Who will win the Dauphiné?

[BigMac]

As we head towards the end of the Giro, we also approach the two main pre-Tour stage races, the Dauphiné and Suisse. This year's CdD features 4 mountain and hill top finishes in a row, including a replica of le Tour's Pra Loup stage, and a 24km TTT on day 3. Full route here.

Startlist is not official, names may be provisional.

Poll ends on June 7, you can change vote.

edit: poll working now.

 

[Jalgratas95]

Valverde will win.

 

[Anderis]

Last year's winner not included in poll? I know he hasn't been in a great form recently, but still...

 

[BigMac]

Last year's winner not included in poll? I know he hasn't been in a great form recently, but still...

I really didn't see he was riding it. His form should be okay, he just came from winning the national tt champs, and put on a good effort on the road race. I'll try to figure something out.

edit: Alaphilippe out, Andrew in. Poll results reset though.

 

[Velolover2]

Alaphilippe will beat Froome like Zakarin did in Romandie. Valverde 3rd.

 

[Velolover2]

You need to make one with Suisse too, BigMac.

And why is Alaphilippe out? He is a better candidate than Mollema and Costa.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Talansky will be brutal in CDD no doubt.

But ag2r will go berserk and win the race.

Valverde will win two stages, plenty to choose from.

 

[Velolover2]

Pinot isn't there?

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Alaphilippe will beat Froome like Zakarin did in Romandie. Valverde 3rd.

And he has a Tony Martin to support him in the TTT. He will wear yellow after stage 3.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

You need to make one with Suisse too, BigMac.

And why is Alaphilippe out? He is a better candidate than Mollema and Costa.

Well, I wouldn't be so sure. I stated I was curious to see if Alaphilippe could bring his Mt. Baldy legs into multi climb racing in the Alps, which is not a given. Mollema and Costa have proved to be top contenders in this races, one has won the last three Tours of Switzerland and the other has podiumed the last couple. The frenchman had virtually never performed on the mountains before Cali, so what makes you say that?

Also, Alaphilippe still doesn't have a title as cool The Great Bauke Mollema, maybe one day

 

[Velolover2]

I know but I still wouldn't be surprised if he was in yellow after stage 3 and then kept it for the rest of the race.

I'm serious when I say that I could even see him hanging on to Froome. Wearing yellow gives you wings and motivation. Especially when you are an young man.

 

[Velolover2]

I'm willing to make an avatar bet that Alaphilippe will be in yellow after stage 3.

Anybody who dares to challenge me? You have to have this picture until the start of Tour de France.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Will there be bonus seconds? In that case, it's tailor made for Valverde.
Have to say you are overrating Alaphilipe a fair bit. Definitely not a contender for a race with this sort of competition.

 

[lenric]

Oleg Tinkoff is going to win while riding a child's scooter.

 

[Red Rick]

It's a prep race, nobody of the big guns truly cares

 

[Gigs_98]

Kelderman is definitely going to win...oh wait its Kelderman, he never wins anything

 

[SeriousSam]

Valverde races at races instead of doing pathetic training rides like some previous Tour winners, so he's a good bet. Most likely candidate is, however, Froome if he can avoid falling off his bike.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Valverde races at races instead of doing pathetic training rides like some previous Tour winners, so he's a good bet. Most likely candidate is, however, Froome if he can avoid falling off his bike.

Agree, Froome should win if he stays upright. he will be motivated to get a win before the Tour and is just coming off a great block in Tenerife which usually means he has improved the form. He will also have a strong team with Nieve, Poels, Kennaugh and roche looking likely to ride

 

[Metabolol]

Froome will most likely win if he avoids crashes and can stay healthy. But he could also completely blow up if he has even a small problem.

 

[Electress]

I shall be interested to see Froome's shape in this. I'll admit to wanting Vvde to get a sneaky win or two.

 

[Jspear]

Froome for the win. He usually starts showing pretty good form this time of the year and I have no reason to think this year will be any different.
2nd Valverde
3rd Jrod

Talansky started showing some form in the US nationals - I'm thinking he'll do pretty well.

 

[phanatic]

Froome will pulverize the competition. Might have to skip the Tour to recover from the exhilaration of it.

 

[Weapons of @ss Destruction]

Might have to skip the Tour to recover from the exhilaration of it.

Might have to skip the Tour to recover from the bilharzation of it.

 

[Velolover2]

I still think that most of these guys are stupid for riding Dauphiné instead of Suisse.

Both Costa, Purito, Pinot and perhaps Rolland would have had a chance of winning the race or multiple stages. They don't really stand a chance against Froome for overall and Valverde for stages.

 

[Kwibus]

Obviously Costa. Together with strong team support it will be easy.