Robert Gesink showed us that he is up there as a contender for the Tour de France along with Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins.
His dominating performance in the stage to Mt Baldy at the Tour of California told us just how good his form is this year.
He left everyone behind as he powered to his first victory since breaking his leg last during training last October.
Gesink has now also confirmed his time trialling prowess with his win in the Tour of Oman time trial last year. His fourth place in the time trial at the Tour of California was especially good, considering he came close to the time trial specialists Dave Zabriskie and Tejay Van Garderen.
This will put him in a good position against Evans and Wiggins, as Gesink is a much better climber than the veteran duo. If Gesink can put more than a minute into them it will be very hard for Evans and Wiggins to use their tactic of catch up in the time trial.
With his form looking good, Gesink’s main aim must now be staying upright in the first week. In both 2009 and 2011, Gesink’s race has been impaired by crashes, breaking his wrist and abandoning in ‘09 and falling heavily early on in ‘11.
With this year’s Tour starting in Belgium, crashes will be expected on the narrow roads the country is famous for. Once again Gesink will find himself fighting not to fall off during these nervous stages.
Hopefully the experience of his Rabobank team will guide Gesink through these tricky stages.
With Andy Schleck being ruled out of this year’s Tour because of too many time trial kilometres, Gesink is defiantly looking like the favourite for the Tour with his explosive climbing and solid time trialling.
Gesink is definitely in the best form of his career and the Dutchman could very well be standing on the top step of the podium in Paris come July, if all goes to plan.
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