What to expect from the teams at the Giro – Part 2

FDJ-Big Mat

FDJ brings in Big Mat co-sponsor in.  This gives them the resources to play with the big teams.  With the extra funds, FDJ re-joins the World Tour and with that entrance to the Giro after a short absence.  

Laurent Fignon was the last French winner of the Giro, back in 1989. The lack of French success has led to the French directeur sportifs by not sending their strongest team. FDJ-Big Mat has followed this tradition.

 

Sandy Casar will feature in several of the breakaways, but he is unlikely to feature on the podium.  The rider to watch will be Arnaud Demare.  Winning a stage in the Tour of Qatar, he showed that his under 23 Road championship win was no accident.  Surely a strong possibility for the white jersey.  One to watch. 

Prediction: 0 Stage wins, white jersey winner. 

Garmin-Barracuda

No maglia rosa winner amongst the team.  

Their focus will be on winning stages.  Most of the pressure will then be on Tyler Farrar to get to the front of the peloton at the critical time.  This will be dependent on Garmin getting a train together. 

Farrar pulled out of the Giro early in 2011 after the tragic death of Wouter Weylandt.  He will be keen to show the Italians that felt his pain that he is back.  Back with a vengeance. One or two stage wins will do that.  

Apart from Farrar, I do not see much to get excited about.  It will be interesting to see how New Zealand young star, Jack Bauer is developing. 

 

Prediction: 1-2 Stage wins

Orica-GreenEdge Cycling

With new naming sponsor on Board, GreenEDGE will be keen to show Orica that there first foray into cycling will be a good investment.  Like Garmin, GreenEDGE will be chasing stage wins.  Will it be enough to get new sponsor Orica into the Pink jersey? Jack Bobridge will give that a crack in the first stage Time Trial in Herning. 

If GreenEDGE fails here, they will struggle to secure any pink glory.  Why did not they pick Weening.  He knows how to get into the pink and stay there for a few days. 

The hopes of securing a stage win will rest with Matt Goss.  Goss had a n outstandingTour of Turkey with several second places.  Unfortunately, the quality of the sprinter steps up to another level in the Giro, making it harder for Goss to win a stage win.  Goss’ best chances will be in the second week, when the rolling hills get a little higher and the flat sprints become a distant memory.  But he will need to beat Ballan from BMC who would have targeted this week as his giro glory. 

Bobridge will no doubt be challenging for the white jersey while supporting Goss.  Bobridge’s ability to win the white jersey will rest on his ability to get over those huge Italian alps.  Not an easy feat, even for our little world champ.

The choice of GreenEDGE to give Robbie McEwen a huge send off in the Tour of California has robbed GreenEDGE of some critical resources.  This may impact on their ability to win many stages.

Prediction: 1 Stage win

Katusha

Katusha has generally struggled at the Giro.  It has not helped to pick De Luca last year.  Rodriguez will be the one to watch. His ride in the Fleche Wallonne was outstanding.  But the Giro is 21 stages, not a one day classic.  Rodriguez believes that he can win a grand tour.  The Tour de France is probably beyond him.  He is definitely one to watch here. 

Pavel Brutt will be the main man to support Rodriguez.  Outside that, there will be limited success for the Russian team.  

Prediction: 1 Stage win, Top 10 contender.

 

Liquigas-Cannondale

Apparently the decision of Basso to ride the Giro was made very late in the day.  However, with Nibali focussing on the Spring Classics and the Tour de France, Basso riding the Giro was a foregone conclusion.

Basso’s form has been poor in 2012.  He has struggled to stay on his bike and abandoned two of his first stage races – Paris to Nice and Volta a Catalunya.  The big climbs of the Giro del Trentino were hard to get over (which will certainly add further favouritism for Cunego and Scarponi).  It did not help when he took a wrong turn on the Passo Veleno.  Definitely, should watch it on youtube if you missed it.  Szmyd will have to work hard to get Basso to the top of the big climbs like Valico di Valcava, Cortina D’Ampezzo and the Stelvio.

There will be no third giro win for Basso, even though he said he will ride the Giro d’Italia only if he can fight for pink. Best he can hope for is a top 10 finish.

The two riders that are capable of winning stages are Eros Capecchi and Elia Viviani.  Capecchi knows what it is like to win a stage and will be motivated to win another stage this year. Capecchi’s form in 2012 has been, well not quite there, but he is a huge talent.  

There will be Tour de France for Viviani as he concentrates on Olympic glory on the boards.  With the World Championships cut short due to a fall and a small facture, Viviani will be looking to win a stage of the giro as the best form of compensation. Viviani form on the road has been positive. Several early season wins shows he has the pedigree to win a stage.  The only question is whether keeping Basso in the hunt for the maglia rosa will limit his possibilities. 

Prediction: 2-3 Stage wins, Top 10 contender. 

Lotto Belisol Team

No Greipel, no stage win. 

Lotto has sent a team with little ambition and little desire to win a stage.  There are simply there to make up the numbers. 

It is great to see Australian Adam Hansen called up for the team.

Prediction: 0 Stage wins.

Movistar

Movistar brought in Giovanni Visconti from Farnese Vini in 2012.  The reason was simple.  Increase the exposure of the team in Italy and win more stages at the Giro.  It also helps to have an Italian bike manufacturer in selection choices. 

So it is no surprise that Movistar has chosen Visconti as its team captain. Visconti will have to be more focused if he is to win a stage at the Giro.  While he will get more support from a large World Tour team than at the smaller Italian pro continental team, he will need to stop pushing other riders as he approaches the finish line if he gets into a bad racing position - Ulissi affair. 

It was a surprise that Movistar is not bringing back Belarus rider Vasili Kiryienka.  A proven Giro stage winner, but I guess he will be challenging for a stage win in the Tour de France.  

Visconti is not the only potential winner.  Stage 6 winner from last year, Francisco Ventoso, will be returning to push for more honours in 2012.  The question will be whether Ventoso will get in the way of Visconti.  That could be a testing relationship. 

No General Classification winner at Movistar.  But certainly a chance to give Pinarello more glory in the Italy. 

Prediction: 2-3 Stage wins

Omega Pharma-Quickstep

Omega Pharma has had an exceptional year in 2012.  Boonen has secured 9 victories and Francesco Chicchi 5 victories to help build up a quality portfolio of victories.  

Unfortunately there will be no Boonen at the Giro.  Omega Pharma preferred to keep most of their stars at home in favour of a young and inexperienced team. 

But there will be Chicchi.  With his current form, how could not you pencil him in for a stage win?

Omega Pharma mountain men, Cataldo and Pauwels will struggle against other renowned climbers. 

It will not be an overly successful grand tour for the spring classic kings. 

Prediction: 1 Stage win