Predict the Top 5 GC in Tour de France

[bassano]

No love for Merica? (Tejay and Talansky) And Landa definitely wouldn't start. But yeah, so many to choose from.

Dan Martin and Mollema should also be there if Kwiatkowski is included.

Kwiatkowski for me is far more promissing then Martin or Mollema
but you are right Van Garderen should be there, not so sure about Talansky which still need to prove he is able to do GT

 

[Oliver]

Aru/Landa/Pozzovivo won't ride.
Kwiatkowski for GC? Nope
Martin D for GC? Nope
If Contador quits it's up to Majka, not Roche.
Rolland/TJ/Talansky/Mollema have a real good shot at top 10.

 

[bala v]

No love for Merica? (Tejay and Talansky) And Landa definitely wouldn't start. But yeah, so many to choose from.

Dan Martin and Mollema should also be there if Kwiatkowski is included.

Kwiatkowski for me is far more promissing then Martin or Mollema
but you are right Van Garderen should be there, not so sure about Talansky which still need to prove he is able to do GT

Kwiatkowski is far more promising then Mollema and Talansky, based on what!!!

 

[Anderis]

not so sure about Talansky which still need to prove he is able to do GT

Talansky finished GTs in top10 twice while he still was u-25 rider. He has great recovery and proved he can do a top10 in GT even without being in his top shape, like during TdF2013.

 

[Gigs_98]

There might be one or two guys who completely dominate the race but the fight for the top ten places will be enormous.

 

[Jspear]

I agree with that list, but no Talansky or Rolland (even Gesink/ Mollema)? I'd be immensely surprised if Kwiatowski> not enough ITT km's. Roche isn't on the same team as Contador anymore either.

Lol, forgot about Roche changing teams - you are right

Talansky, Rolland, Gesink and Mollema are not going into the top 5 imo - the list of riders I posted all could, with the right circumstances.

Kwiatkowski couldn't even top 5 if over half the guys you mentioned crashed out. Have you ever seen him climb? He can't handle multiple mountains in one stage. He isn't that type of rider.

 

[Miburo]

There might be one or two guys who completely dominate the race but the fight for the top ten places will be enormous.

I'm pretty sure quintana, contador, piti, purito, froome and nibali don't give a *** about a top 10. I guess the rest does but if it's not at least a podium none of the ones i mentioned should care.

 

[Gigs_98]

There might be one or two guys who completely dominate the race but the fight for the top ten places will be enormous.

I'm pretty sure quintana, contador, piti, purito, froome and nibali don't give a **** about a top 10. I guess the rest does but if it's not at least a podium none of the ones i mentioned should care.

With fight for the top ten I didn't mean that the goal of these riders will be to finish in the top ten, I meant that there are so many good riders that other riders that maybe would have finished in the top 5 of this years giro may have problems to get into the top 10 or maybe even top 15 of this tdf

 

[Gigs_98]

I agree with that list, but no Talansky or Rolland (even Gesink/ Mollema)? I'd be immensely surprised if Kwiatowski> not enough ITT km's. Roche isn't on the same team as Contador anymore either.

Lol, forgot about Roche changing teams - you are right

Talansky, Rolland, Gesink and Mollema are not going into the top 5 imo - the list of riders I posted all could, with the right circumstances.

So Kwiatkowski and Roche are more likely than Mollema (who was second in tirreno-adriatico btw.) or Teja. I doubt that

 

[Miburo]

There might be one or two guys who completely dominate the race but the fight for the top ten places will be enormous.

I'm pretty sure quintana, contador, piti, purito, froome and nibali don't give a **** about a top 10. I guess the rest does but if it's not at least a podium none of the ones i mentioned should care.

With fight for the top ten I didn't mean that the goal of these riders will be to finish in the top ten, I meant that there are so many good riders that other riders that maybe would have finished in the top 5 of this years giro may have problems to get into the top 10 or maybe even top 15 of this tdf

Well duh, that's how it always has been.

 

[ILovecycling]

There might be one or two guys who completely dominate the race but the fight for the top ten places will be enormous.

I'm pretty sure quintana, contador, piti, purito, froome and nibali don't give a **** about a top 10. I guess the rest does but if it's not at least a podium none of the ones i mentioned should care.

Really? Are you sure?

 

[Escarabajo]

Mollema, Talansky and Rolland are definite outsiders.

 

[jalep]

Bardet is looking sweet!

