Giro D'Italia 2013

I mean, at the end of the day, it's about quality and Dowsett rode faster which is of course, when all's said and done, relatively speaking, the main objective... to be honest. Of course, there's still a corridor of uncertainty to be navigated, and if anything, someone could have certainly perhaps rode that too well, and as a result, have maybe done themselves an injustice but that remains to be seen. What we do know is that come the steep bits, there will be some wheels turning, and hopefully in the right direction.

... 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...

Just for posterity.

Uber, you auditioning for Eurosport? Better summary than they managed

it's not certain where uber is at at the moment-he's possibly put in a strong performance but much remains to be seen if he can repeat this feat on a rainy monday in stoke, or whether it was simply a one-off display of quality off the back of an iced gingerbread square and a can of coke whilst he was pretending to write an essay. What we do know is that he's prone to injury and lapses of attention where he's probably going to be caught on the hoof, but then, he's also one of the most consistent to be able to surprise and disappoint in equal measure, disproportionately and have terrible fits of temper in the interim.

Had Henao stayed with the leaders yesterday as opposed to waiting for Brad he'd be in third place now. He's a very strong climber and would have been a decent shout GC. Terrible call by Brailsford I reckon. Another GT he risks throwing away by putting all his eggs in one basket.

youve got ta do tha calqueuelayshun

if i hear that again i swear...

I think Wiggins is mentally very fragile. Apparently he's not talking to the press at all, and not gaining much local popularity because of it. I remember in Trentino when, after a long climb, he gave a conciliatory tap on the bum to Nibali. It was an odd move given they were racing each, and the next day Nibali attacked him after his mechanical. Nibali is a real fighter and I think he sensed weakness.

Is Wiggins hungry enough? He's been up and down throughout his professional career. Last season he was very hungry, this season you get the sense the TdF win has sated him so what. At the back of his mind he's thinking what ever happens I have that win to fall back on. Also Sky can't boss the Giro like they did the Tour with this team. There's not the power, experience or discipline, and they haven't ridden together as much as a unit.

Wiggins need to be prepared to be more swashbuckling, and I want to see better riding from Cataldo and Siutsou, who I think are a little more committed to the cause. You get the sense Uran and Henao are happiest when riding together, and Uran is looking for a leader's role, but is perhaps now down the pecking order after Porte.

I hope he relaxes as the race goes on, like he did in the Tour, because at some point he's going to have to grab the race by the balls if he wants to win, like Contador at the Vuelta.

The question is, does he have big enough cojones to grab the Giro by the balls?

That all said, Vaughters reckons Wiggins has the same bug as Cataldo but Sky are keeping it on the down low, so I've probably just talked utter tripe.

For a change

You don't win the Tour (or Olympic gold medals) if you're mentally fragile.

He's not had the best of opening weeks, but he's still well in contention with two hard weeks of racing ahead. In some respects, the position he's in is positive as the onus is on Astana to control the race from now on, and that could leave them exposed. With two other riders in the top ten, Sky have cards to play so we could, I hope, see some exciting racing ahead.

You don't win the Tour (or Olympic gold medals) if you're mentally fragile.

He's not had the best of opening weeks, but he's still well in contention with two hard weeks of racing ahead. In some respects, the position he's in is positive as the onus is on Astana to control the race from now on, and that could leave them exposed. With two other riders in the top ten, Sky have cards to play so we could, I hope, see some exciting racing ahead.

I disagree with the first bit. He's struggled with drink, and has had some very poor performances on the bike, '10 being a good example. He throws tantrums, calls everyone wankers and cunts, chucks his bikes about, refuses to talk to the press: he seems a hairline away from a breakdown. Yes he does win things but he's also very tightly strung.

Yes to the rest of it, the leaders jersey is always a burden and Astana's doms and Nibali will have to control the race. Hesjedal will have to look to attack as well, and there's the lurking danger of Cadel, who suddenly seems to have found his '11 form.

He's struggled with drink, and has had some very poor performances on the bike, '10 being a good example. He throws tantrums, calls everyone wankers and cunts, chucks his bikes about, refuses to talk to the press: he seems a hairline away from a breakdown.

What's his LFGSS username?

^ Le rep

Seconded

Is Shimano 9000 a load of shit?

No, but given he didn't use it in the TTT and just chucked it on the deck Pinarello might reconsider giving Brad special treatment next time..

Bolide should be renamed Collide. :)

Vaughters seems to think Wiggins had the same stomach bug as Cataldo, but Sky kept it quiet.

It would explain a lot.

Must effect balance..

I think BW used mechanical groupsets on his '12 tt bikes because the shifters added a couple of cm's to the front of the bike over the Di2 button shifters. It allowed him to sit further forward on the saddle, and kept the bike within the UCI guidelines. ...but the rules might have been changed for 2013?

http://www.lfgss.com/thread105714-2.html#post3574339

How did Cadel get a minute back, or was the split time completely wrong?

2nd on GC... I hope your softshell is an XS...

#chewy

I know anything can happen but I'm struggling to see where Wiggins can make up time here. He's the last person I can imagine on a daring mountainside attack. That said, if it really was a stomach bug (despite what the team say) then maybe he can hang in there in the mountains and bring his guns to bear in the next TT. Either way exciting racing ahead.

Henao is enough of a threat GC wise that if he goes off then Astana/BMC will be forced to chase. That could be a win/win situation for sky.

youve got ta do tha calqueuelayshun

if i hear that again i swear...

Sean Kelley drinking game, drink every time he says

"he's making the calculation..."

Do a shot every time he says "certently"

http://www.lfgss.com/thread105714-2.html#post3574339

Gotcha!

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but the closeup images has piqued my curiosity on how the brake aero-fairings were not classed as aero-fairings - they don't look like part of the brakes, or essential to the frame?

Comments on Article 1.3.024:
Protective screens, aerodynamic shapes, fairings or any other device that is added or forms part of the struc- ture, and that is destined or has the effect of reducing wind resistance, are prohibited.
Article 1.3.024 establishes that aerodynamic assemblies and protuberances on the head tube are prohibited.

Sean Kelley drinking game, drink every time he says

"he's making the calculation..."

Do a shot every time he says "certently"

Every time he says, 'big favourites' imagine he's talking about his wife's knockers.

You must spread rep..

What's his LFGSS username?

Sean Kelley drinking game, drink every time he says

"he's making the calculation..."

Do a shot every time he says "certently"

Or 'pan flat'