Tour 2012. Who is your money on.

[The Hitch]

Don't you rate him with other riders in this Category?

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.

In your first post you told us not to tell you about Samus tts, as if your closing your eyes and shutting your ears not to hear it.

But its clear that you dont know as much about Sammys tt as you think you do.

Sanchez has won a time trial at a grand tour, beating Menchov and Evans in Vuelta 2007. He has come 2nd in a time trial at a grand tour beating Evans and losing 5 seconds to Millar in 2008. This year he came 7th despite not having anything to fight for.

He has consistantly performed in lesser tts,

He came 3rd to Conador, ahead of Mick Rogers, Evans, LLS Pinnoti in Pais Vasco 2009.

He won the same tt in 2007.

He came 10th in Paris Nice prologue, yes prologue 2 years back.

And much much more.

Nibali, does not come close in this discipline.

 

[Escarabajo]

In your first post you told us not to tell you about Samus tts, as if your closing your eyes and shutting your ears not to hear it.

But its clear that you dont know as much about Sammys tt as you think you do.

Sanchez has won a time trial at a grand tour, beating Menchov and Evans in Vuelta 2007. He has come 2nd in a time trial at a grand tour beating Evans and losing 5 seconds to Millar in 2008. This year he came 7th despite not having anything to fight for.

He has consistantly performed in lesser tts,

He came 3rd to Conador, ahead of Mick Rogers, Evans, LLS Pinnoti in Pais Vasco 2009.

He won the same tt in 2007.

He came 10th in Paris Nice prologue, yes prologue 2 years back.

And much much more.

Nibali, does not come close in this discipline.

I think that you have proved me wrong on Sammy Sanchez. For some reason I thought that he was not a good TT. It must be the Euskatel stereotype that got into me.

Having said that some riders get to be good TT's because they are fit or going through good moments, just like Valverde. But that in reality are not as good as we think. Reminds me of Haimar Zubeldia. He was very good when in peak form, but not as good when not in peak form. Can not say the same thing about pure Time Trialers. They can be good even if not on peak form. I hope that Sammy always perform good on TT's.

But enough. You have proven your point.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

In the 2009 Vuelta, the great time trial specialist Cadel Evans utilised the three ITTs on the course to obliterate the time trial buffoon Samuel Sánchez González, taking an amazing minus 14 seconds out of him.

 

[luckyboy]

***** Contador
**** Evans, Menchov
*** A.Schleck, Sanchez, Wiggins, Nibali
** F.Schleck, Valverde
* Klöden, Froome


Around when is Gesink supposed to back again? Or is it anyone's guess at this point..

Tony is a legitimate name on the list in the circumstances.

He climbs terribly when he's not trying, but he's won Paris Nice and will beat every GC contender in all TTs, so he is definately a legitimate consideration.

lol, no way

 

[Angliru]

Tony is a legitimate name on the list in the circumstances.

He climbs terribly when he's not trying, but he's won Paris Nice and will beat every GC contender in all TTs, so he is definately a legitimate consideration.

...and how is it, in your infinite wisdom, that you're able to determine when he's trying and when he's sandbagging? I'd say his efforts to pursue a high gc placing will impact his ITT, making him, IMO, unworthy of legitimate consideration. I'm not sure how winning a weeklong stage race in the early season translates to someone being a contender for the Tour even with the rumoured parcours.

 

[Angliru]

In the 2009 Vuelta, the great time trial specialist Cadel Evans utilised the three ITTs on the course to obliterate the time trial buffoon Samuel Sánchez González, taking an amazing minus 14 seconds out of him.

That doesn't count. Evans was traumatized by his unfortunate circumstances at the Tour.

 

[cineteq]

That doesn't count. Evans was traumatized by his unfortunate circumstances at the Tour.

Well said. Motivation is everything!

 

[cineteq]

***** Contador
**** Evans, Menchov
*** A.Schleck, Sanchez, Wiggins, Nibali
** F.Schleck, Valverde
* Klöden, Froome


Around when is Gesink supposed to back again? Or is it anyone's guess at this point..

