Potentiality. Who is the best Grand Tour Contender?

[Ferminal]

TJVG the guy who has been dropped by Porte about 6 times in 18 months

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Contador, Valverde... the guys which have been dropped by SKY 5853839 times in 18 months ?¿?¿?

The question is who havent been dropped by a SKY member in the last year.


TJ arguments,

2012:

PN: 5°, TDF: 5°

2013

TSL: 2°, PN: 4°, CI: 3°, TOC: 1°.

 

[cineteq]

where is H.E.N.A.O. ????

He's sick.

Seriously I would've voted for him.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Quintana based on his Vo2 max as well as the power to weight ratio. His results show him to be very capable. The only rider to match the big three of Spanish cycling in the Vuelta 2012

 

[gooner]

Quintana.

A brilliant TT in Pais Vasco confirmed his potential. Matt Rendell said he was talking to Dave Brailsford and got told by him that he thinks Quintana is a future Tour winner.

I like Pinot as well but his TT performance in Romandie was disappointing and I fear this could be his Achilles heel that will cost him any chance of overall in the future. Vital he improves here. A bit like Andy.

 

[jaylew]

Not sure why Kelderman and Fuglsang are here instead of Uran and Henao...or Betancur instead of those two for that matter.

For this poll:

Nairo
Porte
Talansky
TJVG

 

[diorgen]

Brajkovic!

 

[Miburo]

How you can place TJ higher than Porte or Quintana is beyond me.

 

[the asian]

Quintana by a country mile.

By the time he retires he would have joined the elite club of cyclists to win all 3 GTs.

TJVG is overrated. The only GT he has a possibility of winning is the Tour and for that too, everything would have to fall in place a.l.a Wiggins.
He also seesm to lack the killer instinct. I see him as the new Ulrich/Schleck.

Betancur has the possibility of winning an Purito Vuelta. He'll have to improve his TT skills to win the Giro.

Talansky should help himself to a couple of podium places but IMO a GT victory will be beyond him, unless there are TT heavy Vueltas.

Henao should have been included in the poll. He will win a couple of GTs.

Pinot is too unpredictable. Have to see how he goes in this years' Tour.
Him focusing only on the Tour will be a disadvantage, but a Tour win (with very few TT Kms) will not be beyond him.

 

[Kokoso]

Don't know what Fuglsang, Kelderman and Rolland are doing there. Rolland is totally overhyped.

 

[Kokoso]

When Fuglsang and Kelderman is there, you might as well add König. He's at least much better climber.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

When Fuglsang and Kelderman is there, you might as well add König. He's at least much better climber.

not necessarily disagreeing, but the picture is quite hazy, Konig has yet to start a GT, I believe. Lets see what he can do in the Vuelta.

 

[Kokoso]

not necessarily disagreeing, but the picture is quite hazy, Konig has yet to start a GT, I believe. Lets see what he can do in the Vuelta.

Im glad that Kiserlovski didn't feature at least

 

[bursaomentalis]

Im glad that Kiserlovski didn't feature at least

IMO kiserlovski is progressing steadily, he is climbing very good so far in the giro, and he is still only 26, two years younger than fuglsang and porte

 

[all_in]

For me is:
1.Henao
2.Quintana
3.Tejay
4.Pinot
5.Betancur
6.Talansky
7.Uran
8.Dombrovski
9.Aru
10.Porte ( I think he will not be a leader in a GT at Sky)

 

[RedZone]

10.Porte ( I think he will not be a leader in a GT at Sky)

Pretty sure he will lead one next year

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

When Fuglsang and Kelderman is there, you might as well add König. He's at least much better climber.

They're talking about potential and Kelderman is 22. Konig is more than 3 years older than that and all he did is get some good climbing results in mediocre fields. Don't get me wrong, Konig is a good rider, but as far as GC results go, Kelderman is al ready beyond him with top 10 places in WT stage races, even though he is 3 years younger.

Even with a poor field, Konig still isn't getting a top 10 place in California, where Kelderman got top 10 last year as a neo-pro against a way better field.

Look, I'd vote for Nairo, Betancur and maybe some others too, before voting Kelderman, but Kelderman certainly belongs up there, getting top 10's in WT stage races in his first few years among the pro's.

 

[ILovecycling]

Quintana can put minutes to TJVG in the mountains.
Betancur and Pinot are also good picks.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

How you can place TJ higher than Porte or Quintana is beyond me.

VG is probably one of the 3 best GT Contenders in the TT.
By results in 2013 stage races he's only after Froome, Contador and Nibali.

5th in the past TDF. What have done Quintana and Porte in GT's at the moment?

 

[the asian]

VG is probably one of the 3 best GT Contenders in the TT.
By results in 2013 stage races he's only after Froome, Contador and Nibali.

5th in the past TDF. What have done Quintana and Porte in GT's at the moment?

towed valverde up the mountains in the vuelta.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Quintana.

A brilliant TT in Pais Vasco confirmed his potential. Matt Rendell said he was talking to Dave Brailsford and got told by him that he thinks Quintana is a future Tour winner.

I like Pinot as well but his TT performance in Romandie was disappointing and I fear this could be his Achilles heel that will cost him any chance of overall in the future. Vital he improves here. A bit like Andy.

Quintana is not much better TT'er than Pinot.

Quintana won the rough TT of País Vasco. But Pinot was 6th in the Romandie one, of few kilometers, which didnt benefit him.

In a flat one of about 30 kms Pinot wouldnt lose more than a 1' with Nairo.

 

[Kokoso]

They're talking about potential and Kelderman is 22. Konig is more than 3 years older than that and all he did is get some good climbing results in mediocre fields. Don't get me wrong, Konig is a good rider, but as far as GC results go, Kelderman is al ready beyond him with top 10 places in WT stage races, even though he is 3 years younger.

Even with a poor field, Konig still isn't getting a top 10 place in California, where Kelderman got top 10 last year as a neo-pro against a way better field.

Look, I'd vote for Nairo, Betancur and maybe some others too, before voting Kelderman, but Kelderman certainly belongs up there, getting top 10's in WT stage races in his first few years among the pro's.

Ok than. Add Kreuziger

 

[greenedge]

Quintana
Porte
Talansky/ TJVG
Kelderman/ Betancur/ Rolland/ Pinot

 

[gooner]

Quintana is not much better TT'er than Pinot.

Quintana won the rough TT of País Vasco. But Pinot was 6th in the Romandie one, of few kilometers, which didnt benefit him.

In a flat one of about 30 kms Pinot wouldnt lose more than a 1' with Nairo.

You say the short one in Romandie didn't suit Pinot yet by that logic, the longer lumpy one in Pais Vasco would have suiting him more but he still finished nearly 3 minutes behind Quintana.

 

[karlboss]

Qunitana is the only one here who is more when than if.

Porte? Might as well include Froome. Porte is older and neither have won a GT yet, so why not?

Of the others I like Talansky and Kelderman. Talansky, small improvements all the time. I think he'll be consistent for top 10s and eventually the stars will align, hesjedal style.
Same same with kelderman, but he is better younger.

Betancur has really taken a step up this year, looks to rodriguez, and more suited to classics than GTs however on the right course and with time bonuses, why not?