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

[Pedrosanchezo]

Wiggins just on BBC morning news (pre recording) stating that Team Sky will not be choosing the front man for the TDF yet and that the best attack will be a two pronged attack.
Froome said on Romandie that he is 100% the leader. FIREWORKS!!

 

[smutchin]

IotCB referred to the 1987 Giro earlier. Looks to me as if the 1986 Tour might be the more apposite reference point.

Also, we need to be wary of talking about the Tour as if it's going to be a two horse race between Wiggo and Froome (again). I suspect Contador might have something to say about that. And maybe Valverde too. And possibly even Talansky and Tejay...

Anyway, back to the Giro...

 

[jdtate101]

Hmm, I suspect this is Wiggo bigging himself up as he's not got the form or the wins under his belt this year. Compare it to last yr when he practically won everything he started, this year is looking really barren. He may be talking a good fight, but I suspect his lack of form will be dramatically exposed in the mountains. If that is the case then he really couldn't argue against Froome leading the TdF. Froome's prep has been spot on this year and he's proved he capable of taking the fight to his rivals when it gets tough.

On purely a visual aspect I'd like to see Froome lead the TdF Sky team as I think it would make for a more lively and interesting race, whilst last yrs TdF was good, it certainly wasn't as 'dramatic' as it could have been (many reasons for this, too many to go into on this post).

Anyway I've got the sky+ all set to go....bring on the italian!!!!!!

 

[Slaav]

Having just watched the snippets of Brad on BBC Breakfast, I can see where som eo fthe headlines are coming from.

As always though, what he actually said is nowhere near as controversial!

He said something along the lines of : 'a two pronged attack would be ideal - much the same as last year where we came 1st and 2nd and the racing will sort it out'.

I took it to mean that they should go in with potentially 1st and 2nd place riders racing through the tour and see who is best placed to take control/leadership depending on form etc.

Froome 100% thinks he is in charge - that is clear and obvious! Bradders is not quite prepared to give up on it just yet as stated by someone immediately above. I don't think he is being unreasonable - if he wins the Giro (with its hills) and feels in the best form of his life, why on Earth would he not want to go for the win???? My guess is that professionalism will win through though and DB will be the master puppeteer

Maybe it is a bit like having two World Champions in the same F1 team - make sure the Championship (Constructor's) is won and then see how the season pans out before you start looking at team orders?

 

[raindog]

He may be talking a good fight, but I suspect his lack of form will be dramatically exposed in the mountains.

Lack of form? Apparently he's fitter and stronger, and climbing better than ever.

 

[Radchenister]

All the fun of the fair ... gonna be a slow few days, thread will be huge with speculation by then .

 

[smutchin]

Having just watched the snippets of Brad on BBC Breakfast, I can see where som eo fthe headlines are coming from.

It's coming from journalists desperate to whip up a story.

Bradders is not quite prepared to give up on it just yet as stated by someone immediately above. I don't think he is being unreasonable - if he wins the Giro (with its hills) and feels in the best form of his life, why on Earth would he not want to go for the win????

Exactly. To understand where he's coming from, you have to think like a professional sportsman. Not just any professional sportsman, but a world-class sportsman at the very top of his game. The current TdF champion no less. If he didn't want to win everything available to him, that would be something to worry about. You don't hear Alex Ferguson saying, Oh, we've won enough league titles now, it's time to let someone else have a go.

 

[smutchin]

Hmm, I suspect this is Wiggo bigging himself up as he's not got the form or the wins under his belt this year.

No form, you say?

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0wDTwbYP8

 

[smutchin]

The team line-ups, as they are announced...
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/538141/giro-d-italia-2013-start-list-tracker.html

 

[beastie]

Hmm, I suspect this is Wiggo bigging himself up as he's not got the form or the wins under his belt this year. Compare it to last yr when he practically won everything he started, this year is looking really barren. He may be talking a good fight, but I suspect his lack of form will be dramatically exposed in the mountains. If that is the case then he really couldn't argue against Froome leading the TdF. Froome's prep has been spot on this year and he's proved he capable of taking the fight to his rivals when it gets tough.

On purely a visual aspect I'd like to see Froome lead the TdF Sky team as I think it would make for a more lively and interesting race, whilst last yrs TdF was good, it certainly wasn't as 'dramatic' as it could have been (many reasons for this, too many to go into on this post).

Anyway I've got the sky+ all set to go....bring on the italian!!!!!!

Wiggins form ain't that bad, he has also ridden stage races without and individual TT. It's concievable he will put 1 1/2mins into the GC competition on the flat TT, and maybe 30 secs on the uphill. The question is will he lose 2 mins on the mountain stages, including time bonuses? That is also possible, perhaps likely.
Nibali looks a stronger climber than last year and RH looked in strong form at LBL. I think it could be a close 3 horse race.
Prediction

Nibali
Wiggins
Heysjdal

 

[smutchin]

Looking forward to Colombia-Coldeportes making their Grand Tour debut, so I'll be giving them my support as plucky underdogs. I expect their lack of experience at this level will work against them but who knows...

 

[kedab]

Looking forward to Colombia-Coldeportes making their Grand Tour debut, so I'll be giving them my support as plucky underdogs. I expect their lack of experience at this level will work against them but who knows...

but could well make for a bit of daring-do and some simple balls out riding...a bit of panache - we all love it

 

[Strathlubnaig]

With Froome not riding the Giro then maybe the whole Sky-Wiggins-Froome thing needs a separate thread.
I am just looking forward to the girlfriends kicking off on Twitter about it.

 

[raindog]

I am just looking forward to the girlfriends kicking off on Twitter about it.

I'm not

 

[Strathlubnaig]

I'm not

tongue was firmly in cheek. But it is bound to happen.