The thing is he didn't really prepare for a GC in the Giro. He is pushing 60 race days, did not do an altitude training before the Giro, did not focus on climbing etc. The Vuelta was his goal, the Giro was to test the waters and go for stage wins. Things turned out differently and now he is looking at a possible top 10 or better. Like the Youngest said, the only reason he wasn't doing the TDF was because he's getting married.
I agree he has more talent than JVDB. He has also more talent than a lot of other so called GT contenders. I'm sure you can all think of a few. He is 25, never focused on GT GC or climbing, did not adequately prepare for this and yet here he is. And the ITT has yet to come. Can he improve? Sure, a lot even. Just getting his weight down would be good for starters, but apparently he feels he deserves fries and icecreams whenever he wins a race or delivered a good performance.
Will he ever win a GT? Who knows, the same could be asked about a lot of other talented riders. Some will, some won't. I don't think he really needs to improve in his ITT, if he improves his climbing accordingly. Many (much) lesser TT'ers have won GT's. But he is willing to invest in a carreer as GC rider. If the Giro/Vuelta are a succes, he would get a place in spain to train on his climbing.
http://translate.google.com/transla...rs/137425/een-belg-in-de-giro-thomas-de-gendt