People are clueless on this board...
Ian Sharman? This Brit has run the race a dozen times and never sniffed the podium.
Jeff Browning? Ha, grandpa can't sniff the podium either in thirty tries. He's a poor man's Karl Meltzer, who can't finish this one due to so many excuses each and every year. The ultimate cherry picker.
Jared Hazen is a hell of a talent and can win it if he stays healthy in the build-up not trying to keep up with Walmsley, who is on another planet than Hazen.
Tim Freriks is a legit contender to the throne. He has all the tools, just lacks experience. I'd give him another year or two.
Francois? Not sure if he's fast enough on this course. We'll see.. Killian couldn't even win it his first time out.
Zach Bitter is a damn cripple, past his best running days.
My picks -
1. Jim Walmsley, CR
2. Jared Hazen within 25-min
3. Tim Freriks