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

[VamP]

This is the sort of stuff that I just don't get...

"The TT didn't go to plan. I was dithering yesterday and thinking of other things. But physically I'm fine and that meant I also let it go a little. I'm capable of doing it when I want to but it's a question of commitment sometimes"

This is supposedly his main aim in racing this year and he's a well-paid professional.

I think it's an honest assessment. Testing is all about concentration. That Wiggins is one of the best in the world in this discipline tells us that his standard for being on the ball mentally is way higher than most professional cyclists, and certainly us debating this here. That he admits to a less then perfect day from this point of view, on a TT course that doesn't really play to his strengths, and still comes second despite puncturing...

He's getting a lot of stick this year. I remember last time I came off on wet tarmac at 35mph it took me over an hour before I picked myself up again. Not all falls are without consequences - sometimes it hurts, sometimes it messes with your mind. Sometimes you're reminded of people who crashed and never got up again. We had one such anniversary a few days ago.

 

[Radchenister]

Respect to this guy---climbing AND talking at over 20%,nice one whoever you are. Cool bike as well !

Daniel Lloyd, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Lloyd_(cyclist) I like him a lot as a pro' turned journo (/ assistant DS if you read link) , although it has been said that he was separated at birth from the guy who did the Krypton Factor (Gordon Burns).

 

[ColinJ]

Daniel Lloyd, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Lloyd_(cyclist) I like him a lot as a pro' turned journo, although he has been said that he was separated at birth from the guy who did the Krypton Factor (Gordon Burns).

Yes, he does look like him - that's who I was trying to remember!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think it's an honest assessment. Testing is all about concentration. That Wiggins is one of the best in the world in this discipline tells us that his standard for being on the ball mentally is way higher than most professional cyclists, and certainly us debating this here. That he admits to a less then perfect day from this point of view, on a TT course that doesn't really play to his strengths, and still comes second despite puncturing...

He's getting a lot of stick this year. I remember last time I came off on wet tarmac at 35mph it took me over an hour before I picked myself up again. Not all falls are without consequences - sometimes it hurts, sometimes it messes with your mind. Sometimes you're reminded of people who crashed and never got up again. We had one such anniversary a few days ago.

I'd agree with that. It's a piece of self-criticism and it's better that he remains fully aware of where he's not at his optimum. And, after all, it's not like he's languishing in the peloton - with the problems he's had, he's still 4th in the GC. He's also admitting to letting his mind wander in a stage of the last TdF and, while it sounded almost like casual carelessness, it didn't stop him winning the tour.

The bit that's puzzling me is that, though his demeanour is confident, he's riding as though he can't trust the road underneath him. Bike changes and bruises won't have helped, of course, but he's going to have to get his feel for the road back in the race pretty sharpish.

 

[thom]

He's getting a lot of stick this year. I remember last time I came off on wet tarmac at 35mph it took me over an hour before I picked myself up again. Not all falls are without consequences - sometimes it hurts, sometimes it messes with your mind. Sometimes you're reminded of people who crashed and never got up again. We had one such anniversary a few days ago.

Re. the stick, I'd give him some regarding the fact that he's enables question marks over Froome's tour preparations, despite the fact Froome is pretty much winning everything he has been asked to and Wiggins hasn't really won anything.
I'd also give stick to the people who seemed to ignore his weaknesses and put him down as favourite for the Giro, inspite of Nibali's form and the fact the Giro parcours is less suitable for him than last year's tour and as we've seen, that surviving certain racing situations requires luck as well as judgement.
If he goes on to win (and I hope he does) it shall be a truly remarkable achievement.

 

[Radchenister]

Who said something about retaining a sense of humour?

I won't waffle on, just a few cliches ... fuss about nothing ... fills column inches ... pinch of salt ... perhaps they should stop interviewing him as he is prone to the odd dig or wind up?

Thankfully we can get back to the here and now as the race is back on today .

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Was it wet Mr Armstrong ... straight line I notice !?

No, its a big right hander, and no it was wet, no i mean icy, icy with bannana peels on.

 

[Radchenister]

Looked you up on another of your routes - 234th on a recent hill climb, Wiggo will need to send the Colombians out with you so you can give them improvement tips there as well .

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Looked you up on another of your routes - 234th on a recent hill climb, Wiggo will need to send the Colombians out with you so you can give them improvement tips there as well .

Ha Ha I never said I could climb!

 

[Radchenister]

Dope, there was I thinking you were comparing yourself to the pro's - a jumping to critical conclusion faux-pas of journoesque proportions.

 

[Zofo]

Tweet from UK Cycling Expert :-
." there is also a ladies Giro of Italy, but it is held on flat roads so that the girls are not exposed to dangerous down hill racing .."

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Tweet from UK Cycling Expert :-
." there is also a ladies Giro of Italy, but it is held on flat roads so that the girls are not exposed to dangerous down hill racing .."

Wow is that serious?

 

[Zofo]

Don't panick PA, that was aimed at Wiggo

 

[Peter Armstrong]

"I descended like a bit of a girl after the crash," he told Cycling Weekly

 

[Zofo]

Ok chaps, I've got Scarponi at 25/1 each way bet (top3 finish GC)
Will I collect, or not ?