Suppose Andy Schleck doesnt ride the Tour in 2011. Who wins?

[El Pistolero]

Hmm, no Van den Broeck in your list? Not that I would vote for him but if you're going to include guys who most likely will try and win the Giro(ricco, Nibali), guys that have zero bike handling skills(Anton) and Cadel Evans(Cadel Evans)?

Anyway, Basso.

Who would I want to win? Anton.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Vandenbroeck is your classical superpeaker who builds his whole season around 1 race to finish 5th or something. Outside that you won't see him much and he's not exactly the GT winning type either

 

[The Hitch]

Hmm, no Van den Broeck in your list? Not that I would vote for him but if you're going to include guys who most likely will try and win the Giro(ricco, Nibali), guys that have zero bike handling skills(Anton) and Cadel Evans(Cadel Evans)?

Anyway, Basso.

Sigh. It seems no one read the op. If you dont read it dont complain about the choices.

... and all of the above prepare for it (ie don’t ride il giro) who would win?

So no Nibali doesnt get ruled out. Its hypothetical. How would he do if he did ride it.

Antons crash in the Vuelta was not his fault. Even if he has had many crashes, that doesnt automatically mean he will crash in this years tour. Thats just absurd.

Cadel Evans is a way better prospect than VDB. I dont know why you hate on him so much. Why do you rule him out? In the last 3 years hes had 2 tdf podiums, a Vuelta podium a world championship on a hilly course.

Is it because he had such a god awful season last year? oh wait a minute, he started in March with a podium in the mini Giro, did the Ardenes classics winning FW, getting 4th in LBL, carried that top form into the Giro where he won a stage, finished top 4 in all but 1 mountain stage, won a jersey, then took that to a very good 1st half of the TOur, until he crashed.

That doesnt sound to you like a guy who if he just focused on the Tour could beat VDB?

 

[trompe le monde]

I voted for the Cobra, but would be happy with either Gesink, Anton or Samu donning yellow for the final time on the Champs-Élysées. Though I now realize that a vote for Riccò was perhaps a wasted vote as maybe the organizers would not him back so soon.

Hmmm, maybe this poll is a means to gauge the shortcomings of those listed and perhaps to imply the following: all roads lead to TGBM.

 

[El Pistolero]

Sigh. It seems no one read the op. If you dont read it dont complain about the choices.



So no Nibali doesnt get ruled out. Its hypothetical. How would he do if he did ride it.

Antons crash in the Vuelta was not his fault. Even if he has had many crashes, that doesnt automatically mean he will crash in this years tour. Thats just absurd.

Cadel Evans is a way better prospect than VDB. I dont know why you hate on him so much. Why do you rule him out? In the last 3 years hes had 2 tdf podiums, a Vuelta podium a world championship on a hilly course.

Is it because he had such a god awful season last year? oh wait a minute, he started in March with a podium in the mini Giro, did the Ardenes classics winning FW, getting 4th in LBL, carried that top form into the Giro where he won a stage, finished top 4 in all but 1 mountain stage, won a jersey, then took that to a very good 1st half of the TOur, until he crashed.

That doesnt sound to you like a guy who if he just focused on the Tour could beat VDB?

Because Van den Broeck didn't help Gilbert at the Ardennes classics? Oh wait, he did.

Cadel Evans had 2 podiums last 3 years at TdF? No he sucked last 2 years.

And please Anton crashes all the time. You should've seen his first Tour de France. It was ridiculous. I like Anton a lot, but he really has no bike handling skills. He needs to work on this as soon as possible. Bike handling skills matter.

Who finished in front of Evans in 2009 Tour? Oh wait, Evans has another excuse there I suppose? Did he lose 6 minutes in a TTT?

I don't hate Cadel Evans, but if you put him on your list than put VDB on it as well.

And what do the Ardennes Classics have to do with this? Or other GTs? You just said so your self it's only about the Tour.
Cadel Evans always screws up every single year at some point in a Grand Tour. That's why I would never vote for him. And then there's the 5 years age difference of course

 

[The Hitch]

And what do the Ardennes Classics have to do with this? Or other GTs? You just said so your self it's only about the Tour.[/B]

I said to pretend that all riders go into NEXT YEARS Tour on top form (ie skip the Giro).

