Who will win 2012 Tour de France

[phanatic]

Mediocre means below average.
How can a guy who finishes behind 14 riders and ahead of 150 (let's assume two third of them didn't bother riding because they didn't have motivation, it's still 50) be below average?

He's not great, but capable of limiting his losses.
I'd be surprised if he loses more than 4 minutes to the best GC riders in the TTs.

The second bold is the definition of mediocre.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So since this poll is all kinds of wrong, can we make a list of riders that are participating and actually have a shot of winning?

I mean, if Contador can't do the double, Hesjedal can? And besides Bavarianrider, is there anyone in their right mind that thinks Martin has a fighting chance at this? Frank Schleck is gonna take this?

So who else is participating? Mollema? We know JVdB is. Who else is missing?

 

[cineteq]

So who else is participating? Mollema? We know JVdB is. Who else is missing?

Van Den Broeck and Valverde can easily replace Martin and Hesjedal

 

[thegrimpeur]

The more I think about it, the more I think we'll se both JvdB and Nibali on the podium. They will distance the Schlecks in the time trials, while they will be strong in the mountains. I somehow feel that Evans season last year was kinda like the season Sastre had when he won the tour, they just had that one, last and great tour in their legs.

 

[Froome19]

Van Den Broeck and Valverde can easily replace Martin and Hesjedal

How either of them will win is beyond me.
Martin has a shot even if it is incredibly remote, even though I would say both Levi and Velits have better chances. But climbers who arent the best and cant TT with the best winning.... Perreiro showed anything is possible yet.....

 

[Havetts]

If peaking properly, there can be only; the Pope.

 

[Eric8-A]

Tony Martin obviously. He's such an insane climber. And with the rides he's been putting this year, I think he's put the scare into guys like Cadel, Sanchez, Van Den Broeck, etc.

 

[Parrulo]

when did i say nibali would reach his podium position from time trialing?

 

[ferryman]

Sky are going to deliver their promise with a Brit winner. Wiggins.

 

[The Hitch]

I'd be surprised if he loses more than 4 minutes to the best GC riders in the TTs.

Yeah, and its not like he is Pantani in the mountains.

 

[The Hitch]

The more I think about it, the more I think we'll se both JvdB and Nibali on the podium.

You have plenty of time to think about it a little more

 

[Caruut]

I think it will be Wiggins, but I really hope that it isn't. He is so dull on and off the bike that how dull he is might actually be interesting.

I can't stand the thought of people talking to me about it because I like cycling and they heard about the Tour on the news, and then expecting me to be happy because Wiggins won. I either then have to pretend that I like him, or explain to every single one of them that I find Wiggins dull and I don't like Sky.

I hope one of the climbers wins it, preferably Andy. I know I give Andy grief on these forums, but it's all good fun, and if he does win it, he'll win it in style. If it has to be a time-trialist, then Menchov would be my choice - would be good to seem him complete the hat-trick.

 

[Parrulo]

Yeah, and its not like he is Pantani in the mountains.

yet he already has 1 GT+ 2 other GT podiums.

i am not saying he certain for the win i just think he will manage once again to podium, he proved many times before he can beat the odds why wouldn't he be able to do it again?

his climbing this year looks better then ever, and he says he has worked on his itt which is something we will get a confirmation for next week so i don't see why are you guys being so dismiss of him.

besides he has been the most aggressive rider of the season so he will certainly ride for at least a podium and not defend a top 10 position.

 

[Caruut]

I really can't see VDB getting on the podium without a lot of luck. He's not even that much better than Andy in the TT.

 

[Caruut]

Yeah, and its not like he is Pantani in the mountains.

What do you mean by "like he is Pantani"?

Is he as good as Pantani? No.
Is he as loved as Pantani? No.
Is he going to be the best climber in the race by some way? Yes, I think so.

 

[cineteq]

How either of them will win is beyond me.
Martin has a shot even if it is incredibly remote, even though I would say both Levi and Velits have better chances. But climbers who arent the best and cant TT with the best winning.... Perreiro showed anything is possible yet.....

I think my suggestions are better than yours, especially Valverde
Maybe Levi can replace Frank? Velits is joke compare to my selections.

 

[The Hitch]

yet he already has 1 GT+ 2 other GT podiums.
.

Right and this is a legit response to the claim that he is not a good enough climber to be able to take a 4 min loss in tts in his stride, how?

 

[Caruut]

Haha, classic Bavarianrider. One pointless vote for Tony Martin. He's only voting for Tony because there's no "tarmac is the real winner here" option.

 

[The Hitch]

I think it will be Wiggins, but I really hope that it isn't. He is so dull on and off the bike that how dull he is might actually be interesting.

I can't stand the thought of people talking to me about it because I like cycling and they heard about the Tour on the news, and then expecting me to be happy because Wiggins won. I either then have to pretend that I like him, or explain to every single one of them that I find Wiggins dull and I don't like Sky.

I hope one of the climbers wins it, preferably Andy. I know I give Andy grief on these forums, but it's all good fun, and if he does win it, he'll win it in style. If it has to be a time-trialist, then Menchov would be my choice - would be good to seem him complete the hat-trick.

Also, i would much rather Chris Froome was the first Briton to win the Tour.

 

[Caruut]

Also, i would much rather Chris Froome was the first Briton to win the Tour.

I wouldn't start holding your breath though. Froome's still yet to even come close to Vuelta form.

 

[Fetisoff]

1. Pope
2. Schleck
3. Evans
4. Wiggans
5. Gesink
6. Samu
7. Nibbles

 

[Fetisoff]

Haha, classic Bavarianrider. One pointless vote for Tony Martin. He's only voting for Tony because there's no "tarmac is the real winner here" option.

Well, if TDF is raced like Giro was I can actually see Wiggans winning, with Tony Martin on the podium, shared with Evans or Menchov

 

[gustienordic]

Wiggins has just been too good this year. Samuel Sanchez has also been good... Unless Evans has had a big turn around, I don't forsee him winning.

 

[Parrulo]

Right and this is a legit response to the claim that he is not a good enough climber to be able to take a 4 min loss in tts in his stride, how?

do you really think he is going to lose 4 minutes on the itt's tho?

on the hilly annecy he lost 1:30 to wiggins and in salamanca last year on the lfat 50k long itt he lost another minute to wiggins.

so really, 4 minute?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

How either of them will win is beyond me.
Martin has a shot even if it is incredibly remote, even though I would say both Levi and Velits have better chances. But climbers who arent the best and cant TT with the best winning.... Perreiro showed anything is possible yet.....

Last we saw JvdB in top form, he was 5th in the TDF behind Sammy, Menchov, Andy & Contador. Which climbers exactly are that much better from the list in the poll? Since his 8th place in the Vuelta, he's been working on his ITT and improved remarkably. And the point was, the poll was nonsense to begin with.
This year, JvdB turned 29, while Sammy & Menchov turned 34 and Evans turned 35. Considering he wasn't too far behind 2 years ago, chances are he's grown, while those others are fading.