 

[ILovecycling]

I think their form will be something like this (RdS won't be an idication imo,so we can talk now imo)

Froome 2012+ (not 2013 but better than 2012)
Contador 2011- (will be worse than 2011 but better than 2010
Quintana 2013+ (will be a bit bit better than 2013)
Nibali 2013+ (won't be 2014 imo)

 

[BlurryVII]

Re:

I think their form will be something like this (RdS won't be an idication imo,so we can talk now imo)

Froome 2012+ (not 2013 but better than 2012)
Contador 2011- (will be worse than 2011 but better than 2010
Quintana 2013+ (will be a bit bit better than 2013)
Nibali 2013+ (won't be 2014 imo)

Contador 2011 Giro ?

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

I think their form will be something like this (RdS won't be an idication imo,so we can talk now imo)

Froome 2012+ (not 2013 but better than 2012)
Contador 2011- (will be worse than 2011 but better than 2010
Quintana 2013+ (will be a bit bit better than 2013)
Nibali 2013+ (won't be 2014 imo)

Contador 2011 Giro ?

Yes! Not Tour

 

[bassano]

There might be one or two guys who completely dominate the race but the fight for the top ten places will be enormous.

I'm pretty sure quintana, contador, piti, purito, froome and nibali don't give a **** about a top 10. I guess the rest does but if it's not at least a podium none of the ones i mentioned should care.

With fight for the top ten I didn't mean that the goal of these riders will be to finish in the top ten, I meant that there are so many good riders that other riders that maybe would have finished in the top 5 of this years giro may have problems to get into the top 10 or maybe even top 15 of this tdf

Well duh, that's how it always has been.

SOmetime yes, sometime no, sometime work even opposite I am quite sure that Aru or Contador would not have problem with that this year, rest of top 5 , who knows, top 5 more likely no, top 10 I think that yes but I am not sure anyway how Peraud or Pinot would have chance on giro podium, quite small close to none I think, but they will not have same chance to repeat it on tour this year anyway
some type or riders prefer tour some type giro, but saying in generally that top 5 from giro is weaker then top 10 tour is quite strong word, remember how tour de france winner wiggins finished next year when he focused on giro (bad weather or his problems with wet roads is not an excuse) or Evans which was able to won tour but giro never even if he focused 50/50 for giro/tour in his nice career

 

[bdoyle86]

1. Froome
2. Quintana
3. Van Garderen

Taking Quintana for my bitVelo.com fantasy team, since he will likely get high GC and the young rider jersey.

 

[Simurgh]

1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Nibali
4. Quintana
5. Pinot

I think there might be only a minute or minute and a half, that seperates 1st place from 3rd. If the GC contenders doesn't crash or get caught behind one, it's gonna be very, VERY close. I can't imagne the favourites having an off-day (contador is most likely to have one though).

 

[dacooley]

quintana
froome
contador
nibali

i expect anyone to split the grand quartet up though but don't know whom to pick

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Mollema, Talansky and Rolland are definite outsiders.

Sadly Rolland is like Hesjedal, he finds a way to lose time in the first week and never recovers. A shame really as he is probably the smartest rider getting around once the mountains start.

 

[the-big-bad-wolf]

1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Purito
4. TJ
5. Quintana

 

[Simurgh]

Re:

1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Purito
4. TJ
5. Quintana

Interesting prediction; do you care to elaborate why you think Van Garderen will finish before Quintana? I'm really curious

 

[AlexNYC]

1. Froome
2. Quintana
3. Van Garderen
4. Contador
5. Nibali

It's going to be very close between Froome and Quintana. I'm giving the edge to Froome because I think Sky will do better than Movistar in the TTT and Froome will certainly gain time on Quintana in the short ITT. They are both going to be in top form when the mountains come; and although I think Nairo is ultimately stronger than Froome in the mountains, it's going to be extraordinarily difficult for him to make up the time difference. However, it's conceivable that Movistar will beat Sky in the TTT, in which case, the chances of Quintana winning will be much improved.

I also think Contador's only chance is that both Nairo and Froome have bad luck and/or make mistakes. I placed him in 4th place because after he realizes he doesn't have a chance; he might try conserving energy for the Vuelta.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

1. Froome
2. Quintana
3. Van Garderen
4. Contador
5. Nibali

It's going to be very close between Froome and Quintana. I'm giving the edge to Froome because I think Sky will do better than Movistar in the TTT and Froome will certainly gain time on Quintana in the short ITT. They are both going to be in top form when the mountains come; and although I think Nairo is ultimately stronger than Froome in the mountains, it's going to be extraordinarily difficult for him to make up the time difference. However, it's conceivable that Movistar will beat Sky in the TTT, in which case, the chances of Quintana winning will be much improved.

I also think Contador's only chance is that both Nairo and Froome have bad luck and/or make mistakes. I placed him in 4th place because after he realizes he doesn't have a chance; he might try conserving energy for the Vuelta.

Contador would never conserve energy in a race for a win (esp GT!), he could be fourth or worse but he will give his ultimate best in that battle!