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

[deptfordmarmoset]

Is it just me that thinks Wiggo was deliberately laying down something of a marker in yesterday's stage?

First we had teh mechanical, the WHOLE team (in effect) waited for him and he didnt sit in for the ride and get dragged back to the group. He did his turns and if anything drove the pace at times.

Then the crash etc - what a nightmare? Can now understand why the Columbiana (love that) stuck at the front rather than also wait. So, plenty of time lost and whilst the leaders did slow slightly, Sky again drove the chase pretty hard. Wiggo again pulling his turns for at least his share.

Then, when they caught the leading group, what did Wiggo do? Go straight to the front and drive forward again! Then managed to take turns on teh front again to raise the pace etc. and that was immediately after having chased the main leaders down.

He didnt 'need' to do all of that. So why?

Of course, some of it was probably just staying out of any more trouble, some of it being charged up from the chase, but I was surprised when he first plonked himself right on the front so that other Sky riders, who I guess were pretty much spent from the chase, had to work their way around to get in front of him, only to fade back from the front.

 

[Slaav]

Of course, some of it was probably just staying out of any more trouble, some of it being charged up from the chase, but I was surprised when he first plonked himself right on the front so that other Sky riders, who I guess were pretty much spent from the chase, had to work their way around to get in front of him, only to fade back from the front.

Ah but he had also worked hard! BUt I do agree, the other chaps probably would have been much happier sitting in the pack for a while keeping themselves together and in one piece. BUt then at the front is probably (in fact almost definitely) the safest place to be

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Ah but he had also worked hard! BUt I do agree, the other chaps probably would have been much happier sitting in the pack for a while keeping themselves together and in one piece. BUt then at the front is probably (in fact almost definitely) the safest place to be

Do you think he was giving his support a bit of a wake up call as well, showing them that they had to dig deeper for the rest of the stages?

 

[smutchin]

Will get warm and sticky at some point during the afternoon

I know it's an exciting race, but calm down!

 

[smutchin]

Do you think he was giving his support a bit of a wake up call as well, showing them that they had to dig deeper for the rest of the stages?

There could be something in this. It was also partly just stretching his legs to show his rivals he's there and in good shape, and partly just making sure he was at the front to avoid being caught behind any breaks in the peloton like on the previous stage.

His build-up this year has been completely different to his build-up last year, but it would be a huge mistake to interpret this as evidence of a lack of form. Last year was all about getting used to leading races and being in the limelight. He hasn't needed to do that this year, so he's playing his cards much closer to his chest. None of us can really say what his form is like because he hasn't showed us. But that first stage at Trentino should have been a little hint that he is actually in pretty good shape. And you can't read too much into what happened on the final stage because of his mechanical issues.

I'm feeling very optimistic about his chances at the moment.

 

[Biscuit]

Commentator just mentioned his top downhill speed when he was cycling was 124kph! Errr that's 77mph...on a bike!!!!

 

[smutchin]

Brad's [edit: actually Siutsou] just come to the front of the peloton on the second of the four categorised climbs. 40km to go.

And as I write, Sky have just taken up the pacesetting from Vini Fantini... It's go time!

 

[smutchin]

Uran just got knocked off by some twerp going too slow up the climb! Now he knows how the rest of us feel when we reach Ditchling Beacon on the L2B.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Amusing fall by Uran, knocked off by Wiggins by the look of it - must be trying to deal with the Colombian conspiracy the direct way! Seems to be okay though...

 

[smutchin]

The commentators are saying the twerp who knocked him off was Wiggins. That's not going to do Sky's chances of holding on to him for another season much good.

 

[tug benson]

Uran will have a bruised bum from that

 

[VamP]

That Sella crash was so close to a catch. Great handling skills.

 

[tug benson]

baldy slipped on his arse

 

[smutchin]

Taborre Hansen is looking very impressive. [Edit: not paying attention. Taborre, chasing, looks like he'll be caught. Hansen looks like he might possibly hold on...]

 

[VamP]

I so badly want Hansen to win.