Giro 2016 wild cards

[GenericBoonenFan]

Let us make a prediction, how many sputniks will reach Milan?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

Let us make a prediction, how many sputniks will reach Milan?

Quite a few. It will be the sole focus of the season for nine of their dozen or so strongest riders. They shouldn't be there, but they won't half-ass it.

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

who wants to see firsanov going full evgeni berzin 1994?

hands up

as long as gazprom comes prepared to face the world tour teams, no problem

the sputniks are coming!

Maybe they gonna go fully CSF Sella instead.

Seriously, is this really gonna go through? Or do they suddenly invite Roompot / CCC / Androni 2 weeks before the Giro like they did in 2008 with Astana!?

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

who wants to see firsanov going full evgeni berzin 1994?

hands up

as long as gazprom comes prepared to face the world tour teams, no problem

the sputniks are coming!

Nonsense, Zakarin will be the next Berzin and he'll have an army of loyal sputniks riding for him.
Alexander Foliforov and Aleksey Rybalkin are to interesting prospects, they could surprise a few people in the next few years

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Evgeny Shalunov to destroy!

 

[Breh]

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

They have Pieter Weening, but other than that they don't have a lot to offer.

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

Nothing. But they ain't as weak as Gazprom probably. And they would be able to arrive at the Giro start as soon as RCS realizes that 2 days before the team presentation.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

They have Pieter Weening, but other than that they don't have a lot to offer.

They've got Johnny “the locomotive“ Hoogerland as well.

Maybe Breukink could arrange a comeback for the Giro. But same can only be hoped for Serhiy Honchar.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

Nine riders who have participated in at least one World Tour race.

 

[Brullnux]

I'd rather RCS sacrifice a wild-card spot to a big money, weak team than lose one of their current races. Racing wise it's not a good decision, but RCS clearly feel that it's better for the long term/bigger picture that Gazprom are invited. They know more than we do about their current financial position, and I doubt they have taken much pleasure from taking this decision. And thus, I'm ok with this decision. Obviously i would be mega-pissed if I were CCC or Androni.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Re: Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

They have Pieter Weening, but other than that they don't have a lot to offer.

What a question!

 

[luckyboy]

Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

The vague chance that they might not be hideously dirty?

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

The vague chance that they might not be hideously dirty?

But again, dirty teams provide for a more exciting racing and more news coverage than just an average clean team. Therefore, the selection, along with a fat support check, makes sense after all

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

Nine riders who have participated in at least one World Tour race.

Nine riders who had their chance at the top level but now have a ride with a pro-conti team because of their nationality. No thanks.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

What does Roompot have to offer other than being a Dutch team in the Netherlands for the first 3days?

Nine riders who have participated in at least one World Tour race.

Nine riders who had their chance at the top level but now have a ride with a pro-conti team because of their nationality. No thanks.

Riders who have a ride because of their nationality is a particular specialty of both Roompot and Rusvelo. I wouldn't have chosen either. I don't think Roompot were ever serious contenders, mind you. Then again neither were Rusvelo until someone got the chequebook out.

 

[PeterB]

According to https://cccsport.eu/en/ccc-sprandi-...ons-to-tirreno-adriatico-and-milan-sanremo-2/, CCC did not apply for Giro wild card this year:

Last year’s participation was a great experience, big step, an honor and very valuable test of sporting and logistics capabilities for us. However, this time we decided not to apply for a “wild card” and change our racing program

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

So, are we expecting those selected to justify their inclusion?

