Who will win the Tour de France this year?

[inri2000]

Considering Contador is racing the Giro, and Basso as well as improving riders like Evans and Gesink are not, who will win the Tour this year?

 

[Midnightfright]

Easy answer for me. Baby schleck all the way.

 

[goggalor]

I think it will be a battle between Gesink and Hesjedal.

 

[SimonC]

Provided he stays upright it has to be Contador all the way, the way he is riding he's untouchable.

 

[inri2000]

Easy answer for me. Baby schleck all the way.

I think his best chance was last year considering Contador was off his usual form and he had that lead after the cobbles. Who knows what would have happened if Andy hadn't dropped his chain at the worst possible moment?

His best chance this year is probably the TTT and the fact there is only one ITT but Contador just looks too strong this year.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Andy, even on the assumption that Contador will be there. They were evenly matched last year, and the Giro will take a lot out of AC.

 

[Publicus]

Andy, even on the assumption that Contador will be there. They were evenly matched last year, and the Giro will take a lot out of AC.

True. But AC also looked like a shadow of himself last year. He certainly never looked as good as he looks in this Giro.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

True. But AC also looked like a shadow of himself last year. He certainly never looked as good as he looks in this Giro.

Hmm I doubt that, he was more inconsistant, but on the key mountain stages he and Schleck pulled away 1'30 from the others. Which is about the same gap he pulled away with Rujano on the Etna and the Grossglockner, which are comparable to Tour de France climbs in gradient and length.

The reason the gap in the Giro is bigger, is because Scarponi and Nibali are nowhere near Andy Schlecks level. Neither are Evans, Gesink, Basso, Van den Broeck, Samuel Sanchez, Hesjedal and everyone else I forgot to mention for that matter.

 

[Moondance]

Schleck the Younger to beat Bertie by less than a minute.

 

[DenisMenchov]

1. van den Broeck
2. Wiggins
3. Gesink

 

[Anonymous]

Contador not to ride, and Baby shleck to find someone new to wheelsuck.

Basso.

 

[ManInFull]

Considering Contador is racing the Giro, and Basso as well as improving riders like Evans and Gesink are not, who will win the Tour this year?

I know many of you want Baby Schleck to win. I think he is going to find a way to lose! AC will not be in the event. So, I am hoping for a competitive event with a surprise winner.

 

[Publicus]

Hmm I doubt that, he was more inconsistant, but on the key mountain stages he and Schleck pulled away 1'30 from the others. Which is about the same gap he pulled away with Rujano on the Etna and the Grossglockner, which are comparable to Tour de France climbs in gradient and length.

The reason the gap in the Giro is bigger, is because Scarponi and Nibali are nowhere near Andy Schlecks level. Neither are Evans, Gesink, Basso, Van den Broeck, Samuel Sanchez, Hesjedal and everyone else I forgot to mention for that matter.

I guess what I am saying is that AC looks a lot more like 2009 AC than 2010 AC. It's not a function of any of the other individuals as far as I can tell.

EDIT: Assuming AC doesn't ride, I think this is Baby Schleck's GT to lose.

 

[inri2000]

Hmm I doubt that, he was more inconsistant, but on the key mountain stages he and Schleck pulled away 1'30 from the others. Which is about the same gap he pulled away with Rujano on the Etna and the Grossglockner, which are comparable to Tour de France climbs in gradient and length.

The reason the gap in the Giro is bigger, is because Scarponi and Nibali are nowhere near Andy Schlecks level. Neither are Evans, Gesink, Basso, Van den Broeck, Samuel Sanchez, Hesjedal and everyone else I forgot to mention for that matter.

Don't forget the by his standards awful TT at the end of the race and the the fact he is riding for Riis and no longer in a semi hostile environment.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

If Contador is there he will win. Period. Andy will never beat Contador.

 

[Moondance]

1. van den Broeck
2. Wiggins
3. Gesink

 

[SiAp1984]

A. Schleck.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Andy Schleck is overrated at this forum. Remember in his best performance at the Tour last year he was 1` 22`` ahead of Denis Menchov, but he was all but beaten by Menchev there. If Tourmalet stage was neutralised because of rain like the one where AS fell, Menchov would have won the Tour, he also made a 50 second gap when his brother blocked the field, so Andy is far from being superior.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I have the right to dream, no?

 

[Moondance]

I have the right to dream, no?

I'd call a Tour won by VdB2 with Wiggins second a nightmare.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I'd call a Tour won by VdB2 with Wiggins second a nightmare.

I don`t see why that would be a nightmare, VdB is a great cyclist, and Wiggins is super good at TTing.

 

[auscyclefan94]

A question for the cycling historians amongst us, if VDB2 won the tour, would that make him the first ever person to have his 1st win as the Tour de France?

 

[Anonymous]

A question for the cycling historians amongst us, if VDB2 won the tour, would that make him the first ever person to have his 1st win as the Tour de France?

no, because he already has a couple of wins. Although, admittedly you do have to go back a few years.

 

[Andre.J]

Strange list: why would Evans and Basso be there?

 

[auscyclefan94]

no, because he already has a couple of wins. Although, admittedly you do have to go back a few years.

Do you really count Zellik - Galmaarden as a pro victory when he was 20y.o?