Looking at last years Giro, Basso > Scarponi, so that's an easy one.
I don't think Rujano, Riccò or Schleck the Elder are anything special, those guys certainly aren't the world third best climber.
Last years Tour we had Rodriguez, Gesink and Samuel Sanchez. IMO their strength in the mountains was as follows: Samuel > Gesink > Rodriguez.
Anton is a wild card. He looked really strong in the Vuelta 2010, but he crashed out quite early, so we only know his performance on one mountain top finish, and some short/steep stuff (which is less important in deciding the most third best climber). In the 2008 Vuelta he looked really good as well, but crashed out too soon. It could very well be the case that after the upcomming Giro he is clearly the number 3, but at this point we have seen too little to judge that.
Stupidly enough, I voted Gesink for this poll, without really thinking about it, but I would say last year it was 3. Samuel Sanchez, 4. Gesink, 5. Basso, 6. Rodriguez. If Gesink shows the progression someone at his age should show, he could definitely be number 3 this year, otherwise it's Samuel Sanchez (a great showing of Anton in the Giro could change this).
I don't think Rujano, Riccò or Schleck the Elder are anything special, those guys certainly aren't the world third best climber.
Last years Tour we had Rodriguez, Gesink and Samuel Sanchez. IMO their strength in the mountains was as follows: Samuel > Gesink > Rodriguez.
Anton is a wild card. He looked really strong in the Vuelta 2010, but he crashed out quite early, so we only know his performance on one mountain top finish, and some short/steep stuff (which is less important in deciding the most third best climber). In the 2008 Vuelta he looked really good as well, but crashed out too soon. It could very well be the case that after the upcomming Giro he is clearly the number 3, but at this point we have seen too little to judge that.
Stupidly enough, I voted Gesink for this poll, without really thinking about it, but I would say last year it was 3. Samuel Sanchez, 4. Gesink, 5. Basso, 6. Rodriguez. If Gesink shows the progression someone at his age should show, he could definitely be number 3 this year, otherwise it's Samuel Sanchez (a great showing of Anton in the Giro could change this).