Giro Stage 10

Keeping Wiggins just to avoid using a transfer really - been too trigger-happy on the transfers recently so trying to be a bit more conservative. The chances of Evans/Scarponi outscoring Wiggo are probably better than 50/50, but not high enough to make it worth using up a transfer that I could keep for the sprint stage - ie if I'd had Evans in yesterday and not Wiggins, I probably wouldn't have changed it either.
And actually, its easy to think Brad's not in form, but we haven't seen him in the proper mountains yet, and that's where he's been putting the work in.

Dave's weather forecast helped make my mind up

NIBALI
SANCHEZ
SANTAMBROGIO
NIEMIC
BETANCUR
POZZOVIVO
KELDERMAN
SELLA
PANTANO

My team for today is:

Evans
Nibali
Santambrogio
Pozzovivo (for Rubiano)
Pellizotti (for Visconti)
Pirazzi
Atapuma (for Gavazzi)
Di Luca
Battaglin

First three for GC, Pozzo & Pelli for the stage win, Pirazzi and Atapuma for the break and Di Luca/Battaglin because they're cheap and it wasn't worth swapping them for anyone else.

I've got one transfer left but I reckon I'll need to change something tomorrow, possibly drop Evans or Pozzo/Pelli if they win the stage because they'd be dead the next day.

I've made 3 transfers

Wiggins
Evans
Pirazzi
Battaglin
Majka
Santambrogio

Scarponi (for Visconti)
Chalapud (for Sella)
Gavazzi (for Aru)

I'd certainly like Wiggins to have a go. Not sure what tactic Sky will use, will they roll out the mountain train and try and break everyone else or will they do a 1-2-3 punch with Henao and Uran and try and just get someone up the road to make Nibali sweat?

I hope he does try something, at least try to take the finish bonuses, (more likely tomorrow) but it was more that I didn't want to take to many risks today, I think they feel each other out today, so no real GC changes, and wanted to see how everyone goes on the first real mountain, rather than waste transfers and have to change it back, especially with 2 flattish days coming before the weekend mountains.

Would like to think my first 4 riders will top 10, my next 2 top 20, Pirazzi get some more mountain points and/or be there at the finish, and my last 2 staying due to cheap price and flattish stages to come

Interesting to see you keep Wiggins, you think he'll try something today/tomorrow?

I was semi-tempted to upgrade one of my riders to Wiggins on the off chance that Sky have a plan but I reckon if they're going to try and break Nibali/Astana they'll wait until next weekend.

My team is totally predictable so I have no qualms about revealing it early, team for last 2 stages was picked with today in mind so I could bank some transfers ready for Thursday. There will I'm sure be a couple of high-scoring breakaway riders but I don't think today is the day to be gambling on someone. Plus I've been doing really badly since Liege, so my confidence in picking the right guys has taken a knock!

Wiggins
Nibali
Santambrogio
Pellizotti
Di Luca
Betancur (in for Visconti...)
Gesink
Pirazzi
Wauters

Also, lost Jeannesson from my purists - anyone know what happened to him? I know he came off on Friday, but got back to finish top 10, and rode the TT, before DNF-ing on Sunday.

ive given Cadel a go for today, think he should be ok until next weekend, then he shall be axed for Pozz and Niemiec I think

Evans
Nibali
Wiggins
Santambrogio
Di Luca
Pelizotti
Pirzzi
Battaglin
Gavazzi

Always hard to tell with Pozzovivo, I never know if he's in form or not.

I'm considering dropping Evans for either Scarponi or Henao but I just can't decide, Evans looks good so I might give him one go on a mountain stage but Scarponi also looks good and will need to start making up time on Nibali straight away if he wants to win the race. Henao could go either way, if Wiggins is good he'll likely not score heavily, if Wiggins is weak or if Sky are working to a different plan then he could win the stage.

One thing is certain. Its's going to be a very interesting day.

Hurt, hurt and more hurt with the gc probably blown apart.