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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View Comments
@PeakInTwoYears
Wow, you must not be American. You know you are hinting at actual evoloution don't you? Not the sort that sees dura ace become di2 but actual evoloution. This is tant amount to herasy in some parts of this country. ( not the PNW where it sems many enlightened people live..i hasten to add).
@frank
poor wiggo....did you ever see someone so uncomfortable and ill at ease with themselves. I hope as he grows older he gets used to being inside his own skin.
@paolo
American of the big-government socialist class-warfare social-engineering Wall Street-occupying pot-legalizing gay marriage-supporting flavor. (Unless you're coming for my guns, in which case you should bring several well-armed friends.)
@frank
I'm telling you, after Sky/Wiggins dominated last year they have become the model to follow it seems. First the TT-winning fist pump, now a throne. I was surprised by the distinct lack of sideburns throughout the peloton, even on the Modfather. Perhaps that explains his poor performance? Contador is taking some races off to grow his out before the TdF no doubt.
@frank
Maybe aye, but a fucking FANTASTIC looking fanny....
@Deakus
Seems my last post put someone's nose out of joint enough to pack it in.
Let's see if I can make it two for two...
Carbon rims on your rain bike.
All of my riding through this autumn in Melbs has been on Carbon rims. The thing that I'm discovering is that;
i) They perform surprisingly well braking wise
ii) They stay clean!!
I'm loving the fact that even after a filthy wet ride, my bike isn't covered in that shitty aluminium / grit paste that is ground off the braking surface of aluminium rims.
Carbon rims for all conditions. Put your aluminium hoops in the bin. Now.
....Aaaaand; GO.
@mouse
Who brakes? If you brake you lose.
@Marcus
There ya go sweetheart fixed it for you.
*fuck* BUY *it*
Just a reminder of how hard pro cyclists can be....
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/morabito-toughed-out-giro-ditalia-with-broken-ankle-and-wrist
Sure shows soccer playing wanks how it ough to be done