It's way too early to worry about Piccolo. Some riders just don't handle the cold weather very well. Some just take a while to get going. Piccolo might fall in those categories. Between Covid in 2020, being a trainee in 2021 and the whole Gazprom situation last year there's plenty of reasons why he has started slow in the past but also on the rare occasions he did get to race he was pretty terrible. In Valenciana last year for his first race of the season he finished behind Jakobsen and Viviani on GC. It's also worth noting that the earliest points he has ever scored were on June 26th. He's going to get those race days in. It's going to get warmer. He'll be fine.
As a reference point, Piccolo has scored as many points this season as last year's top 5 CQ scorers combined. Granted both those numbers are 0 but that shows how early in the season it still is.
Yes, definitely way too early to be worried.
The season has barely started and Mallorca races are always hit or miss with riders. Many are not there for more than training. It was only about 10-15 riders wanting to risk it to win each day, with the terrible conditions this year.
Im glad Piccolo didnt risk anything and he is hopefully aiming higher than winning a Trofeo race.
He is on the startlist for Etoile de Bessenges and Im way more interested to see how he races there. It should potentially be a stage-race that suits him. Stage-races should be a potential upside with him this season, if he is gonna be a good pick.
He could also be a rider that needs a few races to get going, who knows. Either way he is racing and any points this spring are welcome. A head-start on what he scored last year, which would be good to get. Since we cant count on him scoring as many points in the fall this time.
I think if managers are already doubting certain picks they gonna have a tough time following cycling and the game this season. It will be frustrating, as it sometimes can be. We all make some bad picks and it has proven to be very difficult to have every rider on your team scoring a profit each year. Managers shouldnt beat themselves up.
Sometimes a positive mindset can make a difference, instead of speaking things into existence with a negative one.
