King of the mountains

joelsim

Who do you think will win this at the Giro?

Nibali is going to have to go some in the mountains if he wants to beat Bradders, especially with the time bonuses.

The bookies are favouring Pirazzi and Garzelli.

And then there are riders like Betancour and Satambrogio to consider amongst others.

I've had a cheeky little wager on one rider because Ladbrokes were offering 3 x £10 bets for free if you bet a single £10, should have asked for your predictions before I did it!

knedlicky

You haven’t told us whom you’ve betted on; some of us may need a laugh! (just kidding)

The way the KOM is worked out in the Giro, it could be anybody. It’s not like the TdF where the points system is such that main GC contenders inevitably finish high up in the KoM competition.
Last year only one of the Giro KoM top-7 was in the GC top-25 (Pozzovivo) and the clear winner Rabottini finished only 46th in the GC.

If the bookies have Pirazzi with good odds (he finished 2nd in the KoM last year), why don’t they have good odds for Rabottini? I think he’s in this year’s Giro too.

I think Garzelli won the KOM a couple of years back, but his days have gone. I was in Italy the year he won the Giro (12-15 years ago?) and at the time I was really pleased for him, but now he's the oldest in the field (39). He might still win a not-too-hard hilly stage, and also pick up a few KoM points in a break, as they go over passes mid-stage. But I don’t see him as a KoM winner.

I’d go for a Columbian or Satambrogio or Niemiec.

joelsim

I've actually gone for Nibali as he's been in form this year and he will have to put his all into it if he loses plenty of time on the TTs, and Wiggo's climbing has been improved as he has been suggesting. Rabottini seemed to be 3rd favourite.

I am pretty new to this, so my knowledge is somewhat limited, only what I've seen over the past couple of years. I have to say Iike the look of Betancour.

inkyfingers

I doubt Nibali will give a hoot about the KoM. Even if he's out of it on GC he'll just go for stage wins.

As usual, it will likely be won by the leader of a small team who want to get on TV, but don't have a serious GC rider or a top sprinter.