Yep you read that right! But it's not just jingoistic chanting from the football terraces - honest!
Why not?
The giro's previously undiscovered (albeit occasional) mountain goat finally comes good. The giro was just training you know - it's a popular statement! I tell you now he will be in yellow from (possibly) start to finish.
Your honour, I submit the following.....
Why he will win
The race pans out like this.....
Stage 1 - TT - Possible yellow, almost certainly top five. Weight loss, new found climbing abilities etc - course suddenly very suitable.
Stages 2/3 - Bradley doesn't care.
Stage 4 - TTT. Garmin's known objective. In a worst case scenario Cance beat Brad stage 1. Assume this beating manageable and the Garmen make back the time - Brad now definitely in yellow.
Stages 5/6 - Bradley doesn't care.
Stages 7/8/9 - Andorra, Brad hangs in with his new founds climbing skills, 8 & 9 have been emasculated as previously discussed elsewhere - so th Brad dont matter.
Stages 10/11/12 - Brad doesn't care.
Stage 13/14 - 13 = Vosges - Brad shits himself a bit, but CVV is domestique deluxe, gets through. 14 Brad doesn't care.
Stages 1516/17 - the Alps. Hangs on going to Verbier. Can do the bernards with the rest of them. 17 - loses time but not devastating.
Stage 18 - TT - makes the time back up
Stage 19 - Brad doesn't care
Stage 20 - The Garmen step up - Brad survives.
Stage 21 - Brad drinks champagne.
Why he won't win.
Perm one from several:
Can't climb; can't last three weeks; lacks dedication; lack of team support; other teams will blow him/Garmin away, etc etc
In conclusion - whilst I would love to see it I think unlikely. To wear yellow during the race - almost certainly. Also - it turned out to be very easy to make a case for a powerful TT man to win this tour, on this parcours, a la Indurain.