Who will win 2013 GIRO?

[theyoungest]

Meh. Purito made it, so why not Hesjedal.

Maybe Purito had the Vuelta as his main target, and arrived at the Giro a bit underdone? To me it seems that he was in better shape at the Vuelta than at the Giro. Again, just a feeling, I don't have the numbers to prove it.

Purito suddenly was a rival to Contador, which he had never been, and which Hesjedal sure as hell hasn't been.

 

[Eshnar]

Maybe Purito had the Vuelta as his main target, and arrived at the Giro a bit underdone? To me it seems that he was in better shape at the Vuelta than at the Giro. Again, just a feeling, I don't have the numbers to prove it.

Purito suddenly was a rival to Contador, which he had never been, and which Hesjedal sure as hell hasn't been.

And Valverde hasn't been either. So, either both Piti and Purito got a sudden level up
or simply AC was far from being 100% (which is understandable)

 

[The Hitch]

And Valverde hasn't been either. So, either both Piti and Purito got a sudden level up
or simply AC was far from being 100% (which is understandable)

Agreed, but purito was imo slightly better than valverde. JR and contador dropped him on ancares and then on Lagos de covadonga they dropped him a number of times and the only reason valverde was ever able to get back on was because contador kept stopping evertime purito got back. Purito also took 20 s or so from piti on bola.

It seems silly saying this for a race where valverde ended up beating rodriguez despite losing 50s unfairly but purito did seem to.me a little bit stronger in the mountains than valverde.

 

[theyoungest]

And Valverde hasn't been either. So, either both Piti and Purito got a sudden level up
or simply AC was far from being 100% (which is understandable)

AC probably wasn't 100%, but Purito also clearly found a way to respond to his attacks, which he didn't have before. After all, Contador had only been out of business for a few months.

 

[Eshnar]

AC probably wasn't 100%, but Purito also clearly found a way to respond to his attacks, which he didn't have before. After all, Contador had only been out of business for a few months.

Purito was already being called "in the form of his life" during the Giro. The pre-2012 Rodriguez was never going to do such a race at that level. Surely he had something more during the Vuelta, but only due to the fact that the race was taylor made for him. The 2012 AC would have dropped Purito in a Giro stage, imho. Just like Hesjedal did, to a minor extent. And sure as hell Hesjedal was never gonna beat Purito in that Vuelta. My point is just that we have no evidence that Purito got stronger in between the Giro and Vuelta. We do have hints he got stronger between 2011 and 2012, that's for sure, but nothing else.

 

[theyoungest]

Purito was already being called "in the form of his life" during the Giro. The pre-2012 Rodriguez was never going to do such a race at that level. Surely he had something more during the Vuelta, but only due to the fact that the race was taylor made for him. The 2012 AC would have dropped Purito in a Giro stage, imho. Just like Hesjedal did, to a minor extent. And sure as hell Hesjedal was never gonna beat Purito in that Vuelta. My point is just that we have no evidence that Purito got stronger in between the Giro and Vuelta. We do have hints he got stronger between 2011 and 2012, that's for sure, but nothing else.

Purito and Hesjedal were more or less equals in the Tour 2010. They were again in the Giro 2012, no surprises there.

 

[El Pistolero]

AC probably wasn't 100%, but Purito also clearly found a way to respond to his attacks, which he didn't have before. After all, Contador had only been out of business for a few months.

A few months being a whole year or do you think the Tour de San Luis had such a great effect on him?

It's rather obvious why Rodriguez looked so much better than in the Giro. The Vuelta route suited him much better. Hesjedal would've gotten beaten by Rodriguez on the Vuelta route. Can't believe no one mentioned this obvious fact yet lol.

 

[Eshnar]

Purito and Hesjedal were more or less equals in the Tour 2010. They were again in the Giro 2012, no surprises there.

If their strength stayed equal in 2 years I don't see why it should change in a matter of 4 months.

 

[Eshnar]

A few months being a whole year or do you think the Tour de San Luis had such a great effect on him?

It's rather obvious why Rodriguez looked so much better than in the Giro. The Vuelta route suited him much better. Hesjedal would've gotten beaten by Rodriguez on the Vuelta route. Can't believe no one mentioned this obvious fact yet lol.

actually I did just 2 posts before you u.u

 

[The Hitch]

Can't believe no one mentioned this obvious fact yet lol.

Yeah, cant believe no one mentioned this. Brilliant comprehension skills again Pistrollero

yeah but the Vuelta stages were mostly 1 climb where as the Giro stages were longer and harder

My suspicion is that he would have done better than recovering Gesink and tired Froome but still been a little bit behind the 3 caballeros.

Surely he had something more during the Vuelta, but only due to the fact that the race was taylor made for him. .

 

[El Pistolero]

Then what's the point of this discussion? Hesjedal would've gotten destroyed. Besides Jrod underestimated Hesjedal, he didn't underestimate Valverde and Contador.

Oh and it doesn't really matter if the Giro had longer and multiple mountain stages. They only started racing on the final climb anyway besides one or two stages. It's the type of final mountain and the underestimation of Hesjedal that really mattered.

