So who is going to win the Tour, now.

[The Hitch]

Weve had a few of these polls before but the answer to this question is looking a lot less certain than 2 weeks ago.

Im interested who people think is the favourite now.

 

[El Pistolero]

Alberto Contador Velasco.

 

[happychappy]

Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy !

 

[Amsterhammer]

******ed if I know.

Right now it's looking pretty good for Cadel Wheelsucker, though after what Voeckler was able to do yesterday, you might really start believing in the magic powers of the MJ......?

Or, team Schleck gets a common sense transplant and Andy surprises us all in the Alps with a devastating burst of acceleration (irrespective of where Frank is,) and gains minutes on the others....

Or Bert, as above.....

Like I said, ******ed if I know.

 

[The Hitch]

Alberto Contador Velasco.

But you can only vote once. Will it be for the most famous guy on the list or the least famous one.


Btw i think the last time these guys all met gives a good indication.

1 Samu
2 Vanedert
3 Frank
4 Contador
5 Andy
6 Basso
7 Cunego

Injury- Evans
Voeckler - Did not compete.

 

[Havetts]

Jelle Vanendert, the Legend of Plateau de Beille will survive!

 

[Mambo95]

If I had to bet my house on it, I would probably go for A Schleck. But I would expect to lose the house as he's no better than 2/1 in my book.

I want Evans to win though.

 

[The Hitch]

Oh yeah, i remembered Vanederts nickname, as given to him by Ferminal.

Vanebreakaway.

If a mod could change it please

 

[DenisMenchov]

This one is easy Vanendert

 

[jobiwan]

I Still Have Faith!!

 

[Escarabajo]

This poll is worthless in this forum being mostly angle.

You can see it in the reults. LOL.

 

[jobiwan]

Regardless of the disappointing lack of racing so far, as pointed out somewhere (in one of the 32 Schleck threads that popped up today, I'm sure), Andy can get loads of time over anyone but Contador when he's desperate (Tourmalet last year).

The Alps were always where this race was going to be won, the Pyrenees were where it would be lost (and they've all raced not to lose so far).

I am 97% confident that Andy's not as stupid as he seems. He's got to "Go big or go home" in the Alps, starting on the Col d'Agnel.

Andy will get the time he needs on Evans. He's already got a good enough buffer over Contador, and they won't let Sanchez get away again.

He's still the favorite. (Venting done )

 

[The Hitch]

Regardless of the disappointing lack of racing so far, as pointed out somewhere (in one of the 32 Schleck threads that popped up today, I'm sure), Andy can get that and more over anyone but Contador when he's desperate (Tourmalet last year).

The Alps were always where this race was going to be won, the Pyrenees were where it would be lost (and they've all raced not to lose so far).

I am 97% confident that Andy's not as stupid as he seems. He's got to "Go big or go home" in the Alps, starting on the Col d'Agnel.

Andy will get the time he needs on Evans. He's already got a good enough buffer over Contador, and they won't let Sanchez get away again.

He's still the favorite. (Venting done )

I think Andy is definately the big favourite, though i am a little scared that Evans will somehow find a way to hang on.

Still Contador is weak after Giro, Samu is way down on GC, Basso is not a good enough tter to take back the time he lost in ttt, and Frank isnt a good enough climber.

That leaves only Evans who Andy is a way better climber than, so he should win it.

 

[VeloMaster]

Cycling is a cruel sport but the gc faves have failed to close out Contador when they might have had a chance to do so. Hard to say, but I'd rate el Pistolero as the most likely winner. He has the killer instinct the others seem to be lacking.

 

[LukeSchmid]

People need to give the riders some respect and call them by their proper names and stop making up stupid insulting nicknames.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

I hate to say it, but Cadel Evans.

 

[Merckx index]

The podium will be filled by three of the current top 7. Cunego trails Bert in 8th by a second, but is a poor TTer, and hasn't shown he can drop the others on the climbs.

