Regarding Rui Costa's unspectacular performance yesterday, I would like to point out a few things:
1) His best result in a WT stage race before Romandie is 13th place in Basque Country last season. Also his best result in the Ardennes is 9th in Liege (leadership, suspension,...I know).
2) This season his goals remain more or less the same as in the previous years (Ardennes, Tour) so I would expect his shape to follow a similar pattern.
3) Is a top10 a good result? Not really, I don't think so. It would be his best ever though. A top5 or even podium is in order considering the level when we look at Tirreno.
4) He's the World Champion now but what does that change? Normal non-alien riders don't change overnight and start to dominate the calendar from February to July just because they won a one day race.
So my expectation for Rui is a solid season with lots of good placings and podiums in 1 week stage races, semi and proper classics. Maybe less wins than last season because everyone will be looking even more at him now. But I certainly don't expect any major evolution in his steady and slow rise.
As a passionate fan, GO RUI crush those guys, you're the best!!