The Giro d'Italia is upon us: the first Grand Tour of the 2013 season. Traditionally the Italians dominate this race, but as cycling globalises the race has really opened up. Of the 14 riders with 80+ Mountain in this race, only 3 are Italian. But they are up there as some of the leading favourites with defending champion Riccardo Ricco, perennial nearly man Emanuele Sella and Vincenzo Nibali who returns after a 'gap year' away from the sport. If those three repeat their most recent finishing positions in this race then that would be the podium sewn up - and it has been an all-Italian podium for all but one of the ManGame Giros.
But this could be the best chance yet for a non-Italian winner. Tour de France winners Simon Spilak and Markus Fothen are here - the latter determined to put right last year where he crashed out, meanwhile Sergio Luis Henao Montoya has won the best Young rider competition for the past two seasons.
A strong time trial presence on the route has successfully tempted hot shot Taylor Phinney away from his usual Tour of California/Tour de France option as the American attempts to finally deliver a big Grand Tour result. For a dark horse option, look no further than Yuri Trofimov. If he can limit his losses in the mountains, he becomes an especially dangerous threat.
Away from the mountains, the sprints look set to be a fierce battleground this season. Home favourite Daniele Bennati has the pressure on his shoulders, and his biggest rival will be Ben Swift, who is searching for a first Grand Tour stage victory. In comparison, Bennati has 18 Grand Tour stage wins.
Look out too for Erik Mohs, Juan van Heerden, Roman Vanderbiest and Gerald Ciolek - amongst others.
Onto the hills, and there are some quite talented specialists present. Dimitri Claeys, Diego Ulissi, Cesare di Maggio, Aleksandr Efimkin and Damiano Caruso are the highlights there.
Oh yes, and Angel Madrazo is here too...
Route Preview
Written by Pellizotti2, who made all the stages.
The eastern coastal town of Porto Tolle is hosting the start of this year's race, and the sprinters are likely to thrive as the first three days are all expected to come down to mass sprint finishes. The area hasn't been visited by the Giro very often in the past, but the beautiful scenery provided might change that.
Stage four will probably mark the end of the sprinters' reign, as the race heads to Bologna for a finish up in San Luca, after climbing the wall we've seen used in the Giro dell'Emilia in the last few years. Whether any of the GC contenders use it as an opportunity for an early gain remains to be seen, but the puncheurs present will surely try to net a stage win.
Following that is a far more demanding day, albeit with an easier finale. The two 2nd category climbs of Colle la Posta and Colle di Giogo aren't the most difficult ones, but they'll certainly stretch some legs already early in the day. Finally, the double header of Case di Monte (10%) and Montecatini Alto (8,5%) will sort out the selection as puncheurs and GC contenders go head to head.
Another flat coastal stage then gives an opportunity to recover, before the first individual time trial that closes the opening week. That'll be the first real indicator of who's in contention for the title this year and who isn't.
Week two opens with a bang, and three very difficult stages. First is the mountain top finish in Pian de' Valli, a little above Terminillo. The climb measures 15 km in total, with an average gradient of 7,6%.
The two days after that don't have a finish that hard, but both will nevertheless be tough on the riders. Stage 9 because of the many climbs preceding the last ramp into Pescocostanzo, and stage 10 because of the painfully steep road into the stunning old town of Chieti, up on the hill.
Two new opportunities for the sprinters after that, though the second of those might also be a good stage for a breakaway due to the late climbs of Monte Casale and Monte Trebbio.
A second long individual time trial and another tricky hill stage wraps up the week. Stage 14 will surely bring a hotly contested battle early, with many riders looking to join the breakaway on what looks like that sort of day.
Finally, the dreaded third week. Just like week two, it opens with three consecutive tough stages - but this time even more difficult ones!
The easiest one comes first. After a long drag up into the Aosta Valley, the riders will turn right and begin climbing the 11,5 km long ascent of Planaval. At 7,5% average gradient, it's only an appetizer for the rest of the week, with some great views down on Morgex in the valley.
After that comes the toughest stage of all, in my opinion. 30 km individual time trial starting from Aosta and climbing all the way up to the Great Saint Bernard's Pass, 2500m above sea level. A bad day here can cost minutes.
The 2nd rest day follows, and the riders travel east to Lecco - from where they'll ascend Aprica (10 km at 8%) and Passo di Gavia (16,3 km at 8,2%), this year's Cima Coppi! A tougher stage than you might think at first glance.
