Giro 2017 Field Discussion/Speculation

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Only Quintana and Nibali look interesting. Rest seems pretty low to me and Chaves being in there while he's not riding is just a scam imo.

I see you haven't boarded the Landa hype-train for this season yet

Well, he's not the most reliable peaker, and I don't fancy his chances vs Quitana.

 

[Netserk]

He seemed to peak alright last year. Illness (or what the hell else that went wrong on that restday...) isn't really a peak issue. He was similar in Itzulia as the year before, thrashed Trentino, and rode strongly just before his abandon. I see him as far more likely to win than Aru or Kruijswijk.

 

[greenedge]

Re:

Also no love for Jungels? He was 6th last year and given his age should be able to improve on that result. I don't say that he will win but he should be at least be a consideration after his 2016 accomplishments. At leat better than Thomas, Zakarin or Dumoulin from that list ... and he is confirmed to be captain again.

Hmmm I like Jungels, but I don't think he will be able to beat Zakarin (he would have finished 5th if not for his crash, maybe even higher) and will probably have less strong climbing support. Also Dumoulin focusing on a GT is a scary and new prospect that could go very well for him.

 

[May0maniac]

Carthy will also ride the Giro, the Cannondale squad should be fun to watch and animate the race in the mountains.
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...17-giro-ditalia-spot-cannondale-drapac-307351

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Carthy will also ride the Giro, the Cannondale squad should be fun to watch and animate the race in the mountains.
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...17-giro-ditalia-spot-cannondale-drapac-307351

There will be few stages to share between all those climbers attending the race and there isn't that many medium mountain stages. A difficult Giro to stagehunt IMO.

 

[staubsauger]

They'll probably send 2-3 out of Dombrowski, Rolland, Formolo, Woods, Carthy in any mountain stage breakaway group. Dombrowski versus Hirt for the blue jersey sounds like a potentially great battle. Although Joe claims to go for the general classification.

Gaviria wants to wear the pink jersey. He confirms the anniversary Giro is his main season goal for 2017! He should get a full sprint-train minus Jungels imho from Quickstep!

 

[Akuryo]

Brambilla will probably also ride the Giro. So thats at least two riders not working for Gaviria. On the other hand ... Jungels did some leadout work last year for Kittel even though he was their GC-rider.

 

[staubsauger]

I thought Brambilla was heavily rumored to do his first ever Tour this year? That's why I concluded Gaviria ends-up with a stronger sprint train at the Giro than Kittel does at the Tour eventually.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I thought Brambilla was heavily rumored to do his first ever Tour this year? That's why I concluded Gaviria ends-up with a stronger sprint train at the Giro than Kittel does at the Tour eventually.

He was/is. Thats why I think its odd that Trentin will do the Tour as well (as he stated today).

That likely means QS will support Gaviria pretty heavily, yes. Then you obviously have Jungels which should do a minimal of work if they are serious about GC and then throw in some versatile stage hunters capable of helping Jungels and Gaviria and infiltrate a few breaks, like Vakoc, Devenyns and Gilbert.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I thought Brambilla was heavily rumored to do his first ever Tour this year? That's why I concluded Gaviria ends-up with a stronger sprint train at the Giro than Kittel does at the Tour eventually.

He was/is. Thats why I think its odd that Trentin will do the Tour as well (as he stated today).

That likely means QS will support Gaviria pretty heavily, yes. Then you obviously have Jungels which should do a minimal of work if they are serious about GC and then throw in some versatile stage hunters capable of helping Jungels and Gaviria and infiltrate a few breaks, like Vakoc, Devenyns and Gilbert.

This suggests QS are giving as much support as possible to Dan Martin to achieve a high placing in GC.

 

[staubsauger]

Either that or they target an early yellow jersey with Ala, Martin or Brambilla after the Vosges stage!

Wouldn't be too bad. A successful spring campaign, gt sprint stages with Gaviria and Kittel, early classification leadership in both gt's. Sounds like reasonable season goals for QS!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I thought Brambilla was heavily rumored to do his first ever Tour this year? That's why I concluded Gaviria ends-up with a stronger sprint train at the Giro than Kittel does at the Tour eventually.

He was/is. Thats why I think its odd that Trentin will do the Tour as well (as he stated today).

That likely means QS will support Gaviria pretty heavily, yes. Then you obviously have Jungels which should do a minimal of work if they are serious about GC and then throw in some versatile stage hunters capable of helping Jungels and Gaviria and infiltrate a few breaks, like Vakoc, Devenyns and Gilbert.

This suggests QS are giving as much support as possible to Dan Martin to achieve a high placing in GC.

No that doesn't suggest that. Martin is a inconsistent climber with a nonexistent time trial. We have had this argument before. Kittel will still be their first priority and Martin will get 1, maybe 2 guys to look after him in the mountains and thats it. He doesn't stand a chance and QS is smarter than devoting half a team to a rider like him in the freaking TdF.

 

[greenedge]

Capecchi and De Plus would be two good riders for Jungels in the Giro. Along with Richeze and Gaviria that makes 5. Someone like Devenyns and Vakoc as @valv piti mentioned above would be good for stage hunting/ providing an engine for the flats. Riders such as Serry, Vermote, Velits, Martinelli, Declercq and Keisse could round out the roster as domestiques.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I thought Brambilla was heavily rumored to do his first ever Tour this year? That's why I concluded Gaviria ends-up with a stronger sprint train at the Giro than Kittel does at the Tour eventually.

