2012 Giro d'Italia, May 5th, stage 1: Herning → Herning, 8.7 km ITT

[hfer07]

Are the people ruling out Scarponi for GC, based on his prologue result, having us on? Is this a joke I don't get?

37 secs are quite a deficit to start a race- let alone how much Scarponi & Lampre will concede in the TTT- however-the race ain't over until next year when officially the winner is declared so...

 

[RHRH19861986]

Scarponi is as done as it gets.
He's not that bad in Flat TT usually.
If he performs as horrible as this, he either not motivated or in shape. Theirs no way in hell he can win thies Giro. He should rather consider to drop out and prepare for the Tour.

Ironic mode?

 

[WindLessBreeze]

Wild card selection fiasco

I'm all for int'l sportsmanship. I like Germans. But what's the criteria behind leaving out Aqua&Sappone and choosing NetApp??!!!!!!!!Can anyone explain it. Bear in mind that A&S was suppose to jump into Pro-Tour rank when Saxo Bank lost all the Contador's UCI points. If everything remains equal, and Pro-Conti teams qualify....Let The Tour choose French Pro-Conti....The Vuelta choose Spanish Pro-Conti...(more on this latter)..And the Belgians, et al....do likewise.
The Tifosi want to see their home teams fighting the Big*Guns on home soil

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Ironic mode?

its moron mode.

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm all for int'l sportsmanship. I like Germans. But what's the criteria behind leaving out Aqua&Sappone and choosing NetApp??!!!!!!!!Can anyone explain it. Bear in mind that A&S was suppose to jump into Pro-Tour rank when Saxo Bank lost all the Contador's UCI points. If everything remains equal, and Pro-Conti teams qualify....Let The Tour choose French Pro-Conti....The Vuelta choose Spanish Pro-Conti...(more on this latter)..And the Belgians, et al....do likewise.
The Tifosi want to see their home teams fighting the Big*Guns on home soil

I think it would have something to do with the fact that the organizers of Giro d'Italia aren't afraid of doing something new and unexpected.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

6th or 7th isn't exactly a sucess if you are the title defender

But it's not an abysmal failure that can't be corrected later. It's disappointing for sure, but it doesn't mean that he can't be in form later and take time back in the mountains. Just look at how far back Basso, Nibali and Scarponi were after a week in the 2010 race to see how much time can be made up if you're in form at the business end of the Giro, whereas Evans and Vino, who'd been in form in the Ardennes too and took time from them in week 1, faded towards the end of the race.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

ivanbasso
race data 1a tappa km 8,7 T 11 05 fcm 185 fc max 200

 

[WindLessBreeze]

Maglia*Nera

Yeah, like having the first of only two rest days after only the third stage....In order to transfer from the Scandinavian Peninsula to the Mediterranean Coast.....I'm sure riders and staff really appreciate it....It's an easy Giro....Zomegman is out....No more gruelling 200 plus kilometer + mountain top finish' on following dates.? Think again......rought single track dirt......... And Aqua&Sappone? Cafê^Mokambo, or whatever

 

[BikeTourist]

I'm all for int'l sportsmanship. I like Germans. But what's the criteria behind leaving out Aqua&Sappone and choosing NetApp??!!!!!!!!Can anyone explain it. Bear in mind that A&S was suppose to jump into Pro-Tour rank when Saxo Bank lost all the Contador's UCI points. If everything remains equal, and Pro-Conti teams qualify....Let The Tour choose French Pro-Conti....The Vuelta choose Spanish Pro-Conti...(more on this latter)..And the Belgians, et al....do likewise.
The Tifosi want to see their home teams fighting the Big*Guns on home soil

José Been ‏ @TourDeJose
Wow RT @SSbike: A team manager at the Tour of Turkey told me last week that NetApp paid €400,000 to ride the Giro. Interesting if true.

 

[The Hitch]

its moron mode.

I prefer - Bavarian Rider mode.

 

[The Hitch]

No more gruelling 200 plus kilometer + mountain top finish' on following dates.? Think again......rought single track dirt......... And Aqua&Sappone? Cafê^Mokambo, or whatever

You seen 19 and 20? Ok so 19 falls short of your 200k rule by 2km but its hard as hell and the next day is 220 and even harder.

 

[cycladianpirate]

I prefer - Bavarian Rider mode.

