Hopes for the Giro

[Angliru]

Ha ha Evans is double Valverde. Who cares what Valverde has won in 1day races Cadel has two things AV has not got and that is Valverde's favourite races the Worlds and TDF. Cadel has podiumed all 3 GT's while Valverde is a 1 trick pony on home roads. Just to be clear im not dissing Valverde he is a huge rider and champion.

I just feel no matter how good his carear is in a wierd way he underachieved. Has he even ever took part in the Giro? I'ts so predictable watching him fail every Tour lol. Why not Ardennes and Giro/Vuelta and actually have a realistic chance of winning, as if he done Giro their would be no Quintana and Valverde would imo be favourite as he is better than Evans currently and Purito their is doubts with injury.

Sure sounds like you're dissing him to me. Additionally LBL is one of his favorite races. I'm sure the world's is important but the course isn't always ideal for him although he still has a fine record just that the gold is missing from his palmares. It's a certainty that a wc is one of his most coveted goals.

 

[Angliru]

Evans has got a much better GT record than Valverde and in the short stage races they have both done well. Valverde much better in the one day races. Evans has the worlds win, Valverde has two placings. Hard to separate them I think. For me the Worlds and three Tour podiums including a win possibly give the edge to Evans.

I believe Valverde has the record for the most podiums in the men's world's road race but of course I could be mistaken.

 

[skidmark]

Statistically, here are their best ten seasons in terms of placings on CQ, just to give a numbers perspective (obviously people have their own arguments about who is better by who has won what races, etc):

Valverde: 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6, 14, 338 (these are his only ten seasons on CQ due to ban; this season he's #2)

Evans: 1, 3, 3, 3, 6, 8, 13, 29, 35, 41

Evans' high is 1979, 3 times he's been above 1900, 5 times above 1500.

Valverde's high is 2662, 4 times above 2400, 5 times above 1900 (although 2 more between 1890 and 1900), 8 above 1500.

 

[roundabout]

Most WC courses suit a rider who is strong on the hills and has an excellent finish after 260 km.

 

[Eshnar]

"Hopes for the Giro" guys...

 

[Cookster15]

My hope for the Giro is Cadel returns to 2011 TDF level. That will make life interesting for Quintana and JRod.

 

[Kwibus]

Most WC courses suit a rider who is strong on the hills and has an excellent finish after 260 km.

Off-topic, but the last 4 years there were 2 years were the course suited a rider who is strong on the hills and on both occasions Valverde finished on the podium. Besides the years before them he was banned if I'm not mistaken.
So I'm not sure what your point is? That Valverde indeed always performs when the WC course suits him? He will perform when the course suits him, he will likely fail because he is tactically inept, but he will perform that's for sure.

Oh and Purito for the Giro win! woo!

 

[Angliru]

Most WC courses suit a rider who is strong on the hills and has an excellent finish after 260 km.

I thought I said "not all"?

 

[TANK91]

Come on Angliru you no aswell as me it's the Tour Valverde dreams about. If he had his choice he would rather a TDF than a WC. Valverde is great but i feel Evans has had the better carear Valverde is better than Evans in 1 day races but Evans has all 3 GT's on the podium. I feel it's harder what Evans has achieved. Valverde has a Vuelta but then the rest is podiums in 1 GT(the weakest).

 

[movingtarget]

Purito first.
Quitana, Martin ( Hesjedal ), Basso podium

Basso, Moser winning the stage

Viviani beeting Kittel two times

Quintana deserves to be favourite and if he is as good as a lot of people say he is he should win. Rodriguez should have a won a GT already but I can't see him winning this one either but should podium. Hesjedal does not convince me anymore and Basso's podium days are behind him. Martin is unproven over three weeks but could go well. He Evans and probably another 3 or so riders will fight it out for third place. Uran could be the interesting one although his season so far has not been good for various reasons.

 

[durtyfat]

Quintana deserves to be favourite and if he is as good as a lot of people say he is he should win. Rodriguez should have a won a GT already but I can't see him winning this one either but should podium. Hesjedal does not convince me anymore and Basso's podium days are behind him. Martin is unproven over three weeks but could go well. He Evans and probably another 3 or so riders will fight it out for third place. Uran could be the interesting one although his season so far has not been good for various reasons.

Why Hesjedal didn't convince you anymore? Don't tell me that it's because he doesn't has big results since Giro 2012. He was not lucky last year and he showed good things by helping his team and doing good results at the end of the year. I was the only person who predicted that he will win the Giro 2012 in alot of forums, and in this edition this year, if he show that he is in good shape tomorrow at LBL, i think he can do at least a podium in the Giro. Sorry for my english.

 

[gunara]

This Giro will surely demand some patience, but as long as weather doesn't interfere as much as last year, and tv coverage is smooth, I'll still be happy enough.

I wouldn't mind Giant train dominate others, to me they're not boring when it's not Kittel at the end of it. I also hope actions kicks in on Bielmonte, a top 10 GC try to bridge to a large breakaway on Stelvio and later try to not fall off his bike on Val Martello, someone puts a big fight on Nairo, and Purito wins it in the end. I doubt any of them will happen.

 

[Jspear]

Why Hesjedal didn't convince you anymore? Don't tell me that it's because he doesn't has big results since Giro 2012. He was not lucky last year and he showed good things by helping his team and doing good results at the end of the year. I was the only person who predicted that he will win the Giro 2012 in alot of forums, and in this edition this year, if he show that he is in good shape tomorrow at LBL, i think he can do at least a podium in the Giro. Sorry for my english.

