they'll get some great GT results. Can't see Andy getting any closer unless he majorly improves his TT.

I think Menchov will be the closest guy this year though.

Why are Piti and Wigans even on there!? :confused:
 
Apr 26, 2010
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I voted Ricco.....
I am definitely not a fan and Ricco has to learn how to shut his mouth when he should. However, he has had already to second-place GC finishes in the month and a bit that he has been back plus two stage victories (or was it three?)
His TT isn't great yet, but if he could develop more and find a greater-budget team, he would be a serious threat to Contador. Maybe BMC will take him in place for Frei :D
 
Mar 13, 2009
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kreuziger is younger than almost all others and has a chance to develop while Contador gets bored of winning.
 
karlboss said:
kreuziger is younger than almost all others and has a chance to develop while Contador gets bored of winning.

The best cure for boredom is changing your goals.

And I voted Ricco. I'd be willing to pay good money to see those two battle for the win.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Publicus said:
The best cure for boredom is changing your goals.

And I voted Ricco. I'd be willing to pay good money to see those two battle for the win.

Yep bored change goals over reach....kreuziger wins :p

I thought about ricco, but he's older than the others.
 

ttrider

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Apr 23, 2010
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My Summary
Kreuzinger: I ve bever been convinced by him at all im afraid, i know hes young but hes only good in short tts and isnt that good climbing either, i would be very surprised to see him top 5 in any GT i dont think he has the class

Nibali: Good TT but showed a lot of class in the tour last year, i just get the feeling he will really improve this year at tour ultimately podium at the vuelta, already better than Contador down hill Lance aint bad but Nibali descended like a stone in stage 17 in 09 making Lance look like a drunk menchov

Gesink: Plenty of potential and very good already uphill putting Valverde Evans and Sanchez in the red in the vuelta, ultimately tt is an issue

A schleck: Not as close to Contador on the climbs as people make out but at the moment certainly the closest to him, he may need to put on a kilo or so in muscle and sort out position for tts

Wiggins: NO CHANCE IN HELL (and im english)

Rujano: he may have THE perfect climbing body and a decent tt despite this but highly doubt it, hes so over rated and talks more rubbish than Ricco, 3rd best climber in only his mind

Valverde: Depends on CAS but if ok equal to A schleck, better in tt slightly worse uphill, if time bonifications return he is the closest

Van den brock: No way, gains most time in mountain stages by early brakes hes not pulled back because he simply isn't a threat and would not be at the sharp end in mountain stages if it wasnt for this

Ricco: If he gets a pro tour team i think he has every chance, he WAS better in the mountains in the 08 Giro but obviously there was a reason for that but still looks very good now TT not bad but only time will tell......
 
Jul 13, 2009
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Wouldn't it be nice if Ricco could really challenge Contador? That has the most potential for drama. As for Schleck, I just see him shaking the winner's hand, saying something like "Jolly good show Alberto! Let's do it again next year," and then play hide-without-seeking for 11 months. Ricco will talk smack in the press, win smaller races, and go down struggling and protesting at every turn. If he doesn't win, that is.
 

ttrider

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Apr 23, 2010
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Who else here would like to see teams like Milram, Bbox and Footon gain
Landis
Rasmussen
Kasheshkin
Ricco
Mosquera
Sevilla
Niemec
Rujano
Garzelli
Feillu x2
Now that sure would liven up the tour! its sport and entertainment some of these have chequered pasts but all would bring intrigue
 

Polish

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Mar 11, 2009
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I voted "someone else" - but I do not know who.

Someone who has not been named by anyone so far.

Some young kid, relatively or completely unknown now, that will be better known in a couple years....

There is a young Eddy or Bernard or Greg out there?
Maybe a clone?
 
Moondance said:
He's gonna have to learn how to stay on his bike.... And you'd think that if he hasn't learnt that yet by age 23 he ain't going to any time soon.

