I don't see how anyone will be able to beat Contador. He is an amazing stage racing talent, and will have rock-solid team support from Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloden, and Benji Noval. Not to mention that the Astana team has no pressure on them as it will be the CSC team that is expected to govern the race.
Speaking of CSC, will Carlos Sastre be able to take his second grand tour title of the year? Doubtful. His team is not nearly as strong as the one he rode with at the Tour de France, and let's face it: It is VERY hard to win two grand tours in the same season especially when you are 34 years old.
Alejandro Valverde claims that he is riding the Vuelta only for preparation, but I'll believe it when I see it. He will ride as best he can in the first week to see where his form is. If he feels good, I think the "Green Bullet" could be a dark horse contender.
Rabobank's phenom Robert Gesink is slated to take on his first grand tour, and he should be considered a podium threat. It is Gesink's mind, not his legs though, that is in question as a deciding factor into his success. If he can stay solid tactically, there is no reason why the Dutchman can't end up on the podium.
Damiano Cunego has not contended in a grand tour since his win at the giro in 2004. I mention him here because he is still a punchy climber, but in all reality he should now be considered a one day specialist. Until he finishes in the top ten of a grand tour again, I won't mention him amongst the favorites for a given race.
Lesser known riders that could have a good Vuelta: CSC's Jurgen Van Goolen, a CSC domestique looking to improve in grand tour riding, and Silence-Lotto's Yaroslav Popovych, who is coming off an abyssmal Tour de France. The Ukranian will want to put his best foot forward to Spain as a way of making up for a largely lost season.
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