Bad decision in my opinion. The Giro is excellent for Zakarin, especially in 18, and he doesn't have the level to more than a top-5. And then you have Kittel obviously.
The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Escarabajo said:Good for him. Eventually he had to ride the Tour one day.
Some things:
- He said that he doesn't like the heat. Better prepare for it. Go to train to very hot places.
- Bike handling is a big issue at the Tour. Especially that first week when everyone is fighting for position.
- I don't see a big problem splitting the forces with Kittel. If anything will help him take the pressure off from him. Besides I don't thing he is the one to beat or the one for the win. So the team requirement should not be as big.
My 2 cents.
Roku said:I don't think so. A GT podium is within his reach and i could even see him winning a Giro with a weak field (which could easily be a 2019 Giro without Dumoulin and Quintana, i don't rate the likes of Chaves, Aru, Pinot, Landa above him)
Nice schedule, Itzulia will be fun.Breh said:-Abu Dhabi
-Paris-Nice
-GP Miguel Indurain
-Euskal Herriko Itzulia
-FW
-LBL
-Dauphiné
-Tour
He says he's mainly going to LeTour to learn while aiming as high as possible in the GC. According to himself, he's not yet ready to fight for the win bit he wants to be able to win a GT in the next few years.
Good luck Zakarin!
Who’s in Kittel’s leadout train for this year? I’d say he’ll be well looked after.portugal11 said:i fear for him on the cobbles
I imagine guys like Martin, Haller and Hollenstein should be capable of looking after him.Leinster said:Who’s in Kittel’s leadout train for this year? I’d say he’ll be well looked after.portugal11 said:i fear for him on the cobbles
Also Nils Politt.GenericBoonenFan said:I imagine guys like Martin, Haller and Hollenstein should be capable of looking after him.Leinster said:Who’s in Kittel’s leadout train for this year? I’d say he’ll be well looked after.portugal11 said:i fear for him on the cobbles
It was just after I posted that I remembered Tony Martin was a) a Katusha rider now and b) pretty handy on cobbles these days.GenericBoonenFan said:I imagine guys like Martin, Haller and Hollenstein should be capable of looking after him.Leinster said:Who’s in Kittel’s leadout train for this year? I’d say he’ll be well looked after.portugal11 said:i fear for him on the cobbles
Pennino said:Very funny isn't it? All those vulnerable GC lightweights have decent cobble masters at their disposal so in the end nothing will happen. But at least a small glance of hope will glue us to the screen all day.
A lot will depend on the weather. 2014 was in a downpour, the bunch got shredded, Movistar et al lost buckets of time, Froome didn’t even make it to the cobbles, and Nibali skated over the tops of the cobbles like bike-Jesus, just behind a cyclocross world champ. 2015 was dry, so even Quintana and Froome were able to put in attacks along the way on some of the sectors before Tony Martin’s winning attack came after the final stones.GenericBoonenFan said:Pennino said:Very funny isn't it? All those vulnerable GC lightweights have decent cobble masters at their disposal so in the end nothing will happen. But at least a small glance of hope will glue us to the screen all day.
QS might, Jungels should be albe to survive, same goes for Lotto-Soudal and Benoot if they want that white jersey, Nibali (if he wants to win) should try something aswell, given how great it went last time.