Tour de France 2011 Preview – The Contenders

We’ve taken a quick look at the route and the possible ways that the race could unfold, now it’s time for Daily Cycle’s Top 10 GC contenders. This list is compiled based on previous results, form shown this year and just a hint of gut instinct. We reckon all of the riders on this list are capable of placing in the top 10 of this years Tour, so let’s take a look at them!

Alberto Contador

There’s no disputing his talent. Contador is undoubtedly the greatest grand tour rider of a generation, having now won 6 grand tours, including 3 yellow jerseys. His form was scintillating during the recent Giro D’Italia and despite saying he’s still feeling the effects of three gruelling weeks of racing we still think he’s in with a shout of yellow in Paris. Contador is the ultimate all round rider, time trialling with the best and boasting a climbing talent which is almost unrivalled, his major disadvantage is the fatigue he’ll be carrying from the Tour of Italy.

Andy Schleck

Aside from Contador, no rider has demonstrated the sort of grand tour performances that Schleck is capable of. We reckon that had brother Frank not crashed out of last years Tour then Andy may well have taken yellow and although his form’s not quite been what it might be in recent races, we think there’s no way he won’t be at his best come the Tour start on July 2^nd. Schleck lacks time trialling prowess, but has shown that under pressure he can produce a creditable performance; his climbing is second to none and he should make this years race an interesting one.

Cadel Evans

Evans had a mixed season last year, performing well in the classics but the exhaustion of the Giro and a broken elbow limited his Tour performance. This year Evans has been untouchable in stage races such as the Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of Romandie, both of which he won impressively, following it up with a second place in this month’s Dauphine. Evans is a great time trialist and a good climber, and his recent surge in aggression has made him more of an unpredictable rider, we’d really like to see him get a good result!

Bradley Wiggins

Wiggins’ 2010 Tour was also disappointing, due to a lack of form and riding the Giro. This year he’s been performing in TT’s and short stage races, taking the Dauphine and finishing third in March’s Paris-Nice. He’s undoubtedly a brilliant rider against the clock, can follow in the mountains and most importantly he’s consistent; he’s our outside tip for the podium – Big up the Brits!

 

Jurgen Van den Broeck

Fresh off a stage win and 4^th place overall at the Dauphine, Van den Broek appears to be coming into form at just the right time, loosing time against the clock means that he would need a serious cushion going into the Grenoble time trial. He lost over 2:20 to Wiggins on the same course in the Dauphine, and this would likely be mirrored with other GC contenders.

Frank Schleck

Like his brother, Frank is no time trialist, but climbing seems to run in the Schleck blood. He’s always performed well in one day races such as the Ardennes Classics and his Tour potential is evident. An awful crash on stage 3 ruined his Tour last year but combined with Andy he packs a formidable punch. The Schleck’s need to be careful to watch their tactics, the Tour of Switzerland and the Ardennes this year proved that strength in depth can be negated by poor tactics, so they need to be careful.

Samuel Sanchez

Sanchez is a great climber and can time trial in the right circumstances, he can climb with the likes of Evan and Wiggins and on a good day could follow the Schlecks and Contador. His problem is that he’s likely to loose stacks of time in the team time trial. A 5^th in Paris-Nice and 3^rd in Fleche Wallonne have been his best results this season and he packs a formidable punch at the end of a hard stage, as shown in his Olympic Road Race win.

Janez Brajkovic

The young Slovenian has heaps of talent, his great ride in the Dauphine last year showed that Contador is beatable. His Radioshack team is likely to be one of the strongest in the Tour, with back ups of Leipheimer and great riders like Popovych. He’s a great time trialist and climber like most GC guys and the longer the TT the better.

 

Ryder Heisjedal

Canada’s finest was the revelation of last years Tour and we’re hoping he’ll repeat again, he’s traditionally been a one day rider but has worked on both time trialling and endurance and with a strong team behind him could again prove impressive

 

Robert Gesink

Gesink is a Dutch climber riding for a strong Rabobank squad, he’ll be in the front group in the mountains and can follow Schlecks and Contador. On a good day we wouldn’t put it past him to grab a stage win in the high mountains ahead of the group; he’ll have the unquestionable support of Rabobank with the absence of Oscar Freire.

p.s. have you tried the free eBook yet…?

 

 

Image Credits: pjc&co, Europa Press, Dave Strom, SBS Cycling Central 2010, aebrookes, Petit Brun, www.sport-phot.com, bovenburen, Romina Mooren, wikipedia, kristof ramon