Giro 2017 Field Discussion/Speculation

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

2010 was the best field, peak RoboBasso, Nibali, Evans, Vino, Scarponi, Wiggins, Lil Richie and Froome. All the greats of from that year apart from Bertie and Schleck.

Sastre too

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

2010 was the best field, peak RoboBasso, Nibali, Evans, Vino, Scarponi, Wiggins, Lil Richie and Froome. All the greats of from that year apart from Bertie and Schleck.

I'd say that 2009 had also a great field, at least on paper (the Armstrong training crash before the Giro was a bit of bad luck). All the Italian stars, a returning Basso, a returning Armstrong, Menchov, the Tour winner Sastre, Leipheimer (mighty strong in the 2008 Vuelta), they had many big names on the startlist.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

2010 was the best field, peak RoboBasso, Nibali, Evans, Vino, Scarponi, Wiggins, Lil Richie and Froome. All the greats of from that year apart from Bertie and Schleck.

I'd say that 2009 had also a great field, at least on paper (the Armstrong training crash before the Giro was a bit of bad luck). All the Italian stars, a returning Basso, a returning Armstrong, Menchov, the Tour winner Sastre, Leipheimer (mighty strong in the 2008 Vuelta), they had many big names on the startlist.

2007-2009 were pretty strong. 2010 imho was the weakest field besides 2012 & 2004, because ain't nobody really hit prime shape apart from Basso and maybe Nibali and Scarponi. All other contenders certainly underperformed in some way. That Giro really missed Ricco & Pellizotti in terms of quality. The route was super. The large breakaway made the pattern of the race super exciting. But quality wise it wasn't really an outstanding line-up based on names & shape.

 

[Anderis]

Michael Woods is also intended to go: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-down-under-cannondale-drapac-come-unstuck-on-willunga-hill/

The Cannondale's roster is getting interesting.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

2010 was the best field, peak RoboBasso, Nibali, Evans, Vino, Scarponi, Wiggins, Lil Richie and Froome. All the greats from that year apart from Bertie and Schleck.

I'd say that 2009 had also a great field, at least on paper (the Armstrong training crash before the Giro was a bit of bad luck). All the Italian stars, a returning Basso, a returning Armstrong, Menchov, the Tour winner Sastre, Leipheimer (mighty strong in the 2008 Vuelta), they had many big names on the startlist.

2007-2009 were pretty strong. 2010 imho was the weakest field besides 2012 & 2004, because ain't nobody really hit prime shape apart from Basso and maybe Nibali and Scarponi. All other contenders certainly underperformed in some way. That Giro really missed Ricco & Pellizotti in terms of quality. The route was super. The large breakaway made the pattern of the race super exciting. But quality wise it wasn't really an outstanding line-up based on names & shape.

I was kinda trolling really. I mean, I did mention Wiggins and Froome as important GC contenders.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Must be a super strong field when Gadret could beat most of them

Yeah while super GT rider Voeckler did the same in Tour, useless argument anyway Gardet did good performance there

Speaking of useless arguments, could you please remind me on what stage Gadret was gifted 4 minutes in that Giro?

TIA.

So you only look at names? Why not look at climbing times and performances? That Tour had the slowest climbing times in ages IIRC

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Looking ahead, Nippo are still holding out hope for possible intercession by the Italian Federation with Giro organiser RCS to open up a space in the Italian Grand Tour. In addition, Tuttobici reported Friday that Italian senator Massimo Caleo may seek a parliamentary initiative push for additional invites for Nippo and Androni Giocattoli, the two Italian Pro Continental teams left without wild card spots.

(Article about Nippo on this site)
Is this even slightly possible?

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Looking ahead, Nippo are still holding out hope for possible intercession by the Italian Federation with Giro organiser RCS to open up a space in the Italian Grand Tour. In addition, Tuttobici reported Friday that Italian senator Massimo Caleo may seek a parliamentary initiative push for additional invites for Nippo and Androni Giocattoli, the two Italian Pro Continental teams left without wild card spots.

(Article about Nippo on this site)
Is this even slightly possible?

I don't think so, their plan would be to convince RCS to ask the UCI to grant a special permission to invite more teams than usual, but I don't think that something like that will happen. RCS could propose to do that + 8 riders per team to the UCI, so the total amount of riders racing the giro wouldn't really change (we'd even have slightly less riders than in a normal field with 9 riders per team).
The UCI would probably disagree,but RCS would no longer be the bad guys, they could blame the UCI and therefore it wouldn't be a bad PR move.

 

[Ricco']

Well, RCS would still be the bad guys because they didn't invite them on the first place when they could have done it.

And seriously, Vegni said that the fault is in the teams and that they don't have to rely on the Giro to save their future? He said something like "if they don't go to the Giro they go to our other races". He seriously thinks that an italian sponsor thinks of the exposure he gets from a 2nd tier race like Tirreno or Strade Bianche and not from the Giro? The guy is seriously a moron.

 

[staubsauger]

Like I said in the other fred, it's election year. I see it absolutely possible. As long as Vegni really wants to prove a point.

There would be 192 riders with 24 x 8 teams, while there are 198 riders with 22 x 9 riders.

