Pro-cycling thread

Counting thomas out completely?

Giro is a pretty good roster oh who's who.

INRNG had Nibali less of a favourite than Thomas which I raised my eyebrows at. Wasn't he (Nibs) a few kg over his racing weight recently, and he hasn't shown any form but then he didn't last year (although his win did have an element of luck and a ridiculous final week). However as a multiple GT winner I'd certainly givce him the nod over Thomas, who is generally unproven at this level having ridden in support of Froome up until now.

I'm collecting about 100 exams tomorrow to grade. I wouldn't say I'm happy about that, but to have the next couple of weeks work dedicated to something so mindless... Could have happened at a worse time.

Not read inrng yet. Will do later.

But Thomas has shown great form this year, but your points about Nibali are valid.

I'm at home revising for exams, which are over the next 3 weeks, starting on coming Tuesday.
Not good for productivity, which is already terrible.

Oh believe me I think Thomas could be a real surprise given the form he is showing, but the questions marks remain for high mountains in the third week of a GT, and only remain because we haven't really see him leading a team going into the third week of a GT.

The caveat has to be Landa's form, Sky go with two leaders and I guess the principle will eventually be decided on the road. Landa's TTing has been suspect but improving, and Thomas' climbing has been suspect but improving, its an interesting balancing act.

So undoubtedly Sky will balls it up.

Sounds like the perfect result!

Opportunity missed to showcase the nicer areas of the island.

Road race circuit to follow TT course. Dull as Fuck.
https://www.facebook.com/manxinternational/

So much looking forward to 3 weeks of Giro. Of course the field is fantastic but it's quite unique this time that Kruijswijk, Mollema and Dumoulin are the proper GC contenders/protected riders for LottoNLJumbo, Trek and Sunweb.

Wow. Now let's just hope at least one of them can more or less keep Quintana's wheel uphill most of the time and beats him in the TT, doesn't crash out or croak being left without any team support in the last couple of days ;-) Bring it on.

want some modafinil? #academicdoping

Ha!

#shiftyeyes

I'm really looking forward to the race, the depth of field and the parcours should, I hope, deliver an exciting race. I think Quintana starts as the favourite, but if he's come in a little below his best, with the hope of building his form as the race progresses, he might be in for a shock on the Mt Etna stage.

Anyone of Quintana, Nibali, Kruijswijk, Dumoulin, Pinot, Thomas, Landa, Yates, Zakarin, Mollema, Van Gardenen, Pozzovivo, and Jungels could challenge for the podium. There is usually an outsider who surprises too, i.e. Amador in 2015, Jungels last year, so I wonder who that will be this year.

Fantastic, Pirazzi and Ruffoni from Bardiani test positive the day before the Giro;

http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia//04-05-2017/giro-100-italia-doping-positivi-due-italiani-bardiani-20066282442.shtml?cmpid=shortener_28b299b2zI

Facepalm.

So stupid. But at least anti doping is working.

It really doesn't help the issue of a lack of Italian sponsors in cycling does it? It means Bardiani start with just 7 riders, and they'll have every other team in the gruppo riding against them.

They should be banned for life.
Or exiled from cycling, that'd be easy to do. I hope they are.

Pointless armchair predictions innit.

But the approach of two leaders throws up too many questions. I'd be fuming if I was Landa. Could be entertaining as a fan of the sport though.

To be fair, Landa doesn't have medium-long GC stage race credentials. Thomas does have medium stage race credentials.

Landa is more of an unknown that Thomas, into a third week.

Oh ffs. Mind you it's not the Giro without some Italian positives.

I dunno, he should be well supported nonetheless. His TTing is his weakness, while Thomas is a bit of a jack of all trades. I think they both have something to prove going into this race, will be interesting how this plays out.

Eh? This is the same Landa who finished on the podium in the Giro two years ago, yes? The one who could have challenged for the win if he'd been allowed to ride for himself rather than shepherding Aru.

What would he need to have in order to be given GC stage race credentials in your book?

A British passport?

Can't wait for it to start, 3 weeks of something to look forward to.

Ah balls.

I'll go back under my rock. Proper short term memory.

Landa has finished on a podium on a GT (3rd, 2015 Giro) something that Thomas has yet to do

Mind you, Landa hasn't looked as though he's had anywhere near that form again since swapping from Astana to Sky

A British passport?

I lol'd.