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The Battle for Third

Page 2 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

Who will finish third?

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Climbing said:
Vincenzo Nibali will make the podium.
No, really I believe many in this list could crack completely, so it is hard to predict.
I mean I see VDB, Luis Leon Sanchez, Rodriguez, Gesink all blowing lots of time somewhere in the third week.
Samuel Sanchez is riding very well, I hope he can continue on this level in third week (not an easy task).
Menchov is running like Basso (without losing time on cobblestones) with the great advantage of his good TT skill, so he must be the best bet for podium.
Basso lost too much time, so his third week will not be enough to recover the time lost (I expected him much more, but I suppose the Giro has been felt in this first week).
Or maybe Basso just isn't as strong as the guys before him (Contador, Schleck, Sanchez, Gesink, Menchov). I can't see him dropping someone like Gesink, who is basically the same rider--both of them like to ride a fast steady tempo on a climb. Right now Gesink is just a little faster, as he was last year in the Vuelta.

I voted Sanchez, BTW. I don't think he's at his peak yet, and with some dangerous descents and steep climbs to look forward to he seems an obvious pick.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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I went Sanchez. But please anyone anyone but Levi the leech up to his old habit of getting dropped then sucking the wheels of someone else. I'm not sure outside of on a TT he's ever felt the wind in his face other than when he has been dropped waitng to jump on the next bus and weasel out in from at the end.
 
nesocip said:
Samu takes it. I expect him to get stronger in the 3rd week (relative to other guys of course), get a 1 min buffer on Menchov before the TT, and hold him on by a handful of seconds in the end.

I think Euskaltel's best tdf gc finish was 5th by Zubeldia (after some disqualifications). Too lazy to go search for it now.

I think it was Zubeldia at 5th and Mayo at 6th in 2003. That was their golden age. Mayo won on Alpe d'Huez that year. Laiseka I think, got their first Tour stage win but I can't remember what year.
 
Nick C. said:
I went Sanchez. But please anyone anyone but Levi the leech up to his old habit of getting dropped then sucking the wheels of someone else. I'm not sure outside of on a TT he's ever felt the wind in his face other than when he has been dropped waitng to jump on the next bus and weasel out in from at the end.

LOL!! I take it you aren't a member of the Levi Leipheimer Fan Club?;)
 
VDB was has been impressive and punctured at a bad time yesterday. He can ride a pretty good time trial too. He has been very solid on the climbing stages. Sanchez rode his guts out and was very impressive. When he hit the finish line I thought he was going to fall off. So close to catching Contador and Schleck but I think I would have to go with Menchov. I have a feeling thet Leipheimer will lose too much time before the time trial.
 
Dec 11, 2009
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ericthesportsman6 said:
Explain? That's a list of some of the best GT talent in the world.

Oh, I meant that if I look at each rider on that list individually I expect them to lose time somewhere and end up ranked #5-10. But yeah, they can't all end up in #5-10, some of them have to take up places 3 and 4 :p
 
Jun 4, 2010
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my pick is Menchov. he's riding smarter, Samu pushed too hard in the Alps, i think he'll lose time somewhere. Levy, i doubt he can do it, just can't see him following Menchov, if Denis finds some strengh to attack. Gesink, he'll be ok in the mountains, but won't be there, coz of his TT. Basso's losing over 2 mins on Samu and Denis, so what he needs is to gain like ~4 mins in the Pyrenees? come on, he won't do it. VdB - not good enough for tdf podium.