Just ask the UCI about going to 24x8 and threat them to kick out Dimension Data. After all, if the UCI breaks up agreements, RCS could do so easily as well. In fact it all happened before in 2008. As well as in 2011 when they threatened to kick out Vacansoleil.

Neither Cookson or any other UCI official can afford to get exposed and embarrassed in the election year. They'll probably grant any RCS request. If Vegni really wants Nippo and/or Androni Giocattoli to be added, it's gonna happen imho!

Edith adds Vegni talks pure nonsense. In fact an Italian sponsor that invests in Italian cycling of course mainly cares about the Giro as highlight of the Italian racing calendar. Now you've got the world tour and crappy teams DD granted entry to races they do not care about. They're the first to step out of the new wt races as well. That squad is a disgrace and never should've been granted wt status, but get wildcards for the races they actually add some value to. Now they're in and two Italian teams are out of their season highlight. They even might fold because of it. This is exactly what I warned about last fall and got criticized for. In fact it's kinda the same Madiot complains about regarding the Frech calendar. Because in Italy what he fears already happens somehow. We absolutely need to get rid of the world tour and get back to the 90s business model. As antike as this might be. Eventually it's the only solution.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

Quintana, Nibali, Aru, Landa and Pinot. If they all indeed show up, it'll be the best field since...?

no love for Kruijswijk?

Anyway, don't know. Probably since 2009. Maybe since the 90's.

Since 1999 imho!

Yes

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/giro99/giro99info.html#riders

5 riders who won GTs before the start and 7 more who would win during their career.

Yeah, and peak Pantani just outclassed them like some kids. That's why he's cycling's best ever climber! <3

 

[rick james]

Re:

"Thomas and Landa will likely have mountain support from new Italian climber Diego Rosa, Sebastian Henao, Philip Deignan, David López, and, assuming he is back up to speed, Beñat Intxausti."

I don't know about that. Along with Viviani, thats 8 already. They'd need some manpower on the flats as well.

horsepower for the flat i'd want Puccio and maybe Golas or the Tractor but the tractor is maybe to young for a GT just now

 

[staubsauger]

I thought about the tractor as well. He might be given some rest after the classics if he steps up there. He might even have got a lighter year after the impressive way he emerged last season. But well, he could as well ride the classics plus the Giro if 2016 was a marker on how strong he is. That's the less likely option right now though.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re:

I thought about the tractor as well. He might be given some rest after the classics if he steps up there. He might even have got a lighter year after the impressive way he emerged last season. But well, he could as well ride the classics plus the Giro if 2016 was a marker on how strong he is. That's the less likely option right now though.

The tractor = Moscon?
Excuse my ignorance

 

[staubsauger]

No problem, pal!
Yes, it is Gianni Moscon.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Moscon won't do the Giro. His spring is pretty loaded already.

 

[Ikbengodniet]

Moscon is set to ride the vuelta as his first GT.

 

[rick james]

Re:

Moscon won't do the Giro. His spring is pretty loaded already.

Aye I thought as much..hope he has a great spring.

 

[Valv.Piti]

From the Movistar thread, I know, a somewhat minor rider, but Rory Sutherland will also take part in the Giro. Remember how he completely zapped his two leaders of energy on the stage to Corvara?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Almost 70 kilometres of flat time trial in the Giro, a good and balanced amount. Here's a rank of how I'd expect them to perform:

1. Tom Dumoulin
2. Rohan Dennis (lets consider him a GC-contender until proven otherwise)
3. Jungels
4. Pinot
5. Mollema
6. G. Thomas
7. König
8. Nibali
9. Kruijswijk
10. TJ
11. Quintana
12. Aru
13. Landa

Theres obviously 2 standout time trialists, but apart from that, 3rd-12th is relatively even. Only Landa stands out as a below average time trialist in this field which on paper is a very good time trial-field.

 

[barmaher]

Nice list, nice post. I would find it hard to believe that Pinot is a better time triallist than Geraint Thomas, Konig and Nibali. But cycling is a funny old game.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Nice list, nice post. I would find it hard to believe that Pinot is a better time triallist than Geraint Thomas, Konig and Nibali. But cycling is a funny old game.

Yes, I felt it was pretty hard to rank the big field in the middle and I might have overrated Pinot a bit. For some reason I actually think Mollema will do better than all of them.

 

[May0maniac]

About the TT skills, I don't know, many of them (the field in the middle) are pretty close and in the end it will probably come down to recovery and form, it's actually pretty hard to rank them.

 

[yaco]

Think you've under-rated Kruuswiljk if he's in top form.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Almost 70 kilometres of flat time trial in the Giro, a good and balanced amount. Here's a rank of how I'd expect them to perform:

1. Tom Dumoulin
2. Rohan Dennis (lets consider him a GC-contender until proven otherwise)
3. Jungels
4. Pinot
5. Mollema
6. G. Thomas
7. König
8. Nibali
9. Kruijswijk
10. TJ
11. Quintana
12. Aru
13. Landa

Theres obviously 2 standout time trialists, but apart from that, 3rd-12th is relatively even. Only Landa stands out as a below average time trialist in this field which on paper is a very good time trial-field.

Looks pretty good, I'd switch Mollema and Nibali.