Pro Tour Punditry
Guru
I got home with about 25km to go, saw the situation with Lotto Soudal on the front and thought "Should have just stuck my money on Greipel at evens..."
Giro d'Italia 2016 ***spoilers***
- Thread starter mjr
- Start date
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Pro Tour Punditry
Guru
He's cranked it up to full nae teeth level
He really has left them in a glass on his night table.He's cranked it up to full nae teeth level
400bhp
Guru
SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
He's cranked it up to full nae teeth level
The lack of teeth cannot be unseen. If we get sight of his pearly whites during the tour, Smutch will need to include his dentist in the unsung heroes feature
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
I'd say it was a touch of inexperience from Ewan. He chose the wrong side to go past Greipel, I guess because he banked on Greipel not expecting him to be there. But Greipel had made sure that he didn't leave enough space by the barriers and stayed exactly on his line. That's experience. So by the time Ewan realised that he wasn't going to get by on that side, it was too late...
400bhp
Guru
I like Greipel more and more. Tactically very astute.
So, why have they pulled him from the Giro? Is the red jersey not coveted any more?
brommers
Years beyond my wisdom
- Location
- Clacton-on-Sea
Bob Jungels must be the best Luxembourger cyclist since, oooh, I dunno...
Schleck brothers
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
He discussed this in his post-race interview, said he still has a long season ahead and his main target is the Worlds in October so he wants to avoid the risk of burning out.
The next few stages would just be pure punishment for him and there's no guarantee he'd last to the final stage anyway. Three stage wins isn't a bad haul. I think he can be happy with how the Giro has gone for him.
I imagine he'll pull out of the Tour early as well.
There's a discussion to be had about pulling out like that. It's not new but it's becoming far more prevalent and I think it's a shame as it diminishes the points competition. There was also talk of Ewan pulling out but he's in with a shout at the points jersey now. The counter argument is that the parcours is less and less suited to sprinters making it to the end, always one of the criticisms of the Giro.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Inrng is, as ever, worth reading on the subject of Greipel's withdrawal:
http://inrng.com/2016/05/quit-when-youre-winning/
Surprised he doesn't mention Cipollini or Petacchi though.
http://inrng.com/2016/05/quit-when-youre-winning/
Surprised he doesn't mention Cipollini or Petacchi though.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I was just thinking much the same thing!
Sagan is always good value for his points jerseys but I doubt we'll ever see him making a solo break in a mountain stage like Thor.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
My impression has been that the Giro (and the Vuelta) points comps are much less "sprinters competitions" than the TdF, witness Cav being edged out by ... er ... I've forgotten who in ... 2012 or something like that.
The green jersey in the TdF is, of course traditionally always won by a rider with a name that rhymes with Neter Nagan.
(Note, any comment I make about racing is likely to be cobblers. This is no exception).
