It is time for the first GT of this season , Giro d'Italia. Many TT's , many climbs,great for really the strongest guys out there. In next few posts more about favourites,stages etc.
Stage 1 (Naples - 130km)
Stage 2 (Ischia - Forio (TTT) - 17,4km)
Stage 3 (Sorrento - Marina di Ascea - 222km)
Stage 4 (Policastro - Serra San Bruno - 246km)
Stage 5 (Cosenza - Matera - 203km)
Stage 6 (Mola di Bari - Margherita di Savoia - 169km)
Stage 7 (San Salvo - Pescara - 177km)
Stage 8 (Gabicce Mare - Saltara (ITT) - 54,8km)
Stage 9 (Sansepolcro - Firenze - 170km)
Rest Day
Stage 10 (Cordenons - Montasio - 167km)
Stage 11 (Tarvisio - Vajont (Erto e Casso) - 182km)
Stage 12 (Longarone - Treviso - 134km)
Stage 13 (Busseto - Cherasco - 254km)
Stage 14 (Cervere - Bardonecchia - 168km)
Stage 15 (Cesana Torinese - Col du Galibier - 149km)
Rest Day
Stage 16 (Valloire - Ivrea - 238km)
Stage 17 (Caravaggio - Vicenza - 214km)
Stage 18 (Mori - Polsa (ITT) - 20.6km)
Stage 19 (Ponte di Legno - Val Martello - 139km)
Stage 20 (Silandro - Tre Cime di Lavaredo - 203km)
Stage 21 (Riese Pio X - Brescia - 197km)
My goal
I don't have any great goal here. Top20 would be awesome,but Vincenzo getting this will make me much,much happier.
See ya soon,in favourites presentation.
Sincerely , Tanel.
After incredible performance in helping Sir Wiggo for winning last year's Tour, Chris came for a victory here. He is the leader of Team Sky and probably main guy for GC. With his great TT and MO abilities,he will be able to get advantage of others. Everything depends on form,of course,but on paper and according to betting sites,he is the main favourite for this.
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Great finish of last season for Nibali getting win on Vuelta. Earlier,he got even podium on Tour so he is definitely one of the main threaths to Chris and Sky. Great DO,TT and HIL skills, mixed with his awesome MO ability,might finish up in another GT victory for him,who knows?
Joaqium Rodriguez (Katusha)
Joaqium is awesome fighter! One of the best puncheurs in the world,in top5 best climbers in the world. That mix might lead him to win this,but his TT ability will be his only bad part. That means he must be dominant in mountains,which isn't that impossible,knowing how big his stamina is!
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Alejandro already proved that he is great rider. He is,same as Joaqium,great puncheur,but Vuelta is probably his priority,so winning here isn't impossible ,but his chances are definitely smaller than guys above!
RyderHesjedal (Garmin)
Last years winner aims for Giro year after,also. But ,this time, competition is much,much,much bigger so his chances are small! He will surely have team on his side,but,everyone will have that also. Might get win,but not sure.
Michele Scarponi (Lampre)
Old guy,but that will definitely be his first card to play with there. He knows this terrain so much,he passed these hills for million times,and that gives him advantage. Years might get him out of competition also,but everything depends on form!
CadelEvans (BMC)
His form is in free fall,but he is never a guy to not count on! He might explode and get awesome result + he has awesome TT abilities. If he manages to finish in leaders group,he will definitely be main guy for sprint,which is important also.
BradleyWiggins(Sky)
Rumours about Sir Wiggo leading this fell into water fastly,knowing that Christopher is here. He will be main guy for Chris,but everything can happen and turn onto Wiggo's hand. He will be guy from shadow,definitely.
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel)
Sam's form isn't so good,and he is also aiming for Vuelta,but with a strong squad,he can do pretty much. Not sure about his winning possibilities,but never say never!
Marcel Kittel (Argos)
Argos brought real sprinting squad here,with Marcel leading this. He is absolutely in-front of everyone here,but,depends on his morale and form.
John Degenkolb (Argos)
Not sure about his chances with Marcel in same squad,but on paper,he is 2nd best guy here. He will also be able to finish many hilly stages in first group,and to,pretty easily,outsprint everyone else.
Andrea Guardini (Astana)
His ability for explosive sprint is just stunning. But,he is really bad on hilly and mountainous stages,so he will might lose fight there.
TylerFarrar (Garmin)
Not sure why he decided to ride Giro instead of AToC , but he is definitely in top favourites. He is guy with many kilometers passed,which is going to help him,definitely here.
Elia Viviani (Cannondale)
One of the young guys in peloton. Showed that he got skill and talent already this year. He is on own terain,also.
Alexander Kristoff(Katusha)
Also one of the younger guys. Stunning stamina and cobblestones,which might help him in longer stages. He will try to wheelsuck,but that might give some results.
Francesco Chicchi (Vini)
Old gun. Knows this terrain better than his pocket,and that is his card to play this year. Less explosive than other main sprinters,but hey, he is Italian!
Teams and squads
Astana's squad
Nibali Ponzi Tiralongo Guardini Agnoli Aru Vanotti Lutsenko Kangert
Pre-race comment
It is going to be hard,hard as hell. But that's why we're here. Fun can start!
Just to notice guys,this story will stop when Tanel gets his first win. (I will probably finish Giro if he get win there). Main reason is because i want new story when PCM13 comes out and i want to start it early,and make it last. I have millions of options in my head. New rider could be Jungels,Lutsenko, maybe some optional rider,but what's definitely that this is going to finish on some nice way,with win. Edited by admirschleck on 18-05-2013 09:49
Nibali
Lutsenko
Kangert
