Who will win Catalunya?

[Afrank]

Gonna stick with my main man Nairito. Even more then the Froome/Contador pre-July duel, I'm more looking forward to seeing where Purito (and Porte to a slightly lesser degree) is compared to Quintana heading into the Giro.

 

[Tangled Tango]

Quintana to attack while Contador and Froome are looking at each other.

I don´t think any attack will go unmarked. Both Contador and Froome will be watching each other, but they´ll not let Quintana go up the road without them.
Sky and Tinkoff will probably try attacks with Porte and Kreuziger to force the other to chase, at least I hope they do. Having Purito and Valverde will only add to the excitement. However it evolves, the sparks are gonna fly!

 

[BYOP88]

Froome to win by 10-15 minutes, would've been more if he hadn't hurt his back. Porte to finish 2nd on GC and only lose time because the team order him to lose time on one stage.

 

[Jelantik]

Quintana to attack while Contador and Froome are looking at each other.

I don´t think any attack will go unmarked. Both Contador and Froome will be watching each other, but they´ll not let Quintana go up the road without them.
Sky and Tinkoff will probably try attacks with Porte and Kreuziger to force the other to chase, at least I hope they do. Having Purito and Valverde will only add to the excitement. However it evolves, the sparks are gonna fly!

kreuziger isn't in catalunya. So he won't be chasing anyone .. and also valverde.

 

[ILovecycling]

Quintana ftw.Alberto,Froome and Betancur for the close 2nd.

Btw.its bad that Kreuziger is not going,I dont believe Majka is a good domestique

 

[LaFlorecita]

Quintana ftw.Alberto,Froome and Betancur for the close 2nd.

Btw.its bad that Kreuziger is not going,I dont believe Majka is a good domestique

Majka is great, see Vuelta 2012.

 

[Publicus]

Until I see him do it, I don't think Contador can beat Froome. I hope I'm wrong

 

[infeXio]

Majka isn't going either - still experiencing the aftermath from his crash on the last stage of P-N.

 

[jsem94]

Contador to take this.

 

[Escarabajo]

Sergio Henao attacked in Tour of Oman that led to a stage 5 Froome win.

Are you suggesting that Majka will be benched in a month time?

 

[Cyivel]

Contador
Quintana
Horner
Betancur
J-Rod
LuLu
Aru
Basso
Martin
Nieve

is my top 10.

Froome won't start, won't finish or will he be in poor form?

 

[BYOP88]

Froome won't start, won't finish or will he be in poor form?

Well still 30 odd hours until the start who knows what injury/illness could occur in that time

 

[Angliru]

There is a difference between voting with your head or heart! Thinking Froome will win doesn't mean one likes him

Also one can be indifferent to particular ride and still have a basic dislike for the team they ride for. For me Contador is like a great jazz musician, able adapt on the fly (and with great style and artistry) while Froome and Skye just doesn't do it for me. When things don't go according to plan (TA 2013/Wiggins' Giro), they struggle.

 

[thehook]

I really be looking for the Giro contenders to come out fighting.

Now if Froome DNS. I think the forums will explode. If he shows poor form then they have the excuse of the back injury/missed training. Or I would be highly led to think he might be lacking some of his "punch"

 

[berkerstan]

Majka not riding will affect Contador's chances

 

[Ferminal]

I think this is where Froomie repays Corsica.

 

[Miburo]

Also one can be indifferent to particular ride and still have a basic dislike for the team they ride for. For me Contador is like a great jazz musician, able adapt on the fly (and with great style and artistry) while Froome and Skye just doesn't do it for me. When things don't go according to plan (TA 2013/Wiggins' Giro), they struggle.

Isn't that logic? Obviously you'll struggle more when things don't go according to plan lol

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think this is where Froomie repays Corsica.

yep, the question is where does Froome end up.

 

[Bexon30]

hhmm.. why? Contador beat quintana at TA. If Quintana is like everyone else saying, his form is going to improve. Well, so does Contador then, right? We don't expect contador to slouch on the couch after his win . Remember Contador was behind Quintana after TTT, and he didn't get any time back from ITT either. He turned around and put 2 minutes on Quintana in the mountain. So "technically" if quintana improves, so does contador. The only odd ball now, is froome. We don't know where he is compare to those two. But, at this point, Froome is still holding the bragging rights since he won TDF. So he is the rider to beat (injury or no injury). That's how I see it, and everyone 'expects' he would win. (i say would)

Everyone has a stellar performance on their respective race. Froome at Oman, Contador at TA, Quintana at San Luis + looked good at TA and so does Porte. But not Froome or Contador/Quintana are in the same race before, kinda hard to say whose leg reigns supreme other than judging them from past performance.

I personally think Quintana is more determined for this race so that's why I see him improve more than an already very near top form Contador. Now don't get me wrong Alberto could improve as much but I don't see that, I just see Nairo further from his best than Alberto. More room for improvement, either way anyhow makes for a fun race as both are attacking riders whose tactics and styles I admire.

 

[Publicus]

I think this is where Froomie repays Corsica.

Repays Corsica? Do you mean he works for Porte?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I personally think Quintana is more determined for this race so that's why I see him improve more than an already very near top form Contador. Now don't get me wrong Alberto could improve as much but I don't see that, I just see Nairo further from his best than Alberto. More room for improvement, either way anyhow makes for a fun race as both are attacking riders whose tactics and styles I admire.

Why would Contador be very close to top form

 

[Beech Mtn]

‏@NairoQuinCo
Qué los antibióticos actúen qm recupere pronto,reconocer etapas fue bueno pero quedé con gripe de frío

We'll see how he goes.

 

[Angliru]

Isn't that logic? Obviously you'll struggle more when things don't go according to plan lol

No it's called having a workable backup plan. Contactor in the Tour, Vuelta and TA, Nibali in TA last year had to alter their script to achieve their objectives. It doesn't always work but having the courage and wherewithal to take that chance is what sets them apart.

 

[Miburo]

No it's called having a workable backup plan. Contactor in the Tour, Vuelta and TA, Nibali in TA last year had to alter their script to achieve their objectives. It doesn't always work but having the courage and wherewithal to take that chance is what sets them apart.

What was Contador's backup plan in the tour? lol

Go for team GC

Sky still had Uran in the giro last year while wiggins failed, which already proves the statement wrong.

 

[ILovecycling]

We'll see how he goes.

That looks quite bad.
--->
Changing my vote to Betancur.Win by handful of seconds coz of sprints