Chapeau! and Panache!

The Giro di Italia is over and the snow has finally settled. Despite a soggy start and an icy, snowy finish, I quite liked this year’s race. I don’t think it was totally due to the fact that Team Project Forza’s big gun won the race. This year’s Giro was exciting from the start. Plus Italy may have the most beautiful scenery for the backdrop of a Grand Tour. Ischia, mmmmm, Ischia. Here are a few takes from this year’s Tour of Italy.

Chapeau! to Vincenzo Nibali. Lo Squalo, or the Shark, was super impressive in his win. He has now set himself apart as a true Grand Tour GC winner. Not that the Vuelta doesn’t matter, but winning this year’s Giro was impressionante. Nibbles stayed tranquillo throughout the race and as the other favorites were falling off their bikes and getting respiratory illnesses, the Shark steadily gained time, in the TT’s, on the descents, and of course, up the punchy climbs. It’s too bad that they canceled half the climbs of this year’s Giro or else he may have won by over ten minutes.

Chapeau! to Rigoberto Uran. Rigo was “hungry like a wolf” after his team leader dropped out on account of poor bike handling and lack of cajones. Respiratory problems, hahahahaha, lot of that going around these days. The Wolf really stepped up and made himself a lot of money as he will surely transfer next season to chase his own ambitions. His mullet will look good in the OPQS kit next year.

Chapeau! to Cadel Evans. Not a bad finish for a guy who didn’t know he was racing this year’s Giro.  Cuddles did his cuddly thing and was consistent enough to hang with the Shark and in turn got himself a high placing. Doesn’t hurt that as a former World Cup Mountain Bike racer he was able to descend with the best. Barring a mechanical on stage 20, Cadel could have finished ahead of the Wolf. Now Cuddles heads to the TdF to lead his BMC team. It will be interesting to see if all this racing helps him return to the top of the Grand Boucle or if he falters and TVG picks up where last year’s tour left off.

One of the big stories of this year’s Giro had to be the Polska renaissance. Both Przemysław Niemiec and Rafał Majka, dude kind of looks like Fujarky’s DS, were revelations in this Giro. The “Slaw” almost took over leadership of Lampre as Scarponi did his “I’m good this day”, “not so good this day” routine. Team Fujarky impressed with his pick-up of Majka. I did not expect the Pole to do as well as he did. Almost won the white jersey too, even attacked Betancur after a mechanical- weaksauce Saxo. This had to have been the best Polish Grand Tour exhibition since Zenon Jaskuła.

The Columbians were also a major story in this year’s Giro. Team Columbia were ok, we at least knew they were there. I would have expected more from Duarte and Atapuma. But the real story was the braces and mullet clad Betancur and Uran. I’ve already talked about the exploits of the “Wolf”. Carlos Betancur was really good on the climbs and probably could have even finished higher had the other climbs not been eliminated. He rode valiantly on stage 20 as he suffered from multiple mechanicals, a bike change, and a villainous attack from Majka and Saxo. Team Forza may decide to drop Gilbert and keep Betancur as a Dynasty pick for the future.

Team Sky was unbeatable in 2012 and started 2013 out the same way. However, Nibali has found a way to beat these boys. Sky is known for their methodical and science based riding but science doesn’t work when the racing is unconventionally tuff. Apparently the Sky team is very soft and do not like cold and rain. They can’t simulate that in Tenerife. So it will behoove Saxo, Movistar, et al. to race hard in all situations in the Tour. I honestly don’t see a Sky rider on the podium in this year’s Grand Boucle, ok so that might be a stretch.

One last thought about the Giro. Cav. The Innering declared him to be the best sprinter of all time. Anybody want to argue?

Forza!

Update:
A special chapeau from the Commish goes out to Fast Freddie Rodriguez for winning his fourth US championships.  Hopefully, Fast Freddie comes back to the Nature Valley Grand Prix this year.  And perhaps new Jelly Belly marketing rep/Fujarky director, Steven, can set up another interview with the new national champ.