Wiggins, VDB, Horner, Brajkovic, and Vino – Big names all out. Add to this other GC men such as Leipheimer, Kloden and Gesink who have been badly compromised and we are faced with an attritional, confusing Tour. Contador himself is complaining of sore knees and looking distinctly off colour when he has made the effort. So Evans is emerging as the strongman and perhaps the Schlecks can simply cruise onto the podium at this rate? In terms of challenging these three we must look to someone like Nico Roche stepping up or Sammy Sanchez proving to be in top form in the mountains. Read More…

So we progress toward the second week of what is proving an intriguing and innovative route. The revamped intermediate sprint and uphill finishes have sparked  the battle for the green jersey. Rojas looks really good and I fancy him to be wearing green inParis. This is a rider who has proven he can ride in the mountains better than nearly all the other sprinters, I think he can outlast the other contenders. Read More…

Throughout the Tour De France our expert Corinthian will keep us updated on betting angles and expert advice.  It is often very profitable to bet on stage winners and with an interesting Tour ahead here is his preview of the GC protagonists. Read More…

Make no mistake this edition of the Giro has provided a challenge unequalled by a grand tour parcour for decades. In some respects it is simply too tough. The Grossglockner turned into the Grossflopner perhaps due to the shadow of the mighty Zoncolon rearing up over the horizon. This mountain is surely the equal of anything in pro-racing, it is unrelenting torture. Nibali tried bravely to test Contador as did the ever gallant Scarponi but the Spaniard is that bit too strong, too fluid, too classy. He wouldn’t have minded the partisan boos of the Tifosi as he crested the finish line behind Igor Anton. Nibali may have been left cursing the cancellation of the Monte Crostis descent but the truth is Contador looked capable of clawing time back on the ascents, and the Crostis descent looked terrifying even for a descender of Nibali’s quality. I think the DS’s were correct to pressure the organisers into a cancellation. Read More…

On the fiery slopes of Mount Etna Alberto Contador blew away his rivals with a devastating attack that saw him back to his very best. Scarponi tried to match the Spaniard and quickly paid for it by sending himself into the red. It always looks worse with Scarponi than it truly is due to the massive gear he rides, but lets not fool ourselves he was blown. To Scarponi’s credit his greatest asset is his doggedness and he will remain a threat.

So what of the other GC men? They seemed to think better of it and sought strength in numbers to limit their losses. Kreuziger looks as good as I have ever seen him, Garzelli continues to perform strongly and Vincenzo Nibali? Well I thought he rode well, whether he couldn’t or wouldn’t follow Contador (the former I suspect) he showed maturity to not get caught up in the moment on home soil and risk losing a packet of time.

Contador gave us prior warning on the stage before Etna that he was in aggressive mood by attacking off the front and nicking some GC time. It seems he is riding with a point to prove since last years TDF where he was not at his best and subsequent allegations followed. He looked incredibly fluid maintaining his famous bursts long enough to even shed the purest of mountain goats Jose Rujano. Interestingly Rujano also seems back to his best after a few years in the wilderness, Contador will now watch him closely also.

There are still many mountains to climb and descend in this Giro that will twist and turn the GC as well as the riders muscles. Yet Etna gave us a genuine selection and thus a good indication of GC contenders. Contador has sent a message, barring mechanicals, accidents (god forbid) or a big off day, he will be very tough to beat. Despite the possibility that his team may not prove adept at protecting him in the mountains or the fact he must now defend the Maglia Rosa – Contador is good enough to do it on his own. Perhaps an alliance between other GC contenders to upset him could work but is unlikely. Maybe the demon descending of Nibali could create a problem? We will see.

In other areas… The sprints continue to be shared out randomly, and seemingly quite literally in the case of Petacchi and Ventoso! Hope you havn’t been punting these? One more stage for the fast men and then most of them will head to the beach given the forthcoming parcours.

Also Corinthians picks in the domestique category have been showing well. Hoogerland and Lastras both in good breakaways. Lastras making a bold bid for the Maglia Rosa on Etna of all places. Most impressive of all is Kiryienka who made the selection on Etna – that even got Sean Kelly of Eurosport excited!.

CORINTHIAN

Cycling is a sport of vibrant colours whether it be the crowds that line a mountain-top finish, the garish team kits or the verdant splendour of an Alpine pass. Yet it also has darker shades. The cloud of doping always threatens to cast a shadow, but nothing drains the colour from this noble sport as when a rider tragically loses their life. Sadly, although rare, it does happen and always has.

Wouter Weylandt was a solid pro with a Grand Tour stage win in his palmares who had moved this year to the new Leopard Trek team from Quickstep. Well liked within the peloton and noted for his humour, his passing is a huge blow to professional cycling. Read More…