Who will win the Vuelta (rest day 2)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Current top 10:

1(1) FROOME Christopher Team Sky2062:06:25
2(2 )NIBALI Vincenzo Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team 1:01
3(4) ZAKARIN Ilnur Team Katusha - Alpecin 2:08
4(3) KELDERMAN Wilco Team Sunweb 2:11
5(5) CHAVES Johan Esteban ORICA-Scott 2:39
6(10) LÓPEZ Miguel Ángel Astana Pro Team 2:51
7(6) ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team 3:24
8(9) WOODS Michael Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team 3:26
9(8) CONTADOR Alberto Trek - Segafredo 3:59
10(11) POELS Wout Team Sky 5:22

I think Froome will win. Lopez will go all the way up till second place. Nibali 3rd, Zak 4th, Kelderman 5th.
Then Chaves, Contador, Woods, Aru, Poels

 

[PremierAndrew]

Froome
Nibali
Lopez

Zaka and Lopez I see as major threats to Nibali but too far back with a TT too imo

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Froome
Nibali
Lopez

Zaka and Lopez I see as major threats to Nibali but too far back with a TT too imo

Spot on.

I wish that Nibali finds a way to win it, but the odds are minuscule.

 

[Inquitus]

Froome
Nibali
Lopez

Hard to see beyond that with the TT on Tuesday I expect Froome and Nibali to extend their leads over Lopez by varying amounts. Lopez could with this form perhaps overturn 2-3 minutes on Nibali with the climbs to come and perhaps climb to 2nd on the podium, hard to see how Lopez can take 5+ minutes out of Froome though.

 

[Richeypen]

Froome
Nibali
Kelderman

 

[bob.a.feet]

Froome will win, although I hope Nibali can do it. Still annoyed that Dumoulin skipped the Vuelta

 

[DFA123]

1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Zakarin / Lopez

Lopez to make the podium if he can stay within 1:30 of Zak after the time trial.

 

[Gigs_98]

This Vuelta is annoying as ****. The medium mountain stages are always great to watch but as soon as the real mountains start the sky train comes to the front with the ultimate goal to put all cycling fans to sleep.

Unless something completely crazy happens Froome will win quite easily and the real question we should ask ourselves is when the giro starts

 

[Escarabajo]

Froome, Froome, Froome. Nothing to see here. Keep walking.

The fight for the GC has been a very boring one. His team is very strong as well.

At least we have Lopez performances for entertainment and Contador's farewell.

 

[Matteo.]

Froome.
He is fading a bit...but his opponents are weaker than him. Only Lopez could put him in trouble but He will be too far in the GC.
Only a crash or a collapse can stop froome

 

[Põhja Konn]

Froome is in full control. He is on downward curve, but only one who is clearly stronger right now, is too far down. On Machucos and Angliru, a train is of negligible help, but unless Lopez does an unexpectedly great TT, the race for red is over.

I hope Contador gives up his semi-relevant GC position and concentrates fully on going out in blaze of glory by winning on Angliru.

 

[klintE]

Froome (Sky?) is like Lehman Brothers bank: to big to fail

Befeore Vuelta I wrote Nibali will be second and Kelderman third
Now I think new guy in play is a crack.
Lopez will kill them both on Angliru.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

1. Froome

He'll put a lot of time on his rivals during the TT. He and his team are strong enough to minimize his loses during last mountain stages.

2. Nibali

He'll ride a decent TT (compared to climbers) but still will lose at least about a minute to Alien.

3. Lopez

He has the momentum and will overtake a few GC rivals during last mountain stages. TT is a mystery though. Zakarin has also good chances for the podium.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Nibali, Lopez and Contador to break the race up on stage 18, its a Fuente Dé deluxe and Poels to have his trademark bad day. Nibali is winning and Froome can add another way to lose a Vuelta to his impressive Vuelta-*** ups palmarés.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Nibali, Lopez and Contador to break the race up on stage 18, its a Fuente Dé deluxe and Poels to have his trademark bad day. Nibali is winning and Froome can add another way to lose a Vuelta to his impressive Vuelta-*** ups palmarés.

Where do I sign to make this happen and condemn my soul to hell

 

[skippo12]

Voodoo is strong with Nibali. Only one minute behind after 2 weeks and second in the GC. He only needs one weak day, crash or technical to win this race.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Nibali, Lopez and Contador to break the race up on stage 18, its a Fuente Dé deluxe and Poels to have his trademark bad day. Nibali is winning and Froome can add another way to lose a Vuelta to his impressive Vuelta-*** ups palmarés.

O_0 And with Contador winning the stage!
Would be so epic.

 

[dacooley]

damn, its illogical. when froome was attacking contador almost at any big finish or murito to be dropped on last km several years ago, i dont remember reading anyone praising him or calling him the race animator.a few years later nibali puts a few moderate digs at pandera and sierra nevada and becoming allegedly a more well-deserving race winner than froome.

 

[TMP402]

Froome, but I'm nowhere near as convinced as others are that he will take minutes in the time-trial.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Froome should win if he doesn't crash or have bad luck, I don't see him fading enough for others to catch him, he's still one of the strongest uphill now and is playing a sensible game. The only guy who could put him into trouble is Lopez but he could well be 5 minutes down on Tuesday.

 

[The Barb]

Froome
Nibali
Zakarin

Will be close for final podium spot between Zakarin, Kelderman and Lopez (made hard to assess because Zakarin is so inconsistent in time trials and Lopez had ridden so few meaningful ones).

Whatever happens, the confirmation of Lopez as an elite GT rider has been the best thing to come out of this Vuelta.

 

[Climbing]

I still believe in Nibali overtaking Froome, hopefully he does as well.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

I still believe in Nibali overtaking Froome, hopefully he does as well.

I voted Nibali at the beginning. Not anymore. Team Sky is very strong.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Froome
Nibali
Lopez

Zaka and Lopez I see as major threats to Nibali but too far back with a TT too imo

Yeah I think that's the likely result. I don't see Zakarin as a threat except for third place maybe.

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

I could imagine 1 vote for Contador, but not 2...