Now Alberto is out, who will win the 2012 Tour de France?

[gingerwallaceafro]

Infact, if the Tour was awarded to the bloke that's the best at going downhill, Nibali might win that ; )

 

[El Pistolero]

I know he didn't, Heras did. No doubts about that.

At least you're not a hypocrite then

 

[EddytheBoss]

Yep, it's what this great thing called sport is based on. Have to say I'm a fan of Nibs myself, love watching him descend.

for sure, would have been great if he blasted down one of the early big decents and got 5 min on everyone..

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

He'd have to be going some to do that! Even on a really good day I doubt he'd get that over one of the Schlecks or Menchov even.. It would be entertaining though, he might have a chance then!

 

[42x16ss]

As good as Nibali and Sanchez are on descents, they still aren't at the same level guys like Savoldelli or Virenque were. Having said that I'd love to see them go nuts and try to make a difference on the downhill.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

At least you're not a hypocrite then

Indeed, thats already what you are

 

[Woody22]

Why so few votes for Levi??

I know a lot of people don't like him , and I don't particularly like him either, but I am suprised that more people don't give him a good shot on this route.

I see him as a similar rider to Cadel in many ways... solid climber and very good in the time trial.

Why no love??

 

[The Hitch]

Why so few votes for Levi??

I know a lot of people don't like him , and I don't particularly like him either, but I am suprised that more people don't give him a good shot on this route.

I see him as a similar rider to Cadel in many ways... solid climber and very good in the time trial.

Why no love??

But levi is a whole olympic cycle older than Cadel.

Its amazing how big a part luck plays. Had this been the course in 07 08 (and he was allowed to ride) and maybe even 09, Levi Leipheimer could have been a TDF winner.


Id love to Levi win, but its not going to happen at 38.

 

[Woody22]

But levi is a whole olympic cycle older than Cadel.

Its amazing how big a part luck plays. Had this been the course in 07 08 (and he was allowed to ride) and maybe even 09, Levi Leipheimer could have been a TDF winner.


Id love to Levi win, but its not going to happen at 38.

Winning at 38 would be very unlikely I guess.

Don't know, just got a feeling that he will do very well at this years Tour.

 

[Swede1]

for sure, would have been great if he blasted down one of the early big decents and got 5 min on everyone..

Descents really dont make too much of a difference. If its wet and raining then maybe they can but otherwise no. Its not like Contador would lose the Giro because Nibali descended faster than him a couple times. Its going up that matters.

 

[Ferminal]

He's very inconsistent in GTs and hasn't done a good one since the 2008 Vuelta?

Excluding the 4th GT of course.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I actually like levi.

But i doubt he can win, not with young guns like horner contending.

 

[Maxiton]

I actually like levi.

But i doubt he can win, not with young guns like horner contending.

Good one.

I'm thinking that with today's improved training methods Levi might ride the Tour better than he ever has - though, as TLR says, he might be bested by young Horner.

What would you guys think if either Levi or Horner won? I mean, would there be any way to take that seriously?

 

[Afrank]

I actually like levi.

But i doubt he can win, not with young guns like horner contending.

I don't think Levi will be able contend for the tour de france podium anymore, if he prepares well he might be able to get a top 10, but there are too many others that are better climbers, and just as good at time trials for him to get on the podium.

 

[orangerider]

Winning at 38 would be very unlikely I guess.

Don't know, just got a feeling that he will do very well at this years Tour.

It's a sure thing Levi wont win but he'll place higher in the rankings than Wiggins. Don't know why Wiggins is so elevated when he's accomplished far less than Levi in grand tour racing.

 

[Ferminal]

It's a sure thing Levi wont win but he'll place higher in the rankings than Wiggins. Don't know why Wiggins is so elevated when he's accomplished far less than Levi in grand tour racing.

And yet since 2009 Wiggins has a 4th and a 3rd and Levi has a 6th.

Levi is great in the shorter stage races, arguably one of the best and most consistent stretching back almost a decade. If I were a fan it wouldn't bother me if he wasn't interested in another GT top5 anymore and instead wanted to add a couple more of the top week-long races to his resume.

Of course, that is not to say he couldn't come out and win the Tour this year, honestly it wouldn't surprise me but based on recent GT form you wouldn't expect it (as Evans showed, that doesn't count for much).

 

[orangerider]

And yet since 2009 Wiggins has a 4th and a 3rd and Levi has a 6th.

And remember Levi was riding to nurse LA, foremost, not riding the Tour for his own ambitions. I'd say Levi did remarkably well when considering this factor.

 

[eliacodogno]

Levi was already in good shape to san luis, although this has not dominated

 

[Quixote]

First, the Vuelta will be so much easier to pick...fresh legs and an angry heart will win that one.
The tour:
I went with Cadel. Am I wrong in thinking that the course seems to favor him? But what about Thomas Voeckler? He's proven that he can hang in there but how are his TT skills? Wiggins and Levi could share the podium. Andy...I doubt it.

 

[Maxiton]

And yet since 2009 Wiggins has a 4th and a 3rd and Levi has a 6th.

Levi is great in the shorter stage races, arguably one of the best and most consistent stretching back almost a decade. If I were a fan it wouldn't bother me if he wasn't interested in another GT top5 anymore and instead wanted to add a couple more of the top week-long races to his resume.

Of course, that is not to say he couldn't come out and win the Tour this year, honestly it wouldn't surprise me but based on recent GT form you wouldn't expect it (as Evans showed, that doesn't count for much).

I'm sorry, Levi Leipheimer winning the Tour de France for the first time at 38 years old makes no sense to me. He's done consistently well, as you said, in shorter races, but he's never seriously looked like someone who was going to win the Tour. And now that he's 38 he should be getting ready to retire. If either he or Horner win it's not exactly going to enhance the credibility of cycling. Not saying it's impossible but maybe it should be.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'm sorry, Levi Leipheimer winning the Tour de France for the first time at 38 years old makes no sense to me. He's done consistently well, as you said, in shorter races, but he's never seriously looked like someone who was going to win the Tour. And now that he's 38 he should be getting ready to retire. If either he or Horner win it's not exactly going to enhance the credibility of cycling. Not saying it's impossible but maybe it should be.

TIC man, TIC.

 

[Maxiton]

TIC man, TIC.

What's TIC?

 

[Maxiton]

Right, okay, TlC it is.

 

[Ferminal]

I'm sorry, Levi Leipheimer winning the Tour de France for the first time at 38 years old makes no sense to me. He's done consistently well, as you said, in shorter races, but he's never seriously looked like someone who was going to win the Tour. And now that he's 38 he should be getting ready to retire. If either he or Horner win it's not exactly going to enhance the credibility of cycling. Not saying it's impossible but maybe it should be.

Leipheimer was time bonuses away from Contador in the Vuelta, and a bad day at Tignes away from him in the Tour, and we all know how good he was in that final TT, and the fact that Contador actually cracked a little on Aubisque and Levi was able to push on. He was as close to a GT win in 07/08 as Evans was. Credible or not, Horner has shown us that it's possible for a man of that age to perform on par with the best. Evans is of course younger, but still the oldest Tour winner, we really don't know how old is too old?

 

[SilentAssassin]

1. Menchov
2. A. Schleck
3. Evans

Menchov will win the tour in the Time Trial. Cadel Evans will wheel Andy in in the final time trial, but it won't be enough for the time that he lost to Andy in the mountains.