Giro d'Italia 2020

[gavia88]

I really doubt that. If it's gonna be a sprint it will be a very reduced bunch going for it. The stage is very breakaway friendly and if the peloton wants the win they will have to race hard. The final circuit is also well-suited for attacks.

From the website:

"Circuito finale di 14.5 km con nella prima parte l’impegnativo strappo di via Saragat di circa 1 km con un lungo tratto attorno al 15-17% seguito da un lungo falsopiano a scendere fino a ritornare sulla costa per percorrere gli ultimi due km pianeggianti fino all’arrivo. Rettilineo finale di 1000 m su asfalto (largh. 7.5 m)"

Seems to difficult for a real bunch sprint.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Yeah, with him already flying in Tirreno-Adriatico I don't fancy his chances to keep it together in the 3rd week.

From a good racing point of view the issue is not whether he wins but whether he forces the other leaders to ditch their help and fight

 

[Pricey_sky]

He is guaranteed to crack in weak 3 unfortunately

People said the same at the 2018 Vuelta, and it’s not like he has Froome or Dumoulin to contend with here like 2018.

Hopefully he’s learnt from the lessons of that year. He still might crack, but it’s far from a guarantee.

 

[Brumdog66]

From a good racing point of view the issue is not whether he wins but whether he forces the other leaders to ditch their help and fight

True but if I was Thomas or Nibali I'd give him some rope rather than expose myself to the other

 

[Brumdog66]

People said the same at the 2018 Vuelta, and it’s not like he has Froome or Dumoulin to contend with here like 2018.

Hopefully he’s learned from the lessons of that year.

That Vuelta had nowhere near as tough a week 3 or field though

 

[s.i.]

True but if I was Thomas or Nibali I'd give him some rope rather than expose myself to the other

Hmm that's how Nibali lost the Giro last year, though.

 

[Pricey_sky]

That Vuelta had nowhere near as tough a week 3 or field though

I agree on the route, though that Vuelta did have 5 of the last 8 stages as MTF’s.

The field part is very debatable given the current startlist and strength of teams at the moment.

Back to the original point, far from a guarentee.

 

[Salvarani]

Simon Yates is the favorite but looks like it could be an open race. Anything could happen really.

 

[lenric]

I think Nibali won't ever win a GT again. But I'd like to be wrong, as I'm cheering for him.
About the Giro, I think Yates might win it, precisely because the field is weak.
I also have a feeling that Thomas will flop and SK will podium.

 

[Eclipse]

We will see, at least one time he didn´t crack.. Vuelta 2018
The contenders for sure have to respond to Yates attacks in the first weeks..

Yates legs giveth and Yates legs taketh but along the way I'm sure the race they'll maketh.

Dream is for Yates to blow everything up early and then 3rd week Nibali to surface to smash it back the other way.

(sadly while this happens G will probably win from TT's and being pretty much good enough day in day out... )

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

What’s good about is the unpredictability. Will Yates again prove himself the worlds best two week racer? Can Thomas ever find the motivation to be in GT winning form again? Is Nibali still Nibali?

 

[Red Rick]

Purely looking at TA I'm not so sure why anyone would consider Thomas a favorite over Yates.

 

[SafeBet]

What’s good about is the unpredictability. Will Yates again prove himself the worlds best two week racer? Can Thomas ever find the motivation to be in GT winning form again? Is Nibali still Nibali?

Is Fuglsang not Fuglsang anymore?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Is Fuglsang not Fuglsang anymore?

Lol another interesting question, particularly when Vlasov is taken into account. In theory they have the strongest dom but who works once Yates makes his move?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Purely looking at TA I'm not so sure why anyone would consider Thomas a favorite over Yates.

Three ITTs, Yates propensity to suddenly stop being the best guy in the race with no warning. I mean, personally I have great difficulty settling on a favourite but the case for Thomas is at least arguable

 

[Brumdog66]

I agree on the route, though that Vuelta did have 5 of the last 8 stages as MTF’s.

The field part is very debatable given the current startlist and strength of teams at the moment.

Back to the original point, far from a guarentee.

Vuelta field was deeper but Nibali and Thomas are a step above as GC riders imo

 

[Eshnar]

Purely looking at TA I'm not so sure why anyone would consider Thomas a favorite over Yates.

I think it's the ITT. These days if you see a GT with 65 km of time-trial overall it looks like the 1992 Tour or something.

 

[Brumdog66]

Purely looking at TA I'm not so sure why anyone would consider Thomas a favorite over Yates.

Personally prefer to look at previous GT form that warm up race form

 

[Red Rick]

I think it's the ITT. These days if you see a GT with 65 km of time-trial overall it looks like the 1992 Tour or something.

Then you see 35 seconds on Sassotetto while Majka was doing most of the work. And the first ITT is significantly downhill I don't think the s/km are gonna be super big there.

 

[Earns1985]

Lol another interesting question, particularly when Vlasov is taken into account. In theory they have the strongest dom but who works once Yates makes his move?

Ivan Sosa.. my prediction

 

[Eshnar]

Then you see 35 seconds on Sassotetto while Majka was doing most of the work. And the first ITT is significantly downhill I don't think the s/km are gonna be super big there.

Mostly I agree but the downhill in stage 1 is basically a 4 km straight with two hairpins in the middle. It's just pure power.

 

[BlueRoads]

To me Fuglsang is absolutely in the mix for the win. I don't know what that T-A result tells, since I did not watch, but I am very sure he'll be in great form for the Giro.

 

[Scarponi]

Why isnt Yates doing the shortened Veulta haha

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Ivan Sosa.. my prediction

I completely forgot about him. i very much hope he isn’t super strong. Unless Thomas sucks that is. Strong Sosa as a leader would be welcome. I just don’t want to see a single superdom all race

 

[edobs]

Лопес покинет «Астану» по окончании сезона

prosports.kz

According to this kazakh site M.A. Lopez seems to be coming to the Giro as co-captain with Fuglsang, if this was confirmed it would be positive for the startlist....
Honestly i do not understand this choice...
Even pcs has put him in the startlist