Professional Cycling For the Fans - Five Years Out - 2016 Tour de France - who will be the big names?

I thought this might be a fun exercise - a time capsule of sorts. Let's give it some thought, put some names in, and we can check back to see how we did.

I have some names in mind, but want to give a little more thought before I go on the record.

Ebh

Ebh

Stole mine!

Sagan and TJVG

globecanvas on the podium.

It will be great days for 50 year olds everywhere.

Martin, Thomas, Boasson Hagen, Cavendish (still), Taaramae.

I thought this might be a fun exercise - a time capsule of sorts. Let's give it some thought, put some names in, and we can check back to see how we did.

I have some names in mind, but want to give a little more thought before I go on the record.

Good question, but the trouble is, and I dont mean to be a wet blanket, I have given up on the predictions because of drugs. People getting shot in the heart returning to be champs, people breaking legs and coming back to win both Tour and Giro in the same year, people getting cancer and coming back to win 7 times... "Old" men getting stronger, new flash in the pan youngsters, talented riders (boonen) being dropped because they dont have the latest drugs and so on.

But in the spirit of hoping the sport is getting better, I would say Contador will still be a big name.

John Degenkolb (Germany) currently HTC-Highroad. Sprinter.

Honestly, I think it'll probably be a lot of the same names as now. Most of the GC contenders are still pretty young, except for Evans and Sanchez (though they'll only be around 38-39). Wiggins is only 31, the Schlecks are 31 and 26, Contador's 28, etc. Thor will be 38, so he'll probably still be around. The real question is which of these younger guys like TJVG, Geraint Thomas, etc really mature into strong GC contenders themselves. Of course, this is all assuming that these guys stay clean and uninjured.....so really, who knows. This year's TdF is exciting enough, I'm just gonna concentrate on it for the next few days.

Yeah, I expect Contador will make people miserable for a few more years. ;)

Nibali is 26, so he may hit his prime some time in the next 5 years.

Sagan is looking good, but any young sprinter has to deal with Cavendish for at least the next 5 years. By 2016 Hushovd will be done.

I'm not so sure about Van Garderen, I think Versus is just playing him up because he's an American.

Yeah, I expect Contador will make people miserable for a few more years. ;)

Nibali is 26, so he may hit his prime some time in the next 5 years.

Sagan is looking good, but any young sprinter has to deal with Cavendish for at least the next 5 years. By 2016 Hushovd will be done.

I'm not so sure about Van Garderen, I think Versus is just playing him up because he's an American.


I'm not so sure Thor will be gone....remember, Jens and Hincapie are both the same age or older now than Thor will be in 2016, and they're still doing fine. Also, LA was still competitive (or would have been without his crashes) last year at age 39. I think Thor has the ability to still be competitive at that age. He's certainly impressed a lot of people this year with his newfound ability to win mountain stages. He's a GREAT cyclist, and a great tactician, so I think he's got potential for longevity.

Howitz