After 2nd restday, Who will win this Giro? ('14)

[ItalianGigolo]

Nairito will just smash everyone and start his legagy in the cycling world. He is just the best pure climber in the history of cycling and he will show that to everyone soon. I can't wait to see him destroy any previous Zoncolan record ascending time!

 

[gerundium]

going with the wildcard here (because choosing the logical options is no fun anyway) and predicting a revival of RoboBasso. He isn't looking great yet but i seriously think he can surprise some people in the third week. Zoncolan and the monte Grappa MTT i think suit him. A diesel type rider that can grind a very high tempo for a long time uphill is perfect for these i think.

 

[King Boonen]

going with the wildcard here (because choosing the logical options is no fun anyway) and predicting a revival of RoboBasso. He isn't looking great yet but i seriously think he can surprise some people in the third week. Zoncolan and the monte Grappa MTT i think suit him. A diesel type rider that can grind a very high tempo for a long time uphill is perfect for these i think.

And yet people are convinced Evans is going to lose minutes on Zoncolan.

 

[WillemS]

And yet people are convinced Evans is going to lose minutes on Zoncolan.

I think Evans might do well at the MTT, but I don't think Zoncolan is that well suited for steady tempo climbers, it's too irregular and irregularity usually breaks rhythm, especially after the all-out MTT of the day before.

 

[King Boonen]

I think Evans might do well at the MTT, but I don't think Zoncolan is that well suited for steady tempo climbers, it's too irregular and irregularity usually breaks rhythm, especially after the all-out MTT of the day before.

2010 Basso would like to disagree with you...

 

[Samson777]

Could see Kiserlovski as a dark horse for Podium, not for the win tough.

Quintana on his level from last years tour would win for sure, but doubt if this will happen. Of course Uran could win it as well, but then again if he can win why not Majka? I'm not really sure that Uran will be a lot better than for example Majka, climbing wise.

But anyway I went with Evans, better team than ever, good TT and in pole position.

 

[roundabout]

I think Evans might do well at the MTT, but I don't think Zoncolan is that well suited for steady tempo climbers, it's too irregular and irregularity usually breaks rhythm, especially after the all-out MTT of the day before.

It's pretty regular. Regularly bloody steep

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/Giroditalia/2014/images/tappa/tappa_20_S03.jpg

Doubt that a few moments of rest are enough to really break the rhythm

 

[King Boonen]

It's pretty regular. Regularly bloody steep

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/Giroditalia/2014/images/tappa/tappa_20_S03.jpg

Doubt that a few moments of rest are enough to really break the rhythm

And lets not forget who came second in 2010...

 

[maxmartin]

going with the wildcard here (because choosing the logical options is no fun anyway) and predicting a revival of RoboBasso. He isn't looking great yet but i seriously think he can surprise some people in the third week. Zoncolan and the monte Grappa MTT i think suit him. A diesel type rider that can grind a very high tempo for a long time uphill is perfect for these i think.

haha he is also my outside pick

 

[Cookster15]

And lets not forget who came second in 2010...

I hope BMC remember to put the 34 x 27 on for Zoncolan this time. Not like 2010 when Evans gearing was too high for that climb.

 

[King Boonen]

I hope BMC remember to put the 34 x 27 on for Zoncolan this time. Not like 2010 when Evans gearing was too high for that climb.

Didn't know that. And he still came second. Climbing it the same way too...

 

[Rajna31]

Quintana for sure if he recovers from his injuries. But not so much Uran. Uran's opportunity is in the ITT - not so much week 3 mountains, at least compared to Evans. I think Evans and Uran will be fairly even in the big climbs.

Possibly, but so far I have a feeling that Uran is better prepared for week 3, gradually showing more and more and already on par with Evans.

 

[robertocarlos]

It's pretty regular. Regularly bloody steep

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/Giroditalia/2014/images/tappa/tappa_20_S03.jpg

Doubt that a few moments of rest are enough to really break the rhythm

what rest? oh you mean those 22% and 20% ramps ideal to pick up momentum. i know it is that slow gradient that goes form 9% to 15% almost seamesly. on a more serious note and not a deffensive coment; have you ridden anything over 10% for more than 10km? i have ridden half of that at the end of an 40 mile ride and letme tell you it is not the best scenario for a tempo ride.

 

[Cookster15]

Didn't know that. And he still came second. Climbing it the same way too...

Yep, plus Evans also made up 28 sec on Basso and 20 sec on Nibali in the MTT. The climb itself that year was very comparable to Monte Grappa - steeper if anything. But this is 2014, not 2010 and Cadel is now 37. Lets see.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2010/stage-16/results

 

[King Boonen]

what rest? oh you mean those 22% and 20% ramps ideal to pick up momentum. i know it is that slow gradient that goes form 9% to 15% almost seamesly. on a more serious note and not a deffensive coment; have you ridden anything over 10% for more than 10km? i have ridden half of that at the end of an 40 mile ride and letme tell you it is not the best scenario for a tempo ride.

Good data point...

 

[hfer07]

I hope BMC remember to put the 34 x 27 on for Zoncolan this time. Not like 2010 when Evans gearing was too high for that climb.

