2013 - Wiggins big choices

rebs

mroli wrote:

Ouch - that IS a strong team:

Bradley Wiggins - TDF 2012 - 1
Dario Cataldo - Giro 2012 - 12
Sergio Henao - Giro 2012 - 9
Christian Knees - Wiggins' bike swap man
Danny Pate - Domestique duties
Salvatore Puccio - Token young lad
Kanstantsin Siutsou - Giro 2011 - 9
Rigoberto Urán - Giro 2012 - 7
Xabier Zandio - Domestique Duties

So "core" Tour team is:

Froome
Porte
Wiggins
Lopez
Kiriyenka
Eddy Boss

Don't forget Thomas.

Macaloon

{Wiggins}---[Henao]---[Uran]---[Cataldo]---[Siutsou] is quite a train to derail by conventional means. But Nibali won't need too many 20s win boners to keep things interesting.

Also, how many other teams can afford to ride a GT completely ignoring sprinter's stages? Won't Astana and Garmin have at least one slot reserved for top 10 on sprinter days?

tailwindhome

Why is EBH considered core?

tailwindhome

Only one 'Brit' in the giro team.

I have a funny feeling that Sky may approach the Giro differently to the Tour in that they won't necessarily take control of the peleton from the start.

rick_chasey

TailWindHome wrote:

Why is EBH considered core?

Reasonable chance he'll win a stage or two and useful man to have around for donkey work.

smithy21

^ Agree with Tailwind. I think EBH must be concerned about missing out. I think they will only take one of him and Thomas. I'd expect Knees to do both Giro and Tour.

dave_1

what will Froomey say if Wiggo wins the Giro?

Richmond Racer

Dave_1 wrote:

what will Froomey say if Wiggo wins the Giro?

When asked for a quote he'll be terribly terribly polite...

Though presumably you mean, what will go on in his head?

Turfle

EBH is a cert. Strong over all terrain, worked like a trooper last year in a role not best suited to him, and went close on a couple of hilly finishes when given zero support. Thomas-EBH work well together in sprints too.

Pross

TailWindHome wrote:

Why is EBH considered core?

Did you not watch the approach to /early stages of the final climb on mountain stages last year? EBH was immense. I know Porte, Rogers and Froome get the plaudits for their domestique duties but EBH started the damage. That said he is looking out of sorts and Kiry can take over the role this year if required. I'd have thought Stannard is a likely starter as a workhorse on the flat.

cogidubnus

EBH will def ride the tour a, as part of the mountain train and b, to contest sprints with G leading him out

tailwindhome

Pross wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

Why is EBH considered core?

Did you not watch the approach to /early stages of the final climb on mountain stages last year?.

Had some cracking naps in front of the TV........True story.

Cogidubnus wrote:

EBH will def ride the tour a, as part of the mountain train and b, to contest sprints with G leading him out

Plenty of 8th places to be had then

cogidubnus

I didn't say he'd win any

Though it would be nice to see EBH and G go in some breaks like they did in 2011

Daz555

Macaloon wrote:

{Wiggins}---[Henao]---[Uran]---[Cataldo]---[Siutsou] is quite a train to derail by conventional means. But Nibali won't need too many 20s win boners to keep things interesting.

But will he actually win any? I'm not a huge fan of win bonuses but they should make Wiggo take a different approach in the mountains at the Giro in comparison to 2012 Tour. He won't be able to risk Nibs nicking time off him if they are both at the front near in the mountain finishes and this will force Wiggins to attack Nibs.

I think Wiggins feels he has the measure of Nibs these days in the climbs. I think he's probably right.

Really looking forward to it!