The official Wilco Kelderman is the new Merckx-thread

[Dekker_Tifosi]

guess who's back

tho, early days. But he might hope for that podium? Thomas and Yates gone... he's one of the best TT-ing GC riders left...

 

[johnymax]

Kelderman the Giro winner...now that would be something completely unexpected that I'd really love to see.

 

[Scarponi]

Keldermerckx to win the first of his 5 Giros

 

[Red Rick]

guess who's back

tho, early days. But he might hope for that podium? Thomas and Yates gone... he's one of the best TT-ing GC riders left...

Take it day by day man.

 

[SafeBet]

Any ticket for the hype train still available?

 

[Red Rick]

Any ticket for the hype train still available?

I think they've been given them out for free in the last few years.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I would be perfectly happy if Wilco took his first GC win.

Any ticket for the hype train still available?

Yes, Dekker Tifosi stored most of those in an old suitcase in his attic. To artificially increase demand.

 

[PeterB]

Yeah, but how you have to feel when you attack from the GC group and realise that noone cares to chase you down...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, but how you have to feel when you attack from the GC group and realise that noone cares to chase you down...

Like Pogacar or Evenepoel, surely.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Good first part. But all the serious work still has to come..

 

[Anderis]

If Porte could finally score a podium during the TdF, then I think this Giro is either Kelderman's or Fuglsang's to shine.

 

[42x16ss]

guess who's back

tho, early days. But he might hope for that podium? Thomas and Yates gone... he's one of the best TT-ing GC riders left...

His team has been solid so far as well, Hindley and Hamilton have been particularly good support.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It could very well be his year. There is no other GC guy climbing better than him currently, and with 50k ITT ahead, he has one of the best TT's of all the contenders.
As strong as Almeida is, he isn't going to survive the real hard climbs.

 

[Velolover2]

In wonder if he will try to expand his lead in one of the hilly stages (think stage 10, 13 and/or 16).

He could outkick Nibali/Kruijswijk-types on the last climb and try to do a mini-time trial in the last 10 kms.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

In wonder if he will try to expand his lead in one of the hilly stages (think stage 10, 13 and/or 16).

He could outkick Nibali/Kruijswijk-types on the last climb and try to do a mini-time trial in the last 10 kms.

I very much doubt that, unless he has a teammate up the road. I think he'd better save his legs for the long ITT which "in theory" should be in his advantage. If he goes on the attack on these short steep climbs, he could potentially take 15 seconds on the top and then needs to dig deep to fend off a chasing group with domestiques (those stages aren't hard enough to get rid of domestiques). High risk, low reward.

 

[Cookster15]

Good on him. Seems like Keldo has been around forever but he's only 29. He is certainly in the mix for the Giro victory at this early stage. Long way to go.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Yes, the spelling is off - but what a coincidence

 

[glassmoon]

Hard to see the Sunweb staying in Giro till the finish. Once you get 1 positive (covid) within the team it's hard to avoid others to follow. Few of them are most likely infected already just few hours/days too soon for tests to catch them. Sadly...

 

[SafeBet]

Kelderman not catching COVID-19 and winning the Giro would be the most unKelderman thing ever.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Kelderman not catching COVID-19 and winning the Giro would be the most unKelderman thing ever.

Kelderman never catches things, he crashes into them.

 

[Sootyam]

According to the bookies, he's now the favourite. Wonder if the commentators will start mentioning him now?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

According to the bookies, he's now the favourite. Wonder if the commentators will start mentioning him now?

Not surprised. He's the best ITT'er of the contenders and he's looking very good, and focused.

 

[SafeBet]

He needs to put his team to work tomorrow and drop Almeida for good. He can really win the Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

Not surprised. He's the best ITT'er of the contenders and he's looking very good, and focused.

Big of you to discount Almeida as a contender.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well Almeida is a contender, in the future. just can't see him holding on this edition.

That being said. As a Dutchman well versed in Kelderman's history. IT seems super unikely there won't be anything happening that prevents him winning as well. Or even podium. Either others are stronger or he will have bad luck.