Not to diminish Matt Goss’s win today but the Giro is losing sprinters at an alarming rate. If the first week allowed them a few chances, the second week is also suited to them but many have gone home.
The weekend saw old dog Petacchi and young hope Modolo both exit the race and this morning it was Baden Cooke’s turn to quit. McEwen’s vanished. So much so that the top-10 today is very light on sprinters.
1 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team HTC – Columbia
2 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha
3 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin – Transitions
4 Robert Forster (Ger) Team Milram
5 Federico Canuti (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox
6 Sebastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
7 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step
8 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team
9 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank
10 Markus Eibegger (Aut) Footon-Servetto
So whilst I’m enjoying the Giro, seeing the likes of Garmin and HTC-Columbia trying to shut down the breakaways is a bit depressing, because the inevitable sprint finish sees only mediocre sprinters in action. I’m a big fan of Farrar but frankly he should be dominating against reduced competition, not losing out. I hope things go better for him in the next few days.
Bring on the Tour de France when we should see Petacchi, Cavendish, Hushovd, Bennati and a cast of many others seeking high speed glory.
I have to say that I'd much rather see the Giro as-is rather than watch a long, "boring", flat stage and 1 minute of interesting sprint wind-up and action.
I put the boring in quotes because I love it enough that I watch those stages too, but still, this Giro has been very exciting.