Two transition stages and mass sprint finishes later, the race will finally be decided on the slopes of Monte Zoncolan. The rest of that stage is neither particularly long or difficult, but with the Zoncolan's average gradient of 11% and sections of 19%, it almost has to be that way!
The only thing remaining then is an easy circuit in Udine. The sprinters who've survived will clash one final time, while the overall winner will be crowned.
Hands up if you expected Angel Madrazo to ride here? After his Tour de France participation was confirmed, most assumed that he would also return to the Vuelta a Espana, which he dominated last year. But no, here he is at the Giro - aiming to become the first non-Italian winner of the race, and surely the favourite to do so. And with Santander doing so badly in the rankings so far, they need him to deliver. There's strong mountains support, as you would expect, led by David Lopez Garcia.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
11
Taylor Phinney
82
77
83
72
1
22
12
Darwin Atapuma
73
69
60
60
0
13
Kenny Elissonde
73
70
61
55
0
14
Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg
67
67
76
60
1
116
15
Christoph Mai
77
70
63
52
1
27
16
Jay McCarthy
65
76
57
61
0
17
Travis Meyer
67
73
68
70
0
18
Thibaut Pinot
77
73
63
62
1
33
19
Matthieu Sprick
75
63
72
61
4
33
Two long flat time trials makes for a Grand Tour route that is as suited to Taylor Phinney as he could hope, plus there is the mountain time trial as well. The race provides a real opportunity for him to make his Grand Tour breakthrough - how much will he wish Madrazo wasnt here? Upcoming climbers Mai and Pinot will support him well, while Giro veteran Matthieu Sprick will be an important guide throughout the race.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
21
Ben Swift
57
68
70
84
0
22
Steven Caethoven
53
68
56
78
0
23
Thomas De Gendt
65
70
76
63
1
86
24
Ben Gastauer
70
78
65
66
0
25
Marcel Kittel
55
63
81
60
4
132
26
Matea Kvasina
74
69
72
63
4
28
27
Pedro Merino Criado
57
69
57
77
1
130
28
Maciej Paterski
71
75
61
70
0
29
Philipp Walsleben
66
65
73
56
0
For the first time in a long time, Vesuvio have entered a Grand Tour without any GC aspirations. Instead they bring one of the world's best sprinters in Ben Swift, hunting for his Grand Tour breakthrough, with a leadout train in Merino Criado and Caethoven that has already proved itself this season in the Tour of Qatar and Paris-Nice. Marcel Kittel could go well in the flat time trials, while Ben Gastauer will aim for the Claeys/Ulissi mould of winning stages from a breakaway.
In a Grand Tour with only 5 road Mountain stages, and a healthy amount of hills and time trials, Yuri Trofimov will surely fancy his chance of a good result. He always rides well in Grand Tours too, with 6th in the Vuelta two years ago and a very dominant first week in last year's Tour. Paride Grillo could be an outsider in the sprints if Koenigsegg don't try to ride for their Russian leader in every single stage. Also here is Alessandro Ballan, who knows how to win Giro stages with 2 to his name.
MO
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SP
Giros
Best GC
41
Markus Fothen
82
75
78
57
1
DNF
42
Marco Brus
56
62
68
73
0
43
Tim Dees
74
72
76
60
0
44
Anthony Lavoine
59
58
62
80
1
146
45
Bauke Mollema
68
74
70
61
0
46
Benoît Sinner
54
61
66
78
0
47
Chris Anker Sørensen
76
74
59
62
0
48
Ioannis Tamouridis
74
73
66
65
0
49
Diego Ulissi
65
80
62
73
3
65
Markus Fothen has unfinished business with the Giro, and the former Tour de France winner will be determined to (a) finish the race, and (b) achieve a strong result for his team. Diego Ulissi will be a danger on the hilly stages while Anthony Lavoine will aim to be present in one of the races many flat stages.