Likely starters:
Bardiani
ANDREETTA Simone
BOEM Nicola
BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel
CICCONE Giulio
COLBRELLI Sonny
MAESTRI Mirco
PIRAZZI Stefano
RUFFONI Nicola
SIMION Paolo

Gazprom
ERSHOV Artur
FIRSANOV Sergey
FOLIFOROV Alexander
KOLOBNEV Alexandr
OVECHKIN Artem
RYBALKIN Aleksey
SAVITSKY Ivan
SEROV Alexander
SOLOMENNIKOV Andrey


Nippo-Fantini
BERLATO Giacomo
BISOLTI Alessandro
BOLE Grega
CUNEGO Damiano
FILOSI Iuri
GROSU Eduard-Michael
STACCHIOTTI Riccardo
YAMAMOTO Genki
ZILIOLI Gianfranco


Willier-Southeast
AMEZQUETA MORENO Julen
BELLETTI Manuel
BERTAZZO Liam
BUSATO Matteo
MARECZKO Jakub
MARTINEZ POVEDA Daniel Felipe
POZZATO Filippo
RODRIGUEZ MARTIN Cristian
ZHUPA Eugert

 

[VanBsr]

Re:

So, are we expecting those selected to justify their inclusion?

Likely starters:
Bardiani
ANDREETTA Simone
BOEM Nicola
BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel
CICCONE Giulio
COLBRELLI Sonny
MAESTRI Mirco
PIRAZZI Stefano
RUFFONI Nicola
SIMION Paolo

Gazprom
ERSHOV Artur
FIRSANOV Sergey
FOLIFOROV Alexander
KOLOBNEV Alexandr
OVECHKIN Artem
RYBALKIN Aleksey
SAVITSKY Ivan
SEROV Alexander
SOLOMENNIKOV Andrey


Nippo-Fantini
BERLATO Giacomo
BISOLTI Alessandro
BOLE Grega
CUNEGO Damiano
FILOSI Iuri
GROSU Eduard-Michael
STACCHIOTTI Riccardo
YAMAMOTO Genki
ZILIOLI Gianfranco


Willier-Southeast
AMEZQUETA MORENO Julen
BELLETTI Manuel
BERTAZZO Liam
BUSATO Matteo
MARECZKO Jakub
MARTINEZ POVEDA Daniel Felipe
POZZATO Filippo
RODRIGUEZ MARTIN Cristian
ZHUPA Eugert

Edy Grosu will win 2-3 stages

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

So, are we expecting those selected to justify their inclusion?

Likely starters:
Bardiani
ANDREETTA Simone
BOEM Nicola
BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel
CICCONE Giulio
COLBRELLI Sonny
MAESTRI Mirco
PIRAZZI Stefano
RUFFONI Nicola
SIMION Paolo

Gazprom
ERSHOV Artur
FIRSANOV Sergey
FOLIFOROV Alexander
KOLOBNEV Alexandr
OVECHKIN Artem
RYBALKIN Aleksey
SAVITSKY Ivan
SEROV Alexander
SOLOMENNIKOV Andrey


Nippo-Fantini
BERLATO Giacomo
BISOLTI Alessandro
BOLE Grega
CUNEGO Damiano
FILOSI Iuri
GROSU Eduard-Michael
STACCHIOTTI Riccardo
YAMAMOTO Genki
ZILIOLI Gianfranco


Willier-Southeast
AMEZQUETA MORENO Julen
BELLETTI Manuel
BERTAZZO Liam
BUSATO Matteo
MARECZKO Jakub
MARTINEZ POVEDA Daniel Felipe
POZZATO Filippo
RODRIGUEZ MARTIN Cristian
ZHUPA Eugert

Edy Grosu will win 2-3 stages

Lol maybe 2-3 top five places more likely judging by his results this year.Still his last year 5th place is the best Romanian result in a GT and a huge one considering the level of cycling in Romania.

 

[Laplaz]

Probably Bardiani has the best line-up out of this 4

 

[TMP402]

I can't bring myself to praise it as "justification"... but I think Firsanov will do well.

 

[staubsauger]

Gazprom might become the most deserved wildcard team. True assumption.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Gazprom might become the most deserved wildcard team. True assumption.

Right now it's a one man team and before the start of the season I wouldn't have picked Firsanov to be that guy (Jens alredy picked him to be their star before the start of the season ).
Southeast has a good sprinter and Nippo are bringing Cunego, Bole and Grosu, but Bardiani seems to have the most balanced team.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I guess Gazprom will consider their invitation validated now.