I see it more like this:
***** Contador
**** Evans, Wiggins
*** S. Sanchez, Nibali, Kloeden, Gesink
** F. Schleck, Valverde, Menchov
* A. Schleck

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That doesn't count. Evans was traumatized by his unfortunate circumstances at the Tour.

Well, he definitely got the sulks for the whole of week 3 at least.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I see it more like this:
***** Contador
**** Evans, Wiggins
*** S. Sanchez, Nibali, Kloeden, Gesink
** F. Schleck, Valverde, Menchov
* A. Schleck

I can't see what Frank has done to be rated above Andy, Kloden's best results are long since past and Froome and JVDB maybe ought to on there somewhere. But Bertie as fave with Evans and Wiggins behind him are pretty much inarguable, IMO.

 

[Moncoutie]

Contador is still the man.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Contador is still the man.

November will tell us that, but the Giro showed us that he's still got the all-court game to be favourite on any parcours.

 

[durhamwasp]

Gotta to be Wiggo or Evans looking at that route!

Wonder if Froome will even get a ride? Can see Sky sending him to the Giro and Vuelta instead. If Froome does ride, he might be more of a favourite than Wiggo.

 

[daveinzambia]

***** Contador

**** Evans, Wiggins

*** Menchov, A Schleck, Sanchèz

** Froome, Leipheimer, Nibali, Klöden

* A lot of riders..

struggle to disagree too much with this

and the course settles the issue of how do they Fit Brad and GC and Cav and sprints in one team. Just decide the GC entirely on TT miles where he does not need any helpers and a 6 man train for Cav. sorted.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Gotta to be Wiggo or Evans looking at that route!

Wonder if Froome will even get a ride? Can see Sky sending him to the Giro and Vuelta instead. If Froome does ride, he might be more of a favourite than Wiggo.

The early mutterings were Tour to domestique, Vuelta to win. Depends on what Sky's aims for the Giro are I guess. Cavendish likes it, and Apollonio would probably ride there too I guess.

 

[danjo007]

wiggins or evans by the look of the stages.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

conti wins.

 

[jobiwan]

Of course Contador is the favorite, but Hitch, come on, where is Andy??

 

[luckyboy]

Andy is never going to win a race with two time trials.

Hell, he hasn't won one with one time trial yet.

 

[jobiwan]

Andy is never going to win a race with two time trials.

Hell, he hasn't won one with one time trial yet.

He probably won't, but I'd say a 3-time 2nd place in the Tour might deserve a mention on a favorites for the Tour poll more than Spartacus, right?

 

[Anonymous]

three time trials means Evans for me

1st Evans
2nd Wiggins
3rd Someone else who can time trial well.

 

[luckyboy]

three time trials means Evans for me

1st Evans
2nd Wiggins
3rd Someone else who can time trial well.

You think Contador will be banned?

 

[Anonymous]

You think Contador will be banned?

no, its just too boring to vote contador to win. Its like predicting tony martin to win a time trial.

 

[cineteq]

The early mutterings were Tour to domestique, Vuelta to win. Depends on what Sky's aims for the Giro are I guess. Cavendish likes it, and Apollonio would probably ride there too I guess.

I doubt Froome will be sent as domestique for Wiggins. It's too dangerous. Main reason, there will be too many egos including Cavendish + Wiggins wouldn't want the same scenario as the Vuelta where Froome got the best of him as domestique.

 

[Francois the Postman]

The early mutterings were Tour to domestique, Vuelta to win. Depends on what Sky's aims for the Giro are I guess. Cavendish likes it, and Apollonio would probably ride there too I guess.

Sorry, I am catching up with things. Has Sky made it clear what its aims are for the TdF, with the Olympics and all?

I bet some folk are Sky are a bit peeved that that TdF course had to come this year, from a GC point of view.