Giro d'Italia **Spoilers**

[Strathlubnaig]

man, all that effort from rolland for foxtrot alpha....

 

[smutchin]

Kelderman has shown fantastic form in the mountains and really built on his results in Paris-Nice.

Another very impressive young rider. It's the burgeoning young talent like Kelderman, Aru, Majka and Ulissi (and not forgetting Quintana) who could make this a very exciting Giro.

Fair play to Evans for using his guile and experience to get to the position he's in now, and he'll probably extend his lead in Thursday's TT, but I want to see all these kids really attack him in the mountains.

 

[montage]

What a race (and indeed year) for Orica

 

[thom]

What a race (and indeed year) for Orica

I like the Europcar are getting involved too - it is a step up for them this season and they've tried to make an impression these past 2 days.

Pozzovivo showing some form too and backed up by AG2R.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Good to see a few more teams putting in some good performances.

 

[The Couch]

Fair play to Evans for using his guile and experience to get to the position he's in now, and he'll probably extend his lead in Thursday's TT, but I want to see all these kids really attack him in the mountains.

Not that sure about that, personally can't really remember a very impressive TT from Evans in recent time, while people like Uran and Pozzovivo have surprised last year in a GT TT, while Kelderman should have the best TT of all GC contenders and will likely retake the most time.
Other good TT guys are already a bit far behind (Hesjedal and perhaps Monfort).

So indeed Evans should have more of a benefit (across the competitors), but I personally wouldn't be surprised if the 3 above mentioned guys creep closer to him.

 

[jifdave]

It's also a little lumpy so will help the climbers

 

[Hont]

Not that sure about that, personally can't really remember a very impressive TT from Evans in recent time, while people like Uran and Pozzovivo have surprised last year in a GT TT, while Kelderman should have the best TT of all GC contenders and will likely retake the most time.
Other good TT guys are already a bit far behind (Hesjedal and perhaps Monfort).

So indeed Evans should have more of a benefit (across the competitors), but I personally wouldn't be surprised if the 3 above mentioned guys creep closer to him.

It's not a particularly hilly course (46km with just one cat 4 climb), so if Pozzovivo gains time on Evans you'll hear the dodgy performance alarm bells ringing back in Belfast. In the first ITT last year Evans (who came seventh) put nearly two minutes into Pozzovivo, and over a minute into Uran and Kelderman, albeit on a slightly longer course with fewer kilometres spent going uphill - but with a real kick at the finish.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/news/results-2013-giro-ditalia-stage-8_286061

 

[The Couch]

It's not a particularly hilly course (46km with just one cat 4 climb), so if Pozzovivo gains time on Evans you'll hear the dodgy performance alarm bells ringing back in Belfast. In the first ITT last year Evans (who came seventh) put nearly two minutes into Pozzovivo, and over a minute into Uran and Kelderman, albeit on a slightly longer course with fewer kilometres spent going uphill - but with a real kick at the finish.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/news/results-2013-giro-ditalia-stage-8_286061

If I am not mistaken Kelderman crashed in that TT and Pozzovivo wasn't in the best of form in the Giro (he was however in the Vuelta where he finished 3rd in the TT behind Martin and Cancellara - which should have made alarm bells ring back then as well )


Then again, I was forgotten that Evans still had a decent TT last year... I guess I held him in a higher regard (TT-wise) back then and he underwhelmed me which stuck in my head...but indeed he was still easily better then the GC contenders not named Nibali

 

[smutchin]

I was thinking more in terms of Evans vs the other supposed GC contenders like Quintana and Uran. And indeed Pozzovivo. He should take lumps of time out of them in the TT, even with the hilly bits. And don't forget that Evans is currently in his best form for at least a couple of years.

Agree that Kelderman should climb a few places in GC after the TT, but I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if he makes up any time on Evans.

This TT doesn't look nearly as tough on paper as the one in the Vuelta last year.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Anyone with more than one Z or V in their name rings alarm bells with me - PoZZoViVO has my head thumping with the sounds of alarms!

 

[thom]

It is unfortunate that PozzO sounds like it might be Italian for a blood group, but I'm guessing he has no actual history of adverse testing results ?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I think everyone is underestimating Uran this year...

 

[The Couch]

I think everyone is underestimating Uran this year...

I think many didn't really know what to expect from Uran before the start of the Giro (with his not-so-great 2014 form)
However, with him being in 2nd place currently and that he hasn't shown weakness (although no strength either for that matter) yet, I don't think he is being underestimated now...especially not the GC guys in the Giro

I have the feeling the biggest under-the-radar cyclist is/was Kelderman... although he was on the long-list of outsiders, he was definitely not held in very high regard. With the nice form he has shown so far, he could really be the biggest surprise (even more than Aru, who was mentioned much more in the press as one to watch). Then again, it has been pretty much kiddy play so far compared to what is still ahead and he/they can still have a bad day in the high mountains.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]