2010 Giro d'Italia... Who will win?

[auscyclefan94]

The last I think Evans needs is to be outright favourite.

Yes, but he isn't imo. Cervelo have a very good team and the course suits sastre down to a t.

sastre v.S evans showdown? that won't be a showdown, that would be the most boring giro since bassomania 2006. we have all seen the tdf 2008 with the same 2 competitors and it was one of the worst gt's of that century - even more boring than some vuelta editions.

evans and sastre are good riders, no doubt. but they aren't gt champions, even if sastre won the tour 2 years ago.

what a load of rubbish! (didn't swear!). then you will condemm someone for doping if they test postive but they ride more like a champion in your view.

EDIT: BMC team on CN is wrong as Santambrogio is suppose to be in.

 

[issoisso]

Freire's caught the same respiratory problems Mooerenhout has. He's doubtful for the Giro

 

[Inner Peace]

This is a very interesting turn of events. Much like the 2008 Tour, Evans now finds himself the favourite for a grand tour with riders of the sastre quality breathing down his neck.

The pressure is squarely on his shoulders now. Previously, I thought all the pressure was on Pellizotti and I was certain that he would crack under it, thus allowing Sastre and Evans to swoop on any mistake.

Now, just like 2008, the favourite is out, the potential favourites are not racing (Contador, Menchov, Schleck) and Evans (the new favourite) finds himself up against a spaniard, and reformed dopers in Basso and Vino...

It's gonna be a great race. Still, despite tipping Evans, I feel the TTT will say it all. Interesting to see whether Cervelo can pull time on BMC on that course, and another interesting factor is this will be a test of Nibali's willingness to work for Basso (or vice versa depending on who's in the better position after the first mountain stage)

I'm pumped!!! can't wait to watch 30 minute highlights 15 hours after the stage finishes (how do you insert sarcasm here?)

 

[Barrus]

I think I'm going to ride the route of the first time trial somewhere this week, mainly due the fact that I'm doubtful for the quality of the roads and that there can be potential crashes in some places, if this has not been mended. This could greatly influence the course of the Giro

 

[karlboss]

This is a very interesting turn of events. Much like the 2008 Tour, Evans now finds himself the favourite for a grand tour with riders of the sastre quality breathing down his neck.

The pressure is squarely on his shoulders now. Previously, I thought all the pressure was on Pellizotti and I was certain that he would crack under it, thus allowing Sastre and Evans to swoop on any mistake.

Now, just like 2008, the favourite is out, the potential favourites are not racing (Contador, Menchov, Schleck) and Evans (the new favourite) finds himself up against a spaniard, and reformed dopers in Basso and Vino...

It's gonna be a great race. Still, despite tipping Evans, I feel the TTT will say it all. Interesting to see whether Cervelo can pull time on BMC on that course, and another interesting factor is this will be a test of Nibali's willingness to work for Basso (or vice versa depending on who's in the better position after the first mountain stage)

I'm pumped!!! can't wait to watch 30 minute highlights 15 hours after the stage finishes (how do you insert sarcasm here?)[/QUOTE]

Still better than ever before, other options find somewhere, buy RAI and its televeised live, or streams...maybe next year.

As for the race, I would think Cadel isn't quite so heavily favoured as he was for the 2008 tour. Their are still plenty of guys to watch, Scarponi, Garzelli and Vino have shown to be strong. The giro is always interesting and will be again. Nibali and Basso will still show something.

Why do people keep saying they hope Ricco doesn't win? He's not riding.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Three reasons I don't think the pressure will be an issue for evans
1) He has a new team and according to him it is a better environment
2) It is the giro not the tour
3) Everyone is commenting how evans has changed this year and how much more he is at peace with himself.

It still could get to him but I don't think it will!

 

[Ferminal]

Yes, but he isn't imo. Cervelo have a very good team and the course suits sastre down to a t.



what a load of rubbish! (didn't swear!). then you will condemm someone for doping if they test postive but they ride more like a champion in your view.

EDIT: BMC team on CN is wrong as Santambrogio is suppose to be in.

BMC is obviously 100% certain that the Santambrogio thing will not come back out during the Giro - they wouldn't risk having to drag him/the team out mid-Tour

 

[seidodge]

How can people claim that sastre was boring in 2008? His solo to Alp D'Huez was incredible and even though he was under Riis' team orders for most of the race he was a more than worthy winner

Personally I'd love to see two gentlemen of the sport in Evans and Sastre duelling for the Giro crown. Just hoping someone like Vino doesn't win

 

[Moondance]

Ahhh, this is precious. Pellizotti actually got another vote since last night. Someone who doesn't follow the news, or someone who still think Franco can pull himself out of this whole situation.

 

[theyoungest]

How can people claim that sastre was boring in 2008? His solo to Alp D'Huez was incredible and even though he was under Riis' team orders for most of the race he was a more than worthy winner

Personally I'd love to see two gentlemen of the sport in Evans and Sastre duelling for the Giro crown. Just hoping someone like Vino doesn't win

Sastre is a gentleman alright. But Evans? Wow, that's a quick transformation.

