Forgive me if this has been covered elsewhere
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-targets-giro-pink-jersey
Wiggins states that he is focusing on a good performance at the Giro but not aiming for GC, but sees himself doing well at the prologue, the mountain ITT and the final stage and the team doing well at the TTT. My hope is that if he finds himself in contention that he sticks with it and rides hard in the last week, it appears he intends to ride the whole race if he is aiming at the Verona ITT.
He has pointed to Pellizotti as a favourite and of course the italian will be very motivated but also under pressure to perform. my memory of it was he went to the 09 tdf with GC ambitions but had to refocus on KOM. the other competition would be Cadel and Menchov, and possibly Sastre. i can see wiggins edging out cadel and menchov in the mountains and the time trials. i can see him losing a couple of minutes to Pellizotti and sastre on a single stage in the mountains but clawing that back on other mountain stages and the time trials.
I cannot see Wiggins ever winning the tour, and I hope he and the team are prepared to attack the Giro (i am content for them to dismiss the GC at the Giro publicly though, if it gains them an advantage). Surely going to the tour as "the Team Sky's Giro d'Italia Champion Bradley Wiggins", and for him to be referred to as such every time his name is mentioned in the build up and during the tour would achieve just as much as say another 4th place at the tour. it would take the pressure off and perhaps lead to a better performance, not only by him but by the team as a whole, at the tour. it would also bring the Giro, and the concept of cycing other than 3 weeks in july, to the wider attention in the UK
He refers to the Sastre situation for last year ie giro/tour double ends in disappointed tour but i'm not sure that fits for wiggins, there should be no reason not to attempt 2 grand tours unless he can guarantee winning the tour. I hope when he says decisions need to made they are not made too early.
has anyone figured out the likely make up of the team for the Giro? the article states Cioni will lead them at the Giro but I don't see him being a real contender. also which other big heads of state will be at the Giro.
One last issue - i had it in my head that there would be a ITT around lake como starting and/or finishing in Lecco - have i just made this up?!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-targets-giro-pink-jersey
Wiggins states that he is focusing on a good performance at the Giro but not aiming for GC, but sees himself doing well at the prologue, the mountain ITT and the final stage and the team doing well at the TTT. My hope is that if he finds himself in contention that he sticks with it and rides hard in the last week, it appears he intends to ride the whole race if he is aiming at the Verona ITT.
He has pointed to Pellizotti as a favourite and of course the italian will be very motivated but also under pressure to perform. my memory of it was he went to the 09 tdf with GC ambitions but had to refocus on KOM. the other competition would be Cadel and Menchov, and possibly Sastre. i can see wiggins edging out cadel and menchov in the mountains and the time trials. i can see him losing a couple of minutes to Pellizotti and sastre on a single stage in the mountains but clawing that back on other mountain stages and the time trials.
I cannot see Wiggins ever winning the tour, and I hope he and the team are prepared to attack the Giro (i am content for them to dismiss the GC at the Giro publicly though, if it gains them an advantage). Surely going to the tour as "the Team Sky's Giro d'Italia Champion Bradley Wiggins", and for him to be referred to as such every time his name is mentioned in the build up and during the tour would achieve just as much as say another 4th place at the tour. it would take the pressure off and perhaps lead to a better performance, not only by him but by the team as a whole, at the tour. it would also bring the Giro, and the concept of cycing other than 3 weeks in july, to the wider attention in the UK
He refers to the Sastre situation for last year ie giro/tour double ends in disappointed tour but i'm not sure that fits for wiggins, there should be no reason not to attempt 2 grand tours unless he can guarantee winning the tour. I hope when he says decisions need to made they are not made too early.
has anyone figured out the likely make up of the team for the Giro? the article states Cioni will lead them at the Giro but I don't see him being a real contender. also which other big heads of state will be at the Giro.
One last issue - i had it in my head that there would be a ITT around lake como starting and/or finishing in Lecco - have i just made this up?!