MO
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TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
51
Erik Mohs
56
59
66
83
1
143
52
Johim Ariesen
56
58
59
73
0
53
David Boucher
50
65
70
56
0
54
John Degenkolb
61
69
67
80
0
55
Nick Ingels
56
64
57
63
0
56
Welle Jallays
61
70
73
61
0
57
Martijn Maaskant
56
68
70
74
0
58
Julien Vermote
54
66
64
66
0
59
Jelle Wallays
63
75
69
64
1
99
It's a long time since Erik Mohs rode the Giro, but he is back, and will be the full focus of the Pokerstars.com team. John Degenkolb will be a very able leadout man if the rest of the squad can get them into position. We won't be seeing these Green jerseys in the Mountains though, that is for sure.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
61
Vincenzo Nibali
82
77
77
57
5
3
62
Edoardo Girardi
70
64
67
58
0
63
Christophe Riblon
76
69
70
59
1
30
64
Maximiliano Richeze
60
66
59
80
0
65
Ivan Santaromita
74
66
63
59
0
66
Chu Thien Sinelobov
74
65
63
57
0
67
Johann Tschopp
74
68
58
58
1
60
68
Simon Zahner
73
73
65
66
1
58
69
Oliver Zaugg
74
67
61
56
1
54
After taking 3rd in 2011 and 3 stage wins over the years, it is no surprise to see Vincenzo Nibali return to the race as team leader for UBS, fully focused on doing just as well as his past performances. There's a strong Swiss presence to support him in the mountains, alongside Christophe Riblon. Plus Richeze is here to throw himselves into the sprints.
Winner of the 2011 Tour de France, Simon Spilak struggled a little last year in the wreck that was the Warner Brothers team. Much more support here as he leads Aker-MOT on their Grand Tour debut, John-Lee Augustyn being the stand out. 3rd for Spilak in Romandie is a good sign of form. Kobe Vanoverschelde even has some GT stages suited to him in this race, which will make a nice change for him.
And now we reach Team Bennati. The lead Italian sprinter has been set the mission of winning the Points jersey and as many stages as possible. Neither task will be easy, but he will be favourite for the sprints, so who knows? Thomas Vedel Kvist and Enrico Gasparotto offer strong leadout options.
Controversially the defending champion Riccardo Ricco has only received the race number 91, indicating that he could find it hard to replicate last season - which will not be good news for Bacardi. He has finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th before, so perhaps 4th overall might be a good bet for him. Expect him to at least add to his tally of 5 stage wins. His biggest rival is a Spaniard, but he has some Spaniards of his own to help him - Pardilla, Terciado and Navarro. Lucas Schadlich will be after a strong performance in the flat time trials.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
101
Cesare Di Maggio
65
82
62
63
3
88
102
Valerio Agnoli
73
71
61
60
0
103
Gianluca Brambilla
77
75
68
60
0
104
Sonny Colbrelli
56
60
60
75
0
105
Claudio Corioni
60
65
56
80
1
92
106
Marco Corti
61
63
62
76
0
107
Fabio Duarte
80
68
75
62
2
34
108
Elia Favilli
61
72
63
72
0
109
Sep Vanmarcke
58
66
62
68
0
It might surprise you that Cesare di Maggio has ridden this race 3 times, given that he seemed to appear from nowhere to do so well in the Continental tour last season. It's hard to say how well he can go this year, in a team alongside Colombian Fabio Duarte and a further Italian presence of Gianluca Brambilla on the climbs, and Claudio Corioni on the flat.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
111
Adam Blythe
54
65
68
76
0
112
Damiano Caruso
69
78
57
70
2
79
113
Mattia Cattaneo
75
66
73
51
1
46
114
Teodoro Costagli
79
71
70
51
3
28
115
Paolo Locatelli
64
70
60
64
1
160
116
Adrian Malori
61
67
77
63
1
DNF
117
Matteo Rabottini
74
76
65
67
0
118
Luke Rowe
55
64
65
79
2
132
119
Paolo Scarponi
77
72
66
62
3
35
The Italian Wiggle squad are so often an aggressive squad in the Giro, and will have to be again this year to ensure their presence is felt. Luke Rowe has a great race in 2011 with 3 stage wins, but has struggled to shine ever since the team promoted to the top division. Pure climbers Scarponi and Costagli won't enjoy the time trial kilometres, while the two Matts: Rabottini and Cattaneo, will be very interesting to watch. And then there is Damiano Caruso too - looking to avoid last year where he crashed out on the opening road stage. Adam Blythe could be an interesting presence in Grand Tours too, if he can get in some breakaways.