I think Evans has the best chance to win, but Andy has the best chance to podium. Assuming TV bonks at some point, Evans doesn't have to do anything but stay close to everyone else, particularly the Schlecks. Even if TV pulls off a miracle and holds his time advantage to the ITT, it's still touch and go whether he holds off Evans. OTOH, if Eavns is unable to stay with Andy on 18 and/or 19, which is certainly a strong possibility,, he will probably lose time to others as well, particularly Basso and Bert, and so might easily miss the podium. IOW, I think it is more yellow or bust for him than for the others.

Andy is virtually a lock for the podium. He can climb better than any of the other six, possibly excepting a recovering (?) Bert, and of the three riders now in front of him, definitely TTs better than Frank. Though it might suit their tactics to have Frank attack again, I can't see the older going into the ITT with much of a time advantage over his kid brother. So all Andy really has to do is keep riding as he has been, and he is virtually certain of the podium.

I think the two of the top 7 least likely to make the podium are Frank and Samu. If the ITT were held tomorrow, Frank might slip all the way to 7th. He needs substantial time on the others, and it remains to be seen if he can get enough of it. Samu has been impressive so far, but he won't be allowed to escape again, and I can't see him making more mountain time on any of the others except TV and maybe Evans.

So I think Evans has best chance to win, though I would certainly put his odds at less than 50/50. The others in the mix are Andy, Basso and Bert. Voeckler is a wild card.

 

[OneNameGuy]

I totally agree with Hitch on this. Based on Evan's performance over the last few years people didn't count him as a favorite for the podium but he is very strong this year. Andrew should watch him very closely.

I think Andy is definately the big favourite, though i am a little scared that Evans will somehow find a way to hang on.

Still Contador is weak after Giro, Samu is way down on GC, Basso is not a good enough tter to take back the time he lost in ttt, and Frank isnt a good enough climber.

That leaves only Evans who Andy is a way better climber than, so he should win it.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Based on nationality and the cute names (sorry Mr. Schmid), I'd have to go with LeChouChou. Which my (very) limited French tells me might actually mean The Cabbage Cabbage. As in, "Bonjour, ma petit chou fleur," which is how Hitch greets the life-size cardboard cut out in his garage of Samu, who I would like to vote for as the surprise guy who came back on a ride of pure heart after every one had written him off.

I'd like to vote for Cunego b/c I love the little ******* (read: Principe). No other reason.

I'd like to vote Contador b/c watching someone do the double would be stellar. And then the triple. And the WCs, b/c he's just that .

I'd like to vote Vanedert b/c it would really drive all the Aussies dingo if their boy lost out on his best chance to win the Tour to a random Garmin-top-ten-type rider from a classics team. (I should note however, that Vanedert or Cunego winning would carry the unfortunate side effect of Comeback 3.0.)

But I should really vote Evans, cuz he's doing everything right so far. He's aggressive when he needs to be, and passive when it suits him. He really is in the right spot, so I think he's going to win it.

But **** it. Cunego.

 

[Gingerale]

lol... had to assume le chouchou is super tommy voeckler!

version july 17th i can't vote for anyone but tommy, roland and europcar

i'm solidly on the french bandwagon at this point...

 

[stefank]

Ask me in a week......

 

[pedaling squares]

I support a 3rd strike to the OP for creating a poll and not voting! It doesn`t have to be against the known rules you know.

My vote = Andy. Because this wonder kid has to show us one day that he can stand on his own and ride his own race. Well he did kind of show us that a year ago but seems to have either forgotten that or he`s wedded to the idea of the two-pronged attack. Or maybe he really, really needed Barney`s counsel. But I`m going to lay my internet faux-money down on the notion that he will be in fine form in week three and will ride away from Cadel, Alberto, Ivan in the Alps. And not pull a `Dancing Mike` on the ITT.

 

[cyclingfanatik]

TGBM will win in a historic breakaway. Mark my words, you heard it here first.

 

[SiAp1984]

I love this open race which pretty much reminds me of the Tour 2008... Right now, I would pick Evans to win. But I am quite sure that Andy is capable of pulling of the same show at the Galibier which he did at the Tourmalet last year - with the only difference that this year, he'd be riding all alone (right, no AC on his wheel). I am impressed that so many people still believe in AC. But I guess someone with his GT-record deserves this kind of trust... OK, I opt for Cadel right now. I like this guy.

 

[spalco]

I think Voeckler's going to do it.