2013 Giro D'Italia Field Discussion

[The Hitch]

New profiles are out. Most interested in the Pescara stage, 9 proper hills in the final 70km but it's a GT so a break wins by 10mins and the leaders do nothing.

Hopefully some of those riders arent far down on gt though. Would be cool to watch a 2010 repeat only with the sky train instead of the liquigas one.

 

[Big Doopie]

Re: comments #951, 952 & 953 about Hesjedal,

Right, last year's build up was similar...

And one thing to remember is that Ryder progresses and gets better into the 3rd week when those 5 (of 6) MTF's hit.

Also it seems Hesjedal's build is better suited for harsh Giro weather, than some other racers.

Agreed.

Also remember that he says he was even better shape pre-tour last year after riding the giro. Too bad he crashed out. If he can get to that same place, who knows...

Nibali is overrated. Not explosive enough in the mountains to get rid of wiggins. Not good enough in tt.

 

[maxmartin]

Agreed.

Also remember that he says he was even better shape pre-tour last year after riding the giro. Too bad he crashed out. If he can get to that same place, who knows...

Nibali is overrated. Not explosive enough in the mountains to get rid of wiggins. Not good enough in tt.

then who is not overrated in cycling?

 

[Angliru]

Agreed.

Also remember that he says he was even better shape pre-tour last year after riding the giro. Too bad he crashed out. If he can get to that same place, who knows...

Nibali is overrated. Not explosive enough in the mountains to get rid of wiggins. Not good enough in tt.

I don't think he's overrated. He's simply well liked by many because of his aggressive style, his willingness to mix it up in week long stage races, grand tours, hilly classics and even MSR along with his seemingly year long competitiveness. Most here recognize his limitations but root for him any way because he entertains.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Agreed.

Also remember that he says he was even better shape pre-tour last year after riding the giro. Too bad he crashed out. If he can get to that same place, who knows...

Nibali is overrated. Not explosive enough in the mountains to get rid of wiggins. Not good enough in tt.

Overrated?
He isnot Pantani in the mountains, sure.
But he wins races by being an aggressive and entertaining rider who gets results in almost every race he enters. He is the reincarnation of Vino (almost... not quite, but still ). Winning with guts and hard work , not by just by talent

 

[Zam_Olyas]

then who is not overrated in cycling?

Ivan Basso

 

[Netserk]

Ivan Basso

Perhaps because nobody rates him?

 

[SafeBet]

Perhaps because nobody rates him?

Zam always rates him.

 

[J-King]

Don't we need a new poll? We are just 2 weeks before the start!

I'd say the favourites can be ranked as follows:

*****
Wiggins
****
Nibali (like last years TDF)
***
Hesjedal (weak field last year)
**
Henao (has to work for Wiggins), Gesink (inevitable crash), Sanchez (last time he performed in a GT is almost 2 years ago), Evans (was it just the virus last year?)
*
Santambrogio, Intxausti, Rujano, Scarponi, Basso, Pellizotti, Uran, Cobo, ...

Difficult to predict who will do well, since they have been racing different races, ... Can't wait!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Don't we need a new poll? We are just 2 weeks before the start!

I'd say the favourites can be ranked as follows:

*****
Wiggins
****
Nibali (like last years TDF)
***
Hesjedal (weak field last year)
**
Henao (has to work for Wiggins), Gesink (inevitable crash), Sanchez (last time he performed in a GT is almost 2 years ago), Evans (was it just the virus last year?)
*
Santambrogio, Intxausti, Rujano, Scarponi, Basso, Pellizotti, Uran, Cobo, ...

Difficult to predict who will do well, since they have been racing different races, ... Can't wait!

Betancour and Pozzovivo is riding to arent they? (how is Pozzo doing btw?)

 

[J-King]

Betancour and Pozzovivo is riding to arent they? (how is Pozzo doing btw?)

I think they are yes. Didn't add Pozzovivo because of his crash in Trentino. According to Cyclingnews he broke some ribs...

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I think they are yes. Didn't add Pozzovivo because of his crash in Trentino. According to Cyclingnews he broke some ribs...

ouch... that is to bad

 

[Eshnar]

Betancour and Pozzovivo is riding to arent they? (how is Pozzo doing btw?)

