The Hitch said:
Huh what?
What?.
Seriously i want to write this post without coming of a bit.mean but that is the the single.dumbest comment in the history of this.forum
Boy you tried really hard there.
2011
T Voeckler came 4th, Ivan Basso 7th, Peraud 9th
2010
Half of the top 10 were also rans in this tour. Luis Leon Sanchez came 10th and most of the rest of the top 10 finished in roughly the same positi9on as this tour (VDB, Kreuziger). Dennis Menchov came second in that tour btw.
2009
A pretty strong top 10. This of course was a top 10 that had BW in 4th place.
2008
Kim Kirchen in 8th. Consistent TDF rider but hardly a GT beast. And Tadej Valjevec finished 10th. Serious GT contender?
And this tour:
Nibali - A 1st, 2nd and two thirds in GT's
Cadel Evans - Former winner
JVDB - Not the best GT palmares but a previous 4th place
Zubeldia - Fairly consistent top 10 GT record
Three of the best future GT riders in TJVG, Pinot and Rolland
Yes the absence of ContaShleck makes a differance but this was not the weak tour you seem to be suggesting, this top 10 is as strong as the last few years certainly.