Poll: Giro d'Italia
Total Members Polled: 66
Discussion
Nibali is probably shading it for me.
Basso and Evans don't seem to have the form currently, whilst Hesjedal rode well yesterday, he needed to make the break stick, and only turned to pace maker when it didn't come off, so I am not totally 100% on him. Nibbles just seems to be coming off the best form in the right areas.
Wiggins form just doesn't seem where it was 12 months ago, as can be said for the whole of Sky really.
Basso and Evans don't seem to have the form currently, whilst Hesjedal rode well yesterday, he needed to make the break stick, and only turned to pace maker when it didn't come off, so I am not totally 100% on him. Nibbles just seems to be coming off the best form in the right areas.
Wiggins form just doesn't seem where it was 12 months ago, as can be said for the whole of Sky really.
Wiggins looked good in the Trentino last week if it wasn't for the mechanical failure he would have been up there with Nibali at the end. If Sky send the Colombians Uran and Henao to the Giro to back him up in the mountains then he will have a good chance.
Astana looked awesome last week where Wiggo was down to just one or two team mates as soon as the roads started heading up.
Astana looked awesome last week where Wiggo was down to just one or two team mates as soon as the roads started heading up.
I'm still pretty new to watching much cycling (mainly only paid attention to the TdF) but I get the impression that Wiggins has been playing his and SKY's cards much closer to their vests this year than last year.
Last year they'd never really "won" much and never had the pressure of defending the lead so set out from early in the season to practice that.
This year they don't need to prove that any more.
I'm also not convinced that Froome knows how to be team leader yet.
I haven't seen the route for the Giro but guess that it will be the usual suspects of Contador/Nibali/Wiggins up near the sharp end.
Last year they'd never really "won" much and never had the pressure of defending the lead so set out from early in the season to practice that.
This year they don't need to prove that any more.
I'm also not convinced that Froome knows how to be team leader yet.
I haven't seen the route for the Giro but guess that it will be the usual suspects of Contador/Nibali/Wiggins up near the sharp end.
Could be any of those mentioned to be honest plus a few more, Rodriguez, Rojas, Gesink etc
Until the team rosters are out, we wont really know who is saving key riders for le tour.
That said, Wiggo has a great chance, he will have the likes of Sisistou and Uran with him in Italy as Sky will almost certainly save the likes of EBH, Stannard and Thomas for le tour so Wiggo has the climbers around him he might just need to lean on for support...
Until the team rosters are out, we wont really know who is saving key riders for le tour.
That said, Wiggo has a great chance, he will have the likes of Sisistou and Uran with him in Italy as Sky will almost certainly save the likes of EBH, Stannard and Thomas for le tour so Wiggo has the climbers around him he might just need to lean on for support...
Nibali looks strong so far. I think he is in with a good shot of winning the Grio. Not sure on wiggins, have not been impressed so far but you can't discount him.
J-Rod has also looked good too, he's good on the hilly stuff so if there are lots of mountain top finishes etc then expect some of the spanish riders to do well.
Is alejandro valverde in the Giro? he's a pretty decent.. Hesjedal was impressive the other day.
I like the Giro, you get some great racing in there
I just hope many of the teams don't adopt sky's tactics of keeping a relatively high constant speed.
I enjoy it when riders attack each other
J-Rod has also looked good too, he's good on the hilly stuff so if there are lots of mountain top finishes etc then expect some of the spanish riders to do well.
Is alejandro valverde in the Giro? he's a pretty decent.. Hesjedal was impressive the other day.
I like the Giro, you get some great racing in there
I just hope many of the teams don't adopt sky's tactics of keeping a relatively high constant speed.I enjoy it when riders attack each other
Dr Imran T said:
Nibali looks strong so far. I think he is in with a good shot of winning the Grio. Not sure on wiggins, have not been impressed so far but you can't discount him.
J-Rod has also looked good too, he's good on the hilly stuff so if there are lots of mountain top finishes etc then expect some of the spanish riders to do well.
Is alejandro valverde in the Giro? he's a pretty decent.. Hesjedal was impressive the other day.
I like the Giro, you get some great racing in there I just hope many of the teams don't adopt sky's tactics of keeping a relatively high constant speed.
I enjoy it when riders attack each other
Now that Nibbles is at Astana, I dont think he has the team around him to win a three week tour. Liquigas to Astana is not the move of a champion-elect imho. J-Rod has also looked good too, he's good on the hilly stuff so if there are lots of mountain top finishes etc then expect some of the spanish riders to do well.
Is alejandro valverde in the Giro? he's a pretty decent.. Hesjedal was impressive the other day.
I like the Giro, you get some great racing in there
I just hope many of the teams don't adopt sky's tactics of keeping a relatively high constant speed.I enjoy it when riders attack each other
The World Tour races offer an indication of form but you cant predict how these guys will feel at the start of the third week of a Grand Tour (typically when they are lost!) on the back of their performance in a week long race like the Tour Romandie or Dauphine.
Bluequay said:
Did you watch the Giro Trentino? Astana bossed it
Indeed. He took his best mates from Liquigas and then Astana have a very strong climbing lineup. Kessiakoff, Tiralongo, Brajkovic, Agnoli, Fuglsang, Aru (who looked great in Trentino and finished in the top few overall), Seeldraeyers, Kangert can all be good climbing domestiques for Nibali.
likewise for the Cuddles fan!Wiggins still adament that he is going for both - though says he will ultimately leave it up to management. Saxo-Bank and Astana will see the opportunity to divide and conquor.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/22340878
As an aside -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/22340878
As an aside -
Wiggo said:
My saving grace is that I haven't gone out and tried to cash in on the Olympics and got my face everywhere - got on game shows and all this stuff - like most of them have done
Slightly uncharitable, seeing as he was in a position where he can afford to do that, when the likes of Greg Rutherford etc basically have this one opportunity earn sopme proper money. Vocal Minority said:
Wiggins still adament that he is going for both - though says he will ultimately leave it up to management. Saxo-Bank and Astana will see the opportunity to divide and conquor.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/22340878
As an aside -
If you're good you earn money. Usain Bolt isn't struggling for a few quid. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/22340878
As an aside -
Wiggo said:
My saving grace is that I haven't gone out and tried to cash in on the Olympics and got my face everywhere - got on game shows and all this stuff - like most of them have done
Slightly uncharitable, seeing as he was in a position where he can afford to do that, when the likes of Greg Rutherford etc basically have this one opportunity earn sopme proper money. Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff