Who will win the 2013 tour?

[auscyclefan94]

Voted Evans because I am crazy.

 

[Panda Claws]

Or he could throw it at froome and prevent froome from beating him in the inevitable uphill sprint
JVB podiuming? R u crazy? he got dropped on every mtf at the dauphine. His usual strategy of sneaking into a break while the main rivals r looking at each other won't work with sky this year. They'll chase down the break immediately even if froome has several minutes on him.

Lol he did not become 5th and 4th by doing this

 

[nick101]

ok, I can distinctly remember that he constantly did this in the 09 tour. He got a decent playing that year I can remember. Then at the dauphine this year he was back at it again....

 

[Miburo]

ok, I can distinctly remember that he constantly did this in the 09 tour. He got a decent playing that year I can remember. Then at the dauphine this year he was back at it again....

Watch the tour of 2010 and 2012

 

[nick101]

should consider mont du chat. the 17km long side looks brutal at the top

 

[hiero2]

Omg, Contador didn't participate in the Tour since 2009. It's so crazy

Hey! Let's tone it down a bit. Yeah, sure, we all like to have a conversation, but you are almost asking for a fight here. Let's not be so pointed, ok? You've made your point, many times, and everyone who posts in here with any regularity knows how you feel about this.

I've said it before - you've made your point, there is no need to beat it into the ground. Also, we mods get unhappy when people throw in fight-starters.

Am I clear? If I'm not, PM me - I'll give it one shot to try and explain better, but I won't have time for more than that.

 

[hiero2]

Who will win this year's Tour?

Good poll - while you don't have a Vino option - you do have an "Other", almost as good.

 

[biopass]

Voted Other since Igor Anton isnt listed.

 

[taiwan]

Don't think so, just can't see Porte making the podium. Are too many other guys that are much better.

I don't know man, he just hasn't put a foot wrong all season. With his results in the major one week races, he's looking like the Wiggins of '12. Not that I'm happy to see two guys off one team on the podium, it's just that he's undeniably been one of the best stage racers this year. CQ says third after Nibali and Froome (subranking: stage races in 2013).

 

[LaFlorecita]

He could take a steak with him on stage and throw it to the crowd

Now that would be awesome. Take that, frenchies

 

[Angliru]

I don't know man, he just hasn't put a foot wrong all season. With his results in the major one week races, he's looking like the Wiggins of '12. Not that I'm happy to see two guys off one team on the podium, it's just that he's undeniably been one of the best stage racers this year. CQ says third after Nibali and Froome (subranking: stage races in 2013).

I really don't see how he's any different than Quintana other than the fact that Nairo is younger. They both are pretty much unproven as over the course of 3 weeks as gt contenders. I give Quintana credit primarily because of the strength he showed in the 3rd week of the Vuelta. Porte's best grand tour performance was the Giro of 2011 where his final position was the result of his getting in a break, not necessarily due to his perseverence in battling for 3 weeks with the contenders.

 

[Afrank]

I don't know man, he just hasn't put a foot wrong all season. With his results in the major one week races, he's looking like the Wiggins of '12. Not that I'm happy to see two guys off one team on the podium, it's just that he's undeniably been one of the best stage racers this year. CQ says third after Nibali and Froome (subranking: stage races in 2013).

Yes, Porte is having a great season and really proving himself even more a potential GT contender in the smaller stage races. But it's a big ask to go from doing well in short stage races to a podium in a 3 week GT. I think he could top 10, but there are a number of guys who I see as having a better chance of a podium then him. Especially considering he will be working for Froome, Froomes no Wiggins and Portes no Froome, yet.

It was also easier for Sky to go 1-2 last year with easy parcours and competition. This year it will be much harder to go 1-2.

 

[airstream]

I admit Porte is a worse climber than Froome, Contador, Rodriguez and Andy,ebut he's able to beat all the rest. If Froome will be the best climber which is quite likely and won't need Richie's help too much, australian can easily top-3.

 

[Marco Pantani]

No way Porte will finish top three. Doesn't even matter, if he has to work fo Froome or not. His climbing isn't good enough. Tour is not Dauphiné, nor is it Paris-Nice or Criterium International.

Competition will be huge, very different to last years race. That clown that won last years race............... still unbelievable.

 

[martinvickers]

There's probably a more apt punishment for that salute

Very game of thrones, poor Alberto greyjoy.

 

[Angliru]

I admit Porte is a worse climber than Froome, Contador, Rodriguez and Andy,ebut he's able to beat all the rest. If Froome will be the best climber which is quite likely and won't need Richie's help too much, australian can easily top-3.

Easily?? For a yet unproven "contender" in the gt's. You make his competition seem like juniors. Over the course of 3 weeks we will see what Porte is capable of versus those that have been in the top 5 of the Tour and other grand tours in the past. As has been stated earlier, a week long stage race success doesn't always qualify into a gt world beater.

 

[Afrank]

I admit Porte is a worse climber than Froome, Contador, Rodriguez and Andy,ebut he's able to beat all the rest. If Froome will be the best climber which is quite likely and won't need Richie's help too much, australian can easily top-3.

I would say that Contador, Purito, Valverde, and Quintana have a better chance of a podium. And Pinot, Hesjedal, Martin, Talansky, Tejay, and Rolland have an equal chance of a podium.

Froome I don't think will end up needing Porte to the degree Wiggins needed him last year. But I expect Porte will still end up doing a fair amount of work on the front to keep the Skytrain going.

 

[Ruby United]

People who didn't vote for Froomie:

if you could re vote would you vote for him?

 

[Ruby United]

Omg, Contador didn't participate in the Tour since 2009. It's so crazy

What? I don't understand. Am I missing something? What about 2007?

 

[shades1]

really interesting to see so many votes {15 and counting} for andy schleck , seems i am not the only one hoping he can make a miraculous return to peak form in the biggest race of all .

personally i think froome looks unbeatable but schleck is my favorite rider and i would love to see him return to the top when so many people have written him off .

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So where will his holyness Bauke finish?

 

[LaFlorecita]

What? I don't understand. Am I missing something? What about 2007?

He got disqualified in 2009 and 2010

 

[LaFlorecita]

People who didn't vote for Froomie:

if you could re vote would you vote for him?

There are people who would vote for Alberto even if he had both his legs amputated.

 

[webbie146]

So where will his holyness Bauke finish?

Top 10 If he's in really good form and doesn't have back luck/crash.

There are people who would vote for Alberto even if he had both his legs amputated.

LOL

 

[Afrank]

So where will his holyness Bauke finish?

IMO somewhere between 6th and 9th assuming he stays consistent and doesn't go down in one of the first week crashes.