RVPRVP said:Yes but this is my point,can he do better in strong fields ?
Next year for example you know he will do the tour are you telling me that with Gesink's climbing ability he can get a podium or win?.
If he gets back to his best level...
This is definitely not his best level. I'm confident he was better than this in Suisse and California.
Ofcourse the competition here is better. But he also finished behind Roche, Anacona etc in mountain stages so far. He wouldn't in Cali/Suisse form.
Don't forget the Vuelta was also a emergency goal after the Tour fall. This is Gesink, after leg break, on a good level, but not his best level of this year. And definitely not his best ever form.
So I wouldn't say much about his climbing ability until next year. Period.