who is gonna win the white jersey in the tour de france

[LaFlorecita]

Taaramäe's ambitions haven't changed, he still wants the GC and the white jersey, we should see something about his form in the next few days when he competes in the Estonian Championships against Tanel Kangert who won the last stage of Tour de Suisse.

By the way LaFlorecita, I think you should dislike Taaramäe, he has expressed his dislike for Alberto Contador

Great! Now I have a legit reason to cheer against him...

By the way - I was thinking about something in this direction:

 

[LaFleur]

I'll keep looking, haven't found the "right" one yet.

 

[Thibaut Pinot]

Thanks for the updates about Taaramae. It will be hard though, to do well in the GC with such bad preparation. Nevertheless, I hope he'll surprise.

 

[Von Mises]

By the way LaFlorecita, I think you should dislike Taaramäe, he has expressed his dislike for Albert Contador

It is more complicated, he has expressed both, like and dislike. Like in the sense that Contador is nice and firendly guy, but dislike in the context of doping case.

 

[LaFlorecita]

It is more complicated, he has expressed both, like and dislike. Like in the sense that Contador is nice and firendly guy, but dislike in the context of doping case.

Really?

 

[jscteam]

taaramae really i think he wont even finish his form is crap he had pfeiffer or something i heard and the guy road crap all year

 

[El Pistolero]

Kruijswijk.

 

[maltiv]

...Which should suit his abilities better anyway

I don't think so, short steep climbs (which there are way too many of at the Vuelta) aren't Pinot's speciality. The long mountains in the TDF suit him far more. I really hope we get to see him at the TDF as I'm sure he'd be a revelation in the mountains. Not for the GC though, but for stage wins and/or KOM. When he leaves FDJ and joins a real team he'll become a GT contender for sure.

 

[Von Mises]

taaramae really i think he wont even finish his form is crap he had pfeiffer or something i heard and the guy road crap all year

Well, he actually had the best season start ever, 3rd Étoile de Bessège and 2nd Andalucia. Everything, including tests, showed that had had stepped up during winter. But yes, he had a pfeiffer and broke his arm and his form is a big questionmark.

 

[Pentacycle]

Well, he actually had the best season start ever, 3rd Étoile de Bessège and 2nd Andalucia. Everything, including tests, showed that had had stepped up during winter. But yes, he had a pfeiffer and broke his arm and his form is a big questionmark.

Tests also showed that Gilbert was about 20% better than last year, so improving in terms of watts/power doesn´t mean it will show in results. He also still has to prove he can handle a GT, since he cracked big time last year while wearing the white jersey.

 

[theyoungest]

Tests also showed that Gilbert was about 20% better than last year, so improving in terms of watts/power doesn´t mean it will show in results. He also still has to prove he can handle a GT, since he cracked big time last year while wearing the white jersey.

Cracked big time? He ended up one spot below the white jersey winner. Okay, about half the GC contenders crashed out, but still.

Also, given his season start, he probably really was stronger than last year.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Well, he actually had the best season start ever, 3rd Étoile de Bessège and 2nd Andalucia. Everything, including tests, showed that had had stepped up during winter. But yes, he had a pfeiffer and broke his arm and his form is a big questionmark.

If he had pfeiffer then I cant see him being good at the tour. It screws you up for a long time.

 

[greenedge]

Kruisjwijk to get it probably. If Uran does the TDF he could also get it.

The competition seems open but they will have to be a strong ITTer/ climb well.

 

[Galic Ho]

Dan Martin is from 1986 and therefore too old

Kruijswijk does not have to work for Gesink unless Gesink turns out to be in super form, which is not exactly clear yet.

Kruijswijk will probably win it?

Unless someone gets into a huge breakaway and gains big chunks of time, he is almost guaranteed to get it as long as he stays on his bike. Only other rider I can see getting close enough could be TJVG and I still think he is too raw. Needs another year. Will be big gaps in this competition, but there always are.

 

[K-0tic]

Wout Poels? Decent climber, had a decent Vuelta last year. Since the competition isn't realy stiff, won't be such a bad pick.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wout Poels? Decent climber, had a decent Vuelta last year. Since the competition isn't realy stiff, won't be such a bad pick.