MO
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TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
121
Enrico Franzoi
58
68
71
57
3
97
122
Armindo Fonseca
54
61
64
76
0
123
Morgan Kneisky
62
66
74
67
0
124
Jocelin Maillet
77
70
60
55
1
32
125
Petar Panayotov
78
72
68
64
2
19
126
Jackson RodrÃguez
76
64
70
72
2
47
127
Romain Sicard
80
76
74
64
0
128
Romain Vanderbiest
64
64
67
81
0
129
William Walker
69
74
71
59
1
65
Romain Sicard is here and looking to make his presence felt in a Grand Tour for the first of no doubt many occasions. And despite being French with Basque links, it is the Giro where he will do so. Petar Panayotov should offer some good support, while they have Romain Vanderbiest for the flat, aiming to replicate last year's Tour stage win.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
131
Dimitri Claeys
66
83
64
66
1
68
132
Gerald Ciolek
52
64
61
81
2
124
133
Lars Croket
56
65
67
79
0
134
Manuel Lloret
77
74
76
60
0
135
Artemio Moschella
77
67
69
51
0
136
Andreas Stauff
53
65
61
78
0
137
Maciej Ulanowski
53
57
60
78
0
138
Michael Vanderaerden
54
61
58
79
1
DNF
139
Coen Vermeltfoort
62
70
67
62
0
Dimitri Claeys made a big impression on his one Giro ride to date, taking breakaway stage wins 2 days in a row. They too bring a strong sprinter here in Gerald Ciolek, but what stands out here is their support for him. Let's hope they build some sprint trains with the likes of Stauff, Vanderaerden and Croket in support. But after choosing not to bring Damiano Cunego here, their GC options are a little weak. Manuel Lloret is a good allrounder so could go fairly well, while Moschella is too much of a pure climber.
MO
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SP
Giros
Best GC
141
Emanuele Sella
83
76
68
54
5
2
142
George Bennett
73
72
63
65
0
143
Joseph Cooper
63
63
70
75
0
144
Mauro Facci
69
71
55
73
5
53
145
Tom Stubbe
73
70
71
53
1
31
146
Wes Sulzberger
57
70
63
73
0
147
Juan Van Heerden
56
68
62
82
0
148
Timothy Vangheel
62
67
66
70
1
123
149
Elia Viviani
59
64
74
71
1
141
We have reached Emanuele Sella. He always does so well here, with 11 stage wins, 3 King of the Mountains jerseys, and 3 second places. It is not really the ideal route for him, but that won't stop him trying. What he lacks in mountains support, he gains in the race experience of Mauro Facci - while Juan van Heerden will be looking to make a name for himself in Grand Tour sprinting here.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
151
Sergio Luis Henao Montoya
82
71
71
58
2
6
152
Marek Canecky
71
69
65
54
0
153
Juan Pablo Forero
56
61
69
80
2
125
154
Leopold König
75
74
72
60
0
155
Jakub Kratochvila
71
72
69
53
0
156
Alexandr Nepomnyachsniy
52
63
67
76
1
DNF
157
Yevgeni Nepomnyachsniy
75
73
75
51
1
37
158
Jesse Sergent
65
68
78
61
1
119
159
Matej Vysna
73
72
65
53
0
With 6th last year, and 7th the year before, Sergio Luis Henao Montoya has good history at the race - perhaps why Milka have gone for him here over Rigoberto Uran, the latter who would have been very well suited to the route. Leopold Konig looked very good earlier this season before crashing out of Paris-Nice, while the Nepomnyachsniy brothers are here to give me a couple of reporting headaches.
ProContinental squad Hollister have taken their division my storm in the early part of the year, and now turn up to give the ProTour stars a run for their money. Robert Kiserlovski is not short of experience racing against top competition given the startlists that have been present in the HC mountains races so far this year. Vitor Rodrigues will be a good asset, Carlos Betancourt heads up the strong South American contingent, and Allan Davis is here for the sprints.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
171
Peter Velits
80
75
75
65
0
172
Jon Aberasturi
59
64
60
77
0
173
Johannes Frohlinger
73
72
66
58
0
174
Rafel Majka
71
68
65
58
0
175
Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan
73
70
65
58
0
176
Andrei Nechita
56
56
71
55
0
177
Ramon Sinkeldam
65
74
64
68
0
178
Matteo Trentin
59
73
61
75
0
179
Jos Van Emden
58
63
73
73
1
150
Peter Velits is a Grand Tour stage winner but will hope his GC performance here is better than it was in last year's Tour de France. Project 1t4i field a fairly inexperienced squad around him. Italian Matteo Trentin impressed on the cobbles - how will he fare on his debut in Italy's biggest race?