Gesink has had a string of bad crashes/luck over the past 2 years that is quite similar to a stretch Evans had where I believe he broke his clavicle 2 or 3 times over the course of a year. Admittedly Gesink's bike handling skills are questionable but he is still young and the possessor of a world of talent. To say one can't improve upon a weak point, especially a 24 year old rider is being pretty harsh.
 
Jan the Man said:
It's the obvious choice but I have to go with Schleck.

While others on the list are more likely to win a GT sooner than Schleck I think he's the only one who can possibly challenge Contador in a GT. At the moment this requires Contador having at least one jour sans.

I think Schelck remains only 24 so he has time on his side to improve his TTing. If that improves 5-10% so as he's losing only one minute or so over 50km to Contador then he can stay close enough to capitalise on a mistake by Contador in the mountains.

Other riders on the list are better tters than Schleck or more explosive, but he's the only one who has shown he can consistently hang on to Contador in the high mountains.

I wouldn't really call what he does versus Contador as "hanging on". Contador put time into Andy whenever he really chose to. That hasn't changed and without the harness that was Bruyneel and Armstrong's strategy of, according to Vaughters "soft pedaling" for the old man, he likely would have put even more time into his opponents.
 
Apr 18, 2010
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well here goes one i really like tony martin and he might be able to contend. his climbing is not that bad and his tt is world class. There is anton who has put alberto to work on his last stage race and l-b-l.
 
Jan 4, 2010
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Polish said:
I voted "someone else" - but I do not know who.

Someone who has not been named by anyone so far.

Some young kid, relatively or completely unknown now, that will be better known in a couple years....

There is a young Eddy or Bernard or Greg out there?
Maybe a clone?


I would have to go with Schelck.

A young guy up and comming I believe is Taylor Phinney. Hae to see how he develops.
 
Oct 29, 2009
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Cerberus said:
Well I can see your point, but I just don't see Airborne Allergens actually winning the Tour. His TT is abysmal, way worse than Andy's and while his climbing is strong his decent is abysmal.

Good points. Allergens won't win the Tour, but he does have this ability to get in AC's head and completely ruin his uphill prowess. Remember CI? Allergens was practically invisible the whole race, but his presence really messed with AC.

:D

Publicus said:
The best cure for boredom is changing your goals.

True, but what would be his goals? The Classics? He has shown me zero ability in one day races....so far.

Also I wonder if the Mur de Huy was a sign of the Tour's mountain stages. He'll have to really race come July, and if all it takes to beat him is wheel sucking, all the guys mentioned could be competitors. I don't think anybody can ride away from him uphill, but most of the guys mentioned in the poll could certainly ride his wheel.
 
Aug 6, 2009
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ImmaculateKadence said:
Good points. Allergens won't win the Tour, but he does have this ability to get in AC's head and completely ruin his uphill prowess. Remember CI? Allergens was practically invisible the whole race, but his presence really messed with AC.
There is that, but Allergens usually doesn't even bother with any races that's not in the Spring. He just sits on his *** all summer and winter. He's like an airborne version of Stejn Devolder.

ImmaculateKadence said:
True, but what would be his goals? The Classics? He has shown me zero ability in one day races....so far.

Also I wonder if the Mur de Huy was a sign of the Tour's mountain stages. He'll have to really race come July, and if all it takes to beat him is wheel sucking, all the guys mentioned could be competitors. I don't think anybody can ride away from him uphill, but most of the guys mentioned in the poll could certainly ride his wheel.
Are we still talking about Contador here? Seem to me a third place in La Flèche Wallonne demonstrates some ability in one day races, certainly not on level with his GT abilities.

As for the Mur signifying anything for the Tour no. Just look at the top 10: It contains only 4 people who are GT contenders, the remaining 6 are one day riders who can't do anything significant in GTs (counting Cunego as a 1-day rider). One 1,3 k climb just isn't the same as a real mountain.