Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

[longeared]

Great work there Kev.

I didn't see the Giro del Trentino last week, but apparently Landa was absolutely dominant there in what is the traditional Giro warm up race. Therefore I think he'll win, assuming he hasn't peaked too soon. Nibali was off the pace in that race then got dropped rather too soon in Liege yesterday. He's won races before despite not showing much form beforehand but I just don't think he's got the legs at present. Wouldn't be surprised if Zakarin made the podium given that he's gone well in this race before and looks in form.

The organisers are being a bit ambitious with the Alpine stages this year, in the last couple of days they're nipping into France via the Colle dell'Agnello to a stage finish at Risoul (where Majka won a Tour stage a couple of years ago). They the following day they're going back over the highest pass in Europe in the shape of the Col de Bonette. They're certainly being optimistic that all the roads will be open by the end of May given that the Dauphine (which is a fortnight later) often has to change route.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Thanks longeared. If Sky have got Landa's preparation right then I guess he probably could be the favourite; he looked excellent at times last year. Nibali's form is never easy to guess, I suppose, but I think after such strong 2013 and 2014 seasons, he has a point to prove after Aru upstaged him last year.

If the route gets affected, though, then suddenly Tom Dumoulin doesn't seem an outrageous punt...

Notes for the diary that Roland Garros proper starts on 22 May, so the final week will be competing with the tennis for Eurosport space as usual. Hopefully they'll use the multiple streams on ES Player to keep at least one available for the cycling.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

I also briefly got muddled over the Vini Fantini and Southeast teams. Nippo Vini Fantini have had Nippo sponsorship for a while, and were Nippo De Rosa a few years back. They'll be in orange and navy.

What confused me is that Vini Fantini were once sponsors of the team now called Southeast. They were Neri Sottoli/Yellow Fluo a couple of years ago, but this is the team which has been caught with doped riders on several occasions. So Vini Fantini basically switched which team they sponsor.

[longeared]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

It's a bit of a pain when that happens, but it does seem to crop up quite a few times in Italian cycling. The best example was Mercatone Uno.

The Mercatone Uno team with which Cipollini won two Tour stages in 1995



turned into Saeco, and was a completely different Mercatone Uno team from the one with which Pantani won the 1998 Tour



which essentially was the old Carrera team.

[delicatemoth]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Ha, thanks for ratcheting up the excitement when there's still nearly two weeks to go!

I love the Giro, and I'm really looking forward to those climbing ITTs in particular, they look pretty wild.

longeared's comments on Landa make sense, and as things stand I'd order the favourites as Landa-Nibali-Dumoulin/Valverde. Out of that lot I'd like to see one of the last two win.

[Gawpus]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

And of course, if you fancy playing at being a Directeur Sportif for the duration of the Giro (or longer!), there's the fantasy cycling game:

fantasy.road.cc

OTF mini-league ID 76546 for anyone who'd like to join.

[delicatemoth]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Ah, they've approved my account this time. They ignored me the first time I tried - I suspect they may have been befuddled by my answer of "None" to the "What bikes do you ride?" question.

How do I find the OTF league? Can't see where to enter the ID.

edit - got it, never mind.

[Gawpus]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Sorry for the delay, managed to lock myself out of my account, you're accepted now (of course) DM.

[delicatemoth]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Can we use this thread for Romandie too, considering it is virtually the official warm up?

Jon Izaguirre won the prologue ahead of Dumoulin. I thought Froome and Porte posted times they'd be very disappointed with, some 30-40 seconds down. My tips of Coppel and Jungels didn't come off (can I transfer them out now? still not totally au fait with the rules), but Pinot scored me some points.

The Romandie field is pretty strong, also including Quintana, Spilak, Zakarin and Uran among others.

[Gawpus]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

I'm a bit rusty on the rules (I'm a part-time Grand Tour only kind of fantasy player), but if I remember rightly: you get a set amount of transfers for a tournament, and can use as many as you want at any time. Once they're gone you're stuck though.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

I've not really played this year myself, but I think that's right Gawpus. You used to be able to take a points hit to do extra transfers but I think that's not allowed any more. (Fingers crossed that Toro joins in too.)

So the each way bets are on. I was hoping that Zakarin might be long odds, as dirty as that might make someone feel, but it seems the bookies have noticed his strong showings including his second to Quintana in a tough Romandie stage. He is now shorter odds than Majka.

So I've gone on Chaves (50/1) and Anton (300/1).

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

The Fantasy Giro d'Italia has now opened; I've registered for Standard mode as usual.

[longeared]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Kevchenko wrote:
Home interest
Assuming these provisional lists don't change, the Giro d'Italia starts with just one British rider in Movistar's Alex Dowsett. The time trial specialist will keep his GC leader safe on the flat, and, fingers crossed, maybe sneak a time trial win for his second GT stage win.

Just the none now. Dowsett is missing out because he underwent surgery on a plate in his collarbone last week. Sky haven't picked any British riders in their confirmed team, and there doesn't look any real likelihood of any of the other miscellaneous Brits being selected anywhere.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

My amateur cycling colleague mentioned surgery whereby part of the collarbone is removed so that a rider can hunch in more narrowly to create a better aero position. Which is just so wrong, it's probably true.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Right, fantasy team is all set for tomorrow's ITT. I've got four sub-10 value riders who I'm hoping can place well.

[longeared]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

One or two people at the team presentation, yesterday.

[Incandenza]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Shit, forgot this started today!

[longeared]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Dumoulin goes fastest by a fraction of a second. Giant - Alpecin's first win of the year coming up?

Kittel is only about a dozen seconds off the leader, that'll have him handily placed for time bonuses over the next couple of days.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Yes, there it is. Great win.

[longeared]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Dumoulin wins and takes the first pink jersey. Stefan Kung was only just off the pace at half way before he crashed into a barrier going round a corner.

Always dangerous to read too much into GC contenders from a prologue, but Nibali had a strong time, Landa didn't.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Amador certainly did, too, which gives Movistar that double threat.

[delicatemoth]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

My dark horse pick Keizer did quite well.

I really messed up my fantasy Giro team. I failed to realise that 'pick random team' does not simply give you initial suggestions, so I had to use transfers to get sodding Henao out of my team.

[ursus arctos]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

Given that he's been in bed with a fever for most of the week, Cancellara being 14 seconds back isn't bad.

[Kevin S]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

What, if you press the random button it also confirms it?! That's rubbish.

Great shout on Keizer there. I had a few let downs and also tried to sneak some sprinters in there to save on transfers. Sadly though I didn't go for Kittel!

[delicatemoth]

Never say Nether again - Giro d'Italia 2016

That's right! I just wanted to randomly pick my 'filler' riders.

Considering his form in the prologue it's hard to see beyond Kittel for these two sprint stages. It's a deep sprint field though, so let's see how the rest try and tackle this speedy problem.