The glow from the Giro is still visible, everything is still pink but I’m jumping ahead of all the Wilcocksons of the world with a bold Tour de France prognostication. And to do this I’ve borrowed Frank’s carbon ball, oft used for somewhat accurate predictions of future cycling events. This article was written weeks ago, at the start of the Giro but the frenzy of creative writing out of the front office has kept this buried. It’s now or never.
What can you say about Twiggo? I can say he is heading towards a win in the Tour de France this year.
I have raised issues with a rubbish haircut and cycling knee socks but these are superficial stylistic issues. Who am I to do that? I’m shiet. We need as many free thinkers as possible in cycling and if Bradley or Vaughters have different sideburns, excellent. Conformity is over-rated. Forget the socks, have you noticed his profile on the bike. He has the flattest back in the peloton and not by chance. I bet he and Sky are ticking every stinking little box to get this done.
He won Paris-Nice riding like a true professional, taking up Moser’s method of cooling down after each climbing stage by riding a stationary bike. He won Tour of Romandie like a seasoned veteran and won a field sprint for a stage win! He is winning these on his time trailing strength but not losing them by always riding at the front and climbing well enough. Yes, the Tour is different, the climbs are harder but he is a better climber than the Schlecks are time trialists. He did podium in last year’s Vuelta. He is experienced enough to not chase down every acceleration on a stiff climb, he just tempos it out, smoothing out the highs and lows. Bradley is one smart rider.
How does he stack up against Cadel? That is the question better informed people than myself would hope to answer correctly. Cadel’s mojo has been tainted so far this year and the Tour is still far away but mojo is mojo and his is bad. If Basso does not make the top five in the Giro, my mojo indicator is working and I’ll stand by it. Sorry Australia, you had a good (but short) run. English types, enjoy these years, they won’t last. They never do. And you from Luxembourg, we will talk in private.
The internal Sky problem of Cav versus Twiggo is solved -the Olympic road race is not far from the end of the Tour and Cav is the home field contender for Olympic gold. He will bail early, Sky will put their eggs in a basket made of Twiggs. How can I say these things with any authority? I can’t, I have none, look at my VSP points. But come the end of the Giro and Basso is smoking like a hippie’s motorbike, (which is a bad thing, not a good thing) then my mojo meter is obviously working and who has the big brain then?
Postscript: Basso did finish in the top five of the Giro, barely, so my mojo indicator is not completely tuned in. It could have something to do with the solar maximum. Twiggo has reported in from his secret base in the Atlantic that he has climbed to the moon and back, daily, so he is still ticking boxes. I’m still feeling good about all this.
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@Marcus
He must be off in the Alps, cultivating his panache.
@Steampunk
Maybe he'll try to bag a big stage?
@Steampunk
Unless the current soap opera with Brunyeel is a ruse to distract everyone from a sudden ability to actually ride contre le montre instead of complain about it, no.
@brett
So a former mountain biker wins the Giro, and you're all mwa wah wah wah, former Mountain biker wins the tour and you're all 'Best thing evah! Bum chin makes him uniquely handsome! And Aero! And he rode a mountain bike on stage 14, so full suspension 29ers are the fastest bike evah!" Et cetera.
Cougar chaser.
@Marcus
Your devotion to your countryman is unparalleled. Especially by evidence or logic. Its beautiful. This post is, to coin a term on your behalf, Frankian: while not necessarily wrong, a hopelessly romantic statement based on speculation, passion and hope much more than reason or fact.
I think Wiggo has the best form of the current contenders and to be honest at the moment the Schlecks will be lucky to be wearing wigs and posing as podium girls - I think thats the closest they'll get this year unless their form suddenly improves....
@Pedale.Forchetta
I agree on both counts. That photo is eye-catching, but once you look at it all the beautiful planes and dynamics of cycling are distorted.
Different rider, but to me, this photo is much more dynamic and thrilling:
Gianni, I can't decide if you're crazy or brilliant. You called Ryder for the Giro and declared Basso at below fifth (which, of course you already pointed out is exactly the place he got so neither proves nor disproves your mojo) but I'd say if anything, you just doomed Wiggo for the simple reason that we have a professional responsibility at Velominati to make ourselves look like tits and this kind of prognostication will fit in perfectly after he falls off on Stage 3 after winning the Dauphine.
Lightning don't strike twice in the same place, shugah.
How long can the frank&andy still hack it as future big winners (not by default but actually win it) and keep a positive media aura around them that people are still willing to back them for bankrolling their ventures.
they are far to specif as rides to be of much use one anyting other than the steepes and highest of climbs
From wich they don't dare descend as a bat out of hell to protect that lead.
those guys are basically usefull on 5/6 stages a year and only on the uphill.
i think its time for them to bulck up a bit and also be in contention for the ardennes
i cant get my head around on how you stake your whole year (and that of the team)on one GT and then leave as much flaws in your armour to protect that win, they are no lance who could basically only do the tour
@minion
When are you coming back mate? I miss having you around. Canberra isn't good for you, is it?
Wiggins has looked great so far this year and I'm putting my VSP hopes on him. As for Basso he might be a great rider but the Giro showed that he doesn't have it in him to win a grand tour anymore. Nibali will be lucky to podium in the Tour.