Giro d'Italia 2013

[tombeej]

If they do that, they also have to give each of them a decent team.

Their TdF squad was rediculously strong compared to the Vuelta squad they sent to look after Froome.

The two new signings for Sky - the young Americans Dombrowski & Boswell - look like they're beefing up the team even further as a GC focused outfit for Wiggo & Froome. And the fact that Cav is most likely leaving, it's possible their squad could be strong enough to support 3 x GC attempts next year (2 for Wiggo & 1 for Froome).

 

 

['Dale]

I know that Sky's strategy is to win every Tour, even if is split by Froome Dog and Wiggo.

[TNT1]

The two new signings for Sky - the young Americans Dombrowski & Boswell - look like they're beefing up the team even further as a GC focused outfit for Wiggo & Froome. And the fact that Cav is most likely leaving, it's possible their squad could be strong enough to support 3 x GC attempts next year (2 for Wiggo & 1 for Froome).

 

 

 

Nice in theory, but I don't believe Wiggo can win two GT's in a year.

 

As an aside, I don't think you'll see Contador at the Giro. Look to a Tour/Vuelta double from him.

[tombeej]

Still very early, but I dont think he is competition to the really good Spanish climbers like Rodriguez and 'Berto or even Valverde if he brings his 2012 form into the Giro, he may gain a minute or so on the two regular TT's but the climbing TT will suit Rodriguez and 'Berto and I am not sure he can compete against them in the big mountain stages - the 2012 TDF was by all counts not a very mountainous route and suited Wiggins, but the Giro is tough,.....soooper Tough, I think it will be great if he decides to try, it may show us different, but my feeling is he wont do it, its not really his type of course and he wont go if he feels he wont be competitive, too much to lose by doing that.

 

To be honest, I don't see the MTT being a problem for Wiggins. Even Nibali says the route's pretty suited to a rider like him. In fact, I also don't see someone like Purito taking time out of Wiggins on a climbing TT. His style is suited to attacking out of the group at the end of really steep shorter climbs. He doesn't seem to do as well on the really long sustained climbs. The climbers who rely on shorter high speed bursts aren't really built to sustain a consistently high speed all the way up a 19km climb. For me, that includes AC. So that MTT might be relatively more wide open than we think.

 

Whoever is in pink after the MTT will need a really powerful team to control the next 2 monsters that follow - they look like they could be classic targets for long distance break outs (breakaway specialists who would take it easy on the MTT to save their legs). That's when the leader's team will have to do all the work at the front over those 2 days to maintain control. So whoever wants to win will need a very strong team around them. For me, Sky seems to have much of the firepower at the moment.

[tombeej]

...I don't think you'll see Contador at the Giro...

 

Perhaps your right, but then they did make quite a show of him in the cook-off at the presentation with Nibali, Hesjedal & Cav.

[TNT1]

Perhaps your right, but then they did make quite a show of him in the cook-off at the presentation with Nibali, Hesjedal & Cav.

 

PR.

 

He's not gonna risk a repeat of 2011. Crush the Giro and die at the Tour. He's learnt his lesson.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Nice in theory, but I don't believe Wiggo can win two GT's in a year.

 

As an aside, I don't think you'll see Contador at the Giro. Look to a Tour/Vuelta double from him.

 

Hmm, yeah, maybe he feels he has a bone to pick there, but who knows, both make it difficult,....the Vuelta is quite soon after the Tour and its his home race, if he enters he will be aiming to win and this years Vuelta was grueling, but scored massive viewing points amongst the public, so I recon they will follow a similar route next year, its a guaranteed way to keep good viewership and I dunno if he can win two tours so close to each other, maybe he will just target the TDF and call it a day, ala LA.

 

.........Naa,....not 'berto.!

Edited October 1, 2012 by GrumpyOldGuy

[GrumpyOldGuy]

To be honest, I don't see the MTT being a problem for Wiggins. Even Nibali says the route's pretty suited to a rider like him. In fact, I also don't see someone like Purito taking time out of Wiggins on a climbing TT. His style is suited to attacking out of the group at the end of really steep shorter climbs. He doesn't seem to do as well on the really long sustained climbs. The climbers who rely on shorter high speed bursts aren't really built to sustain a consistently high speed all the way up a 19km climb. For me, that includes AC. So that MTT might be relatively more wide open than we think.