Betancur is, definitely (and he said he'll go for the podium)
Pozzovivo is still unclear due to the injury

 

[afpm90]

Don't we need a new poll? We are just 2 weeks before the start!

I'd say the favourites can be ranked as follows:

*****
Wiggins
****
Nibali (like last years TDF)
***
Hesjedal (weak field last year)
**
Henao (has to work for Wiggins), Gesink (inevitable crash), Sanchez (last time he performed in a GT is almost 2 years ago), Evans (was it just the virus last year?)
*
Santambrogio, Intxausti, Rujano, Scarponi, Basso, Pellizotti, Uran, Cobo, ...

Difficult to predict who will do well, since they have been racing different races, ... Can't wait!

I would put Santambrogio higher in that list.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Don't we need a new poll? We are just 2 weeks before the start!

I'd say the favourites can be ranked as follows:

*****
Wiggins
****
Nibali (like last years TDF)
***
Hesjedal (weak field last year)
**
Henao (has to work for Wiggins), Gesink (inevitable crash), Sanchez (last time he performed in a GT is almost 2 years ago), Evans (was it just the virus last year?)
*
Santambrogio, Intxausti, Rujano, Scarponi, Basso, Pellizotti, Uran, Cobo, ...

Difficult to predict who will do well, since they have been racing different races, ... Can't wait!

I have a feeling Gadret will play a role this year. Enough for 1 star? Maybe.

 

[Oliver]

What about Kiserlovski? Is he riding Giro? How is he doing? Last year great, but now...

 

[Hugo87]

What about Kiserlovski? Is he riding Giro? How is he doing? Last year great, but now...

Yes, he's riding the Giro for sure, probably his role is co-leadership with Tiago Machado.

 

[phanatic]

then who is not overrated in cycling?

Ryder Hesjedal.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Betancur is, definitely (and he said he'll go for the podium)
Pozzovivo is still unclear due to the injury

Is he, because in an interview (before Pozzovivo's crash) he said he was going to help Pozzovivo help for a good GC + try to go for a stage for himself.

 

[movingtarget]

Agreed.

Also remember that he says he was even better shape pre-tour last year after riding the giro. Too bad he crashed out. If he can get to that same place, who knows...

Nibali is overrated. Not explosive enough in the mountains to get rid of wiggins. Not good enough in tt.

Last year's winner is not exactly known for his explosive climbing either. It's his consistency over three weeks that is his strength. Nibali has improved. That much is obvious.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

What about Kiserlovski? Is he riding Giro? How is he doing? Last year great, but now...

No form so far this year whatsoever, but yea, absolutely a top 10 candidate

 

[Eshnar]

Is he, because in an interview (before Pozzovivo's crash) he said he was going to help Pozzovivo help for a good GC + try to go for a stage for himself.

I'm sorry, he didn't say he'll go for the podium, he'll go for the white
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=60983

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Is he, because in an interview (before Pozzovivo's crash) he said he was going to help Pozzovivo help for a good GC + try to go for a stage for himself.

Unless mistaken, Betancur have done only 1 GT (Giro '11) where he ended up 58th. I like bold statements, but the podium call seems a bit far out.

edit: post made redundant by latest info from Eshnar.

 

[The GCW]

Re: new poll

J-King post #982, Don't we need a new poll? We are just 2 weeks before the start!

A new poll may be ok but would it also be best to wait till after the Tour de Romandie?

 

[Jelantik]

Hesjedal? ... I've always had a soft spot for him, but he won last year against the weakest Giro field in a generation. He may be worth a punt if the bookies are offering good odds, but he's shown little this year and none of the old captains are going to give him any latitude this time.

Nibali won a Vuelta with the weakest field ever, so that makes two of them. Hesjedal beat Scarponi, whom Nibali was unable to beat the last time he did the Giro.

The fact that Hesjedal has shown little this year doesn't really matter, last year was similar. The fact that he still got 20th or something yesterday in Fleche after his bad luck shows that the form is coming around nicely.

well.. wiggins won TDF against a weaker field too. So that makes the 3 of them. Who are the best of GT winner who won due to weakest field?