I told you (while explaining why Cadel didnt beat VDB in the Tour) to bear in mind that LAST YEAR Cadel carried a form from March to July.

NEXT YEAR
LAST YEAR

2 different things.

I don't hate Cadel Evans, but if you put him on your list than put VDB on it as well.

Ill let this statement speak for itself.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

And please Anton crashes all the time. You should've seen his first Tour de France. It was ridiculous. I like Anton a lot, but he really has no bike handling skills. He needs to work on this as soon as possible. Bike handling skills matter.

2007? Eh, he was a youngster.
2009 I don't recall him crashing at all.

And what's to say he can't work on his bike handling skills and get better at them? I mean, Denis Menchov has 3 GT wins, and he's well known for crashing all the time too - he even crashed when attacking solo uphill on Prato Nervoso in 2008... but he still has 3 GT wins, and nobody would count him out of a GC battle until he's several minutes down, unless they were stupid.

 

[El Pistolero]

2007? Eh, he was a youngster.
2009 I don't recall him crashing at all.

And what's to say he can't work on his bike handling skills and get better at them? I mean, Denis Menchov has 3 GT wins, and he's well known for crashing all the time too - he even crashed when attacking solo uphill on Prato Nervoso in 2008... but he still has 3 GT wins, and nobody would count him out of a GC battle until he's several minutes down, unless they were stupid.

Anton can work on it, but so far I haven't seen much improvement sadly. Hope he wins a GT next year.

Yes, Menchov crashes a lot as well, and he's lucky he can still jump on his bike. Anton sadly is very unlucky to break stuff. + Menchov and Anton are two totally different cyclists.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

For me,
1. Menchov
2. Basso
?. Evans

I voted Menchov, but if either he or Basso does the Giro and the other doesn't, then my vote would be for the one that did not do the Giro.

 

[Parrulo]

basso will return to super 2006 basso mode and smoke everyone in the tour even baby shleck and bobby the condor

 

[jens_attacks]

of course i would like vino to take this but it won't be possible(maybe top5).so my pick is basso.he will win tdf 2011 no matter who's there and who's not.

 

[Parrulo]

of course i would like vino to take this but it won't be possible(maybe top5).so my pick is basso.he will win tdf 2011 no matter who's there and who's not.

^^that

he is slowy getting back to his old days. i don't think he will be that good again(age) but a 90% super basso would be enough to beat most of the current GC favourites. only berto and baby s would put up a fight imo

 

[ttrider]

I think Basso, what he did in the Giro was awesome, its not as though he couldnt have won more, if he didnt need to gain so much time or defend his jersey i rekkon he would have crushed nibali and scarponi on the Aprica and the Gavia stage as well

If everyone is clean i highly doubt anyone would be near him, infact i suspect it will be close between him and Andy anyway with basso probs winning,
if super ivan from the 2006 giro turns up.....he would destroy anyone in tts and mountains

 

[Moondance]

I think Basso, what he did in the Giro was awesome, its not as though he couldnt have won more, if he didnt need to gain so much time or defend his jersey i rekkon he would have crushed nibali and scarponi on the Aprica and the Gavia stage as well

If everyone is clean i highly doubt anyone would be near him, infact i suspect it will be close between him and Andy anyway with basso probs winning,
if super ivan from the 2006 giro turns up.....he would destroy anyone in tts and mountains

If everyone is clean then we wouldn't see Super Ivan from 2006 either.

 

[auscyclefan94]

The reason i am doing it is because Andy Schleck will easily win all TDF polls.

So suppose next year, (as is expected) Contador doesnt ride the tour and that (God willing) Andy Schleck doesn’t ride it either, and all of the above prepare for it (ie don’t ride il giro) who would win.

I suppose its more exciting than "who will come second".

I myself am adamant that Samuel Sanchez showed last year he was the best climber of the rest. He is arguably the best descender in the world and a good tter, better than pretty much everyone here, barring Menchov who doesn’t have enough tt kms.

In 2011, i cant see anyone beating him.

For me
1 Samu
2 Basso
3 Menchov
4 Evans
5 Ricco

Yeah, ricco 4th. Get real! Firstly he will ride the giro and secondly the first GT back never goes overly well for a doper coming back.