 

[Moondance]

How can people claim that sastre was boring in 2008? His solo to Alp D'Huez was incredible and even though he was under Riis' team orders for most of the race he was a more than worthy winner

Personally I'd love to see two gentlemen of the sport in Evans and Sastre duelling for the Giro crown. Just hoping someone like Vino doesn't win

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikzgWE3t0A

 

[Jonathan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikzgWE3t0A

While holding a cuddly toy no less.

 

[hughmoore]

Thats a great video, I would be peeved also if someone deliberately poked my injured shoulder.


Regards


Hugh

 

[theyoungest]

Thats a great video, I would be peeved also if someone deliberately poked my injured shoulder.


Regards


Hugh

And would you headbutt a 23 year old who you think blocked you in a sprint which you would have lost anyway?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Or suck wheels of the same 23-year old when he was still 21 years old and steal a Paris Nice stage up on Ventoux?

Such a gentleman

 

[TRDean]

Thats a great video, I would be peeved also if someone deliberately poked my injured shoulder.


Regards


Hugh

I agree with this...except the slap was a little weak...if your gonna swing go for it!!

 

[auscyclefan94]

And would you headbutt a 23 year old who you think blocked you in a sprint which you would have lost anyway?

- He said sorry and Gesink is an adult as well. Saying h would of not won anyway is a idiotic arguement. It's not the point. It's like saying that if doper returned a positive test that he still would of won anyway.

Or suck wheels of the same 23-year old when he was still 21 years old and steal a Paris Nice stage up on Ventoux?

Such a gentleman

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

He was actually working for Popo in that stage but popo popped.

If you had a injured shoulder would and someone was whacking it would you of hit back?

 

[theyoungest]

- He said sorry and Gesink is an adult as well. Saying h would of not won anyway is a idiotic arguement. It's not the point. It's like saying that if doper returned a positive test that he still would of won anyway.

Huh? No it's not. And yes he said sorry, but come on, who would even do such a thing? Evans would.

And let me add that I don't necessarily dislike Evans, but when he is in racing mode, "gentleman" isn't the word I'd use for him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Huh? No it's not. And yes he said sorry, but come on, who would even do such a thing? Evans would.

And let me add that I don't necessarily dislike Evans, but when he is in racing mode, "gentleman" isn't the word I'd use for him.

Ok, then if Usain bolt won the 100m at the next olympics but it was later found out that he ran into someone elses lane, going on your logic you would still give him the win. Obviosuly you haven't met evans as it seems to me you dislike him.

 

[theyoungest]

Ok, then if Usain bolt won the 100m at the next olympics but it was later found out that he ran into someone elses lane, going on your logic you would still give him the win. Obviosuly you haven't met evans as it seems to me you dislike him.

Analogies aren't your strong point And like I said, I don't dislike Evans. But when he's high on adrenaline, seek cover.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Analogies aren't your strong point And like I said, I don't dislike Evans. But when he's high on adrenaline, seek cover.

He broke the rule but the others still would not of won so we'll give it to Usain.

 

[Angliru]

sastre v.S evans showdown? that won't be a showdown, that would be the most boring giro since bassomania 2006. we have all seen the tdf 2008 with the same 2 competitors and it was one of the worst gt's of that century - even more boring than some vuelta editions.

evans and sastre are good riders, no doubt. but they aren't gt champions, even if sastre won the tour 2 years ago.

You now sound like, and to take on a Paul Sherwin personna, a certain 7 time Tour winner. Sastre rode the 3 weeks the same as all the rest of the contenders in 2008. He made his move on a the queen stage of the race and snatched victory emphatically. He thus deserves respect.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Freire's caught the same respiratory problems Mooerenhout has. He's doubtful for the Giro

Please say it ain't so. Is this the same thing that was bugging Gesink during the Ardennes classics? Sounds like there are a few nasty "strains" plaguing some of the teams.

 

[davis_123]

Huh? No it's not. And yes he said sorry, but come on, who would even do such a thing? Evans would.

And let me add that I don't necessarily dislike Evans, but when he is in racing mode, "gentleman" isn't the word I'd use for him.

Evans is a very competitive person and wants to win at everything he does, when he is racing especially in the TDF it brings out an aggressive side to him.
Motorbikes getting in his space, people touching his injured shoulder in 08, etc... Anything that effects his chances of winning even 1% annoys him.

I believe this year he is much more relaxed and that is why he is doing so much better, in years gone past he used half his energy worrying about things he couldn't control rather then just focusing on riding his bike.

 

[Archibald]

Cavendish has dominated the Giro sprints in the last two years and his absence means this year's fast finishes will be wide open. The big showdown will be between Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) but Robbie McEwen (Katusha), Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank) and Giro debutant Oscar Freire (Rabobank) will surely be a threat, as will the Team Sky combo of CJ Sutton and Greg Henderson.

no mention of Greipel - surely you'd put him in the mix considering his form?