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@General_Lucifer
Sky have already stated they're going to keep their cards closer to their chest this year, not simply boss it at the front from stage 1 to stage 21.
This tactic has it's downside, and is probably making Sky look weaker than in recent years, but the first week of any grand tour is a scrappy affair.
Damage limitation in this terrain and in this weather is the name of the game. For Wiggins, I reckon the race starts today. TT back into the top ten, keep upright until the rest day, then we'll see the stormtroopers take to the front at stage 10.
I don't think they'll get stages (go Colombia!!!) but they are now chasing minutes and seconds.
Wiggins has got a fuck of a lot to prove, to the public and his team. He's got to show he's not a One Tour Wonder, that he can step up to the plate whenever he decides to win. Anything Froome or Brailsford has said so far will go out of the window if Wiggins scampers into Brescia with a pink jersey and a few minutes in hand. He knows Froome and Cound are tittering every time he hits the deck or comes in with the second group, but I think his face said it all on stage 6 when he was caught behind that crash - 'stay calm, limit your losses, bide your time'.
We'll see a turn around on stages 10, 11, 14, 15 - in other words, the high mountain stages where Sky can do what they do best. Stage 18 looks like it could be really interesting. If there's any cracks, that's where they will really show. After that there are STILL two high mountain finishes, so this first week scrap will be a distant memory.
Nibbles is looking damned keen to snatch seconds at any cost. Why? Because he knows full well what's coming. I'm not keen on the Sky machine's dominance, but it's a fact of racing these days - it's what they do best.
To be honest, I think this tactic will play into Evan's hands too though. I've not seen him looking this good on a bike in years. I'd actually like to see him win the Giro, but I've a feeling it's not going to happen.