Are you dutch too?

we are being infiltrated!!!!!!

Sigh. It seems no one read the op. If you dont read it dont complain about the choices.



So no Nibali doesnt get ruled out. Its hypothetical. How would he do if he did ride it.

Antons crash in the Vuelta was not his fault. Even if he has had many crashes, that doesnt automatically mean he will crash in this years tour. Thats just absurd.

Cadel Evans is a way better prospect than VDB. I dont know why you hate on him so much. Why do you rule him out? In the last 3 years hes had 2 tdf podiums, a Vuelta podium a world championship on a hilly course.

Is it because he had such a god awful season last year? oh wait a minute, he started in March with a podium in the mini Giro, did the Ardenes classics winning FW, getting 4th in LBL, carried that top form into the Giro where he won a stage, finished top 4 in all but 1 mountain stage, won a jersey, then took that to a very good 1st half of the TOur, until he crashed.

That doesnt sound to you like a guy who if he just focused on the Tour could beat VDB?

Haters gonna hate! That is one reason why I have him on ignore.

 

[ferryman]

basso will return to super 2006 basso mode and smoke everyone in the tour even baby shleck and bobby the condor

Totally agree if he is on his 2006 programme. If not a poor 2nd at best to the joven from Lux.

 

[Parrulo]

basso fanboy for lyfe >:3

just joking. i like him but just like i like many other cyclists. nothing like the true man love btw ACF and cuddles. manlove that is so strong that makes ACF unable to read the first post from the hitch where he says that this is all hypotetical and we should make our decision based on every1 being focused on the tour a la armstrong(aka only the tour matters everything else is just racing for the weaklings that can't win the tour)

anyway i can see basso beating contador and shleck tbh. would be easier tho if there were a clouple zoncolans in le tour even tho i have seen the stage to zoncolan in 2007 iirc and andy only gave in to piepoli and simoni in the last km so he actually is good on those kind of climbs too, and soo is berto(angliru) if we think about it. oh well lol

 

[The Hitch]

If everyone is clean then we wouldn't see Super Ivan from 2006 either.

Fool!
Basso only decided he might dope in a brief moment of weakness AFTER his 10 minute Giro win.

Haters gonna hate

basso fanboy for lyfe >:3

just joking. i like him but just like i like many other cyclists. nothing like the true man love btw ACF and cuddles. manlove that is so strong that makes ACF unable to read the first post from the hitch where he says that this is all hypotetical and we should make our decision based on every1 being focused on the tour a la armstrong(aka only the tour matters everything else is just racing for the weaklings that can't win the tour)

Glad to see someone read my post.

 

[phillop]

I believe in fairy tales. Sastre would win if he doesn't try and win the giro. Basso second, frank schleck third.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Based on the course I would say:

1. Samuel Sanchez (if Euskatel doesn't have a disaster TTT)
2. Basso (if he skips the Giro)
3. Gesink

pretty much agree.
Menchov depending on his schedule would be up there to

Yeah, ricco 4th. Get real! Firstly he will ride the giro and secondly the first GT back never goes overly well for a doper coming back

meh they usually jump into a GT straight away though. By the time the giro is here ricco has been riding for over a year.. I wouldn't use Vino/kash/etc as precedence in this situation.

I'm sure if ricco did prepare for the tour and was allowed to ride, he would be right up there.
And he is still young, different situation... I'm personally having high expectations for his giro next year.

 

[Christian]

Sorry, I had to vote for Fränk out of patriotic optimism.

Realistically I would say Menchov though.

@OP: Great job on nicknames and all, very entertaining!

 

[taiwan]

Went Cuddles. through slight favouritism. Surprised everyone didn't say Menchov, he's definitely one of those most capable of taking the opportunity. He would be my rational choice, probably.

 

[Marcus135]

Cadel... given

 

[hrotha]

Damn, I don't think I can remove my pity vote for Evans now that he's popular all of sudden.

 

[The Hitch]

Damn, I don't think I can remove my pity vote for Evans now that he's popular all of sudden.

Evans stock obviously rises at aroun 11 gmt when the Australian precincts start to come in.