2013 Giro D'Italia Field Discussion

[SafeBet]

I would put Santambrogio higher in that list.

Definately a ** at this point. Can't see many who are climbing better than him. Sure he can lose a lot of time to Wiggo in the long TT, but I could see him in the top5 at the end of the Giro, unless he' speaking way too early.

 

[gruppeto993]

every time I hear about people pointing out how weak of a field last year's Giro had, I realize how big of an opportunity it would have been for Frank Schleck to win a grand tour.

 

[The Hitch]

every time I hear about people pointing out how weak of a field last year's Giro had, I realize how big of an opportunity it would have been for Frank Schleck to win a grand tour.

It wasn't that weak.

 

[Cookster15]

I know this was done prior to Trentino but why does the Poll have riders like Gesink / Basso / Scarponi / Rujano / Capecchi / Intxausti but no Cadel Evans?? Wiggins and Nibali deserve favoritism but the exclusion of Evans for these other riders does not make any sense. Basso was 2:40 down on Evans at the finish of Sega di Ala.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I know this was done prior to Trentino but why does the Poll have riders like Gesink / Basso / Scarponi / Rujano / Capecchi / Intxausti but no Cadel Evans?? Wiggins and Nibali deserve favoritism but the exclusion of Evans for these other riders does not make any sense. Basso was 2:40 down on Evans at the finish of Sega di Ala.

I think the poll was made before Evans announced his participation in the Giro.

 

[Netserk]

I think the poll was made before Evans announced his participation in the Giro.

Indeed. The poll is from the 8th of January.

 

[Gloin22]

Wiggins was doing a recon of the hilly ITT today. The man is on a mission.

Should be a great fight between him and Nibs.

 

[zapata]

I vote Nibali, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but really, I'm afraid wiggins will win. Bradley Wiggins, winner of the Giro D'Italia. The idea. Even two years ago, I would have called it absurd.

 

[movingtarget]

every time I hear about people pointing out how weak of a field last year's Giro had, I realize how big of an opportunity it would have been for Frank Schleck to win a grand tour.

Frank is like his brother he can't do a good TT and his opportunity to win a grand tour is long gone. He has moments of brilliance and then very ordinary. Not consistent enough.

 

[gregrowlerson]

It wasn't that weak.

This gave me a big belly laugh

 

[ILovecycling]

Looks like Hesjedal,Scarponi and Betancur are more than ready for the show!
Still have my fingers crossed for Nibali ...and Pozzovivo to recover before the start.
It should be a great race.Viva il Giro

Edit:Nibali is still leading the poll!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hesjedal did fire a warning shot today

 

[Carols]

Looks like Hesjedal,Scarponi and Betancur are more than ready for the show!
Still have my fingers crossed for Nibali ...and Pozzovivo to recover before the start.
It should be a great race.Viva il Giro

Edit:Nibali is still leading the poll!

Indeed, many seem to be rounding into form nicely. Astana and Garmin will hopefully give Wiggo more than he and Sky can handle and we'll have a Cracking race!

Go Shark!

 

[Afrank]

Hesjedal did fire a warning shot today

Yep, he looked very good out there. And all that time on the front probably gave him some good training which he needs heading into the Giro. Looks like he's out to prove his win last year wasn't just a fluke.

 

[Richeypen]

Yep, he looked very good out there. And all that time on the front probably gave him some good training which he needs heading into the Giro. Looks like he's out to prove his win last year wasn't just a fluke.

Looked strong today but hills are very different to mountains. Will be interesting to see what he can do once Nibali and Wiggins start drilling it.

 

[Eshnar]

FDJ team:
Murilo Fischer, Anthony Roux, Jussi Veikkanen, Johan Le Bon, Nacer Bouhanni, Sandy Casar, Arnold Jeannesson, Laurent Pichon, Francis Mourey.

 

[greenedge]

No Bouhanni for the TDF, maybe?

Casar, Jeannesson and Roux can hunt for stage wins.
It will be interesting to see how Le Bon and Mourey perform too.
All in all, FDJ have a strong team who should get 1 stage win.

 

[theyoungest]

Looked strong today but hills are very different to mountains. Will be interesting to see what he can do once Nibali and Wiggins start drilling it.

Nibali isn't a better climber than Hesjedal. You'll see.

 

[Gloin22]

No Bouhanni for the TDF, maybe?
Casar, Jeannesson and Roux can hunt for stage wins.
It will be interesting to see how Le Bon and Mourey perform too.
All in all, FDJ have a strong team who should get 1 stage win.

Demare and Bouhanii in the same team couldn't co exist in my opinion. Bouhanii is quite selfish too, so say if the team was supposed to work for Demare at the end, he'd probably try his own chances instead.

It's good and necessary to split them up in the major races imo.

 

[JRanton]

FDJ team:
Murilo Fischer, Anthony Roux, Jussi Veikkanen, Johan Le Bon, Nacer Bouhanni, Sandy Casar, Arnold Jeannesson, Laurent Pichon, Francis Mourey.

Good to see Bouhanni there. He's shown that he can get over short climbs quite well which should bring 1 or 2 more stages into play for him as opposed to Cav for instance.

 

[movingtarget]

Nibali isn't a better climber than Hesjedal. You'll see.

Not a better TT rider either but for some reason many people see the Giro as a match race between Wiggins and Nibali. As defending champ in a race he loves, Ryder will be hard to beat. All three riders have improved a lot over the past season so it's going to be a great race and hopefully Gesink, Evans and co will also make a race of it.

 

[Eshnar]

So, any news about Lotto's lineup? It's the only completely empty team on the first post

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

So, any news about Lotto's lineup? It's the only completely empty team on the first post

Dirk Bellemakers _O_

 

[Eshnar]

Dirk Bellemakers _O_

I see, thanks

 

[theyoungest]

Dirk Bellemakers _O_

Don't mess with the Dirk.

Found this one on procyclingstats:

HANSEN Adam
BELLEMAKERS Dirk
WILLEMS Frederik
DE GREEF Francis
BAK Lars Ytting
BILLE Gaetan
BULGAC Brian
DEHAES Kenny
DOCKX Gert
KAISEN Olivier
REYNES Vicente
VAN DER SANDE Tosh
WELLENS Tim

I.e. every mediocre rider on the team.