The first Grand Tour started last Saturday and unlike last year, the big names are in it. It is unusual for the big name riders to start the Giro if they are targeting the Tour but they have a good reason for doing so.
The biggest, of course, is the 2013 Tour de France champion, Bradley Wiggins of team SKY. After a dominant 2012 season, Wiggins has been struggling compared to his teammate and rival Chris Froome who has been copying the results of Wiggins this year. In fact, unless everything is settled, we’ll be seeing a dominant team with two dominant leaders for the Tour this July. And we all know what’s going to happen. Remember the 1986 Tour?
For Wiggins to be considered as the numero uno in his team, he needs to catch up with Froome in terms of fitness and he’s hoping that the Giro will help him with that. The problem is that the physical toll for doing both in 3 months could be a little too much.
Vincenzo Nibali is another star who shouldn’t be in the Giro, but as the best Italian stage racer, he had to be there. Nibali rides for the ASTANA team, where he is the undisputed leader. He is an above average climber but an average time triallist so he should play his cards carefully to win it. He also has a team to help him.
Cadel Evans, the Tour champion in 2011, is also here but he’s not listed as a favorite. It’s common knowledge that Evan’s best years had been 5 years ago and that he was not at his physical best when he won 2 years ago. He won because he rode smartly and because of a dedicated team. He’s using the Giro for training but I wouldn’t be surprised if he falls all the way down the overall classification.
Another favorite is Robert Gesink. The Dutchman may not a realistic Giro winner but in the right situation, he could stand on the podium. His team, BLANCO, is paid for by RABOBANK, who took a bow after doping admissions from its riders in the past. If BLANCO is to get a new sponsor for 2014, then this year is an audition year for Gesink and company.
Last but not the least is defending champion Ryder Hesjedal. A 6ft2in Canuck, Hesjedal is the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour but his name isn’t as familiar as the rest. Ryder rides for the US based team, GARMIN. Like Evans and Michael Rasmussen, Ryder is one of the many MTBrs who successfully parlayed his dirt experience into asphalt glory. His win last year wasn’t dominating like Wiggins’ in the Tour and it would be foolish to say that he is the rider to beat. On a good day, he can be ride in the mountains and time trial with the worlds best but I don’t see him do that this year.
So in the end, who’d be my pick? I’d go for Nibali and the rest of the podium can be filled up with Wiggins and Ryder.
Finally, Congratulations all Cebuano riders in the recently concluded Tour of Friendship in Thailand. I’d like to single out Ronnie Adlawan and Jon Simbajon for being consistent top 10 finishers in their category in the 5-day road race.