Henao at the Giro

[Afrank]

It will depend on who Sky's GC guy is, I doubt he will be given leadership until he can show he's able to perform well in a GT.

If henao can get in a succesful break on an early stage, then put in a good performance on the final mountain stage then he can top 10.

 

[42x16ss]

He won Vuelta Colombia before, which is a three week race, but nowhere near the level of competition of a GT of course (Ryo would argue the last point, of course)

Since this is the case, I strongly doubt that Henao is going to be a force in his first GT, especially one with a parcours as tough as the Giro. How well does he recover? How well does he dose his efforts? Can he handle genuine HC mountain passes, let alone stages with two or more? The altitude might not be an issue for him but what about 15 - 20km of climbing?

The kid has obvious talent but he will surely be riding in support of someone else.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Since this is the case, I strongly doubt that Henao is going to be a force in his first GT, especially one with a parcours as tough as the Giro. How well does he recover? How well does he dose his efforts? Can he handle genuine HC mountain passes, let alone stages with two or more? The altitude might not be an issue for him but what about 15 - 20km of climbing?

The kid has obvious talent but he will surely be riding in support of someone else.

why?

He is already 24, not really a toddler anymore.

He has been on the colmbian scene for quite some time now and has ridden in europe before (2009) as well as some exposure to the races in america. As mentioned, while the vuelta may not be at the same level it is still a good sense of recovery. The repetitve climbs might not be such a problem (well it takes getting used to like all youngsters) unlike the hard pace on the flats. But from what we have seen it is promising.

Many riders get freedom in thir first GT, if sky aren't gonna send a legitimate leader (froome, uran, wiggo etc) why shouldn't he get the freedom to lead.

 

[42x16ss]

why?

He is already 24, not really a toddler anymore.

He has been on the colmbian scene for quite some time now and has ridden in europe before (2009) as well as some exposure to the races in america. As mentioned, while the vuelta may not be at the same level it is still a good sense of recovery. The repetitve climbs might not be such a problem (well it takes getting used to like all youngsters) unlike the hard pace on the flats. But from what we have seen it is promising.

Many riders get freedom in thir first GT, if sky aren't gonna send a legitimate leader (froome, uran, wiggo etc) why shouldn't he get the freedom to lead.

I agree that he has had enough exposure to European racing, but GT experience is still rather valuable. I'm not saying that Henao will be a flop by any means, just don't expect a major showing in his first 3 week race.

Of the three GT's this is certainly the best one for Henao to cut his teeth on and I also hope that he gets some freedom to go stage hunting at the very least, I'm just not expecting a very high GC placing. Having said that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he comes out with a stage win or even the KOM classification.

I'm tipping Henao to have a similar Giro to Matt Lloyd in 2010. Some great stages but no real threat GC wise.

 

[auscyclefan94]

People saying he will be top 10 are seriously kidding themselves. Not gonna happen.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

People saying he will be top 10 are seriously kidding themselves. Not gonna happen.

it really isn't unreasonable.

podium maybe unreasonable, agreed. top 10? I can see it. anywhere in the top 20 is reasonable.

thier are many precedents of lesser riders achieving such.

 

[auscyclefan94]

it really isn't unreasonable.

podium maybe unreasonable, agreed. top 10? I can see it. anywhere in the top 20 is reasonable.

thier are many precedents of lesser riders achieving such.

I don't see a top 10. he's a first year pro at his first gt and expecting a top 10 is not reasonable.

 

[42x16ss]

I don't see a top 10. he's a first year pro at his first gt and expecting a top 10 is not reasonable.

Andy Schleck, 2007 Giro?

I do agree it's highly unlikely. My prediction is a stage win and a couple of gutsy breaks.

 

[Kvinto]

Well, he is a first year pro, but on the other hand he'll be 25 this year so you can't say he is immature. And of course Vuelta Colombia, a two-week race, hard one, not a GT of course but he won it in 22. In my humble opinion it is not quite the same as shining at the Tour de l'Avenir at the same age. I think he'll top-20 but also don't find the bottom of top-10 something absolutely unreasonable.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

I'll go for somewhere in the top 20, but wouldn't be too surprised if he does better than that. As others have said, we don't know how he will recover over 3 weeks, so I can see him having at least one bad day where he loses some time. And it might also depend on how much riding he has to do for the sprinters

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I voted top 10, partly because I think he has a good shot at it and partly because I'd like him to.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Yup, hard to trip up over another rider when you're posted at the front all day

I laughed.

Can't rule it out, though.

 

[Angliru]

People saying he will be top 10 are seriously kidding themselves. Not gonna happen.

As a comparison, Juan Mauricio Soler finished 11th in the Tour in his first attempt at a grand tour, so it's not completely unreasonable to believe that it could happen.

 

[luckyboy]

Top 15/20 for sure.

 

[The Hitch]

As a comparison, Juan Mauricio Soler finished 11th in the Tour in his first attempt at a grand tour, so it's not completely unreasonable to believe that it could happen.

Rujano finished 3rd in his first grand tour, 30 seconds off the win and won the most memorable stage of the decade by dropping the pink jersey to start and then simply riding away from the guy in 2nd who was going full out.

Was a year younger too.

 

[Angliru]

Rujano finished 3rd in his first grand tour, 30 seconds off the win and won the most memorable stage of the decade by dropping the pink jersey to start and then simply riding away from the guy in 2nd who was going full out.

Was a year younger too.

How could I have forgotten about Rujano???

 

[Afrank]

The final mountain stage should work in his favor, but how good a time trialist is Henao?

 

[Zoncolan]

The final mountain stage should work in his favor, but how good a time trialist is Henao?

Decent from what I can remember of the previous two editions of Vuelta. I'd rate him as good an ITT rider as F. Schleck, maybe slightly weaker.

 

[Fetisoff]

The final mountain stage should work in his favor, but how good a time trialist is Henao?

Well, he's won a time trial before, beating bottle in the process......

 

[Duartista]

As a time trialist he reminds me of Cunego. Decent on a good day, very bad on a bad day.

 

[Catwhoorg]

I have little doubt he will be better at the ITT after spending some time with the Sky coaches

 

[theyoungest]

As a time trialist he reminds me of Cunego. Decent on a good day, very bad on a bad day.

Cunego is only decent on really hilly courses. That's not really due to his TT skills.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Decent from what I can remember of the previous two editions of Vuelta. I'd rate him as good an ITT rider as F. Schleck, maybe slightly weaker.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't rate him yet. We'll see after his first GT.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, he's won a time trial before, beating bottle in the process......

lol I was going to mention that. Dont know if you were being serious but there is a elephant in the room with that tt.

Didnt our newly crowned TDF podium finsher come 2nd?

To be fair it was a prologue and Levi isnt as great at them