Giro 2014 Field Speculation

[Ryo Hazuki]

Is that not a bit unfair? Although Lieutenant is not a typical cycling term, I think he meant second in line for GC leader.

I don't think his team is too far off. Sky will probably laughably nominate serial crasher GT as their "road captain", and may go with Kennaugh and Wiggins as backup for GC, should anything go wrong with Froome.

kennaugh the 2nd in line for gc? seriously?! he meant that?!! that's even more ridiculous. and his team isn't far off in names because any idiot can put together 1 and 1 is 2. we already know almost all tour riders.

 

[del1962]

Is that not a bit unfair? Although Lieutenant is not a typical cycling term, I think he meant second in line for GC leader.

I don't think his team is too far off. Sky will probably laughably nominate serial crasher GT as their "road captain", and may go with Kennaugh and Wiggins as backup for GC, should anything go wrong with Froome.

Wont G be road captain, I thought that was going to be his role last year before he broke his pelvis

 

[Grupetto1]

most of the sky giro/tour predictions don't add up for me as where is porte's genuine high mountain support coming from? if they are serious about him going well then he will need more support than cataldo/lopez/kosta, where as does froome really need all of henao/nieve/wiggins/kennaugh?

 

[del1962]

most of the sky giro/tour predictions don't add up for me as where is porte's genuine high mountain support coming from? if they are serious about him going well then he will need more support than cataldo/lopez/kosta, where as does froome really need all of henao/nieve/wiggins/kennaugh?

I don't think Sky want a repeat of 2013 tour, where Froome was isolated on a mountain stage, the Giro is secondary to Sky

 

[The Hitch]

he went full gas in most of the climbs and came up short most of the times as well

You have any evidence for that? Or is it those same secret sources that told you Quintana lobbied for the giro 2 days before Quintana announced the exact opposite was true?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You have any evidence for that? Or is it those same secret sources that told you Quintana lobbied for the giro 2 days before Quintana announced the exact opposite was true?

yes. if you saw the tour you'd know. or if you ever sat on a bike (competitvely) which I;m sure you never did. you were also the one belieiving froome had a hungerflat on alpe dhuez

 

[42x16ss]

We completely disagree about the complexity of this particular stage version hundreds of other "normal" race situations.

And Sky's failure in the classics have little to do with road captains and much more to do with planning, execution and above all the people they ride for (cobbles classics).

Who do you think is largely responsible for how a plan is executed out on the road? And if there needs to be a plan b on the spot who do you think comes up with that?

One big reason Wiggins' TdF win went do smoothly compared to Froome's is that Sky's only experienced road captain went to Saxo and it showed on stage 9, again in the crosswinds and again on Alpe d'huez. For all his faults, Rogers can read a race as well as anyone

 

[The Hitch]

yes. if you saw the tour you'd know. or if you ever sat on a bike (competitvely) which I;m sure you never did. you were also the one belieiving froome had a hungerflat on alpe dhuez

The last time I remember you telling me I knew nothing about cycling were when you were explaining to me why the Le Grand Bornand stage was not going to be a total dud like I had predicted it to be.

<<<crickets>>>

 

[Afrank]

He was dropped from the Haut Var line-up after Deignan broke his collarbone. Likely to replace Deignan in the route to (and including) the Giro?

Deignan's fracture isn't too bad and should only take him off the bike for a few weeks. So there's a chance he still might be able to race the Giro, it would depend on what kind of fitness he can get too after he recovers from the break.

Dombrowski has had good results in Cali while a u23 and is an American; so I think going there is very likely for him and Boswell. I did find a interview with a quick google where he says he'd love to race the Giro but I think it would depend on what kind of form he shows in the races before it. PRC also lists California on his schedule, and if he does start a GT this year I think it would probably be the Vuelta (less pressure there on him to do a certain job, more about learning how to ride a GT).

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Who do you think is largely responsible for how a plan is executed out on the road? And if there needs to be a plan b on the spot who do you think comes up with that?

One big reason Wiggins' TdF win went do smoothly compared to Froome's is that Sky's only experienced road captain went to Saxo and it showed on stage 9, again in the crosswinds and again on Alpe d'huez. For all his faults, Rogers can read a race as well as anyone

You and I have a very different view on the definition of a road captain. Btw Roche gave "instruction" to capitalize on Belkins and OPQS's early crosswind action on that tour stage. And I don't see Roche action as road captaincy related either.

If you (or Froome) think Rogers' road captaincy skill was instrumental in Sky's annihilation of the opposition in the '12 tour, well lets just say I disagree.

