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

[luckyboy]

I reckon Sastre vs Liquigas, with Evans not far behind. It's impossible to predict though because who knows what Vino will do..

I hope Sastre wins anyway, so I voted for him.

 

[Jan the Man]

For me, Sastre.

 

[markene2]

I think Sastre will win, Pellizoti has not shown so much of a form, so it might as well be Basso they are riding for, Evans might have a small chance. And we should not count out Vinokourov, after what he shown in Terrentino i think he has a good shoot at the podiums, he climbed better than Basso who finished 4th at the Vuelta last year. So Vino might end up taking the victory!

 

[trompe le monde]

... I'm also excited to watch Bbox.

I want Bbox to do well too!

Here is their squad for the Giro:

Yukiya ARASHIRO, William BONNET, Anthony CHARTEAU, Mathieu CLAUDE, Guillaume LE FLOCH, Damien GAUDIN, Joahnn TSCHOPP, Yuriy TROVIMOV, Thomas VOECKLER.

No Pierre Rolland, saving him for Le Tour. No Fédrigo either. Still, a good mix of youth and experience - they might be good for at least a stage win or two in the first two weeks. When the roads start to point towards the sky they will less likely be in the mix for a stage win, unless a Voeckler solo is in the cards. No one likely to threaten the top five in GC though.

 

[Winterfold]

Sastre for me, however much Cuddles is changing to be more likeable and a better, 'luckier'* rider I still think he is a hilly one day rider and will get spanked by Sastre on that course in the last week - and what is not to like about Carlos?

and hopefully Wiggo will not embarass himself, he needs to at least win a stage and/or have a couple of days in pink to back up what he's been saying in interviews recently.

*in the Gary Player sense

 

[Mellow Velo]

Seeing that *** Shack/Tour thread that has magically appeared, I'm now wondering who will win, between the Giro aficionados and the Tour trolls.

The Hornheimer twins did raise a smirk, though.........

 

[nvpacchi]

Vino proving popular with the voters... Perhaps one of them would care to explain how they think he'll win?

I can't see Vino sticking close to Evans, Pellizotti or Sastre on the Zoncolan, and he'll get massacred on the Kronplatz... But perhaps one of his many supporters will say otherwise?

Don't get me wrong, i LOVE Vino... But I don't think he can win.

Vino is still popular, I for one am very confused as well...

He seems to be a real trendy pick that goes against the norm. May as well as pick Scarponi if you wanna go against the norm.

 

[Publicus]

Vino can't go for the win if he plans to truly support AC at the Tour. I suspect he wants to get a stage win, along the way, and if possible put on the Maglia Rosa, but that's the gist of it (IMO).

 

[theyoungest]

Vino is still popular, I for one am very confused as well...

He seems to be a real trendy pick that goes against the norm. May as well as pick Scarponi if you wanna go against the norm.

Trendy? Against the norm? I can only speak for myself, but I personally don't like him, I just think that he could do something in this field. Apart from the fact that I really don't know who will win this... Sastre, Evans, Mollema, your grandmother, Pope Benedict?

 

[issoisso]

Pope Benedict?

Now, now. The rules may allow riders in pink spandex, but the organizers draw the line at a creepy old man dressed like a gay wizard.

 

[GarySeven]

What About...

Menchov?? Is he not doing the Giro this year?

Also, I believe Bradley Wiggins is doing the Giro this year although it is not clear if he is aiming for a podium finish.

Don't forget that Pellizotti is on the same team as Kreuziger and Nibali, and either of those two could also podium.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Now, now. The rules may allow riders in pink spandex, but the organizers draw the line at a creepy old man dressed like a gay wizard.

I also don't think that the Kronplatz climb particularly suits the Pope. He's always had trouble competing with the crown. He's more of a bet for the Volta a Portugal, where the Alto da Senhora da Graça will be decisive.

 

[issoisso]

Menchov?? Is he not doing the Giro this year?

