Tour de France - Gilbert: Giro has hurt Contador

Fri, 01 Jul 11:19:00 2011

EXCLUSIVE: The world's top-ranked cyclist, Philippe Gilbert, casts his eye over the contenders for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.

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The Belgian one-day specialist, who earlier this year completed a hat-trick of Ardennes' Classics victories, will provide daily analysis of the day's action.

The Tour leaves Vendée on Saturday before arriving in Paris 21 stages and 3,430km later on Sunday July 24 and Gilbert gives his views on the race favourites.

Alberto Contador: He had to really go very deep in his reserves during the Giro. That was very hard for him because of the climate, the terrain and the transfers. I think he has left a lot of energy out there. He has the right for the presumption of innocence like any other citizen. If he was given the permission to start the Tour, why not? The only thing I wish is the justice to be done and that he won't be deprived of a possible victory or a possible honour because it wouldn't be good for our sport.

Andy Schleck: I think his form this season has been a little bit worse than in previous years. He has had good performances - but each time a little bit less impressive than in previous years. But he is able to improve quickly when he is approaching his targets. He shouldn't be forgotten. His brother Frank will be present and we all know that the two brothers are always very efficient together.

Cadel Evans: He prepares very well for his goals. He won Tirreno-Adriatico, he won the Tour of Romandy and he was second at the Dauphiné. It's nearly a perfect record. He is very serene, his team is 100% at his service, so I put him among the potential winners in Paris.

There is also of course Bradley Wiggins who has become very thin in the last two years, he is now aware of his potential in stage races. And you should not forget Alexandre Vinokourov either who is also preparing well for the Tour de France. They both can also contend for final victory.

Robert Gesink seems to be showing the strain at the moment. Whether the previous races were not important for him or whether his training is very hard, it's something that I don't know. Anyway, he should be there at the Tour.

Eurosport

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  1. what great predictions these proved to be. right about­ contador...great rider but knackered after giro.­ schlecks form not as good as prev yrs, and right ­ highlight evans as a winner. get him back next yr !

    From perdo petrone, on Thu 25 Aug 21:49

  2. stop the TdF, no need to race it this year, big mouthed­ know it all Thomas has told us all what will happen­ so no need to waste 3 weeks of our lives waiting for­ the results. thnx gobshite

    From acceptedG, on Sun 3 Jul 0:51

  3. This guy doesn't stand a chance against Andy and­ Alberto. No one does...

    From danzi, on Sat 2 Jul 18:29

  4. Old news. What a boring article. Btw, Contador appeared­ to have won the Giro with ease. What reserves did he­ have to dig into? He gave up several stage wins to­ fellow riders. He could have won by a larger margin.­ Cadel Evans is hoping Schleck and Contador get a severe­ diarrhea and loose the tour. Cadel Evans is in no way­ in the same category as Contador. But a miracle is a­ miracle.. and severe diarrhea outbreaks do occur in the­ world of cycling.

    From TOM-TOM, on Sat 2 Jul 11:34
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bobcha, your terrible English irritates me, go and post­ on the board of your own country please.

    From tuggo, on Sat 2 Jul 6:39

  6. 11 hours till fanboy mania takes over!

    From RiChArD, on Sat 2 Jul 5:45

  7. Betting "without Contador" I have gone for­ Sanchez, Geesink and Kreuzinger.

    From charly.beagrie, on Sat 2 Jul 4:58

  8. I think its time the Tour the France starts so this­ @#$% talking finally quits. Its gonna be entertaining­ and everybody is gonna be cheering for their favorites­ which is great :-D.

    From oh80_us, on Sat 2 Jul 4:51

  9. Maxx92

    Because that UCIs stupid ways to get points, he­ is # 1 ranked cyclist in the world. I cant believe­ that 3 wins on classics (3 days of racing) get more­ points then Giro win with 3 weeks racing. Then how much­ time Contador was on podium in stages of Giro, he won­ Vuleta Murcia and Vuelta Catalunya. After that Gilbert­ # 1 cyclist in the world.

    From Bobcha, on Sat 2 Jul 3:35

  10. Well said, Maxx92.

    From kmf, on Sat 2 Jul 2:53

  11. AC will need to double up on that special meat he eats.

    From Morty, on Sat 2 Jul 2:47

  12. The fact that Gilbert races 150 days a year against­ these guys, competes in grand tours, and is the # 1­ ranked cyclist in the world gives him more than enough­ authority when knuckleheads like us debate­ cycling's favorites, losers, heroes and villains­ on a daily basis. Which one of you guys knocking him­ has gone up the alps in 40 degree heat, with a knee/­ wrist/ back/ etc injury that you've hidden from the­ press, begging for the finish line knowing you had­ another 5 days to go before you reached Paris?

    From Maxx92, on Sat 2 Jul 0:47

  13. Bobcha , I usually enjoy your postings , but give­ Gilbert respect , as a one day classics major . Horses­ for courses . Of course he ain't AC, but he knows­ that . Funny that he should wish to espouse views on­ TdF , I suppose he needs the interview fee . Though ­ if I were the payer, I 'd tell him , half was being­ withheld for stating the obvious .

    From Paula, on Sat 2 Jul 0:42
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ST

    Gilbert never won race longer then 3 days. NEVER.­ For me, he never get respect more then Contador.­ Gilbert dont have right to talk about Contador, like he­ did in this interview. On the first hill Gilbert will­ lose 5 or 6 minutes on this TDF11. 3 wins on classics­ cant match win on GIRO

    From Bobcha, on Sat 2 Jul 0:15
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ST

    Respect???????????
    What he do to deserve respect?­ Win some race long then 2 days? Win seven day long­ race? Win grand tour? What? What he wins this year that­ deserve respect more then AC?

    From Bobcha, on Sat 2 Jul 0:09

  16. Try to say something useful Bobcha - it helps. Gilbert­ deserves more respect after what he has done this year.

    From ST, on Fri 1 Jul 23:17

  17. Anybody but AC. Anybody.

    From mikeg, on Fri 1 Jul 22:54
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    My God, how many more pointless articles will Eurosport­ publish on a dirty failed cheat?

    From Misi, on Fri 1 Jul 22:45
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Gilbert U talk to much, like Andy last 3 days. U 2 is­ just want to AC kick your a.s in TDF11. I just cant­ understand with what U 2 afraid AC

    From Bobcha, on Fri 1 Jul 22:22

  20. The Giro wasn't as hard as when Pantani or Indurain­ did the double in that it was more controlled, and the­ leaders were isolated later in the race than they used­ to. Contador was isolated earlier, but it didn't­ matter so much, because they rode tempo instead of­ attacking him. The Giro/Tour double doesn't look­ as impossible as it did just before the Giro. ­

    Contador will be tired to a greater or lesser degree,­ but Schleck will never win the Tour, and nobody else­ starting can match him in the mountains even if he­ turns up at 85% of his ability. Contador has to be­ the clear favourite. With his wheel to follow, and­ sufficient mountains Schleck will be second every­ time.

    Third is the interesting bit...hoping for­ Sanchez, but there's got to be half a dozen riders­ that can take it.

    From Thomas, on Fri 1 Jul 22:15
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