Is Ryder even their man for the GC? Martin is here as well. Ryder will have his hands full just to podium. He isn't the best climber here nor is he a great tt'er....we'll see how things go, but personally I think it will be hard for him to podium.

 

[movingtarget]

Why Hesjedal didn't convince you anymore? Don't tell me that it's because he doesn't has big results since Giro 2012. He was not lucky last year and he showed good things by helping his team and doing good results at the end of the year. I was the only person who predicted that he will win the Giro 2012 in alot of forums, and in this edition this year, if he show that he is in good shape tomorrow at LBL, i think he can do at least a podium in the Giro. Sorry for my english.

He was in good shape in the Ardenne last year too but did nothing in the Giro. He said he was not sick, just could not find the power. He may have overtrained ? Obviously he won the Giro in 2012 and I picked him to make the podium last year so never say never. He has to be included in the chances he is not one of my preferred tips. If Martin rides better he may have to ride in support or Martin may just go for stage wins. Depends how the first half of the race goes for Garmin I suppose. I think it's a really open race for the top 5 or 6 positions on GC and could be a much better race than the Tour if Contador or Froome dominate in the mountains.

 

[SKSemtex]

Quintana deserves to be favourite and if he is as good as a lot of people say he is he should win. Rodriguez should have a won a GT already but I can't see him winning this one either but should podium. Hesjedal does not convince me anymore and Basso's podium days are behind him. Martin is unproven over three weeks but could go well. He Evans and probably another 3 or so riders will fight it out for third place. Uran could be the interesting one although his season so far has not been good for various reasons.

Hallo. We are talking about the hopes (dreams) not expected results.

I know that Purito probably does not have TT skills to win it, but there is nobody in peloton who deserves it more.
I am aware of Quintana being the biggest favorite here, but to tell the truth I do not like the idea he changed the Tour for Giro just because it should be easier here. He is great cyclist but in he is in age when de should go for big challenges.

Martin & Hesjedal, - OK, I am Garmin fan in spite of the fact they keep disappointing me (except Martin of course ). In my naivety I believe they are clean or they tried to be clean at least last few years.
I know that Martin is the leader but I have a feeling that after such a disappointing year we will see Hesjedal in very good form and anything can happen in 3 weeks of Giro.

Basso, Moser, Viviani - Cannondale
Basso - poor Basso, it is almost impossible to get the results with the support he gets. I am sure he must be pretty frustrating (who is not in Cannondale). At least the TTT is different from one in Vuelta 2013 so he will not start the GT with 1.5 min loss.
Moser - I do not expect much from him, he is only few weeks on bike but this boy needs some success very much.
Viviani- As Cav is out (unfortunately Greipel in) I hope Giant will have to do the most of chasing. Let´s see if Viviani can fight with "big" boys from Germany without perfect train.

 

[phanatic]

Ivan goes RoboBasso for the MTT, wins by more than a minute.
Hesjedal goes into berserker mode in the final week, and makes the podium.
J-Rod strong but Nairo doesn't disappoint (Quintana destroys the field).

 

[ILovecycling]

My quartetto of hopes:

-no crashes of GC favourites
-no positives
-Zoncolan stage ride in full pace from bottom of 1st climb
-GOOD WEATHER!

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

A new one - Arredondo to attack at every opportunity, à la Betancur.

 

[Jelantik]

if it's about the wish. I hope Purito finally gets his GT win. He was closed so many times and kept getting screwed. No offense to Quintana, he is an overwhelming favorite and he is a climbing phenom, but he is still young. So he got more time to win GT and he might need to learn the venesh of smart tactic here and there?

 

[ILovecycling]

Yeah,but please Nairo still away from Valverde.His tactics are beyond pathetic

 

[SafeBet]

Serious hope: Purito recovers from his crashes/injuries in time.

 

[Jelantik]

Yeah,but please Nairo still away from Valverde.His tactics are beyond pathetic

that, i won't argue. what I mean is against the likes of other gc contenders.. Btw, anyone knows is Quintana lines up for Romandie? Last time I read, he was penciled in. But so far I haven't heard. I guess, he is flying from altitude directly to Giro, like TDF last year?

 

[Afrank]

that, i won't argue. what I mean is against the likes of other gc contenders.. Btw, anyone knows is Quintana lines up for Romandie? Last time I read, he was penciled in. But so far I haven't heard. I guess, he is flying from altitude directly to Giro, like TDF last year?

Not on the Movistar roster ATM. He had planned to go to Andalucia after coming back from his training in Colombia, but the race has been canceled.

 

[durtyfat]

He was in good shape in the Ardenne last year too but did nothing in the Giro. He said he was not sick, just could not find the power. He may have overtrained ? Obviously he won the Giro in 2012 and I picked him to make the podium last year so never say never. He has to be included in the chances he is not one of my preferred tips. If Martin rides better he may have to ride in support or Martin may just go for stage wins. Depends how the first half of the race goes for Garmin I suppose. I think it's a really open race for the top 5 or 6 positions on GC and could be a much better race than the Tour if Contador or Froome dominate in the mountains.

I think Garmin revealed that he had an infection, but he could also be overtrained, with the way he rode in LBL and the first week at the Giro. We didn't see him alot this season, perhaps to be on top in the third week of the Giro( who is very difficult this year). I would really like it if Hesjedal finish in the podium and Martin in the top 10 with at least a stage win.

 

[greenedge]

Not on the Movistar roster ATM. He had planned to go to Andalucia after coming back from his training in Colombia, but the race has been canceled.

Asturias instead of Andulucia.