It’s been an interesting first week in the Giro, as ever. We at La Fuga have been keeping a very close eye on the first of the season’s grand tours. Not least Because Sir Bradley Wiggins has staked a claim on being the first Brit to bring the Maglia Rosa home, but also because the Giro has remained as unpredictable as ever.
Cav won stage 1. No big surprise there you might say, but it was without his Omega Pharma Quick Step train as the Manx Missile tacked on to Orica Green Edge. Sky win the TTT putting the little known, and totally surprised, Italian Puccio in the Pink Jersey. Garmin, TTT specialists finish 7th behind….well let’s not mention that. Last years winner Ryder Hesjedal went a bit mad on day three and started attacking up any incline he could find. Nothing wrong in that. But on day three?
Another big surprise was the individual time trial. Practically everyone thought Brad would smash it and put 3 maybe even 5 minutes into his closest rivals. But no. As Brad tipped toed his way around the course, and changed bikes, it was his compatriot and ex Sky team mate Alex Dowsett who took the honours on the day. And so we come to Brad “I descended like a girl” Wiggins. Ignoring that sexist comment (we know a brace of girls who can descend with the best of the peloton) you don’t win the Tour de France or Olympic gold medals by lacking in mental fortitude. So what happened to Brad and where did this fear of descending in the wet come from? And what about Cadel Evans? The quiet Aussie looks in fantastic form once again even if his BMC team aren’t quite as strong as he is.
Questions, Questions, Questions. But that’s the Giro. Always posing the fan, and the rider, questions.
At the time we write Hesjedal has pretty much lost his defence. The pink jersey has changed hands four times now and sits on Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali’s shoulders. We wouldn’t say comfortably either. Sky’s Rigaberto Uran has just been let off the leash and attacked on the first day in the high mountains to take a well earned stage. Brad’s Suffered. Cadel has monstered his way up and Nibali has held the jersey for another day. But with the best part two weeks still to go what will Astana do? Protect Niabli’s slender lead or hand it over confident they will be able to claim it back? And what can Sky do to limit the loss? Can Brad attack? Will the dynamic Columbian duo of Uran and Heno inherit the mantle of Team Sky leadership? We love the unpredictability of the Giro. Its bike racing at it’s most lean. It is in a sense a purer race than Le Tour.
Think you know who’ll win? It’s almost impossible to predict but it’s sure going to be fun trying to! Enter our competition to win a full set of La Fuga gear – all you have to do is guess the winner of the Giro correctly and we will stick your name in a helmet, the name which is drawn will be sent the prize!
Send us a quick e-mail with ‘I know who’s going to win’ in the subject header by midday 24th May 2013 with the name of the rider you’ve got your money on.