Also, I believe Bradley Wiggins is doing the Giro this year although it is not clear if he is aiming for a podium finish.

Don't forget that Pellizotti is on the same team as Kreuziger and Nibali, and either of those two could also podium.

Respectively not riding, riding for training , not riding, not riding

I also don't think that the Kronplatz climb particularly suits the Pope. He's always had trouble competing with the crown. He's more of a bet for the Volta a Portugal, where the Alto da Senhora da Graça will be decisive.

You're scaring me. Do I know you?

 

[nvpacchi]

Trendy? Against the norm? I can only speak for myself, but I personally don't like him, I just think that he could do something in this field. Apart from the fact that I really don't know who will win this... Sastre, Evans, Mollema, your grandmother, Pope Benedict?

Its just like March Madness tournament, every single year there is one team that EVERYONE picks as a so-called "dark horse" to make it to the final four. Examples include Boston College (2006) and Georgetown (2007). As me and my buddies called these teams: "real trendy picks"

Neither of those teams did anything that year in the tourney...

I feel Vino is the same way, a pick people can feel somewhat safe about, yet go against the grain at the same time. I don't think he's gonna bonk out, but I anticipate a respectable showing in Giro.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

You're scaring me. Do I know you?

Probably not, porquê?

 

[issoisso]

Probably not, porquê?

Small country. People who visit cycling forums tend to always be the same.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I thought it was a little witticism based on the crown vs. the church (always a problem in European history) and the etymologies of words. It wasn't meant to creep anybody out!

 

[9000ft]

No easy picks this year. IMO no one really stands out right now. Evans might be really motivated but I don't think he has it. OTOH he's been surprising a lot of people who have written him off since he took the rainbow so who knows. So many things can happen in a GT.

 

[tjwracer]

Evans can't win a Grand Tour, and Basso is not the same Basso he once was.
I think Vinokourov has a good shot

Evans has the best form of any of the favorites exceot maybe Vino. But either way he has a good chance at the win

 

[auscyclefan94]

Has the BMC squad been announced for the Giro yet?

Hincappie rides a solid TT, and Frank and Frei are okay.

Do they have the riders to have at least 5 TT guys to limit losses to an acceptable level?

They will choose a squad from this

Evans
Schar - has been U23 and U19 time trial champ 3 times. canc limb a bit.
Morabito - he is reasonable. Strong guy on the flats and can climb a bit.
Murphy - classics rider
Zahner - Classics rider, 2nd in national time trial champs in 2007
Wyss - Sprinter and classics rider
Beyer - fairly good, young climber.
Stewart - not sure
Kohler - sprinter and has had good results in short tt's
Bookwalter - strong tter and can climb
Stalder - classics and sprinter
Louder - climber

 

[auscyclefan94]

Pellizotti
Evans
Sastre

The ttt will lose it for evans. The three loses of his 3 best riders will be hard to overcome.

 

[blaxland]

Pellizotti
Evans
Sastre

The ttt will lose it for evans. The three loses of his 3 best riders will be hard to overcome.

Im being more optumistic with the top 3:
1st=Evans
2nd=Pellizotti
3rd=Wiggins
Agreed the TTT will be make or break for Cadel but im quite positive........

 

[auscyclefan94]

Im being more optumistic with the top 3:
1st=Evans
2nd=Pellizotti
3rd=Wiggins
Agreed the TTT will be make or break for Cadel but im quite positive........

I wish I could as well! Some of their guys still in there are reasonable in the tt but maybe evans can make the time up on the Zoncolan or Mortirol by going solo?

 

[Ferminal]

There is no such ITT. There's a prologue, a frighteningly hard mountain TT and a 15km TT that's 65% climb and technical descent.

Sorry, I meant combined (First day and last day) it's 23km isn't it?

Is the final day a bit like Monaco last year?

 

[Bala Verde]

Small country. People who visit cycling forums tend to always be the same.

rather off topic, but are you counting down? I remember seeing a 12 and an 11. Or am I just losing it... be honest