Giro 2014 sprints

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Waterloo Sunrise said:
*Tangent*

My only worry is that hilly classics is the only area OGE have any strength, so Simon may get pushed in his brother's direction, trying to focus on longer climbs, as he's never going to get backed over Gerrans or Albasini.

Gerrans is 33, Simon Yates is 21. He has time on his hands, he can learn from Gerrans, race for himself when Gerrans isn't (he wasn't at Fleche this year), and continue to develop his skills. Gerrans won't be around forever....Yates can take his place soon enough.
 
May 5, 2014
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fgrune said:
Read that Viviani wants to do well for the first 10 days, does that mean he plan not to finish the giro? Would think he has a good chance to win the points jersey.

I don't think he means that exacly, it's just that those initial days are made mainly for the sprinters. So if he does well it's all good, but if he doesn't... well, there aren't many opportunities for him after stage 10 or so.
 
Jun 25, 2013
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search said:
mmh, indeed, I think he has. Where did he say that?

"My condition is at the top and now I ask my body to stay like this for another ten days. My big focus in the Giro is the first week and I want to beat Kittel in the early stages. The team is strong and I've got Ratto, Gatto, Longo Borghini and Marangoni to help me on the flat stages, the sprints and the team time trial."

"I have a dream (the pink jersey) because there are three sprint stages after the team time trial. I finished a few centimeters behind Cavendish last year (in the first sprint in Naples) and so didn’t take the pink jersey. This year we've worked all winter for the sprints and now I'm in good condition."
 

miketrout27

BANNED
May 4, 2014
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Sky is going stage hunting for sprints for Swift, replacing Kennaugh with Sutton. Swift might be up there in the hilly stages
 
Gloin22 said:
Beter in what way? He's definitely not faster. At best he might be equal to Swift, he should be still slightly quicker on flat than Sonny.

And there's not many finishes at Giro that suit him that great.

Colbrelli has more chances of finishing the Giro than most other sprinters, hence my claim he can fight for the jersey. Riders like Swift and Matthews are reasonable bets for the jersey as well.

Kittel, Bouhanni, Viviani are likely to drop out before the end of the race.
 
May 5, 2014
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Cavendish finished 1st last year. Sure, the Giro has a bit more mountain this year, but I don't get it how you're assuming they are gonna drop. If any of them dominates the first days, I'm pretty sure they'll give everything they can to finish the Giro.
 
Jun 25, 2013
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b3n3v3nt3 said:
Cavendish finished 1st last year. Sure, the Giro has a bit more mountain this year, but I don't get it how you're assuming they are gonna drop. If any of them dominates the first days, I'm pretty sure they'll give everything they can to finish the Giro.

I think Kittel could be a real drop possibility, given that his main focus is the Tour. Viviani, on the other hand... if he has a shot at the jersey I think he'll do everything in his power to hold on.
 
b3n3v3nt3 said:
Cavendish finished 1st last year. Sure, the Giro has a bit more mountain this year, but I don't get it how you're assuming they are gonna drop. If any of them dominates the first days, I'm pretty sure they'll give everything they can to finish the Giro.

Maybe I'm underestimating Viviani. Afterall he has finished both GTs he's raced in his career. I still find very likely that Kittel and Bouhanni won't finish it.
 
Aug 16, 2011
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There's a good chance that any sprinter that has eyes on the Tour will drop out early.

Seems weird to me that Viviani might drop out, especially since the Tour is for Sagan. I'm betting he rides the full race.
 
Aug 4, 2010
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Afrank said:
There's a good chance that any sprinter that has eyes on the Tour will drop out early.

Seems weird to me that Viviani might drop out, especially since the Tour is for Sagan. I'm betting he rides the full race.

Question is,can he make the time cut if Zoncolan stage is riden properly?;)
 
SafeBet said:
haven't heard anything from him.
We'll see today, he can certainly handle the length and climbs of such a stage when in shape.

Looks like he was implicated. From CN article:

Farrar told Cyclingnews he was unhurt but had clearly landed on his right thigh and was left with road rash and bruising. The official race medical bulletin also listed Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) and Tosh van der Sande (Lotto Belisol) as victims of the crash but said all the rider finished the stage.

Link: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vivianis-bad-day-at-the-giro-ditalia-ends-with-high-speed-crash