Who will win the 2014 Tour de Suisse?

[observer]

I voted Wiggins because that's what I want to happen, and then see Sky explain why he isn't going to the tour.

 

[jens_attacks]

same as observer. wiggo for le tour!

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I voted Matthias Frank. Last year he was leading after the mountain stages and lost it in the TT. He seems to be climbing good this year and he seems to have worked on his TT. I think he has a good shot, but it will be very difficult.

 

[Butterhead]

I would think Kreuziger would like to have a win for the year, but I doubt hes ready with all that altitude training in the legs, it usually takes a few days to recover.

If Frank is in good shape I would put my money on him or Costa, and Kreuziger somewhere between 3 and 5.

But as one of the forum members so truly said, it could be fun if Wiggins would take this, it would bring another saurkraut to Froomes tour rooster.

 

[Fausto]

I voted Wiggins because that's what I want to happen, and then see Sky explain why he isn't going to the tour.

we're in the same boat
there's nothing more to say

 

[veji11]

I think Wiggo will take it : the climbs are pretty Wiggo friendly in terms of gradients, and the ITT will really suit him.

 

[mihhint]

Rui Costa has won here last few years for a reason. I think it's his favorite or one of his favorite races and one he seems to actually target much stronger than most TDF preppers. It should be between him and Kreuziger.

 

[MBotero]

Wiggins for the double Suisse and Le Tour

 

[Oliver]

Sky want to win, so I voted Wiggins.

 

[thrawn]

Andy Schleck

 

[Afrank]

Can't stand Wiggins, and I will never vote for him. Costa's a good option, but of course there is that damn world champion curse. Kreuziger, maybe. Mollema, probably top 10, not win though. Pinot, again I'd say top 10. Would be cool if he could win.

I'll just go with this.

Andy Schleck

 

[BigMac]

Unbelievable Mollema only has 6 votes. I'm sure he will finish in front of Wiggins and Kreuziger. It is between him and Costa. Regardless of how they perform, their always underrated.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Unbelievable Mollema only has 6 votes. I'm sure he will finish in front of Wiggins and Kreuziger. It is between him and Costa. Regardless of how they perform, their always underrated.

How do you reach that conclusion?
Costa is in no way underrated and certainly TGBM, or whatever pepole call him, isn't either. Rather the opposite that is the case if any.
Costa - a top favourite? Sure, he's been looking good in a lot of stage races this year.
Mollema - a top favourite? not so much. Hasn't shown much in stage races all year except winning a stage in Tour of Norway and some secondary placements in the Ardennes.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Mollema was 2nd here last year though. And in what similarity, he had not shown much in stage-races that year either.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Mollema - a top favourite? not so much. Hasn't shown much in stage races all year except winning a stage in Tour of Norway and some secondary placements in the Ardennes.

uhm......

Last year he got some high placements in random small races, but he couldn't climb in TA and then he got ill and didn't much much in the Ardennes either. Than he came back with decent riding in Norway, a 2nd place in Suisse and a top 10 in TDF.

This year he got some placings in a random small race. Couldn't climb in TA, didn't do much in PV, than actually did better than last year in the Ardennes. Then he came back with better riding than last in in Norway and now he's doing Suisse.......

I honestly don't see why he wouldn't compete ftw this year if he did last year. Besides some crappy small races and MSR he did an identical season but without being ill for PV and with better results in the Ardennes and Norway.

Sure, he can fail, he's Dutch after all, but he should certainly be up there in the poll. Don't think he'll win though, but he might.

 

[christopherrowe]

Mollema was 2nd here last year though. And in what similarity, he had not shown much in stage-races that year either.

I think he may have been going marginally better in stage races last year, but not enough to make any pronouncements one way or the other. Here are his principal stage race results from 2013 going into the Tour du Suisse and from this year up to date.

2013
Tour Mediterranean Cycliste Professionnel (2.1) | 6th on GC, two top-ten stage finishes
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol (2.1) | 3rd on GC, top-ten on all four stages
Tirreno-Adriatico (WT) | 21st on GC, 2nd on one road stage
Criterium International (2.HC) | 4th on GC, 10th in the TT, 3rd in the closing road stage
Glava Tour of Norway (2.1) | 4th on GC, 3rd on one road stage
(28 total racing days going into the Tour du Suisse)

2014
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol (2.1) | 6th on GC, two top-ten stage finishes
Tirreno-Adriatico (2.UWT) | 22nd on GC
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco (2.UWT) | 28th on GC, 5th on one road stage
Uno-X Tour of Norway (2.HC) | 3rd on GC, 1st on one road stage
(27 total racing days going into the Tour du Suisse)

On the other hand, I'd say he's definitely done better in the one-day classics this year than he did last year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Usually Mollema starts climbing better later in the year, after the training block after classics. Intensity towards tour is higher and more focussed on climbing. While pre-season training is more aimed at classics/long distance

 

[Kokoso]

Is there any choice for me? No, not really. It's Kreuziger.

 

[christopherrowe]

Many, many additions have been made to the startlist at procyclingstats. Cadel Evans?!?

 

[christopherrowe]

Wow, Kreuziger has overtaken Costa in the voting, wouldn't have thought that. Not surprised to see Wiggins ahead, really.

I'm just gratified that my supposed "trolling" option has a healthy number of votes and isn't in last!

 

[Kibbeling]

First vote and post on this excellent forum. My douze points went to Mollema, 50 % because I'm Dutch, 25 % because I think he deserves to win something big to shut up all the TGBM banter and 25 % for his awful riding style

If Bauke doesn't make it I'll be rooting for Sir Wiggo and I'm hoping for good performances by Meintjes, Frank, Craddock, Schurter and D. van Poppel.

 

[staubsauger]

As it's all about recovery and age is just a concept I have to bet on Chris Horner!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Many, many additions have been made to the startlist at procyclingstats. Cadel Evans?!?

Its not unusual for riders to take the Giro - TdS route. Lets see if he can hold his form.

 

[Angliru]

As it's all about recovery and age is just a concept I have to bet on Chris Horner!

Horner out. He's to skip TdS to continue preparing for the Tour. Lampre is fearful that he could suffer serious injury should he crash and reinjure his ribs.

 

[christopherrowe]

Its not unusual for riders to take the Giro - TdS route. Lets see if he can hold his form.

Cadel (and I'm a great fan of his) holding his form is the reason I'm surprised. To my untutored eye he looked to be following the arc of the diver as the Giro progressed, and I was thinking the old man would hunker down in Stabio with Chiara and sleep late for a month or two.