Not that excuse again...

 

[42x16ss]

Quintana to pick up momentum this week and end up in a tough battle with Uran for the win. Evans to show strongly but lose a lot of time to lighter climbers on 1-2 stages in the Dolomites.

Basso and Hesjedal to join Ulissi in the stage hunting after losing minutes somewhere in the second week, they might scrape a top 10 Virenque style in doing so though.

Keldermerckx to win a tight battle for third with Aru, Majka, Evans and Pozzovivo courtesy of an excellent TT

 

[jaylew]

I don't know that Nairo is going to find his best form in time. He seems a little stale; I think he needed to do a bit more racing before the Giro. Evans could win but I have my doubts as he could still lose a minute or two on one of the big climbs. Uran seems to have matured and gained some confidence and he also appears to be hitting form at the right moment so I'll go with him but any of those three could take it.

Behind those three, I'll go Pozzo and Majka to round out the top 5. They are both looking strong and are fairly good TTers. Kiser looks really good but I just don't have faith in him on the really big climbs just yet. Aru and Kelderman will probably have at least one bad day.

I'm really curious to see if Ulissi tries to ride for GC and how far he goes with it.

 

[Trev_S]

1. Evans
2. Uran
3. Pozzovivo
4. Quintana
5. Basso

I think Uran is the danger man for Evans.
Pozzovivo has form and as shown is prepared to make the moves when he can. Although he may find it harder next time as he will be watched a little more closely.
Quintana, I feel is being a little over rated at the moment. He was the strong favorite however he hasn't really been able to back that up. If he was capable I think he would have gone with Pozzo's attack but he didn't/couldn't.
Basso, I think will motor along virtually invisible behind but will generally always be close at hand but not quite good enough to feature higher.

I don't think anyone can "save themselves" for the last week if they are over a minute down on time. Evans is smart, he knows how hard it is to chase time and he will apply the pressure as it suits him and aim to take time on any occasion he sees.

Moviestar aren't looking that hot as a team at the moment, no doubt suffering crash injuries and they may not recover sufficiently. Quintana is likely to be isolated quite early so any move will then be harder for him to mark. I also think Quintana is likely to make decision errors without directive from team mates.

Astana, likewise are a bit battered and lost riders so Aru could well be solo when it counts.

Quickstep have been a little invisible in a sense, that maybe a good thing for Uran later on.

AG2R have looked far better and could prove to be the team in the mountains, helping Pozzovivo's progress.

BMC likewise have looked good which works in Evans favour.

The big mountains however I think all the top 5 riders will be on their own, which I tend to think will favour whoever is currently in the Pink Jersey. As others will also be defending their current GC position.

I think Evans will win.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It's obvious that Quintana isn't at 100% because he wants to do the Giro-Tour double this year

 

[Tigerion]

Voted Evans but that was more heart than head
I don't think there will be any clear idea until the next rest day. The ITT to work out the gaps and then 2 mountain stages in a row to find who has been hiding poor form during recovery days

 

[Pricey_sky]

It's wide open, Evans looks pretty solid but will he be able to cope in the high mountains where he has struggled the last couple of seasons.

I still believe Quintana will improve in the final weeks and will be a big threat. I'm going for Pozzovivo to win, maybe it's just because I've bet on him but he looks in very good form so far.

 

[SKSemtex]

As much as I hate the first week for losing Purito I do like the vision of what is in front of us in matter of GC fight.
So many candidates. So many options. I am getting really excited. I do not care who will be the winner in the end as long as it is open till the last hill.

Let the best not the the luckiest win.

 

[King Boonen]

As much as I hate the first week for losing Purito I do like the vision of what is in front of us in matter of GC fight.
So many candidates. So many options. I am getting really excited. I do not care who will be the winner in the end as long as it is open till the last hill.

Let the best not the the luckiest win.

Pretty much how I feel, except you make your own luck. If Cadel wins because he had the foresight to be at the front of the peloton leading onto a climb, that's racing tactics, not luck.

 

[rhubroma]

Pretty much how I feel, except you make your own luck. If Cadel wins because he had the foresight to be at the front of the peloton leading onto a climb, that's racing tactics, not luck.

We've been through this before. It's not as if everybody else was at the back. Whereas at times a crash on wet roads in southern Italy sees riders go down from the very front, because of the slippery tarmac, thus no position is safe as was the case at Montecassino. In this case luck played a factor. Cadel was at the front not to avoid crashes, but because that particular climb suited his characteristics and was going for the stage win and/or time bonuses. The others weren't so poorly positioned, but simply terribly unlucky. Cadel didn't anymore make his good luck in this sense, then they made their bad luck.

He knows he’s got to gain as much time as possible through the Barolo TT. So far, mission accomplished. Though now his team has the responsibility of controlling the race and in the third week that will be a lot of pressure to sustain.

In fact, at the moment Uran is in the ideal slot. His team doesn't have to control the course and, with a good TT, Evans will be feeling the Colombian's breath right down his neck. Then there will be the ambushes of Quintana and Pozzovivo in the high mountains, for which the Australian won’t find a moments respite till Treviso.