Who will win 2012 Tour de France v2.0

[Galic Ho]

That my friend is a sweet name.......Rabo Alpine Division.....

Voted for my countryman Evans

I'd vote for him to, but I want to see the guy your moniker/account is named after win. Evans is what my head says to vote for.

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Good poll,

In the first one I've voted Evans, but now I'm affraid Wiggins has the best shot.

I think that Evans will lose time on Wiggins in the first time trial, which is really about ITT-skills, and less about 'freshness'. Therefore he need to gain time back in the mountains.

In first instance, I was confident that he can do that. But without Andy, and with the UK postal train.... Don't see it happen anymore.

 

[Galic Ho]

Just one thing. Who decided when the Poll closes? Judging by the date it closes AFTER the Tour finishes. It should close just before the Prologue starts. We don't need people voting on hindsight at the end of the third week now do we? I'd like a non skewed voting poll to be there.

Thus create a new thread half way through each week in the Tour...not that we won't have a fair estimate based on each stage who people think can still win.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Wiggo.

He has shown the form he needs to so far this season, as have the team.

 

[Tom T.]

Cadel repeats. Holds his own in the TTs while Wiggo cracks in the mountains.

 

[wollollo]

If things go Sky's way, Wiggins will get it, and that's the way I voted. Still plenty that could go wrong, though. Evans to podium. It will be very interesting to see what Schleck does -- what he can do and what he wants to do.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I'll stay put: if Menchov is in shape he will win this. However, I mostly hope he will be in shape, not so sure I also expect it.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Good poll,

In the first one I've voted Evans, but now I'm affraid Wiggins has the best shot.

I think that Evans will lose time on Wiggins in the first time trial, which is really about ITT-skills, and less about 'freshness'. Therefore he need to gain time back in the mountains.

In first instance, I was confident that he can do that. But without Andy, and with the UK postal train.... Don't see it happen anymore.

Andy is a massive loss to the tour. I don't thnk he had a chance to win this, but affect the outcome no doubt...

More then ever I wish that contador was not charged

 

[Froome19]

Agree, but you forgot few others: over confidence, over trained, inexperience, bad tactics, stupid mistakes. Glad to help

Those are certainly not specific to Wiggins but can be applied to nearly everyone of the favorites.

 

[dlwssonic]

Cadel can do a repeat, just has to be strong and aggressive over the three weeks.
Can't afford to be passive.

 

[dlwssonic]

Wow wiggins is the overwhelming favourite.
But who cares, very few thought evans would even podium last year

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Voted Wiggins and I wouldn't be surprised if another Sky rider beat one of the other riders on this poll.
Schleck's performance in TdS was encouraging, but to derail the Sky train much more is needed.
Evans will still place second.

 

[cineteq]

Those are certainly not specific to Wiggins but can be applied to nearly everyone of the favorites.

Let me guess, are you a Wiggo fan? At least, back up your arguments brother or you meant to be funny?

 

[dlwssonic]

I hope the loss of andy does not affect cadel too much.
Still there are other very strong climbers(sanchez, VDB, Gesink, valv) and I believe frank might be bluffing a bit.
He will still give it a go if he can.

 

[The Hitch]

More like version 3 or 4 by now.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ruby United would love to see this Wiggo with more than 50% of the votes

Froome go get him and show him the poll he will be happy.

 

[Froome19]

Agree, but you forgot few others: over confidence, over trained, inexperience, bad tactics, stupid mistakes. Glad to help

Let me guess, are you a Wiggo fan? At least, back up your arguments brother or you meant to be funny?

Simply give me a reason why that list is specific to Wiggins who has been so meticulously prepared by Sky and I will be convinced, until then.....

 

[airstream]

I go for Kloden.

 

[cineteq]

Just one thing. Who decided when the Poll closes? Judging by the date it closes AFTER the Tour finishes. It should close just before the Prologue starts.

Oh no....I don't think he can change it.

 

[The Hitch]

NL Postal should win team competition at least. if there are any well raced mountain stages youd expect Kruiswick Mollema and Gesink to be the best 3 of any team.

 

[theyoungest]

The Wiggins hype is based partly on his strong Dauphine TT, where he beat Tony Martin. People expect him to repeat such a performance in the Tour and take such a commanding lead that no one will be able to come by him.

But he didn't beat a Tony Martin at the top of his game. And he beat a 21-year-old neo pro, who had never done a TT longer than 30 k in his life, by little more than a minute. So was it really such a stellar performance?

Wiggo has only done races that suit him, with one semi-selective climb and a TT as decisive moments in the race. How would he have fared in Suisse or Pais Vasco, where there was actual attacking going on in the climbs?

I think Cadel Evans has to be the favourite. He wasn't far off his level last year in the Dauphine, and we all saw how strong he was then in the final week of the Tour. I'm not convinced Wiggins has the recovery to match that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

for no "Other/Vino" option.

 

[Galic Ho]

Those are certainly not specific to Wiggins but can be applied to nearly everyone of the favorites.

Favourites who have won more accumulative GT's than Sky ever will with Wiggins? Let alone podium spots! Nice try. As of this date in June 2012, history says differently to what you're suggesting. Actually that description fits Sky like a glove. Whether they change that...keep dreaming.

 

[Froome19]

The Wiggins hype is based partly on his strong Dauphine TT, where he beat Tony Martin. People expect him to repeat such a performance in the Tour and take such a commanding lead that no one will be able to come by him.

But he didn't beat a Tony Martin at the top of his game. And he beat a 21-year-old neo pro, who had never done a TT longer than 30 k in his life, by little more than a minute. So was it really such a stellar performance?

Wiggo has only done races that suit him, with one semi-selective climb and a TT as decisive moments in the race. How would he have fared in Suisse or Pais Vasco, where there was actual attacking going on in the climbs?

I think Cadel Evans has to be the favourite. He wasn't far off his level last year in the Dauphine, and we all saw how strong he was then in the final week of the Tour. I'm not convinced Wiggins has the recovery to match that.

The thing it doesnt matter how well he will do in those races because the Tour suits him.

Of course there are stages which are much harder in the Dauphine but these are negated by the extra TT length and they are limited anyway.

 

[cineteq]

Wow wiggins is the overwhelming favourite.
But who cares, very few thought evans would even podium last year

The poll reflects fanboyism more than anything else, right?
I voted for Nibali, but my head says Evans is the best choice, which I don't mind.

I'll be happy if Gesink or Valverde wins too.

PS: maybe there should be 2 polls, 'which rider you want to win TdF' and another one 'which ride will win TdF'.
PS2: if Wiggins wins I will quit being a road cycling fan...