Giro - Tappa 13

got rid of Bouhanni and Viviani
for Ventoso and Evans

I cracked and made two transfers:

Ventoso (for Bouhanni)
Mezgec (for Gavazzi)
Cavendish
Viviani
Nizzolo
Battaglin
Di Luca
Evans
Chalapud

Just want to keep pace today before throwing some penalty transfers at my team for tomorrow.

I have a bad feeling about today - might not be as sprinty as I thought. Was hoping for a bigger day yesterday so today wouldn't matter so much, should've gone Mezgec over Gavazzi! Looking at my team now - it doesn't look good at all.

And of course could've done with Bouhanni sticking around for one more day - the sprinters I do have are not so strong for a 250km stage.

Cav
Viviani
Gavazzi
Modolo
Evans
Majka
Di Luca
Wauters (seems like the only Vacansoleil rider not to be in a break since I brought him in)
And the last-minute Hail Mary in for Bouhanni - Taylor Phinney.

Nizzolo for Bouhanni, I had planned no changes, although now thinking I should have played it safe and just brough Nibs in but oh well. Gonna need a penalty transfer or two tomorrow

No transfers for me today......those I made yesterday were for both flat stages.

Cav
Viv
Niz
Gav
Maj
Bet
....sounds like a old folk's day trip to Brighton

plus

Gesink
Chalapud
Pirazzi

Bouhanni as French champ was always most likely to ride the Tour. If Demare isn't riding in support/lead out then I guess they want to make sure Bouhanni is in top shape so a rest isn't out of the question.

Either that or he was politely asked to stop endangering other sprinters and go home.

All I know about Bouhanni is that FDJ have already said Demare won't be riding the Tour, so presumably Bouhanni will. Maybe it was always the intention to pull out now (L'Equipe says next stop Dauphine). If thats case, its strange that he didn't have one last go at a stage win today - and worries me that maybe he doesn't see it as a sprint day!

It's fairly obvious why Wiggins and Hesjedal have withdrawn, but what's up with Bouhanni? Anybody know?

They're pulling out at a good time for standard teams but they'll hit some purist teams pretty hard.

Thankfully, I think most teams will have Wiggins so it might not make too much difference but if any team has neither and went for Evans instead they could surge right up the table.

Plus Hesjedal!!

To be fair Wiggins and Hesjedal came at a good time for fantasy purposes as most will have subbed them out for sprinters yesterday so can put whoever they like back in once it goes uphill again.

Bouhanni and wiggins have both withdrawn