Only two Americans rode the Giro last year, but that figure was never going to be so low this year with Heineken in the race. Ryan Eastman will have hopes of a Top 10 finish if he can ride well, with veteran sprinter Juan Jose Haedo yet another sprinter present.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
191
Nico Keinath
79
76
75
62
2
20
192
Nikola Aistrup
50
65
57
71
0
193
Nikias Arndt
72
71
56
71
0
194
Martin Hacecký
77
70
68
66
1
46
195
Michał Kwiatkowski
72
73
63
67
0
196
Juraj Sagan
59
66
70
61
1
DNF
197
Kristian Sobota
54
60
67
78
0
198
Brian Vandborg
65
69
76
59
3
69
199
Troels Vinter
51
53
57
77
0
The ever-improving Nico Keinath will surely improve on his previous best of 20th - but just how high can he go? Martin Hacecky aside, it is not the strongest of teams in support - but we do have the young talents of Nikias Arndt and Michal Kwiatkowski present.
MO
HL
TT
SP
Giros
Best GC
201
Aleksandr Efimkin
73
80
68
60
0
202
Gianpaolo Caruso
79
74
71
58
2
49
203
Nick Clesen
56
58
76
61
1
157
204
Aleksandr Dyachenko
76
74
70
60
0
205
Dmitriy Gruzdev
57
64
76
57
0
206
Marco Osella
76
70
68
54
1
73
207
Moris Possoni
74
73
62
61
0
208
Cristiano Salerno
68
75
66
60
1
66
209
Fabio Taborre
67
76
62
62
0
A Grand Tour debut on the route their manager knows so well, any advantage the route may offer they should be aware of it - but they'll do well to find any shortcuts. Gianpaolo Caruso has been surprisingly absent from the Giro over the years - only riding back in 2008 and 2009. Aleksandr Efimkin is the start of the team, and perhaps their best best for a stage win.
And the final team on the startlist are Pendleton's, currently deep in the battle of second season syndrome. But on past history, Bernhard Kohl must be a safe bet for 9th? Thomas Faiers has developed well, and will be interesting to watch, while a shout out has to go to Oumaru Minoungou - one of the more unlikely of Grand Tour debuts you will see this year, for the man from Burkina Faso.
Koenigsegg have a healthy lead going into the race, but the first Grand Tour means big points, and it could all change. Vesuvio climbed to 5th after Andy Schleck triumphed in Romandie, while Team B&O exited the relegation zone. Santander start Grand Tour season 1364 points from safety.
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
2198
17
16
Pendleton's
2102
18
18
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
1752
19
19
Team Bacardi
1537
20
20
Santander
834
Despite his crash, Gesink remains highest ranked of the riders who rode Romandie - while Andy Schleck edges ahead of Pluchkin as they both ride into the Top 20.
1
Bewley
Sam
Milka - AVG
NZL
PT
1820
2
Boonen
Tom
Pokerstars.com
BEL
PT
1793
3
Trofimov
Yuri
Koenigsegg
RUS
PT
1321
4
Hagen
Edvald Boasson
Aker - MOT
NOR
PT
1286
5
Cancellara
Fabian
Simply Red Bull
SWI
PT
1053
6
Pozzato
Filippo
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
Wow, epic preview SN (and Pelli). Madrazo WTF!!?? Who expected that?
Got to be the overwhelming favorite, over a weaker GT field. Like the opening bit, was quite funny when I noticed Edited by FroomeDog99 on 10-05-2013 19:59
Sella showed some real spunk in the Tour de Romandie and he will need that here.
His arch-nemesis Cunego at least is not here, but what an amazing sight it is to see Madrazo here. Some credit to mb for trying it a Grand Tour sweep over two years could be on the cards. I don't know about it I still believe Ricco, Sella and Nibali will be difficult to beat on their own turf. But Madrazo is possibly good enough to transcend all.
Phinney is going to find the climbs hard going along with Trofimov, that said they are very good against the clock.
Brilliant preview - great to see this run alongside the real-life Giro.
This will be a tough one for Spilak. I think we can forget about the sponsor goal of a top 3. Madrazo and Phinney are the top favourites for me, but Nibali might give the Italians another win. Sella and Ricco har obviously dark horses, but they'll really need something special to pull off a win with so many kilometers with time trialing.
