Twiggo is dreaming of a Giro-Tour double. He has sent out mixed messages about his Tour ambitions. Will he use the Giro as the ultimate Tour preparation or will be burn all his matches in May and hope he can find another pack for July? He has abandoned his successful 2012 Tour run-up strategy of winning every stage race he entered the previous spring. Now it’s the seclusion of Mount Doom of Tenerife, his coach and his watt meter his only competition. Team Sky is supporting Wig with a very strong squad, including superman, Kanstantsin Siutsou and with Cav no longer a teammate, it’s all the knights of the round table for Sir Twig.
Will the curse of the god-awful Astana kit continue to haunt non-Kazahk riders? Can Vincenzo’s Italian mojo overpower its powerful pale blue and yellow aura? Roman Kreuziger was finally able to win a big race once he shed that kit and pulled on one of Bjarne’s Saxo jerseys. Maybe it was more Bjarne and less jersey that made the difference.
Ryder gets no respect as the defending champion. His little dance at the end of Liége-Bastogne-Liége showed he is fit and ready for a fight. He can time trial, he can climb. Personally I have to back the local boy. And I always hate the overpowered, overwhelming favorite (read Team Sky here) in any race, unless that racer is Fabian Cancellara. No one can say Fabs has won a race this year surrounded with a team as strong as Sky’s. The Shack is just the Shack or a shack. Once Cancellara leaves for the Swiss “I AM” team, it’s lights out in the shack. Frandy, don’t forget to turn out ’em out when you leave.
If Cavendish wins the first day’s sprinter’s stage he will be in pink. He may be out of it after stage two, a team time trial.
But this is the Giro: crazy, unexpected, beautiful things can happen. The spinning wheels of fortuna are less predictable in Italy as they are in France in July. The betting window is now open. The complete start list is not yet available, an incomplete one is here and shall be updated soon. So sleep on your picks, wait for all the teams to make it official, unless you want to go with the obvious all Sky podium. The race begins Saturday so don’t Delgado away a Grand Tour opportunity.
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Henao out, Cuddles in.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Wiggins
3. Hesjedal
4. Scarponi
5. Evans
@seemunkee
er...yes...or if not let me know cos I will have some free order shifting to do!
just a tweak
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibbles
2. Evans
3. Scar face
4. Ryder
5. Wiggins
I'm sitting OK right now. I could make a swap, but like someone else mentioned, it seems kinda "anti-V". If I didn't have over 30pts right now, I may be more inclined swapping cuddles and Wiggo, and punting the Canook.
Ryder out, Gesink in
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggins
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Gesink
5. Evans
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Wiggins
3. Hesjedal
4. Cadel Evans
5. Henao
@ChrisO
I thought that their chief weapon was ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope!! Or is that just for the Vuelta ??
I make a no swaps....it a smacks of a de anti v. We hold out and press on....
@paolo Well spotted sir...
I'm thinking no on swaps. What I do hope is that Wiggo will show his true mettle and status as a contender, and go crazy on a few stages. Playing cat and mouse with Nibs, Cuddles, Ryder and Gesink won't do any good. Sky don't seem to be aware of a "fuck it, let's give it a go and see where the chips fall" strategy, but I'd sure be happy to see them try. If this bad weather keeps up, every wet day that involves a descent will see every main contender stick it to Sky like a fork in a marshmallow. Wiggo' mojo is off-kilter and his rivals will no this and take advantage of it - as they should. You don't exploit punctures, crashes or mechanicals, but a skills/confidence chink in the armor, you bet.