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.
[vsp_results id=”23343″/]
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@piwakawaka
This is an awesome link. Thanks!
Somehow I threw away my fifth pick just for fun (Phinney), lost two picks to colds, and I'm leading the VSP at the rest day. 40% right ain't bad huh?
Rest day swap
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Evans Cadel
2. Nibali
3. Gesink
4. Sanchez
5. Hesjedal
Rest day swap
Twat. Should've swapped all except Nibali on the last rest day - so much for having faith. Now hoping Betancur can pinch fifth place - fat chance. And as for Dirty Sammy, I think he must be appearing as Aladdin in panto at Christmas with those golden slippers.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Evans
3. Sanchez
4. Hesjedal
5. Betancur
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. evans
2. Nibbles
3. uran
4. Sammy Sanchez
5. scarponi
One change only - hope i can pick up place points
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Wiggins
2. Nibali
3. Uran Uran
4. Evans
5. Gesink
Not worth the penalty points to make any changes. I already have cuddles in at 5th, moving him to 2nd would cost me 20 points. If he does come in 2nd and whoever I put in as 5th turns out right I'll only get 18 points or -2. My only hope to better what I have right now is for Scarponi to bump up one place.
@Gianni Disappointing my friend, It's 3 points for picking a rider but in the wrong position for the Grand Tours!
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Uran
3. Hesjedal
4. Martin
5. Evans
Rest Day Swap
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Evans
3. Scarponi
4. Santabrogio
5. Heano