Giro d'Italia 2013, 4th-26th May - [Spoilers]

[smutchin]

I actually think both Magnus Backstedt and Brian Smith are better these days at analysing a race in midstream. Kelly says too little and uses too many clichés and repetitions.

I think I agree with FM that Kelly is still the best - more for what he says than how he says it (he does use an awful lot more words than is strictly necessary) - but I've been very impressed with Magnus Backstedt lately, and Brian Smith is always sound.

There's a relatively new commentator, as opposed to expert analyser, called Robbie Hatch who is pretty good apart from a habit of insisting on pronouncing every foreign word and name like a native. I know it's strictly correct but can get a bit tiresome.

I don't think I would have known who you meant without mentioning that quirk.

 

[smutchin]

I think what needs highlighting is that he's not in the same superb shape as last year...
Then again 400bhp might be right... a small breach in the peloton where to many people look into

400bhp is spot on and there's no hard evidence (yet) to support your first statement.

 

[tigger]

Agreed - its easy to read too much into small situations. BUT, I'd say there have been too many of these small situations already. Ultimately his main GC rivals didn't get caught out yesterday. Some of his rivals took a little time off him the day before through extra effort and vigilance. Generally he hasn't been at the front with his rivals at key points so far. Its not panic stations by any means, but this race could be won or lost by a handful of seconds, and the 20 seconds from the TTT have already been handed back. Its head out of arse and cock on the block time for Wiggins IMO

 

[Crackle]

Kelly always calls the breaks right, whether they'll stick or not and how much time they need. I do like Backstedt and Smith though, Backstedt is bang up to date on his inside knowledge.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Kelly always calls the breaks right, whether they'll stick or not and how much time they need. I do like Backstedt and Smith though, Backstedt is bang up to date on his inside knowledge.

Another vote for Backstedt here. And because they're under pressure to keep a live commentary when there's nothing significant happening, the fact that he's got a ''good voice'' helps a lot.

 

[ColinJ]

Am I the only person who thought that Wiggins looked really rough yesterday? He just looked like he was either suffering or would rather be doing something else. Perhaps it was because he wasn't wearing his sunglasses, so we could see his eyes.

 

[rich p]

I'm going to reserve judgment till we get to the bigger hills. I don't believe for a second that Wiggo is in such a poor state that he can't keep up on yesterday's climb given the people that did. I suspect a bit of complacency.

 

[Radchenister]

Ditto, lost focus for a bit, long day, bad weather etc. - needs to keep that brain sharp!

 

[ColinJ]

I know that Wiggins was fit enough to cope with that stage but I was wondering if he might have picked up a bug? Teammate Cataldo was ill the night before the TTT so there could be something floating about the team bus. Sky don't seem to have been doing 'inattentive' recently.

 

[Noodley]

There is a pic of Wiggins on cyclingnews in which he looks like Wilfred Bramble
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/wiggins-loses-ground-at-serra-san-bruno/264585

 

[rich p]

I know that Wiggins was fit enough to cope with that stage but I was wondering if he might have picked up a bug? Teammate Cataldo was ill the night before the TTT so there could be something floating about the team bus. Sky don't seem to have been doing 'inattentive' recently.

I was surprised that Cataldo was notable by his absence on the climb so maybe that explains it.

 

[thom]

There is a pic of Wiggins on cyclingnews in which he looks like Wilfred Bramble
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/wiggins-loses-ground-at-serra-san-bruno/264585

Or Jonathan Agnew:

Most people would look a bit crap after the longest stage of the race through unpleasent weather.
I think it was just a minor lapse, possibly he hasn't raced enough to be fully switched on. Maybe he just ran out of fuel a bit.

 

[Radchenister]

Yep, saw that ColinJ in the Cycling Weekly web post, might be taking the edge off - hopefully a short duration thing for them; a flat(ish) circa 200km stage today.

Depending on what location you check, the day looks fairly comfortable in terms of temp's but a chance of some rain again (location of finish is just in land from this forecast):
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/...el-colle-italy#?tab=fiveDay&fcTime=1360281600

 

[ColinJ]

Most people would look a bit crap after the longest stage of the race through unpleasent weather.

I think it was just a minor lapse, possibly he hasn't raced enough to be fully switched on. Maybe he just ran out of fuel a bit.

Well, we soon find out!

My Eurosport Player app has suddenly started working again after several weeks downtime so I should be able to watch the rest of the Giro in glorious 720p quality.

 

[Noodley]

I should be able to watch the rest of the Giro in glorious 720p quality.

£7.20!! You can get a free live stream you know...