Who will be in the Stage 12 Breakaway?

@robcairns

Shit!! I didn't realise how high in the Giro you were. I just looked. Best of luck. I think I'm too far back now to win, even with inspired thinking on MM days.

Would be really crazy if SKY had a man in the break but if they did could well see Geraint Thomas. He's capable of it and with sky missing out on 2 stage wins........

Ballan or Flecha. Both have the pedigree and both are just that little way off the pace for GC riders to worry about them.

I've gone for a completely random choice for the breakaway today, based on the fact that he came in 6 mins down yesterday for no discernible reason, so maybe he's saving himself/giving himself a big enough deficit to not be a threat on GC. Its Branislau Samoilau of Movistar. I have guaranteed(-ish) GC points from 6 of my guys, and am way behind, so why not take a chance - it'd be cool if it paid off, however unlikely it may be.
I also have Jan Barta, who's been sitting in my team doing naff-all for 4 days, so hopefully one or other of them will give it a go - no more than a 50-1 shot tho, I doubt I'd take such a silly risk if I was higher up the table...
Ballan could be a good shout - there aren't many stages for him after today and he did have a little dig yesterday...

I think Goss sat up because he's still suffering from Monday's crash. With a flat stage tomorrow and the chance to take back the jersey from Cavendish I can't see him 'doing a Hushovd' personally.

I'm gonna go out on a limb, but Goss sat up today and had an easy one.........poss candidate for the break?

Or is that a bit above his limits!?

I'm expecting more than that, possibly an initial group of 15 or so which reduces to 6 towards the finish

I'm pretty sure Rubiano is going to be in the breakaway as he wants to collect some further maglia azzura points.
Battaglin could be in there as well.
Maybe 1 Euskaltel (Oroz), 1 BMC (Ballan), 1 Farnese (Rabottini) and 3 or 4 others.

I've been thinking, and other than perhaps Sella there aren't many people around the 12-25 minutes mark in the GC that I'd go for. Sella, Flecha, Barta and Pirazzi are probably the ones that stand out but it'll be interesting to see if Rubiano and Golas go for the break to get some KoM points.

Breakaways are so unpredictable I might not bother trying to pick someone just for that and save my transfers (or at least one) and leave Cav in my team for Friday.

Oh, and surely the only Rabo rider who'll go for the break will be Stef Clement. Slagter and Garate are too close in the GC and all the rest are sprinters or seemingly out of form.

FDJ haven't done a great deal...

You could try Golas. He's second in the mountain classification. He's been earning me a steady 4 points each stage so far and I've been keeping him for this very reason.

Sebastian Salas is good over the hills this week and enjoys getting into the breakaways.

Agreed, anyone from Rabo, one of the wildcard teams or anyone having a poor season so far, as well as the usual suspects from Movistar and Vaconsoliel. Problem is great breakaway stage means big break and potentially fewer points per rider.

Stef Clement. He tried today and the Rabos are desperate to make an impact. Although I must say Slagter surprised me today. His inexperience made him go too soon, but definitely one to watch in the future.

Cavendish all the way...

Honestly, Flecha, De Gendt, maybe someone like Sella or Pirazzi, the usual suspects.