Who will win 2012 Tour de France v2.0

[Dekker_Tifosi]

For TDF victory:

1. VDB
2. Sanchez
3. Valverde

Only because I want it so.

I know, I know: against all odds.

Why would it be? It's a very open Tour imho. Although Wiggins and Evans are normally in the top 3. But if both fail this could very well be a top 3

 

[Panda Claws]

I think Garmin is right to work for Hesjedal.
Daniel Martin has the worst ITT ever (hyperbole)
Vande Velde is past it, in my opinion.

That leaves us with Danielson who could be co-leader.
But I can imagine Hesjedal reaching the top-10, which would be quite the achievement.

 

[happytramp]

I think Garmin is right to work for Hesjedal.
Daniel Martin has the worst ITT ever (hyperbole)
Vande Velde is past it, in my opinion.

If ever there was a man going to enjoy soft pedaling through his TT's it's him.

 

[happytramp]

I think Garmin is right to work for Hesjedal.
Daniel Martin has the worst ITT ever (hyperbole)
Vande Velde is past it, in my opinion.

If ever there was a man going to enjoy soft pedaling through his TT's it's him.

 

[Bushman]

I really hope Sammy will win this. And i believe he has a pretty good chance If he is fit after his crash at dauphine. If he is on form he has a really good tt and should be one of the two or three best in the mountains

 

[MonteZoncolan]

Evans to win, stage free

My top three
1. Evans - as I think he is hiding form
2. Wiggins - Maybe not even 2nd
3. VdB - I think he will ride 'balls out'

I like Menchov but can't see why so may people are tipping him this year.
Sammy and Gesink to complete the top 5.

 

[Afrank]

How do people rate Leipheimers chances? He looked good in Switzerland but at 38 years old is he past his prime to compete for the podium in the tour?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

My top three
1. Evans - as I think he is hiding form
2. Wiggins - Maybe not even 2nd
3. VdB - I think he will ride 'balls out'

I like Menchov but can't see why so may people are tipping him this year.
Sammy and Gesink to complete the top 5.

Is that "balls out" like Hoogerland?

 

[MonteZoncolan]

Is that "balls out" like Hoogerland?

Heheh! I hope not like last year, no!
Hoping Hooger has a lot more luck this year. Hope he gets the Polka.

Re: previous post - Cobo - like you not sure why he's not been mentioned so much. Personally I think he will do well but not top 5.

 

[martyfulu]

ive went for wiggins, maybe ive been sucked in by all the perfect training stuff. hope he doesnt.
then evans second, and i was impressed by valverde at the suisse so him for 3rd. but im new to watching this stuff to be honest.

 

[Sophistic]

the following tip is sponsored by club longinus:

1)Wiggins
2)Gesink
3)Hesjedal

 

[TheEnoculator]

How do people rate Leipheimers chances? He looked good in Switzerland but at 38 years old is he past his prime to compete for the podium in the tour?

You never know with Levi. At 38, he's way more competitive than Lance when he came back, and Klöden, and Horner too. Levi doesn't ride like an old man, he's very capable of getting on podium. Winning might be a long shot, but for the record, I wouldn't count him out.

 

[Eric8-A]

Levi has been riding much better than I expected regarding his injury. He went pretty good in Suisse, so he might be peaking.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He will be a huge asset to Wiggo. He was tenth in the craziest climbing GT in recent years, and beat plenty of good climbers (Anton, Nieve, etc) That boy can climb decently.

10th flattered him; breakaways.

And a good GT (especially this GT) is not that indicative of a good climbing domestique.

In short, no way. If Conti couldn't pull it off I highly doubt Hesjedal will. Admittedly though, the Giro Conti won was much harder and he had to deal with a series of crashes in the Tour, but even so there's no way in my opinion.

agreed.

Garmin are stupid if they put all thier eggs in this basket.

I think it's a mistake for Garmin to have him a team leader for Tour. Both Martin and Vande Velde can aim for good results on the GC, but instead Vaughters are using them to help a tired Hesjedal.

yes.

Disagree. TD should be thier man.

 

[mad black]

Common sense would suggest Wiggo IF he manages to stay upright. Same could be said about Evans.

Either way I still think it'll be an epic battle AND it wouldn't be the first time that we'd get a surprise.

Bring it on! Can't wait!

 

[JA.Tri]

10th flattered him; breakaways.

