Can Valverde win the Tour?

[creekster]

It will help, of course, that Contador and team are not there, but the quesiton I have is about his climbing skills. He is a good ITT guy, and has shown remarkably good sprinting ability, but his climbing while not exactly weka, has never dazzled (with one or two excpetions in the past). Can he put it together and win the big one? GIven that Levi, contador, Kloden and, just for old times sake, chicken legs, won't be there, I think he has to be one of the favorites.

[bluegoose]

Originally Posted by creekster

It will help, of course, that Contador and team are not there, but the quesiton I have is about his climbing skills. He is a good ITT guy, and has shown remarkably good sprinting ability, but his climbing while not exactly weka, has never dazzled (with one or two excpetions in the past). Can he put it together and win the big one? GIven that Levi, contador, Kloden and, just for old times sake, chicken legs, won't be there, I think he has to be one of the favorites.

I would put Cadel Evans in as the favorite, with Valverde not far behind. I've never been convinced that he can put together a complete tour. But after the strong showing at the Dauphine and the loss of the other top 5 guys, he'll likely end up on the podium, with an outside shot at the top spot.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

I would put Cadel Evans in as the favorite, with Valverde not far behind. I've never been convinced that he can put together a complete tour. But after the strong showing at the Dauphine and the loss of the other top 5 guys, he'll likely end up on the podium, with an outside shot at the top spot.

Cadel is a reasonable and safe choice. Extend yourself a little; who else would you pick?

[bluegoose]

Originally Posted by creekster

Cadel is a reasonable and safe choice. Extend yourself a little; who else would you pick?

Carlos Sastre. Is that enough of a stretch for you? A full 7 minutes behind Evans last year in the final standings.

Still not stretchy enough for you, eh? Here's my dark horse, and yes, its my final answer - Mauricio Soler Hernandez Juan from Barloworld. Did anyone not named Skeletor climb better than him last year. Plus, if he would just drop all the extra weight of having to carry three last names up the hills, he would likely save several minutes in the GC.

[Archaea]

Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre are my first choices.

Is Michael, I forget his last name from the T Mobile team entered this year?

[creekster]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Carlos Sastre. Is that enough of a stretch for you? A full 7 minutes behind Evans last year in the final standings.

Still not stretchy enough for you, eh? Here's my dark horse, and yes, its my final answer - Mauricio Soler Hernandez Juan from Barloworld. Did anyone not named Skeletor climb better than him last year. Plus, if he would just drop all the extra weight of having to carry three last names up the hills, he would likely save several minutes in the GC.

SOler. Oooo, very, very stretchy. But not likely to be right. He climbed like a goat but that elbows out knees a kimbo style won't do him much good in an ITT. He may have enought o give us some Skeletor type excitement in the hills, but he is not a podium guy. To be honest, what has he done this season? I am not aware of his reacord this year.