You fail to address his point....but sarcasm is easier, of course.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I'm all for int'l sportsmanship. I like Germans. But what's the criteria behind leaving out Aqua&Sappone and choosing NetApp??!!!!!!!!Can anyone explain it. Bear in mind that A&S was suppose to jump into Pro-Tour rank when Saxo Bank lost all the Contador's UCI points. If everything remains equal, and Pro-Conti teams qualify....Let The Tour choose French Pro-Conti....The Vuelta choose Spanish Pro-Conti...(more on this latter)..And the Belgians, et al....do likewise.
The Tifosi want to see their home teams fighting the Big*Guns on home soil

netapp paid 400.000 euros to get that wildcard. it was in teh italian media today.

 

[El Pistolero]

If they want to spend that kind of money on just a wildcard invite than why don't they just buy better riders? Netapp is a big company...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I've heard rumors and these may sound very bizarre but I actually believe them to an extent. jens heppner there is total bos and friends with the owner of netapp and one of heppners "rules" is that he only acquires riders that he can go with in training still. he always buys the same type of riders too. like how he was back in the day and he has said in interviews that he could still beat any in his team if he wants. he;s worse than tchmile and downright pathetic in how he lives in the past still.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I've heard rumors and these may sound very bizarre but I actually believe them to an extent. jens heppner there is total bos and friends with the owner of netapp and one of heppners "rules" is that he only acquires riders that he can go with in training still. he always buys the same type of riders too. like how he was back in the day and he has said in interviews that he could still beat any in his team if he wants. he;s worse than tchmile and downright pathetic in how he lives in the past still.

Hmm that sounds really strange.
I don't know Heppner personally. But on Tv he always seemed like a very likeable guy. He used to be a Eursport commentator till 2006. And the way he talked there was always very kind and respectful. I think Jens is a good guy. So this story sounds not plausible.

 

[hiero2]

Yay, Phinney!!!!!!!!

 

[Froome19]

37 secs are quite a deficit to start a race- let alone how much Scarponi & Lampre will concede in the TTT- however-the race ain't over until next year when officially the winner is declared so...

Ummm.... I think you might be surprised by Lampre in the TTT

Lol. One can actually ride oneself into decent shape during GTs. Scarponi will end solidly at around 6th or 7th.

lol @ Scarponi

no podium for him this Giro

Aaah.... just as long as his team protect him on stages 7 & 8 he will be fine, as he will certainly be in decent form once the race reaches the Alps.

 

[cineteq]

37 secs are quite a deficit to start a race- let alone how much Scarponi & Lampre will concede in the TTT

I want Cunego to win this, but I'm afraid the TTT is going to make the gap even bigger like you suggest. Lampre's in deep trouble.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

interesting, did not see this comming in january, that both Basso and Scarponis form would be so very uncertain, well time form the little prince to shine again i guess

 

[theyoungest]

netapp paid 400.000 euros to get that wildcard. it was in teh italian media today.

Well, they certainly paid for TV time. Andreas Dietziker (who?) got a TV moto following him today!

 

[Bavarianrider]

I find it still amazing that an American Company is sponsoring a german cycling team. No one real understands that, but it'sgreat of course

 

[Escarabajo]

Hmm that sounds really strange.
I don't know Heppner personally. But on Tv he always seemed like a very likeable guy. He used to be a Eursport commentator till 2006. And the way he talked there was always very kind and respectful. I think Jens is a good guy. So this story sounds not plausible.

Ryo's story has nothing to do with your story. So both can be plausible.

And BTW, what's your idea of an ideal GT? 300 km of TT. So if a rider cannot TT he is not a good rider?

Do you know how many riders in history did not TT (flat) very well and are (or were) great riders?

I don't see much sense in your comments anyway. I don't understand them.

 

[Froome19]

This is from BBC: "

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas was pipped to the leader's pink jersey following the prologue at the Giro d'Italia.""

So so so wrong

 

[Bavarianrider]

Ryo's story has nothing to do with your story. So both can be plausible.

And BTW, what's your idea of an ideal GT? 300 km of TT. So if a rider cannot TT he is not a good rider?

Do you know how many riders in history did not TT (flat) very well and are (or were) great riders?

I don't see much sense in your comments anyway. I don't understand them.

I would be happy if this Giro had one normal TT (50km+) somewhere in the first part or in the middle of the race. They could skip the final one for a sprint stage then.

Of course in my dream wolrd there would be always two long TT ina GT. But i know that's not what it is in the Giro. But at least there should be one descent TT before the deciding mountains.