And a good GT (especially this GT) is not that indicative of a good climbing domestique.



agreed.

Garmin are stupid if they put all their eggs in this basket.



yes.

Disagree. TD should be thier man.

Agree with underlined. While they may start with Ryder as GC hope, I recon they will remain flexible and modify structure to suit.

 

[JA.Tri]

I started the first thread right after the Giro. It was an interesting poll. Now that we have some new developments after Tour de Suisse. So it's time for a refreshed poll, maybe with some refreshed votes.

1. Can the Wiggins freight train continue to steam roll over the peloton?

2. Will Cadel repeat?

3. Can Frank Schleck surprise?

4. Can Gesink's upgraded ITT skills be extended to 101 km?

5. Will Levi become the oldest GT winner in history?

6. Will Valverde flip the finger to UCI by winning the Tour on his first year back?

Thank you for the thread. I note that poll closes with end of Tour.

Request: just before TdF starts please note the totals posted for each rider. We can then compare those numbers/percentages to those posted as the Tour progresses...just for interest. ta

Sorry, pleading ignorance! (actually lack of reasoning) Realized very few will not have voted prior to start, therefore observable change will be small. Hence as (IIRC) upthread, close this thread at Tour start. Then start new thread with closing figures in first post???

Edit: For reference I have enclosed standings as of now.

Bradley Wiggins 95 41.30%
Cadel Evans 73 31.74%
Frank Schleck 5 2.17%
Robert Gesink 7 3.04%
Vincenzo Nibali 4 1.74%
Denis Menchov 17 7.39%
Samuel Sanchez 8 3.48%
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 8 3.48%
Levi Leipheimer 4 1.74%
Alejandro Valverde 9 3.91%

Edit: as at 5.54 GMT 26 June

Bradley Wiggins 103 38.58%
Cadel Evans 90 33.71%
Frank Schleck 5 1.87%
Robert Gesink 10 3.75%
Vincenzo Nibali 7 2.62%
Denis Menchov 18 6.74%
Samuel Sanchez 10 3.75%
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 10 3.75%
Levi Leipheimer 4 1.50%
Alejandro Valverde 10 3.75%

Edit: As at 3.56 29 June GMT

Bradley Wiggins 114 36.89%
Cadel Evans 114 36.89%
Frank Schleck 6 1.94%
Robert Gesink 10 3.24%
Vincenzo Nibali 8 2.59%
Denis Menchov 20 6.47%
Samuel Sanchez 11 3.56%
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 11 3.56%
Levi Leipheimer 4 1.29%
Alejandro Valverde 11 3.56%

 

[senatorrick]

If Sanchez wants it and can get some team help? Big if, he gets second if cadell has bad luck he gets first. Wiggo will crash out, annd or struggle, at best he gets 5th

 

[senatorrick]

Levi really? He will be 4 minutes behind Tommy D who will be 3 minutes. Behind the strong riders. Ryder double would be sweet but very unlikely. Anything could happen

 

[uphillstruggle]

what about Hesjedal ? Does anyone think he can pull off the double ?

Just look at who he beat in the Giro. Purito, De gendt and Scarponi are all good, entertaining riders but none of them are close to tour podium level.

The standard is so much higher in the tour. Not to mention that he will be tired from the Giro.

 

[greenedge]

He will be a huge asset to Wiggo. He was tenth in the craziest climbing GT in recent years, and beat plenty of good climbers (Anton, Nieve, etc) That boy can climb decently.

Anton gave up after winning the Zoncolan stage.

 

[jens_attacks]

the frenchies already know what it awaits for them in july....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcabCL7rX-I

uci too.

really nice video

 

[will10]

Agree with underlined. While they may start with Ryder as GC hope, I recon they will remain flexible and modify structure to suit.

They always have done, which is how Wiggo, VDV and Hesjedal got their GC top 10s in the first place.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Does anyone know what's up with Jeannesson? Why did he DNS stage 6 of Critérium de Dauphiné? Is he still doing the Tour and if so, what can be expected from him?

Also, does anyone expect Taaramäe to be in form once the Tour starts?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Does anyone know what's up with Jeannesson? Why did he DNS stage 6 of Critérium de Dauphiné? Is he still doing the Tour and if so, what can be expected from him?

Jeannesson still hasn't recovered form hurting his knee in a crash on that crazy snowy stage in Catalunya. I doubt he'll do the TdF, but if he does I think a good GC result is impossible.