I voted CAS because he always makes it look like he's riding clean... Painface. And has funny comments when interviewed. Vino though is always fun. I don't think I'll miss neiter Wiggo or Nibali with the field in contention. Okay maybe Nibali because he is VinoLite.
- Aug 16, 2011
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got to go with Vino of course, also Hushovd, and Wiggins (cause I always wanted to see Contador show him what would have happened had he been there for 2012 
).
Samu, who people are mentioning a lot, I'm glad isn't competing. No reason for him to center his entire season around the Tour. I think he could have found a lot more success in his career if he hadn't done that as much. Glad Cance isn't competing also for the same reason. Nothing left for him at the Tour anymore.
Edit: should have allowed multiple voting in the poll.
). Samu, who people are mentioning a lot, I'm glad isn't competing. No reason for him to center his entire season around the Tour. I think he could have found a lot more success in his career if he hadn't done that as much. Glad Cance isn't competing also for the same reason. Nothing left for him at the Tour anymore.
Edit: should have allowed multiple voting in the poll.
- Aug 16, 2011
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Warhawk said:
Very possible he could take a win from a breakaway. Has shown improvement this year, and has shown he can win mountain stages from breaks in the past (see Galibier). If he get's in the breakaway he could definitely have a chance of surviving to take the win. Trust me,
it will be an epic win! 
- Feb 20, 2010
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Duke_S said:Many big names are absent from the Tour this year for varying reasons. Who will you miss the most?
Meaning riders who have attended the Tour in the past - you can't miss them if they've never ridden the Tour
My bad, forgot about Samu
You didn't specify a time frame, just that they attended the Tour in the past, so Federico Bahamontes, Lucien van Impe, José Manuel Fuente and Luís Alberto Herrera.
- May 5, 2010
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Carstenbf said:
Oh yeah! (But I'll just generally miss the Danish champ jersey! We still got Vandborg though...
Of course he [Mørkøv] would probably be a lot more locked than last year if he was on the team... no attempts to going in breaks on the first four stages, or anything like that...
- Jul 3, 2012
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mr. tibbs said:
The enduring image of Leipheimer in the 2012 Tour - well, two images actually - was on Stage 11 watching TJVG blow by him in the (ultimately doomed*) attempt to set up an attack for Cadel, and then in Stage 17, Valverde leaving him in the dust as Valverde bridged his way to Costa (and then went on to win).
*Edit: Previously I said "ill-advised". That's debatable. I suppose it had to be tried, given Sky's strength, but the point is it failed in the end.
- Dec 12, 2010
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Hushovd has won at least a stage in the last 6 TDFs he entered. However awfully his season might be going he always brings his A game to the Tour and it would have been interesting to see him figure a way to get yet another stage win.
Menchov was a great rider but even the years he rode to the podium in Paris, his presence was forgettable so definitively not the one I will miss the most.
I would have missed 2005/2006 Basso not riding, 2013 Basso not so much.
Boonen and Cancellara do not have a Tour playing into their strengths, and I won't miss these great champions being reduced to the role of caretakers for Cavendish or worse Schleck. I would rather have them prepare for races that suit them and set up the epic clash on the cobbles that we have been robbed of, these last two years.
Won't miss Wiggins and though I like CAS unique climbing style I am not sure he is in the same league as the other riders mentioned.
Would have loved to see Nibali if it was the main goal of his season but burned out after his Giro win, I don't see him having a huge impact (as in winning/podiuming the GC) if he had elected to race.
I will miss Vino's crazy attacks like everybody else I think but at least he got to retire like a boss after that great Olympic win.
Menchov was a great rider but even the years he rode to the podium in Paris, his presence was forgettable so definitively not the one I will miss the most.
I would have missed 2005/2006 Basso not riding, 2013 Basso not so much.
Boonen and Cancellara do not have a Tour playing into their strengths, and I won't miss these great champions being reduced to the role of caretakers for Cavendish or worse Schleck. I would rather have them prepare for races that suit them and set up the epic clash on the cobbles that we have been robbed of, these last two years.
Won't miss Wiggins and though I like CAS unique climbing style I am not sure he is in the same league as the other riders mentioned.
Would have loved to see Nibali if it was the main goal of his season but burned out after his Giro win, I don't see him having a huge impact (as in winning/podiuming the GC) if he had elected to race.
I will miss Vino's crazy attacks like everybody else I think but at least he got to retire like a boss after that great Olympic win.
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