Vincenzo Nibali won the Giro going downhill.
I spy with my little eye a certain Michele Scarponi, who sadly lost his life while out training near his home two weeks ago, in there amongst his teammates after his captain, Nibbles, won the race. I’m torn about a death like Michele’s – we subject ourselves to similar risks every time we climb aboard our bikes and we accept it as part and parcel of our craft. Yet, while every day members of our tribe lose their lives to their trade, it takes a high profile rider to remind us how real that risk is.
But onto lighter topics, Nibali won the Giro last year going downhill, and it happened on the one stage I managed to sleep through which is another way of saying I missed it. But I love waking up to a that WTF feeling only a reshuffled GS can give you.
The race starts Friday morning, which is sooner than I expected, so I’ll stop typing so you can start picking. Get them in by the time the clock goes to zero, and remember that our Grand Tour scoring rules are a little different than the smaller events. So jump on that start list and get prognosticating!
Good luck!
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Latest from Sky is that Thomas dislocated his shoulder in the crash and waited for the race doctor to pop it back in before setting off after the leaders.
He may never win a grand tour but his hardman status is assured.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
Yates a bbBye
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
Swapped out Landa for Pozzovivo. Don't think Domenico will quite make the podium, but don't wanna make multiple swaps. I'm out of the running anyway, having missed 3 races. Feel bad for Landa, and, of course, for Thomas and Yates, but they can still push for top ten.
Impressive ride by Dumoulin yesterday. He'll be up near the top of the table into week 3. Formolo was good, too. Was surprised Zakarin lost so much, and for Mollema to be up 19 seconds on Nibali. What a stage...
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
@chris
Hardman, indeed! He was pretty casual about it post race, too. It's gonna be sore for a while. Apparently Yates' frame, that he finished on, was cracked down its length and the rear brake was rubbing on the rim. They both did well to limit their losses. Fingers crossed they stay out of crashes for the remainder.
@chris
He is fucking nails.
@Quadzilla
@stooge
I DO hope no-one is taking advantage of Frank's error with the selection window to make sneaky free swaps...
It's a bit like riding hard on the front of the peloton when one of your GC rivals has been caught in a crash. I dub it 'doing a Movistar'...
@wiscot
Well done ?
@RobSandy
Pretty sure today IS a "rest day" given that they aren't racing today, so the swap would be penalised 5 points as per usual! Isn't that how it normally works?
I would think you are entitiled to swaps as well... a 5 points a swap.
Merckx knows Sky bring a lot of criticism upon themselves for doing stupid shit, but that was awful what happened to Landa and Thomas. Sucked for Yates too.
Freak accident I know, but the moto was 100% in the wrong.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):