 

[Eshnar]

Then what's the point of this discussion? [1] Hesjedal would've gotten destroyed. Besides Jrod underestimated Hesjedal, he didn't underestimate Valverde and Contador.[2]

Oh and it doesn't really matter if the Giro had longer and multiple mountain stages.[3] They only started racing on the final climb anyway besides one or two stages. It's the type of final mountain and the underestimation of Hesjedal that really mattered.

1 - The point is "Was Purito stronger in the Vuelta,compared to the Giro?"
2 - He did underestimate Hesjedal, sure, but he lost the Vuelta by underestimating Contador.
3 - I disagree, but don't wanna start another pointless argument. Maybe another time.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Holy ****. I have 176x62 and I think I have good weight for climber but 182x55 is insane

That is Alberto

 

[theyoungest]

If their strength stayed equal in 2 years I don't see why it should change in a matter of 4 months.

I mean to say that Hesjedal following Purito is not such a surprise, and it happened before. Purito following Contador hasn't.

Last year, Purito was bad at the beginning of the Giro, and great at the end. And superb in the Dauphiné. Then he was great in Burgos and at the beginning of the Vuelta, but not at the end. Obviously something went wrong there, in terms of peaking.

And he got it right this time. Slightly off top form in the Giro, then take it down until after Burgos, and then hit top form in the Vuelta.

 

[whittashau]

Ivan Basso is going to disappoint many British who watch cycling since this year's Tour

Basso is going to struggle to win anything when his main climbing support is going to be Cameron Wurf and Sarmiento. He might have Caruso as well, but it's going to be a tough season for him.

 

[cineteq]

1 - The point is "Was Purito stronger in the Vuelta,compared to the Giro?"
2 - He did underestimate Hesjedal, sure, but he lost the Vuelta by underestimating Contador.

That's a good question, I'd like to hear more on this. On point 2, Purito wasn't really in the driver's seat, meaning that he wasn't the overwhelming favorite or his confidence wasn't sky high. Neither Hesjedal was expected to contest for the win, so I'm not sure if 'underestimate' is the right word there. And yes, Purito and KAT underestimated Contador on one stage. Lights out!

 

[Netserk]

That's a good question, I'd like to hear more on this. On point 2, Purito wasn't really in the driver's seat, meaning that he wasn't the overwhelming favorite or his confidence wasn't sky high. Neither Hesjedal was expected to contest for the win, so I'm not sure if 'underestimate' is the right word there. And yes, Purito and KAT underestimated Contador on one stage. Lights out!

On more than one day...

Too much of a coward to take meaningful time from Contador when he had the chances.

 

[ILovecycling]

That is Alberto

I know,Im a lucky man ...unfortunately I lack his legs and will(I have it,but not like him)

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Purito was already being called "in the form of his life" during the Giro. The pre-2012 Rodriguez was never going to do such a race at that level. Surely he had something more during the Vuelta, but only due to the fact that the race was taylor made for him. The 2012 AC would have dropped Purito in a Giro stage, imho. Just like Hesjedal did, to a minor extent. And sure as hell Hesjedal was never gonna beat Purito in that Vuelta. My point is just that we have no evidence that Purito got stronger in between the Giro and Vuelta. We do have hints he got stronger between 2011 and 2012, that's for sure, but nothing else.

who? They haven't been watching. He has raced just as well in the past, maybe worse tt'ing and less intelligence in the past. But in the mountains I don't agree at all.

Purito was stronger at vuelta imo. But yeah hesj would have had no hope there. Good race for purito no doubt.

On more than one day...

Too much of a coward to take meaningful time from Contador when he had the chances.

lol coward.. excellent point keyboard hero.

 

[ILovecycling]

Sanchez for the Giro.Beat them all Sammy!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-likely-to-race-giro-ditalia-vuelta-a-espana-in-2013

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Sanchez for the Giro.Beat them all Sammy!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-likely-to-race-giro-ditalia-vuelta-a-espana-in-2013

Cant believe it.

 

[Ferminal]

CN reprinted it, must be true.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Sanchez for the Giro.Beat them all Sammy!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-likely-to-race-giro-ditalia-vuelta-a-espana-in-2013

Why not? Its getting too risky banking on a result in TdF this year. Giro + Vuelta is a good plan.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

The last time he rode the Giro was in 2005. Would be interesting. This year we'll have Giro contenders that dont be scared if they have to attack. Nibali and Samuel. Also if Rujano is in top form... fortunately it seems that we wont have a "show" like this year. I only want more TT'ers. There's only Wiggins with GC aspirations. Would be nice if Talansky come to Italy. But i think its difficult because of Hesjedal decission. By the way i want to see Cam Meyer in Italy. He demonstrated in the Vuelta a España that he is improving in the mountain. He only needs endurance and a bit more of climbing skills.

 

[Eshnar]

who? They haven't been watching.

was there anyone believing he was almost gonna win, before the start? I remember people were quite surprised to see him so consistent in the high mountains. Just an impression.

Sanchez for the Giro.Beat them all Sammy!

Let's hope he doesn't crash before