2013 Race Predictions

[tigger]

Not too long now until the season starts!

Any thoughts on who is going to reign supreme in the Grand Tours and Monuments? I think the status quo will similar to the last seasons with the usual big names bagging the big races. Not sure if Boonen will figure so much in 2013 with his illness problems. Will we see a return to early season form for Gilbert in the classics with the ranbow jersey on his back? I hope so. I'd like to see Boassen Hagan fulfil his potential and win one but I'm concerned he's still a little niave. Not sure if its a season too soon for Thomas but I'm going to put my neck on the line for him in Tour Flanders. (edit!)

Milan San Remo - Boasson Hagan
Tour of Flanders - Thomas
Paris-Roubaix - Cancellara
Liege-Bastogne-Liege - Gilbert
Giro di Lombardia - no idea yet

Giro - Wiggo
Le Tour - Contador
Vuelta - too far off to call

 

[thom]

Its very hard to say - no form to go on. Tom Boonen can do something again as can Ryder Hesjedal. Gilbert has the Rainbow stripes to contend with. But I agree, Contador if he rides the TdF fit, he'll win it.
OPQS are classics specialists so Cav might get a result in Ghent-Wevelgem-Ghent. Maybe he can do well in MSR too.

 

[AndyRM]

I'd probably agree with you tigger, but I reckon Froome will take Le Tour.

 

[oldroadman]

Always good fun to punt and then find out how wrong we usually are! I can't see past a Spaniard for the Vuelta, possibly Bertie, with Froome as an outsider if he misses out at the TdF. Classics are a lottery in some ways, you need class and a bit of good luck to win, but Cav should be able to have a shot at something, and if Spartacus is back on song a Paris-Roubaix is possible. Gilbert will pick up something along the way, having the rainbow bands (not stripes, they are vertical!!) didn't hold Cav back a lot. So much for the curse of the rainbow jersey.

 

[montage]

Milan San Remo - Sagan
Tour of Flanders - Stannard - sounds like he has been going well in training
Paris-Roubaix - Cancellara
Liege-Bastogne-Liege - Rodriguez
Giro di Lombardia - Gilbert

Giro - Wiggo
Le Tour - Wiggo (hehe)
Vuelta - Contador

Young Dombrowski to prove to be another excellent signing from Sky and a future contender. Kennaugh could so something interesting as well - we'll see how good he really is this year. Arnaud Demare to be a the next thing for france to rave about.

 

[rich p]

The Vuelta is too close to the TdF for the double so if Froome goes for the Tour then he scuppers his chances of the Vuelta. If Wiggins goes for the Giro and wins he may have enough energy to support Froome, if he loses he may be tempted to go harder for the Tour again.
Very tricky for Brailsford, Sky team and us armchair pundits!
Classics to be shared between JRod, FabC and Gilbert with a few curve balls in there too - so, basically no predictions then!
Contador for the TdF, Wiggo for the Giro (not sure if he'll like the steepness though, so more in hope than expectation) and errm, JRod for the Vuelta.
Oh, and some Aussie for the TdU.

 

[montage]

The Vuelta is too close to the TdF for the double so if Froome goes for the Tour then he scuppers his chances of the Vuelta. If Wiggins goes for the Giro and wins he may have enough energy to support Froome, if he loses he may be tempted to go harder for the Tour again.
Very tricky for Brailsford, Sky team and us armchair pundits!
Classics to be shared between JRod, FabC and Gilbert with a few curve balls in there too - so, basically no predictions then!
Contador for the TdF, Wiggo for the Giro (not sure if he'll like the steepness though, so more in hope than expectation) and errm, JRod for the Vuelta.
Oh, and some Aussie for the TdU.

Wiggo has osymetic chainrings, apparently they make steep climbs a breeze, he'll be fine!

 

[tigger]

Loving the Wiggo Giro/Tour double Montage! I nearly went for that myself but thought it was pushing even my blind faith in the side-burned one...

 

[Hont]

In the spirit of if none of this pans out I'll quietly forget about it, but if I get more than one right expect me to quote the fact in every post I make....

Milan San Remo - Sagan
Tour of Flanders - Cancellara
Paris-Roubaix - Hushovd*
Liege-Bastogne-Liege - Gilbert
Giro di Lombardia - Gilbert

Giro - Wiggins
Le Tour - Contador
Vuelta - Rodriguez

*My one concession to romanticism.

 

[The Couch]

In the spirit of if none of this pans out I'll quietly forget about it, but if I get more than one right expect me to quote the fact in every post I make....

In the same spirit (and I guess if there are people who put Stannard and Thomas winning a true classic, this same spirit applied earlier on here as well ):

Not a true classic, but I wanted to put this riders' name here: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - Stybar

Milan San Remo - Cancellara (although I almost went for Sagan)
Tour of Flanders - Cancellara
Paris-Roubaix - Tom Boonen
Amstel Gold Race - Sagan (although I almost went for Hagen)
Liege-Bastogne-Liege - Gilbert

Somewhere between these things I see L.L. Sanchez winning something of a slightly lower level.

Giro: Not sure who will compete, but I don't have a good feeling with Wiggo
TdF: Yeah, I'm afraid Contador is the best all-rounder

 

[Hont]

Milan San Remo - Sagan
Tour of Flanders - Cancellara
Paris-Roubaix - Hushovd*
Liege-Bastogne-Liege - Gilbert
Giro di Lombardia - Gilbert

Giro - Wiggins
Le Tour - Contador
Vuelta - Rodriguez

*My one concession to romanticism.

I thought I might resurect this thread now, as a 50% hit rate is undoubtedly as good as it's going to get for me, especially with Hushovd and Gilbert looking short of form.

 

[machew]

Will we find the loser in Asda next week in the fresh meat section?

 

[rich p]

I thought I might resurect this thread now, as a 50% hit rate is undoubtedly as good as it's going to get for me, especially with Hushovd and Gilbert looking short of form.

looking good Hont!

 

[tigger]

Come on Cancellara for Paris-Roubaix I say!

 

[tigger]

Remind me not to back any Sky riders in the classics again... Can't see Gilbert doing much in LBL either!