Poels is too inconsistent imho. But yeah, he's a candidate as he is from 1987

 

[K-0tic]

Poels is too inconsistent imho. But yeah, he's a candidate as he is from 1987

Well , normally I wouldn't mention him but since there are hardly any decent candidates so far he could be getting close.

 

[gustienordic]

Well , normally I wouldn't mention him but since there are hardly any decent candidates so far he could be getting close.

The competition isn't quite like in years past when it was Andy vs Gesink, but that never was close, and this one hopefully will be.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The competition isn't quite like in years past when it was Andy vs Gesink, but that never was close, and this one hopefully will be.

vs kreuziger vs others, there were plenty of good riders of 1985/1986 but somehow most of them never reached the tour in top shape or they fell...

 

[The Hitch]

Poels is too inconsistent imho. But yeah, he's a candidate as he is from 1987

I see parallels with the way people said Tommy DG was too inconsistent.

I think performances from young riders like the one Dg had on Alpe or Poels on Angliru are suggestive of real talent, and if those guys focus on a gt inconsistency is not a problem they will neccesarily encounter.

I mean what factors go into inconsistency? Why does one rider have one bad day and one good day whereas others have 2 good days? Is it the effect of the moon on their blood.

at the end of the day its about how much you have in you and how much pain you are willing to take. Sometimes yes some riders will struggle to keep it going every day.

But Joaquim Rodriguez was just considered a certainty by almost everyone, to have at least 2 bad days in the Giro, and almost every day he did was 1 of the best performances of his life.

If J rod can get through a gt without consistency problems, i dont see why a still maturing rider like Poels wont be able to.

 

[Old&slow]

rolland and coppel are both not eligible otherwise it would be one of them because the team rides for them

Rolland does not turn 26 until October. He is still eligible. He was born 10/10/86. Coppel is also eligible and will not be 26 until August.

 

[MADRAZO]

Rolland does not turn 26 until October. He is still eligible. He was born 10/10/86. Coppel is also eligible and will not be 26 until August.

They are too old, they have to be born 1/1 1987 or after to be eligble

Like most ill go with Kruijswijk by the way with Poels as the worst opponent.

Taaramae would have been a favourite if not for his bad luck, but now topform seems very doubtfull. And Then Of Course Van Garderen is a candidate but Im sceptical both because of his teamrole and towards his current his GT-stamina. Pinot too but I doubt he will race.

Otherwice the competition is not that hard this year so if the topcandidates fails badly someone finishing nr. 30 might even win this, meaning riders like G. Izaguirre, Koren, Gauthier, Sarmiento, Nerz, Valls (if selected) or even Cameron Meyer has a chance.

 

[greenedge]

Taaramaes' win in the Estonian ITT hopefully means he is recovering.

 

[theyoungest]

Rolland does not turn 26 until October. He is still eligible. He was born 10/10/86. Coppel is also eligible and will not be 26 until August.

You're doing your user name justice

Or just making up your own criteria for the white jersey.

 

[K-0tic]

They are too old, they have to be born 1/1 1987 or after to be eligble

Like most ill go with Kruijswijk by the way with Poels as the worst opponent.

Taaramae would have been a favourite if not for his bad luck, but now topform seems very doubtfull. And Then Of Course Van Garderen is a candidate but Im sceptical both because of his teamrole and towards his current his GT-stamina. Pinot too but I doubt he will race.

Otherwice the competition is not that hard this year so if the topcandidates fails badly someone finishing nr. 30 might even win this, meaning riders like G. Izaguirre, Koren, Gauthier, Sarmiento, Nerz, Valls (if selected) or even Cameron Meyer has a chance.

Anyone who can do top-20/25 in GC and is eligible has a shot at winning this for sure. I read today that Poels will be Vacansoleil's man for the GC while it depends whether Kruijswijk will get a shot since he might need to ride for the team. Also this will be the second TdF for Poels, while Kruijswijk will be there for the first time. Poels might be inconsistent but given the competition that doesn't matter so much. He's a very decent climber and almost won a stage in the last Vuelta , finishing top-20 in the GC there. He's been good at the TdL also, so don't expect Kruijswijk to be a clear favourite. Yes he might have a slight edge, but not so much as some people expect.