theyoungest said:
Tony has already said himself that he isn't consistant enough over 3 weeks and so will be concentrating on TT's and one week races instead.
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Tony has already said himself that he isn't consistant enough over 3 weeks and so will be concentrating on TT's and one week races instead.
- Apr 7, 2011
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Boardslide said:
Obviously after failing two times he has to be a bit quiet now.
But if he should be in yellow after the first TT he surely will try and go for the GC
***** Contador
**** Evans, Wiggins
*** Menchov, A Schleck, Sanchèz
** Froome, Leipheimer, Nibali, Klöden
* A lot of riders..
Contador can crush any of the GC contenders in the time trials except for Wiggins and Evans (and perhaps Menchov if he's in form, but that's a giant if). In the mountains Contador can easily take enough time on those two to be victorious once again. If Contador is banned, Evans will be the top favourite probably. Him and Wiggins have an almost perfect Tour for their skills.
The Schlecks should probably not bother here. I did put Andy high on the favourites list since he can take a lot of time on the climbs if he goes all-out, but he'll never win. If I was Bruyneel, I'd let Klöden and Fuglsang lead at the Tour, tell Andy to chase a Giro and/or Vuelta victory and let Frank perhaps just go for the polka jersey in the Tour.
My views might be a bit skewed as a big fan of him, but I think Nibali could go a long way on this course. He's a good rather than great time trialist, but especially on a slightly hilly course he could do quite well. He definitely has the skills and team to be able to survive the crashes that are unevitably coming in the first week. He's far from the favourite, but with some luck he could well do a top-5 or even podium. And Basso has no business in this Tour anyway, he should just focus on the Giro-Vuelta double.
**** Evans, Wiggins
*** Menchov, A Schleck, Sanchèz
** Froome, Leipheimer, Nibali, Klöden
* A lot of riders..
Contador can crush any of the GC contenders in the time trials except for Wiggins and Evans (and perhaps Menchov if he's in form, but that's a giant if). In the mountains Contador can easily take enough time on those two to be victorious once again. If Contador is banned, Evans will be the top favourite probably. Him and Wiggins have an almost perfect Tour for their skills.
The Schlecks should probably not bother here. I did put Andy high on the favourites list since he can take a lot of time on the climbs if he goes all-out, but he'll never win. If I was Bruyneel, I'd let Klöden and Fuglsang lead at the Tour, tell Andy to chase a Giro and/or Vuelta victory and let Frank perhaps just go for the polka jersey in the Tour.
My views might be a bit skewed as a big fan of him, but I think Nibali could go a long way on this course. He's a good rather than great time trialist, but especially on a slightly hilly course he could do quite well. He definitely has the skills and team to be able to survive the crashes that are unevitably coming in the first week. He's far from the favourite, but with some luck he could well do a top-5 or even podium. And Basso has no business in this Tour anyway, he should just focus on the Giro-Vuelta double.
- Jun 7, 2010
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I would have thought that this is close to as good as it will get in terms of the course for Martin unless some genius decides to make the route even flatter or go back to the Vuelta like horror that was 2009.
- Apr 7, 2011
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- Jun 14, 2010
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If he rides it's Contador. OK that isn't real original. Otherwise I have no strong opinion on anyone else. Were there really a prologue, 2 TTs and only 4 mountain stages or did I see wrongly?
Wiggins rode a very good Vuelta that he wasn't fully fit for, I'd still rate him above Froome. If Contador rides then I can't see past him winning it, otherwise smart money must be on Evans/Wiggins.
- Apr 16, 2009
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- Apr 7, 2011
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cineteq said:
Well Cancellara has said that once in his career he'll go for the Gc, didn't he?
WEll Next year seems a good opportunity
- Apr 16, 2009
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- Apr 16, 2009
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Sammy Sanchez???
Am I missing something. If he is included then other riders need to be included. And please don't try to sell me the great TT that he is.
Am I missing something. If he is included then other riders need to be included. And please don't try to sell me the great TT that he is.
- Apr 7, 2011
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Escarabajo said:
He finished 7th in Grenoble this year. That's pretty solid i 'd say
Contador and Evans were the only GC contenders ahead of him.
- Apr 16, 2009
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Don't you rate him with other riders in this Category?Bavarianrider said:
Like Nibali.
On a good day some climbers can put a good TT too. Valverde himself has had some good ones and some bad ones too. It is not like Wiggins, Cancellara, Contador, Evans or Martin who always have had good TT. Just saying.
I voted Evans as he isn't facing a drugs ban, and will be suited by the course, and has got the mettle and has got a very good team. I don't think Wiggins is good enough to win a GT, although he is good enough to get a Top3 in this Tour.
Menchov won't be in the race. Froome will be working for Wiggo. Frandy can't timetrial well enough, but the younger one will probably come second again. Samu is unlikely to be good enough. Nibali seems to have regressed a bit.
Evans
Frandy Jr.
Wiggins
VDB
Samu
Contador to top the pile if he races.
Menchov won't be in the race. Froome will be working for Wiggo. Frandy can't timetrial well enough, but the younger one will probably come second again. Samu is unlikely to be good enough. Nibali seems to have regressed a bit.
Evans
Frandy Jr.
Wiggins
VDB
Samu
Contador to top the pile if he races.
- Apr 16, 2009
- 17,353
- 6,416
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Thinking it over, Bruyneel seems to have some magic as far as TT improvement. I just finished a retrospective on the TDF and was struck by how mediocre Leipheimer was in '05 and '06, then he rejoins and boom he wins the TDF final TT. Salvodelli improved somewhat and even Contador went from losing Romandy in the final TT to Evans to being able to hold him off. So perhaps there is hope for the Schlecks.
- Apr 7, 2011
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Nick C. said:
That was no secret, he simply juiced them to the max. But those days seem to be over.
And if Riis couldn't learn the Schlecks how to TT, no one can.
Fair enough. I was just throwing it out there and thought maybe all the blather about "spend a lot of time and money in the MIT (or whatever) wind tunnel" had some basis in reality or that they made a more pointed focus on it than others.
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