Giro d'Italia 2016 ***spoilers***

[Dogtrousers]

I really enjoyed that. If the TdF is half as entertaining as that it will be a good 'un. Plenty of action in the GC, plenty of excitement in the non-GC stages. Pity that the sprinters comp was a bit of a nonsense with the big boys dropping out.

 

[400bhp]

I have to question Niblali's sanity taking on the TDF after this.

 

[smutchin]

I have to question Niblali's sanity taking on the TDF after this.

Some of the Tour's early stages look like wind could be a factor. Wonder what odds you'd get on the peloton splitting with Aru caught in the chasing group and Nibali up the road...

 

[400bhp]

Some of the Tour's early stages look like wind could be a factor. Wonder what odds you'd get on the peloton splitting with Aru caught in the chasing group and Nibali up the road...

Coincidentally I am right at this minute in the area of the grande departe. I went out for a ride this morning. 15mph nw wind with very straight and open roads and the rolling terrain make it ideal for echelons to form

 

[Hont]

I think this is a lot closer to the mark. I'd shied away from raising the spectre of doping earlier in this thread, and I think Astana got the tactics just right, but I hate that there's always that suspicion they're able to make the tactics stick because of an extra edge...

Astana bring a murky brown sheen to their every achievement. Some of that will inevitably stick to Nibali. And will likely do so for the rest of his career, whoever he rides for.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Astana bring a murky brown sheen to their every achievement. Some of that will inevitably stick to Nibali. And will likely do so for the rest of his career, whoever he rides for.

I cannot possibly imagine anything could go wrong at Team Bahrain...