The return of Alberto to Grand Tour racing has many excited but it is not a foregone conclusion that the Spaniard will finish in Madrid atop the podium. The GC contenders in 2012 are of a high calibre and they will pose individual threats to Contador winning the race. Two riders who finished on the podium last year return as do past winners of the Vuelta. The favourites for the race this year as Juanjo Cobo, Chris Froome, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Igor Anton, Joaquím Rodríguez, Andrew Talanksy and Robert Gesink although behind these riders are a second tier of favourites who look more likely to challenge for stage wins than the red jersey.
Froome is coming into the Vuelta in 2012 as a known force. In 2011 he was able to deflect attention from himself onto Wiggins if necessary as he riding in support of his teammate. This year will be a different story as Froome finished second behind Wiggins at Le Tour de France and bagged a bronze medal In the ITT at the London Olympics. Froome’s ability to time trial will be detrimental to Contador's attempt at winning the GC. Froome can match the Spaniards climbing prowess as well as his time trialling so it could come down to seconds in Madrid.
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