He was/is. Thats why I think its odd that Trentin will do the Tour as well (as he stated today).

That likely means QS will support Gaviria pretty heavily, yes. Then you obviously have Jungels which should do a minimal of work if they are serious about GC and then throw in some versatile stage hunters capable of helping Jungels and Gaviria and infiltrate a few breaks, like Vakoc, Devenyns and Gilbert.

This suggests QS are giving as much support as possible to Dan Martin to achieve a high placing in GC.

No that doesn't suggest that. Martin is a inconsistent climber with a nonexistent time trial. We have had this argument before. Kittel will still be their first priority and Martin will get 1, maybe 2 guys to look after him in the mountains and thats it. He doesn't stand a chance and QS is smarter than devoting half a team to a rider like him in the freaking TdF.

So why is Brambilla missing the 100th Giro to ride his first TDF - And where did I post QS would allocate Martin 4 or 5 riders - Martin had limited support in 2016, so its only natural they'll give him more support this year Stausberger summed it up - QS can have multiple objetives.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I see no reason why that should be the case. Martin was 9th on a very favorable course, isn't gonna do better than that.

 

[Red Rick]

Martin may do better, but he won't do better to any such extent that he should get more team support.

 

[Valv.Piti]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ger...ro-because-we-think-he-can-win-says-kerrison/

The Giro-captain, everybody....G. Thomas, the former track and cobbled-classics rider! He can win. At least thats what Kerrison says about their Welsh jewel, he is still a bit rough in the edges, ain't he?!

One of the comments are hilarious: I totally believe its possib- WOAH! IS THAT RAIN?? call it off boys, let's try again next year.

 

[Red Rick]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ger...ro-because-we-think-he-can-win-says-kerrison/

The Giro-captain, everybody....G. Thomas, the former track and cobbled-classics rider! He can win. At least thats what Kerrison says about their Welsh jewel, he is still a bit rough in the edges, ain't he?!

One of the comments are hilarious: I totally believe its possib- WOAH! IS THAT RAIN?? call it off boys, let's try again next year.

Lol so true. I wonder if they even realise the Giro is a Grand Tour rather than just a hard one week stage race.

 

[Ricco']

Someone on Cyclingnews forgot to write the end of the sentence. My guesses are:

Geraint Thomas is going to the Giro because we think he can win..... a stage

Geraint Thomas is going to the Giro because we think he can win..... the time trial

Geraint Thomas is going to the Giro because we think he can win..... the best welsh rider in GC

 

[Brullnux]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ger...ro-because-we-think-he-can-win-says-kerrison/

The Giro-captain, everybody....G. Thomas, the former track and cobbled-classics rider! He can win. At least thats what Kerrison says about their Welsh jewel, he is still a bit rough in the edges, ain't he?!

One of the comments are hilarious: I totally believe its possib- WOAH! IS THAT RAIN?? call it off boys, let's try again next year.

He should've kept to cobbled classics. Would have had much more success. He is already 30 now, 31 by the time the Giro ends. It is not enough time to become a GC great, especially considering by the time he is 32/33 he will not be at his best. But he can continue with this fantasy of winning a GT if he wants to

 

[Jolene]

And Sky wonder why they're so hated. Thanks to them we have two ruined riders

Thing is--using their logic--if Thomas can win because of the big TTs then what about Dumoulin? He'll destroy Thomas on both time trials, plus he climbs much better.

 

[yaco]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ger...ro-because-we-think-he-can-win-says-kerrison/

The Giro-captain, everybody....G. Thomas, the former track and cobbled-classics rider! He can win. At least thats what Kerrison says about their Welsh jewel, he is still a bit rough in the edges, ain't he?!

One of the comments are hilarious: I totally believe its possib- WOAH! IS THAT RAIN?? call it off boys, let's try again next year.

He should've kept to cobbled classics. Would have had much more success. He is already 30 now, 31 by the time the Giro ends. It is not enough time to become a GC great, especially considering by the time he is 32/33 he will not be at his best. But he can continue with this fantasy of winning a GT if he wants to

Should have accepted the offer from Orica to head their cobbled classics team in 2017.

 

[staubsauger]

Thomas has got zero chance at the Giro and Mikel Landa ain't give a *** whether Thomas is awarded team leadership. It might force him to focus on mountain stage wins and the blue jersey though, which ain't too bad considering he certainly should be one of the best climbers in the race!

 

[rick james]

I'd prefer Geraint Thomas to stick to the classic/ week long races and leave the big tours to the main GC men, I feel a bit of Landa, he should be Sky's main GC man for the Giro but he/they are maybe scared of the amount of TT miles in it?

I really hope Landa bring his best climbing legs to the giro as its going to be some fight in the mountains and when its steep and very lumpy Thomas isn't going to be in that fight

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I don't see anything wrong with the decision. Thomas has been a loyal domestique and has proven his worth as a GC rider in the Tour 2015 when he was 4th before stage 19, so it's natural to award him with the opportunity to lead a GT.