Panache! Maglia Rosa Edition

The first grand tour of the season may be the most beautiful. Rolling hills, ocean-side finishes, and Dolomite climbs are all featured in this year’s Giro di Italia. The Giro is Gregario Forza’s favorite race of the season. This year’s Giro may not be as difficult and the main protagonist is on the sidelines for hamburgers, however, this should be a great race.  Cav is there, there’s a Schleck, and Il Presidente is present as well. All the teams are there and the Wiskota Fantasy Cycling League is well represented.

Team Wiskota Dynamic was very busy during the transfer season. I didn’t think Team Wiskota would be a factor in this part of the season; I now have to say this may be the team to beat in the Giro and Cali. Joaquin Rodriguez may not be a favorite for the overall GC but El Purito has to be mentioned as a possible multiple stage winner. Damiano Cunego, Il Piccolo Principe, is riding his own Giro for stage wins and in support of Il Presidente, Michele Scarponi. I don’t believe that for a minute! I personally consider Cunego one of the favorites for GC. Tyler Farrar will have to face the Manx Missile in the sprints. Ryder Hesjedal is the top GC threat for the Dynamic. I predict that the Canadian will be a top 10 and maybe even podium at this year’s event. The Commish made like Nucky Thompson and pulled off a Giro/Cali drop/transfer when he dropped Leipheimer and Greipel at 9:43 p.m. on the last night of the transfer 1 window. In his greasy moves he managed to grab the French climber, John Gadret. Maybe the ugliest man in the peloton, Gadret finished 3^rd in last year’s edition. The Frenchman may be able to be there consistently enough in the last week to be considered a true GC threat once again.

I like Team Michaelito Indurain in this year’s Giro. Mike had a big time threat in Fuglsang who had to drop from a previous injury. No worries. In steps Frank Schleck. I personally think that the move is great for Frank. Now he can ride a race without worrying about his fragile, emotionally unstable, little brother. I either expect Frank to be dominant or to pull a Schleck and be non-existent. Mark Cavendish is riding the Giro, so he’ll win a lot. Farrar will be there to pat him on his back and all will be good in the world of sprint finishes. Oh by the way, Cav’s girlfriend/ baby mama is really hot.  

Michaelito also has a possible stage winner in Thor Hushovd. I hope that Thor will throw the hammer down and win a stage. He needs it, BMC needs it, Michaelito needs it.

I can tell you that during the draft, Team Gregario Forza, felt like the Giro/Cali portion of the season was his. That may no longer be the case. However, Forza will be a force to reckon with. Il Presidente, Michele Scarponi, is the tifosi’ favorite to win the overall on GC. He is Italian, was second on the road in last year’s edition, can climb, placed well at La Doyenne, and can TT surprisingly well. He has a good team but may be fighting the Little Prince for team control. Forza is sporting the great Italian, Ivan Basso, as well in the battle for GC. Ivan the Terrible has only finished two races this season. He has had some difficulty staying on his bike in Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. However, the Smiling Assassin knows how to be there in a 3 week stage race.

Team Bill the Neo Pro has the young up and comer, Roman Kreuziger. The Astana rider won the young riders classification and was 6^th at last year’s Giro. Astana is riding some good form coming out of the Ardennes. I like Kreuziger to podium.

Team Volpe is sending Rigoberto Uran to the start in Denmark. I have no idea what Mr. Uran Uran will do at the Giro. He was 6^th at Catalunya and won a stage there as well. He can climb and he can time trial. Team Volpe could very well pull some points out of this year’s Giro.

Congrats to Team Volpe for the new managerial addition.

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back.

Team Wiskota Podium:

GC

1.       Scarponi

2.       Basso

3.       Kreuziger

Points/stage wins

1.       Cavendish

2.       Cunego

3.       Thor

Forza!