Having said all that, I agree that Roger does have serious skills as a road captain if given the chance. Best demonstrated at one of the Tour of California stages last year iirc.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Pozzovivo is sole leader for Ag2r in the giro I guess?

 

[trevim]

Dombrowski seems a bit lost... He's still young though, let's hope he can be the great climber he is instead of riding on the front setting pace.

 

[Afrank]

Dombrowski seems a bit lost... He's still young though, let's hope he can be the great climber he is instead of riding on the front setting pace.

A little early to say he is lost. Last year was all about learning to ride in the pro peloton and he also had knee issues due to a change in equipment (Boswell had similar issues i beleive). Plus he had a few crashes early in the season. He still though had some decent results and performances in the La Punt stage of TDS, and 7th in Japan cup.

 

[trevim]

A little early to say he is lost. Last year was all about learning to ride in the pro peloton and he also had knee issues due to a change in equipment (Boswell had similar issues i beleive). Plus he had a few crashes early in the season. He still though had some decent results and performances in the La Punt stage of TDS, and 7th in Japan cup.

Of course it's early, I just hope he can achieve his true potential and have a proper season this year.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

A little early to say he is lost. Last year was all about learning to ride in the pro peloton and he also had knee issues due to a change in equipment (Boswell had similar issues i beleive). Plus he had a few crashes early in the season. He still though had some decent results and performances in the La Punt stage of TDS, and 7th in Japan cup.

I call complete bs on learning to ride in peloton. this is the guy who tore up baby giro and valle aosta. pelotons of 200 riders and he wqas also strong in us domestic scene. seems more sky ridiuclous training is killing off dombrowski

 

[Afrank]

I call complete bs on learning to ride in peloton. this is the guy who tore up baby giro and valle aosta. pelotons of 200 riders and he wqas also strong in us domestic scene. seems more sky ridiuclous training is killing off dombrowski

There are things he (or any young rider) must adjust to when they first make the jump to WT. A consistently higher level of racing, riding and maneuvering around in the peloton, or just spending time racing and living in more and different countries.

Now some of these things he of course will have learned the basics of and how to do them in his other racing before going WT. The higher level of racing of the WT though means that some of them will be harder and require some learning. So in short, he like any other young rider will have needed some time to adjust.

I don't however think Dombrowski at this point is being killed off in any way. Far far to early to draw that conclusion IMO.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the wt level adjystment is also bs. this is dombrowski one of the greatest talents in years and already on much higher than general wt level in his last u23 year. no other toptalents need wt adjustments either. this isn't the epo 90s anymore.

 

[ILovecycling]

The last time I remember you telling me I knew nothing about cycling were when you were explaining to me why the Le Grand Bornand stage was not going to be a total dud like I had predicted it to be.

<<<crickets>>>

But you have to admit that you were a bit lucky with that prediction

 

[ILovecycling]

Dombrowski is as killed as Henao was last year,their training is not good for everyone ,in fact its a complete fail for young riders

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Dombrowski is as killed as Henao was last year,their training is not good for everyone ,in fact its a complete fail for young riders

yes and I'm deeply worried for some amazing talent like sebastian henao too

 

[Grupetto1]

I don't however think Dombrowski at this point is being killed off in any way. Far far to early to draw that conclusion IMO.

Exactly, last year was his first of potentially 15 years at the pro level, be patient!

 

[ILovecycling]

yes and I'm deeply worried for some amazing talent like sebastian henao too

Oh fvck,I forgot him,we have to hope Sky will change their aproach
Do you how Sebastian schedule looks like?

 

[Escarabajo]

But you have to admit that you were a bit lucky with that prediction

All he had to do was look at the weather channel!!

 

[Afrank]

the wt level adjystment is also bs. this is dombrowski one of the greatest talents in years and already on much higher than general wt level in his last u23 year. no other toptalents need wt adjustments either. this isn't the epo 90s anymore.

Well, I would disagree in part. I think WT does require some adjustment, how much being different for every rider. But I'll never convince you, so I won't bother to try.

Nonetheless I don't think we should take his 2013 as a sign that he's being killed off. Like I said in a previous post he had knee issues throughout the season, plus crashed a couple times early. And he wasn't being put pressure on to get results anyways. Some talents get the results right away, some it takes a little more time. I'm confident Domrowski will deliver on his talent.

I would agree that Sky have taken the wrong training approach with a few of their riders and it hasn't turned out well. So I hope the same thing will not happen with Dombrowski, I think we'll have to wait and see to know for sure.

 

[EnacheV]

Looking at Movistar progresses in TT i think baring falling of the bike Nairo will win this by 5+ minutes , also getting a top3 in ITT.