2012 Giro Di Lombardia 29/09/2012

[ultimobici]

Yep. I know it went over the Colma di Sormano and not Il Muro. That year I was on San Fedele d'Intelvi in the pishing rain, and in 2011 I was at the top of the Colma, having ridden it a couple of times the week before. First time I saw the Muro was from the top before attempting to go down it. Needless to say it was a 2.5km walk as it is too steep to ride down without skidding or flipping over the bars!

Point of fact, the race hasn't been up Il Muro since 1962. But to suggest that Gilbert will be vulnerable on it is funny, IMO. I'd be surprised if 1% of the posters on this forum have set eyes on it in the flesh rather than on a computer screen. It is fearsome but not a climb that a pure climber will be able to dance away on. It's too short and steep for them. It is a pure power climb, plain and simple.

 

[Descender]

Yep. I know it went over the Colma di Sormano and not Il Muro. That year I was on San Fedele d'Intelvi in the pishing rain, and in 2011 I was at the top of the Colma, having ridden it a couple of times the week before. First time I saw the Muro was from the top before attempting to go down it. Needless to say it was a 2.5km walk as it is too steep to ride down without skidding or flipping over the bars!

Point of fact, the race hasn't been up Il Muro since 1962. But to suggest that Gilbert will be vulnerable on it is funny, IMO. I'd be surprised if 1% of the posters on this forum have set eyes on it in the flesh rather than on a computer screen. It is fearsome but not a climb that a pure climber will be able to dance away on. It's too short and steep for them. It is a pure power climb, plain and simple.

I have. I was on San Fermo della Bataglia in 2010, but went to have a look at the Colma and the Muro the day before. And I would say that while it is true that Gilbert might hold on, if the top climbers tried to up the pace before entering the town of Sormano Gilbert would probably end up losing contact.

That didn't happen on the Colma in 2010, mainly because there was no top climber in good form.

I'm not sure one can dismiss the first part of the Colma + Muro as a "pure power climb, plain and simple". That is not Gilbert land. The question is, will anybody have the strength and guts to show that to be true?

 

[El Pistolero]

Fourth year in a row people are talking about how this race is too hard for Gilbert.

 

[ILovecycling]

How long can Valverde peak?

All year long(if he has swimming coach)

No he does not have a big chance, Alejandro has a bigger chance for sure maybe he is not the biggest favorite but he is a bigger favorite than Alberto

Exaxtly my thoughts

 

[ILovecycling]

Fourth year in a row people are talking about how this race is too hard for Gilbert.

If Movistar,Liqui and Saxo put the hammer down on big climbs,Phil shouldnt have too much energy like real climbers in the end
Now Im thinking about Ezaro,its pretty similar like Muro isnt it?
...
But Phil is still man to beat

 

[Parrulo]

Fourth year in a row people are talking about how this race is too hard for Gilbert.

neither of those years had the muro and it's not like phill was beaten to the line last year, he dropped by about 10 people on the last climb which can be credited to a mix of no longer on super unbeatable april 2011 shape ( which he doesn't has right now either), wasting too much energy going early with nibali (even tho he only went with nibali for like 5k worth of climbing and the rest had been on a downhill section) and ofc the introduction of valcava to the route.

anyway he is still one of the big favorites but i wouldn't say he is the undisputed number 1 favorite, as i don't think there is one for this race.

 

[El Pistolero]

Valcava did'nt affect the race that much. Phil was no longer in top shape anymore which was obvious for everyone to see in Piemonte and Paris-Tours.

He looked pretty unbeatable to me at the WC.

He actually decided not to go with Nibali last year because he saw it was a pointless move. He had of course already wasted valuable energy before he found that out.

How often do we see the favorites attack from over 80km out?

 

[Red Rick]

Valcava did'nt affect the race that much. Phil was no longer in top shape anymore which was obvious for everyone to see in Piemonte and Paris-Tours.

He looked pretty unbeatable to me at the WC.

He actually decided not to go with Nibali last year because he saw it was a pointless move. He had of course already wasted valuable energy before he found that out.

How often do we see Contador attack from over 80km out when he needs to in order to win?

Pretty often

 

[LaFlorecita]

Pretty often

Especially in a one day race, there's nothing to lose Only 1st place counts, 2nd place is the first loser

 

[Red Rick]

Especially in a one day race, there's nothing to lose Only 1st place counts, 2nd place is the first loser

And with 80km to go, they´ve already had 170km. Big chance Contador is getting bored by then and decides to attack because it´s just much more fun

 

[ultimobici]

I have. I was on San Fermo della Bataglia in 2010, but went to have a look at the Colma and the Muro the day before. And I would say that while it is true that Gilbert might hold on, if the top climbers tried to up the pace before entering the town of Sormano Gilbert would probably end up losing contact.

That didn't happen on the Colma in 2010, mainly because there was no top climber in good form.

I'm not sure one can dismiss the first part of the Colma + Muro as a "pure power climb, plain and simple". That is not Gilbert land. The question is, will anybody have the strength and guts to show that to be true?

From Erba it's steady until the left turn onto the road itself. Even then it's not until that steep, just lumpy with a crappy road surface.

 

[kanari]

Phil can win of course, the only question is how hard he has partied after Sunday...

 

[Telmisartan new]

Phil can win of course, the only question is how hard he has partied after Sunday...

He didn't party at all,loves this race and wants the treble in the rainbow jersey.Super motivated for this but there are no certainties in cycling as we know.I still think he'll win.

 

[taiwan]

"Muro" anywhere in the parcours = Purito win. That is all

 

[El Pistolero]

Vacansoleil will start the race with a special jersey to celebrate Fausto Coppi who won the Tour and Giro in the same season 60 years ago on a Bianchi bike.

 

[jens_attacks]

"Muro" anywhere in the parcours = Purito win. That is all

he's out of fuel our purito so i doubt it
this will be an italian job.

 

[The Hitch]

The big question with Purito will be can he come top 10.

 

[Panda Claws]

Small bunch sprint -> Phil beating everyone by a bike length.

 

[Afrank]

Small bunch sprint -> Phil beating everyone by a bike length.

Come on, lets be serious here. He'll win by 20 bike lengths

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Fourth year in a row people are talking about how this race is too hard for Gilbert.

we saw last year

 

[El Pistolero]

we saw last year

The race wasn't too hard for him. I had never seen such a big group at Lombardia before the final hill.

 

[Ferminal]

The course has been too hard for each of those years, in theory.

But it's Lombardia and everyone is too tired to have a go at dropping him. He will be fine.

 

[happytramp]

The big question with Purito will be can he come top 10.

9th or better would see him oust Wiggans from the top spot on the UCI points table.

 

[ILovecycling]

When the earliest coverage starts?3pm CEST?

 

[williamp78]

9th or better would see him oust Wiggans from the top spot on the UCI points table.

Though wiggins is on the start list; maybe he'll go for the win!