What to expect from the teams at the Giro – Part 3

Rabobank Cycling Team

This will be Mark Renshaw’s first Giro d’Italia in the Rabobank colours. There will be no supporting Mark Cavendish in 2012.  All the pressure will be on the shoulders of Renshaw to secure Rabobank a stage win.  The success or the failure of the team will depend on Renshaw. But will the Dutch team support Renshaw or will the team get behind Theo Bos?

Renshaw finally got the monkey off his back and won with his first Stage of the season at the Tour of Turkey.  It has taken a while for Renshaw to adjust from being the best lead out man in the world to a first class sprinter.  The only problem for Renshaw is Theo Bos also won two stages at the Tour of Turkey.  If the team see Renshaw falter, expect the team to get behind Bos, leaving Renshaw stranded. 

Lurking in the shadows of Renshaw and Bos is Graeme Brown - the angry man of cycling.  But he still knows how to get to the front of the peloton to win a sprint.  The only problem for Brown, is the team will be supporting either Renshaw or Bos, which will limit his ability to win a stage. 

Rabobank’s chance rests in the sprints.  With Peter Weening leaving the squad for GreenEDGE it limits the team’s ability to spend any time in pink.  No one in the squad is capable of challenging for the general classification.

Prediction: 1 or may be 2 stage wins. 

RadioShack-Nissan

It looks like the team only half listened to Eddy Merckx when he advised Andy Schleck to race the Giro d’Italia.  For Merckx, winning the Giro was more important than coming second in the Tour de France. 

Rather than send Andy the Giro, the team though that it was best to give Frank a chance at winning a grand tour.  But where is Andy? The Schleck brothers are joined at the hip.  Who will support Frank?

Frank was called up only after Fuglsang succumbed to a knee injury.  What does this mean for Frank.  According to himself, he is capable of a top 5 position.  Unfortunately for Frank, he will be needed to support Andy’s doomed Tour de France campaign (too many TTs for Andy to win), so I am not expected too many surprises for Frank.  A Top 10 contender only.  

Let’s bring in Daniele Bennati. RadioShack’s sprint hope.  He went to the World’s as one of Italy’s protected riders.  But without success!!!  I think the Giro in 2012 will bring just as much success for Bennati as the Worlds did last year. Bennati may be targeting Stage 1 in Herning, but did someone forget to tell Bennati that Phinney, Malori and Pinotti were also racing? 

Radioshack (Leopard Trek) will be well supported by the Italian tifosi since their Giro in 2011 was cut short due to the tragic death of Wouter Weylandt.  But support alone will not win them any stages.

Watch out for Jesse Sergent.  Certainly capable of  putting a cat amongst the pigeons in the chase for the white jersey.

Prediction: 0 Stage wins

Sky Procycling 

Did someone forget to tell Sky that it is the Giro d’Italia?  In their efforts to support Mark Cavendish, they forgot to select an Italian rider as someone decided to leave a potential superstar in the making at home – Salvatore Puccio.

Just selecting Mark Cavendish in your team is enough to suggest that the team will win 3-4 stage wins.  Especially in 2012 where the course gives sprinters more opportunities than in previous years. Watch for Cavendish to target Renshaw’s back wheel 300 metres from the finish!

But the team is not just about Cavendish. Geraint Thomas will be looking for stage victory before focussing his efforts on the oval track at the 2012 Olympics.

The second week of the Giro will give Flecha a chance to stand on the podium after missing out on spring classic glory.  By the time we get to the third week, Uran will be looking for match it with the climbers like Pozzovino. He will not be getting any support from Cavendish and Thomas by this stage which will be back in the bus by this stage (that is if they have not pulled out).  Thankfully, Eisel will help Uran on this big Italian climbs.  But he might be spending more time watching the backs of Scarponi, Basso and Cunego to be a real threat. 

Prediction: 3-4 stage wins

Team NetApp

German team, Team NetApp, were one of the four teams to secure a wildcard to the Giro.  To send a message to the organisers that it was a good decision to extend a wildcard to the team, I expect that the directuer Sportifs to be telling their riders to get into a breakaway at every opportunity.  

If they do not, there will be no Giro in 2013.  Motivation will not be enough to ensure a stage win in 2012.  Does the team have the quality to win a stage?   

I have my doubts, but watch for Jan Barta who savoured Italian success earlier this year in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali where he won the final time trial and overall victory at the Italian stage race.

Prediction: 0 Stage wins

Team Saxo Bank

Team Saxo Bank was celebrating earlier this week when they joined the Twitter ranks.  What took them so long? Unfortunately, it may be the only success for the team over the next three weeks. 

The team has struggled to win a cycling race since their star rider, Alberto Contador, was suspended for a doping violation.  

                                                    No  Contador?

It appears that the team has selected Matteo Tosatto as their team captain.  The choice of a 36 year old as a team captain shows the team owners that success at the Giro is limited.  May be it was a good will gesture to the Giro organisers given that they were reportly considering whether the team should be excluded from racing at the Giro.  

Not expecting fireworks from Team Saxo Bank.  In fact, I would have preferred to see Team Europcar or Acqua e Sapone at the Giro instead of Team Saxo Bank.  

Prediction: Making up the numbers

Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling

I have a little soft spot of for Vacansoleil-DCM.  Who can forget Hoogerland’s effort on the Montevergine last year?  While he did not win, he showed his strength and determination to bridge a gap.  But where is Marco Marcato?

Roman Feillu is there best chance for a stage win.  Feillu form in 2011 was outstanding, winning many races (mostly in France).  That form has not transferred over to 2012.  

Watch out for Marczynski, the Polish National Time Trial champ in Stage 1 and 21.  Whether he is good enough to win is another matter, but I expect him to push the favourites.  

Vacansoleil has not sent it best team to the Giro. I suspect that it has held back for the Tour de France. 

Prediction: 0 Stage wins. 

I hope you all enjoy the Giro d'Italia as much as me.  

I look forward to seeing how my view will pan out of the next three weeks.