Giro d'Italia Route 2013

[Flying_Monkey]

The route is out. Seems more balanced and has plenty of TT kilometres as well as mountain top finishes. It would amazing to see Wiggins + the Sky machine take on Contador and Nibali over the this course (and Shane Sutton has already been suggesting already that Wiggins might be riding the Giro and the Vuelta next year). Sorry to Ryder Hesjedal, but if any of them turn up, you aren't going to defend your title...

 

[raindog]

over the Galibier next year

I'd like to see Wigg have a go at this too

 

[thom]

over the Galibier next year

I'd like to see Wigg have a go at this too

Up the Galibier and stop to be pedantic ;-)

My first reaction is that Wiggins would have to step it up in performance levels to compete for the win on this one because the gradients are at times much higher than the tour. It will be harder to control but a greater achievement.

It will be interesting to see if Contador decides to do it though because doing so really risks the bigger prize of the Tour.

 

[marinyork]

The two individual times trials are interesting. One is bonkers hilly, a proper hill TT. The other one is by no means flat. It's on roads in Italy I'm familiar with and is not exactly flat. The Giro went over the same road this year in the stage to Fano that Cavendish won. Most of that stage was flat apart from San Bartolo, but the peleton romped up and down it so fast Harmon barely had time to tell his stories about it and then it was pan flat to Fano allowing a bunch sprint (this tt goes over a hillier road instead to Fano). I'd say those TTs are hilly/lumpy. Those two TTs suit a hill specialist, must harder than the ones in the 2012 tour.

 

[Crackle]

It's hard to imagine Wiggo not wanting to defend his tour title and as said the Giro mtns are a much tougher proposition.

 

[marinyork]

I think that looks a great course and I hope loads of really big names sign up to it.

I would think those lumpy TTs suit Contador and a few other riders down to the ground. People who prefer flatter TTs will be nowhere near as overjoyed about there being two individual TTs. Far harder than Milan and an easy Danish course.

 

[rich p]

I seem to recall that Bertie said he wouldn't do the Giro as well as the TdF again after burning himself out last time he tried.
TBH, I'd like to see Wiggo try for this, as Shane Sutton said he should, and leave the tour to Froome next year. Especially as the TdF is expected to be lumpier and less TT friendly.
Wiggo could then do the Giro and Vuelta double! Sorted!

 

[raindog]

Even Nibs says it could be OK for Brad
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-says-giro-could-be-a-good-choice-for-wiggins
"But with a long time trial like that, plus a team time trial and a mountain time trial, the Giro could be a good choice for Wiggins alright."

 

[Get In The Van]

Would Wiggins not want to try and defend his title esp if he has a strong team around him?
Agree that the Giro looks made for a rider of his ability.
Be interesting to see what he does next year

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Would Wiggins not want to try and defend his title esp if he has a strong team around him?

Not necessarily. He knows his strengths and his limits. Next year's TdF route is much more suited to Froome or Uran or Henao than Wiggins. He's won the TdF, but the Giro and Vuelta are still out there.

 

[marinyork]

Even Nibs says it could be OK for Brad
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-says-giro-could-be-a-good-choice-for-wiggins
"But with a long time trial like that, plus a team time trial and a mountain time trial, the Giro could be a good choice for Wiggins alright."

The 'long time trial' has to be long, otherwise it would also be a very hilly one. It's really, really not pan flat. I've been over the hill in it several times and it's a local famous hill in Marche. I thought initially on seeing the map they might have used the stratale SS16 which is very fast and slightly uphill and then downhill and less lumpy and suited for a TT, but they have gone for exactly the road used in this year's Giro again. The only thing to say about it is imho it's easier doing it that direction than the other direction, it'd be quite nasty as a TT in the other direction.

 

[thom]

Not necessarily. He knows his strengths and his limits. Next year's TdF route is much more suited to Froome or Uran or Henao than Wiggins. He's won the TdF, but the Giro and Vuelta are still out there.

Yeah, like I said I think he'll find it harder to control than the TdF but I think you are right that he's the type of rider who gets motivation from different challenges. He doesn't have too many years left with a good shot at winning Grand Tours so if he does want to make the full collection then he needs to take his chance.