I just hope none of the overall contenders, or any riders in general, crashes and abandons/looses valuable time the first week. With so many flat stages from the beginning I just cross fingers the riders stay on their bikes.
A top 5 would be brilliant, but seeing the start list, with Madrazo, it might be tough. Nevertheless, the racing should be great, and I certainly look forward to the reports
Man why did you have to send Madrazo here. Nibali may have won otherwise. Go back to Spain
I think Nibali may be able to take second, but I think Madrazo will be half a step above him. This is all speculation, as Nibali has been sub par in every race he's done this year. Going to be a tight battle for 3rd I think, Spilak/Phinney/Sella/Fothen/Ricco.... Hard to think that a couple of these guys won't even end up in the top 5! And the sprints have about the same super high level of competition.
Great preview, I cannot wait to watch our GT debut. I hope Madrazo won´t show one-man show in battle for pink and together with Italian climbers and hopefully Phinney we´ll see thrilling race for all three weeks.
Regarding my team, I´ll cross my fingers to German duo Mohs/Degenkolb in sprint battles against Bennati, Swift and other sprinters. Jelle Wallays could grab some surprising result(s) in single stage(s) from breakaway too, as he already did last year.
I am really looking forward to our very first GT partipiciation.
I thought Cunego wouldn't be that good here but better at the Tour. I think that Cunego if he stays will do the Giro next year (should be still good enough).
So I had to field a team pretty much around stage hunting with a possibility on a stage win. But I guess the biggest chance would be from Claeys, too many too good sprinters here.
Just wow that Madrazo is here, does he have enough race days left that he could do also the Tour?
Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
This race bassicly delivered us top 10 last year, and i hope it will bring us out of relegation this year.
The start list is incredibly packed, but Italian & Spaniards have always shown to be quite successful in their home tours, so i'm hoping for a little advantage there. If i manage a podium and a stage win(s), i'll be happy. The doom scenario would be Ricco crashing, but let's hope that doesn't happen.
I really expected to see other riders here... But this bodes well for Contadors chances in the Vuelta - Unless Cunego is there for some weird reason. Also Andy Schleck will probably be there, which means I will be battling for another 2nd place - But this made me happy.
Also Fothen is placed decent for a top 10 here unless he crashes like last season. It will be an interesting race, and I hope Ulissi can somehow fight for a couple of stages, and then I'm looking forward to see if Lavoine can actually do something here.
What a preview and a great start list to match. I don't even want to predict a winner but I will be cheering for Phinney (being a fellow American) but also Madrazo (MG "Big-Brother" ), oh and I can't forget about PCT representing us. Can't wait for the TDF to roll around so I can taste our first GT experience. Edited by Mresuperstar on 10-05-2013 22:56
Pressure is on Wiggle now to get some good results. I've always managed to perform in the Giro, and I'd hope to continue that way. Breaks, sprint wins, stage wins. And a Top 15-20GC position. Any combo of those will do, as long as I get one stage - as always a team goal for the year.
Rowe needs to perform too. It's about time he lived up to his expectations and got some points this season from more than just cobble races.
SotD wrote:
I really expected to see other riders here... But this bodes well for Contadors chances in the Vuelta - Unless Cunego is there for some weird reason. Also Andy Schleck will probably be there, which means I will be battling for another 2nd place - But this made me happy.
Nah, it's Frank Schleck in the Vuelta. In any other version of the game, the amount of hill stages there could have meant the chance for some nice time gains to hold onto in the Mountains. Less hopeful of that in PCM12. But anyway, that's another race altogether and not for this topic.
You weren't lying when you said the preview was long, SN! Well worth the while it took to read it.
So excited about the race. Caruso should have little chance to do anything in the GC with this startlist, so hopefully he'll join the rest of the team in trying to pick up a stage win somewhere along the way. I'm hopeful Efimkin might be able to pull that off.
Regarding the overall winner, I can't see anyone touching Madrazo. I know it's not the most mountainous Giro in the history, but his superiority on the climbs will be too much for the rest, I think. I'm also tipping Trofimov for an overall podium. He should pick up plenty of time bonuses on various stages, TT fairly well and defend himself in the 3rd week.
Italy (34), 
Spain (18), 
Belgium (16) and 
France (16).
Burkina Faso, 
Greece, 
Romania, and 
Rwanda.
