Giro di Freedom: Top 5 lethal duo's

My esteemed and not so esteemed colleagues have come up with some "top 5" lists. Some are quite absurd and by some I mean all. So I must enter and as usual provide the serious analysis. Really you kids just can't be tamed can you? In my list I will explore the top 5 dynamic duo's at this years Tour. I will rank them from most powerful to least in reverse...cause I can do that and shits. These will be GC focused. I'm not looking at sprint juggernauts or best hair tandems. This will be some grade A stuff and will change your lives for the next 20 seconds, or however long it takes you to skim through this post. So let me begin:

(Please realize this entire paragraph is full of snark...therefore I do not expect it to get anywhere near the front page and it should not be taken seriously as doing so could lead to harmful side affects)

Edit: Oh it totally has made it on the front page bitchez

5: Ivan Basso and Roman Kreuziger

The Giro champ and last years 9th place finisher are first on my list. Basso has finished on the Tour podium twice before and if anyone knows how to do the Giro-Tour double to perfection it is him. Kreuziger is ready to step to the next level after watching the other young gun on Liquigas finally making his GT breakthrough. A formidable team. Basso can climb with anyone because of his ability to maintain a high pace for a long period of time; this makes up for his lack of acceleration when the road tilts up. Kreuziger hasn't shined as much on the climbs but is a very good TTist. Basso is rightfully team leader but could face the same Giro fatigue that Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre felt last year. Kreuz could step up in his place and save face for this powerful Italian team but don't expect much more than his 9th he had last year. He had been struggling with illness but climbed well in Switzerland. How good is the team chemistry? Kreuz seems to be gone from Leaky after this year and doesn't seem to get along with his Italian teammate as well as Nibali did. Shouldn't be too much polemica but it is an Italian team.

My prediction: Two top 10's but no podium finishers and neither guy very threatening throughout the race.

4: Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer

The 7 time Tour champ returns after his great performance last year, this time undoubtedly being backed as team leader with an entire team behind him again. Levi has podiumed before at the Tour but has been a tad underwhelming this year. He couldn't win the Amgen Tour of Leipifornia once again and wasn't as good in the TdS as Lance or Andreas Kloden. But when it comes to July it will once again be the bald nugget who will be the Shacks number 2. Klodi will resort to being a super domestique as will Brajkovic. Jani looked great at the Dauphine but he has never been able to hold his form for an entire 3 weeks at a GT and betting on him doing so would be far too risky for Johan Bruyneel and the Shack team. Levi will be option number two. The climbs aren't too steep for him and the long ITT on the penultimate day of action will be to his liking. Lance is never to be doubted at the Tour and his form seems to be on the up. Yet I would be quite surprised to see him on the podium again. JB will have to draw up a new plan to get on the podium again, can and will he do it?

My prediction: Lance just off the podium and Levi just outside the Top-10. No stage wins and no glory this time.

3: Denis Menchov and Robert Gesink:

This is a toss up between numbers 3-4 for me but I will give Rabobank the edge because I feel bad for them screwing up their national championship today. The young Dutchman is ready to be big at the Tour but his experienced Russian teammate should get the chance to lead. Menchov didn't defend his Giro title and hasn't looked good of late but it isn't about June. Menchov has 3 GT wins and past Tour success. He just hasn't been able to get onto to the podium but by not defending his Giro title he has shown that he really wants a great July. Don't let the Tour of Belgium DNF worry you, Menchov in Belgium makes no sense. He tested himself a bit at the Dauphine and will be ready to go come July 3rd. Gesink looked great at the TdS in the mountains while blowing it in the TT. But at this Tour it will be about his mountain abilities. A big help for Menchov and a stage hunter. He could even go for the King of the Mountains if he is in a non-threatening GC position come week 3. Gesink will make his mark on this years Tour but it won't be as a podium finisher, not yet.

My prediction: Gesink wins a stage and is in the hunt for the KOM but doesn't win it in the end. He finishes top-20 while helping Menchov to a top-10, likely around 5th or 6th.

2: Alberto Contador and Alexander Vinokourov:

The most talked about duo. Well Lance as an individual is talked about more but as a duo it is all about the Astana crew. Vino won L-B-L and was the leader of the Giro for several stages this year. Last years Tour champ has won 3 stage races and won two stages at the Dauphine and looked impressive at the classics. In typical Contador form he has been able to compete for the win in every race he has entered(allergies aside). He is the clear favorite to win the Tour for a 3rd time and while his team is weaker than last year its demise has been greatly exaggerated. One reason, the main reason, is Vino. A great domestique when he puts his mind to it. He can pull on a climb for awhile and no matter if you love him or hate him(and there is no in between) you must admit he is a fighter. The Tour climbs do suit Vino better than the Giro climbs did but the Giro showed he doesn't have what it takes to challenge Bert for team superiority. The Astana selection shows which route the team is going down, the Contador route. I do believe Vino will stay faithful to Bert as they do seem to be buddies and Bert helped him to his L-B-L win. As in the Dauphine when Dani Navarro was given the go ahead from Bert, Vino may very well be given a chance to win a stage late in the race. Don't expect Astana to fall apart and look for another Contador Tour victory come the 25th.

My prediction: Contador wins the Tour and at least two stages. Vino works his ass for him and finishes lower top-20.

1: Andy Schleck and Frank Schleck:

The best brother pair in pro sports will once again co-captain the Saxo team. With their move to a new Luxembourg team next year their moral to get a Tour win for Riis will either be very high or quite low. I'll go with high and expect to see them both fight for the podium...the final two steps that is. Andy hasn't looked great yet but this is not unusual for him. While I am a bit worried about his ability to repeat last years form I don't expect a big drop off. Last years white jersey winner will have one more chance to collect the young riders prize before turning 26 next year. Another podium spot is assured with his climbing abilities. Meanwhile his bro has been on great form in June. Winning a stage at the Tour of Luxembourg and winning a stage and the overall at the TdS before capturing the Schleck invitational Luxembourg national championship this morning. He has finished 5th each of the last two years and is a climbing threat. The brothers work great together and define the phrase "brotherly love". I see Frank finishing on the podium this year and with a podium spot at stake I don't see one of the brothers going on an early stage attack in attempt to derail Contador.

My prediction: 2nd and 3rd overall and at least one stage win.