Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Monday, 29 May 2017
Giro 100 Big Finale
In the end Dumoulin won and I can't remember a Giro so uncertain and so deserved.
The level of the Giro 100 has been extremely high and Dumoulin won because he was the most complete rider of the Peloton.
He proved also to be the smartest in several situation, winning his first Giro with strong legs but with a stronger mind.
His opponents never really tried to do something risky in the final week, they were all scared, despite their statements, to lose their position in the General Classification.
We discovered yesterday that Quintana has been sick during the last two weeks but I still think that some riders can have more than a regret.
What Team Katusha Alpecin made in the last stage would have shaken the GC many times if done by stronger teams in previous stages.
The sad truth we have learned is that it doesn't matter just to win.
In modern cycling you prefer not to loose a third or a sixth position than trying to win a Giro, considering that in the worst case you can loose badly.
Talking about the teams without a proper GC contender, I just want to underline a key point: why if such a great team as Quick-Step Floors is always attacking, even in the last stage, the teams invited, with the exception of Team Gazprom-Rusvelo, never really battled hard in order to try to win a stage?
Here you can find my grades to the teams, from 1 (very bad) to 10 (very good), you, dear Impressionists, will choose the rider of the Giro in the upcoming survey.
Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team - 6
AG2R La Mondiale - 5
Astana Pro Team - Impossible to rate
Bardiani - CSF - 4.5
BMC Racing Team - 7.5
Bora - Hansgrohe - 8
Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team - 7
CCC Sprandi Polkowice - 4.5
FDJ - 7
Gazprom-RusVelo - 6.5
Lotto Soudal - 5.5
Movistar Team - 7.5
ORICA-Scott - 6
Quick-Step Floors - 9.5
Dimension Data - 7
Team Katusha - Alpecin - 6
Team LottoNL-Jumbo - 5
Team Sky - 8
Team Sunweb - 8
Trek - Segafredo - 5
UAE Team Emirates - 5.5
Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia - 3.5
Monday, 22 May 2017
Giro 100 Pt. 3
I want to divide this brief Impression in three parts, because we've just finished an intense week.
SPRINTS & SPRINTERS
Last week has been the week of Gaviria, he claimed and obtained a place in the sprinters' elite.
He dominated the sprint, winning each time in a different way, showing the world his multiples skills.
Ewan could be the only one faster than him, but he is too small and struggle too much while fighting for position.
Sam Bennet is supported by an incredible team, but unfortunately found a sprinter stronger than him.
I'am a bit disappointed by Greipel, he could not be satisfied with just one stage win, even if it gave him the pink jersey.
If you are one of the best sprinters in the world, you have to do something more to remain in the elite, considering that, as we said, you have a new impressive opponent.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AND PINK JERSEY CANDIDATES
I've never seen Tom Dumoulin so confident and self-aware.
He demolished his opponents on his field, the TT, but what he did on the Mount Oropa climb is even better.
He won on the Pantani's climb wearing the pink jersey, what else do you need to be considered a champion?
He has learned a lot from his Vuelta's defeat and will fight 'til the end of the Giro, with a great TT waiting for him in Milan.
Quintana is the strongest climber of this Giro 100 and it seems to be the only one capable of attacking Dumoulin.
We will see, we have great week ahead.
TEAMS
What can I say about Quick-step Floors?
The Wolfpack is honoring the race and demolishing its opponents on the roads of Giro 100, winning and exciting the crowd on any terrain. What a team!!
The last consideration is about the so many teams that haven't already gotten anything from this Giro 100 and that are doing nothing in order to justify their participation.
You will understand of which teams I'm talking about once the Giro is over, reading the upcoming article in which I'll rate the teams.
Monday, 15 May 2017
Giro 100 Pt. 2
It has not been a memorable Giro, except for the Blockhaus stage, so far, but the best is yet to come.
Smaller teams are not interested in fighting for a stage win and the Peloton seems asleep, providing the same show almost everyday.
Bora - Hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floor are still the only two teams honoring the race and taking great victories and podiums.
I want to underline also the strength of Gazprom Rusvelo, the only team that everyday has a man in the breakaway.
Dillier saved the Giro of Team BMC considering that team's GC ambitions sank in the Blockhaus stage.
Talking about the Blockhaus stage, the first consideration must be on Italian police, shame on them. They eliminated 3 GC contenders with one of the silliest move you can do in a cycling race.
Talking about the "survivors", Quintana proved to be the best, supported by a great team with licence to kill, see Gorka Izagirre.
Pinot is not a surprise for me, he is riding incredibly well since the beginning of the Giro.
He has prepared this edition of the Giro very well. He is stronger than Quintana against the clock and can be considered the first rival of the new pink jersey.
Dumoulin surprised me, he made a solid performance on such a hard climb.
Considering that he is the stronger GC contender in TT stages, he can take away the pink jersey from Quintana tomorrow and try to defend it as long as possible.
Just a few words about Nibali, he is riding alone, his team is inconsistent.
My question to the Bahrain - Merida director is: if you know you have a weak team compared to your opponents, why do you spend in a breakaway, the day before a mountain stage, one of your strongest climber? I really hope Bahrain - Merida is fighting for something more than a stage win.
Thursday, 11 May 2017
Monday, 8 May 2017
Giro 100 Pt. 1
Bora Hansgrohe and Quickstep Floors attacked and deserved they victories, honoring such an important edition of this wonderful race.
Bora Hansgrohe, maybe due to the fact that Sagan wasn't in the race, started attacking with all his riders and were rewarded.
Quickstep Floors choose the windy day to teach cycling to the peloton, doing the one that, so far, could be called the best feat of the Giro 100.
I can understand that the teams with the GC contenders prefer to ride safely in the bunch, but in such a hard race I ask myself when weaker teams think they will have a good occasion to win a stage.
In conclusion, after these three stages is confirmed something that I always love to repeat: in cycling if you attack you may loose, but if you don't attack you can't win.
Saturday, 6 May 2017
Giro 100
Could the 100th edition of the Giro have had a better and more unpredictable start? I don't think so.
Giro is a race I've always loved, since I was a kid.
The fact is that, at Giro d'Italia, you can't lie. The stages and the streets are too embroidered, too tricky, you have to be really the best in order to win.If you win the General Classification of the Giro d'Italia, It is a Victory you definitely deserve.
Every stage you win, every jersey you wear, you can be sure that you deserve it, because you have been the best: the strongest, the smartest or both.
Postlberger today proved us this. That's the Giro, you have to think up something cool to win!
I want also to underline the fact that, even without Sagan, Bora-Hansgrohe had an incredible start.
They have all the jerseys and they have amazed us with this incredible class feat.
Thursday, 4 May 2017
Rider of the Month: April
Congratulations Alejandro!! You are the rider of the month!
We should contrive new words to describe the greatness of this rider.
Valverde is not even like the good wine, that increases its quality day by day.
He has always been the best, he is the best and probably he will continue to be the most complete rider in the Peloton.
He is capable of winning Monuments and classics and to compete at the higher level in the Grand Tours.
Thank you Alejando I hope you will teach us cycling for a long long time.
Tuesday, 2 May 2017
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