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

[Flying_Monkey]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/stage-13
This profile makes it look like a downhill finish with a sharp climb before the end.

It is - apparently the descent is also 'fast and technical' according to Inner Ring. So, the last 10km could throw up all sorts of surprises depending on whether there are attacks on the last hill or on the descent.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Wiggins withdraws. Not a surprise really.

Hesjedal too. It's amazing how sympathetic people have been to him and in contrast how many online commentators are saying that Wiggins is faking it and just isn't good enough. A lot of people really don't like Wiggins. Personally, I still think that whatever is wrong with him is as much in his head as in his body (and I do believe he is physically sick), but you can't really question his palmares or commitment to cycling.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

I hope there are some old school attacks today. Anyway, with Wiggins bailing out at least the tv people can drop that extra 'where's wiggins' graphic.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Ryder Hesjedal's going home too.

 

[rich p]

Hesjedal too. It's amazing how sympathetic people have been to him and in contrast how many online commentators are saying that Wiggins is faking it and just isn't good enough. A lot of people really don't like him.

I edited my post above after re-reading yours!
I suspect a lot of folk dislike Sky in general rather than Wiggins in particular. A lot of people , me included, weren't keen on Evans when he was perceived as a defensive rider and a wheelsucker and maybe Wiggins falls into the same category to some people.
Aggressive riders like Contador, Nibali and Rodriguez are better liked.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

Hesjedal too. It's amazing how sympathetic people have been to him and in contrast how many online commentators are saying that Wiggins is faking it and just isn't good enough. A lot of people really don't like Wiggins. Personally, I still think that whatever is wrong with him is as much in his head as in his body (and I do believe he is physically sick), but you can't really question his palmares or commitment to cycling.

Hesjedal just admitted he didnt have the legs and wasnt in form. No excuses. Unfortunately for Wiggins the media seemed to have had him as the man to beat. Also, Wiggins came to the Giro saying he was in the best climbing form of his life, so the scene was set really. I dont think Wiggins was faking any illness though, especially after yesterdays stage, however he was fine the first few days but just descended like a fanny.

 

[kedab]

Bouhanni sprinted like a dangerous loon again

he's still learning, bless him. i do like the fact that he goes absolutely batsh!t when it doesn't go right for him...i do enjoy a bit of rage

 

[Flying_Monkey]

he's still learning, bless him. i do like the fact that he goes absolutely batsh!t when it doesn't go right for him...i do enjoy a bit of rage

He's withdrawn too, apparently. So no more of him.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Hesjedal just admitted he didnt have the legs and wasnt in form. No excuses. Unfortunately for Wiggins the media seemed to have had him as the man to beat. Also, Wiggins came to the Giro saying he was in the best climbing form of his life, so the scene was set really. I dont think Wiggins was faking any illness though, especially after yesterdays stage, however he was fine the first few days but just descended like a fanny.

I think a lot of people don't understand depression and mental issues in general. Especially in a tough and sometimes overly macho sport like cycling, people are too ready just to point and laugh and see it as 'weakness'.

 

[kedab]

He's withdrawn too, apparently. So no more of him.

has he, really? well that's a bit of a bummer. chickened out before the hills? you don't see cav' doing that, do you eh?!
i jest of course...what those riders have put themselves through in the past week or so i would take 6 months to recover from. of course i'd have cracked on the 1st stage at the merest sniff of an incline. maximum respeck for all of dem innit

 

[VamP]

I also think with Wiggins there's that baggage of Olympic golds and first British TDF winner. He's moved from being a hero to cyclists, to being a hero to the NATION. That makes failure much less forgivable, especially to people who don't follow or understand the sport.

 

[kedab]

however he was fine the first few days but just descended like a fanny.

haha! yes, yes he did. he looked quite the amateur at times going down some of those slopes. ah well. hope he recovers well enough and then sticks it to the froomedog (in the nicest possible sense), at TdeF - right then, where's big bobby gesink? if he's still in and going alright, he's my boy for the rest of the race.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

haha! yes, yes he did. he looked quite the amateur at times going down some of those slopes. ah well. hope he recovers well enough and then sticks it to the froomedog (in the nicest possible sense), at TdeF - right then, where's big bobby gesink? if he's still in and going alright, he's my boy for the rest of the race.

as FM said, mental issues can be tough to overcome, and taking a fall in the wet maybe just became enough of a psychological hurdle for him that a bit of extra stress allowed the chest problems to take hold. I think he will need to actually race a bit and get some resuts prior to the TdF before Brailsford gives him the nod for any Maillot Jaune ambitions though.

 

[kedab]

as FM said, mental issues can be tough to overcome, and taking a fall in the wet maybe just became enough of a psychological hurdle for him that a bit of extra stress allowed the chest problems to take hold. I think he will need to actually race a bit and get some resuts prior to the TdF before Brailsford gives him the nod for any Maillot Jaune ambitions though.

a very thoughtful appraisal and one i agree with. he was descending like a fanny though

 

[Flying_Monkey]

as FM said, mental issues can be tough to overcome, and taking a fall in the wet maybe just became enough of a psychological hurdle for him that a bit of extra stress allowed the chest problems to take hold. I think he will need to actually race a bit and get some resuts prior to the TdF before Brailsford gives him the nod for any Maillot Jaune ambitions though.

I agree, in fact I think he would have been better off just getting into the mix with a variety of races and targets this season. And he certainly should not have got into a fight with Froome. I still think that this is playing on his mind.