 

 

Hmm, Yeah could be,.... we will have to wait and see I guess, but it's still great to speculate isnt it?

 

I guess all we really have to go on is previous performances, and lets not forget Rodriguez was phenomenal at this years Giro which was very mountainous, so I wouldn't write him off, I recon he can still climb with the best of them and a MTT should suit him.

 

To me though, Wiggins is vulnerable in the big mountains, if we think back to last years Vuelta he was put on the ropes constantly in the mountains, lucky he had a strong sidekick to pull him through but unlike the real climbers, he definitely prefers to ride a steady tempo, fortunately for him I think at the TDF this year he was able to do just that and control the race to his style, but the big climbing names like 'Berto, Rodriguez and maybe even Andy were not there. but should be back next year, and they wont allow him to do that, they will constantly change the pace in the mountains to get away, and I dont think he is too fond of that kind of riding.

 

In my opinion he is a huge diesel, and Tyler made a good comment I thought in his book where he said, "Tours are not generally won by diesels, they are won by Turbo's,..... in the mountains you have to be able to accelerate away again and again to force a gap, and then, when you have the break, ride steadily to the end,.... and for that you need a good turbo"......I just think the Spaniards like Berto and others, or like Andy are great turbo's,.... I dunno, it will be interesting, but I am not so sure he can do it.

Edited October 1, 2012 by GrumpyOldGuy

[Chro Mo]

I don't think the Tour will be as mountainous as people think it's going to be - at least, no more so than the "classic" tours of the past. Even the two ascents of the Ventoux and Alp'duez will be from the "easier" side (if there is such a thing), and the Galibier (my favourite) in in the Giro this year.

 

I think Wiggins will defend, and their recent signings seem to back that up. They need to bolster the squad, and use Froome in the Vuelta and Giro, where he can be far more effective on the steeper ramps (provided he is adequately rested).

 

Froome and Wiggins will have divergent race programs in 2013 - hence the signings in the transfer window.

 

Froome (I believe) will have his own squad, and will contest the two "lesser" tours.

 

"Marginal gains" preclude sacrificing a Tour defense for "legendary" status. "Marginal Gains" will include the same preparation that worked before, with minor (marginal) tweaks to increase performance. Look for the same races in buildup for Wiggins, with an adjusted armada of domestique (Tiernan-Locke comes to mind).

With Cavendish gone, another rouleur may be added to attack the lower slopes, reducing the need for Froome to be there.

Contador will be there, and he will put the "diesel" in trouble. This time, I do not think the diesel will overcome the razor-sharp repeated accelerations Cobntador will unleash. More so, if Purito is there.

 

2014 will be Froome's year for a tilt at TDF glory, because Wiggins will be exposed next year.

 

One thing is for certain, All the Tours next year are going to be classic.

 

I, for one, cannot frikking wait!

[tombeej]

According to Juan Antonio Flecha: "Bradley has always been the big boss with us. Mark expected maybe the same treatment as Bradley got, he asked for it. Sky treated him as a great rider, but not the boss,” Flecha, who is also leaving Sky, told NuSport.nl.

 

"The boss is Bradley, since Sky's main goal is always winning the Tour de France and that is why Mark is lower on the ladder than Bradley."

 

... So I guess that settles it - Wiggo's focus is the TDF...

[tombeej]

A ha!

 

Bradley Wiggins stole the show at the Tour de France presentation with his blue overcoat and by revealing that he will target victory at the 2013 Giro d'Italia and be satisfied with supporting a teammate at the Tour de France.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-compares-armstrong-to-father-christmas

 

So from the horses mouth - Froome for the TDF and Wiggo going for the treble...?

[r0adrunner]

 

Very cool video

['Dale]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmhd0jjZwWM

 

Very cool video

 

[nochain]

 

Very cool video

Thanks man.....greatest sport on earth!!Nothing comes close...

['Dale]

Inspirational stuff!!

[nochain]

Froome seems confidant that he will be leader at the tour.

 

My Opinion is that at the TDF the Diesel might still win over the turbo's but only because of the SKY train and the type of climbs there that make riding at tempo easier for a team like SKY.

At the Giro on those steeper climbs I think they will have a problem , its harder to draft on those climbs at high speed and still save energy.

 

I don't really care what tour Froome ride as leader because I think all of them will be good for him......he just needs to win one next year