TDF darkhorse

[MellowJohnny]

Not sure if it has been mentioned but who do people see as a darkhorse in the Tour.

For the sprints i'm going for Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb and in the GC Dan Martin, Fredrik Kessiakoff and Rui Costa.

Thomas Voeckler for a stage win also.

 

[Steady]

Then I think we have to remember this will be a DARKHORSE thread.

Sprints: Kristoff
Medium mountains: Boom and Schleck
KoM: Brice Feillu
GC: Rui Costa, Mollema.

 

[Netserk]

I don't know if he is too much of a favourite to be named in this thread, but nonetheless:

Andreas Klöden for the overall!

 

[hoerpi]

Ion Izagirre to top 5 the second mountainous TT.

 

[Afrank]

GC: Schleck, D. Martin, Peraud, Fugslang/Brajkovic, Taaramae/Navarro, Anton.

Sprints: Kristoff, Hutarovich, Hushovd (if selected), Coquard/Turgot, Gallopin.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Ion Izagirre to top 5 the second mountainous TT.

Will back that up and say he could do a top 10 in the GC.

But he might need another year.

edit: Voeckler just can't be a dark horse, sorry.

 

[ciranda]

Sylvester Szmyd for a stage + Saur Sojasun will be strong.

 

[lastplacerider]

Sprints: Coquard, Kristoff
GC: Niemiec, Peraud,
Med Mtns: Gallopin

 

[gjb483]

Amador and Szymd.

Movistar in general looks really strong, I expect multiple stage wins and wouldn't rule out spots on the podium for either Valverde or Quintana.

 

[blaxland]

sprints=Demare
G.C=Meyer
Kom=Fuglsang
but time will tell.

 

[cineteq]

GC: Gesink & Van Garderen

 

[nick101]

for me schleck, mollema and dan martin. Both anton and fuglslang have the ability to make top ten but I haven't heard much mention about either of them also. will be interesting to see how Quintana goes; lots of hype around him.

 

[movingtarget]

A winner that isn't Contador or Froome will be a darkhorse. According to this forum, the darkest of horses, just imagine the hand wringing and excuses from some of the fans. It would be fun to see it happen.

 

[movingtarget]

for me schleck, mollema and dan martin. Both anton and fuglslang have the ability to make top ten but I haven't much mention about either of them also. will be interesting to see how Quintana goes; lots of hype around him.

Anton and Schleck would surprise me. As for Quintana I think 2013 is too soon. There is a lot of hype around many of the Colombians but they did well in the Giro. In a couple of years they will either be dominating or failing to reach expectations. Interesting times ahead.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Schleck and Dan Martin for me, I would say Quintana too as he has to prove himself however he is not so much a darkhorse but by many on here more of a angel sent from god

 

[airstream]

Schleck and Dan Martin for me, I would say Quintana too as he has to prove himself however he is not so much a darkhorse but by many on here more of a angel sent from god

Forum already took a fancy to root for him, as an alternative to Sky domination.

 

[all_in]

For GC Talansky,Anton and Cunego

 

[taiwan]

Peter Velits

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Zubeldia podium

 

[xanadu]

Will back that up and say he could do a top 10 in the GC.

But he might need another year.

edit: Voeckler just can't be a dark horse, sorry.

Evactly we need a new Voeckler only better, one that can keep the yellow bib all the way to Paris.

 

[Kazistuta]

GC: Westra, Talansky
Mountains: Gadret, Moreno
Sprints: Kristoff, Coquard
Breakaways: Kadri, Veilleux, Lagutin, Voigt (maybe not exactly darkhoses though)

 

[niidirull]

Clearly Taaramäe for a good GC Placing - not a single person in the Tour de France top 10 thread believes he can even manage that.

 

[LaFleur]

Clearly Taaramäe for a good GC Placing - not a single person in the Tour de France top 10 thread believes he can even manage that.

That's because he can't manage top 10, no way. He will start off good, I'm sure of it. But he will get very tired quickly and sink in the third week. You know it, I know it and even he knows that. Top 20 and a stage win is what he is after I reckon.

 

[niidirull]

That's because he can't manage top 10, no way. He will start off good, I'm sure of it. But he will get very tired quickly and sink in the third week. You know it, I know it and even he knows that. Top 20 and a stage win is what he is after I reckon.

That is the most likely outcome , but that's why he is the perfect dark horse! And i do doubt that his best ever finish ever at the Tour will be his 12th in 2011. Eventually he will outride that , and why not this year?

 

[LaFleur]

That is the most likely outcome , but that's why he is the perfect dark horse! And i do doubt that his best ever finish ever at the Tour will be his 12th in 2011. Eventually he will outride that , and why not this year?

I definitely agree, he will do better than his 12th eventually. This year he just doesn't seem up to it for what I've seen so far. He hasn't had the consistency and I think that the allergies and the asthma could have an impact this year on july. I hope that I'm wrong and he can do his best tour, but I certainly wouldn't bet on it.