Picking a winner is boring so let’s talk about the real stuff.
Would be good to see G up there but unclear what form he’s in. Bardet looks strong, maybe TT kilometers will be a problem for him? JuanPe maybe a spicy call after tour of the alps result?
I only recently began keeping up with cycling again, it doesn’t seem like any of the teams are fielding any riders who can compete with Tadej unless I’m missing something. Shouldn’t Jonas be in this race? I can’t figure out why some teams don’t have their big racers in the Giro. Isn’t it like the 2nd biggest tour race behind the TDF?
Jonas had a collapsed lung and broken ribs a couple of weeks ago, and was anyway planning to peak for the TDF. It’s very challenging to hold grand tour winning form for more than one race a year, peak GC means unsustainably low body fat % and coming down from altitude at the right time.
There would typically be a few more top guys at the giro. Remco IMO should have done it instead of tour this year. Wout van aert would have been an intriguing GC prospect in this race which was mooted at one point. Sometimes it’s nice to watch the 2nd rank guys fight it out, but with pog coming it for sure takes some of the fun out of it.
Wout is another big name I haven’t heard since he dropped out of last year’s TDF. Is he going to be in any of the big races this year?
Pog, followed by Pogs shadow, then the memory of Pog third.
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Which is to say I haven’t thought about it yet, tbh. I am afraid it’ll be as one sided as the other major races this year.