2012 Giro d'Italia wildcards:Who would you like to see?

[theyoungest]

Why?

Because he had a partner as strong and as dumb as Zaugg when he won Emillia?

It's not really a race where you can profit much from a breakaway partner... plus he held the same gap all the way to the finish. The favourites didn't go up the San Luca faster than him.

His 9th place in Lombardia proved he's no fluke.

 

[roundabout]

Zauggs win in Lombardia showed than Betancur had a strong wheel to suck in the last lap until the final climb.

 

[Kvinto]

it's all great but Visconti is no longer a Franese Vini rider (in 2012 he rides for Movistar)

 

[will10]

I went with androni, farnese-vini, colnago and acqua.

Have to have farnese-vini coz of visconti and his attacking riding. As well i am fascinated to see how guardini does. I wondering if he could have a kittel type season.

Acqua sapone will always get an invite specifically coz of garzelli"s presence. The only downside to them is their decision to sign di luca who i think is a rider who should count his lucky stars that he is left back into the sport at all.

Visconti has left Farnese for 2012.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

same can be said for Rujano and he did fairly well last year, ánd you expect him to be better in 2012

rujano hadn't raced the giro in 3 years. pozzovivo every year save in 2009 I think and rujano should not be compared to pozzovivo in anything. rujano is 3 levels above in talent

 

[Angliru]

I went with androni, farnese-vini, colnago and acqua.

Have to have farnese-vini coz of visconti and his attacking riding. As well i am fascinated to see how guardini does. I wondering if he could have a kittel type season.

Acqua sapone will always get an invite specifically coz of garzelli"s presence. The only downside to them is their decision to sign di luca who i think is a rider who should count his lucky stars that he is left back into the sport at all.

Isn't Visconti on Movistar (Giovanni the current Italian National RR Champ)?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Why?

Because he had a partner as strong and as dumb as Zaugg when he won Emillia?

betancourt was simply the best rider that race. he lost barely any time in final climb to favorites despite a long attack in which both ride worked. not just zaugg

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Didn't he sign with Liquigas? Or were that just rumours?

no I've said zillion times that the transfer didn't go through. despite nobody willing to believe it. he stays at acqua and that's the best forhim

 

[theyoungest]

betancourt was simply the best rider that race. he lost barely any time in final climb to favorites despite a long attack in which both ride worked. not just zaugg

Well, I wouldn't say he was the strongest, but he probably would be in the top 5.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

he was one of the strongest and then a weke later showed in lombardia again in his first ever classic

 

[The Hitch]

Well, yes, but Machado was there this year as well...

I was thinking more of the Leopard side of the team who in last years Giro had no leader

edit: oh yeah, and Saxo shouldnt be there. A 22 year old possible future star the raison d'etre for their being there. Nah, not good enough. Colnago instead please.

 

[Altitude]

I'd like to see if the Chicken still has anything to offer on the climbs. They won't get an invite though

 

[Escarabajo]

Zauggs win in Lombardia showed than Betancur had a strong wheel to suck in the last lap until the final climb.

That's all it takes to win a race?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Kristina watches

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I'd like to see if the Chicken still has anything to offer on the climbs. They won't get an invite though

he can prove himself in san luis against contador

 

[Reuell]

rujano hadn't raced the giro in 3 years. pozzovivo every year save in 2009 I think and rujano should not be compared to pozzovivo in anything. rujano is 3 levels above in talent

I was comparing Domenico with Rujano (and Gesink) for the bad luck, bad run in morale, injuries or other reasons they haven't been performing their top in the last years. Not their potential.

Rujano is back in the running, so could Pozzovivo

 

[taiwan]

he can prove himself in san luis against contador

Sh!t, that's a coup for the Tour de San Luis to have the first matchup between those two since the 2007 Tour.

Actually it'll be totally pointless, but good for publicity.

 

[Altitude]

he can prove himself in san luis against contador

Too early in the season. Rasmussen doesn't stand a chance against Contador now anyways.

I'll be pulling for Di Luca in the Giro. I think he's got something left

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

why too early? who says contador is in better shape than rasmussen. rasmussen is probably in better shape knowing this is already his big race of the year

 

[The Hitch]

Sh!t, that's a coup for the Tour de San Luis to have the first matchup between those two since the 2007 Tour.

Actually it'll be totally pointless, but good for publicity.

Except Contador probably wont be there. Unless he manages to delay the revelation of the decision until past San Luis even.

 

[ferryman]

any news of him?

Not sure if there have been any developments since this article:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10429/Franco-Pellizotti-I-want-to-ride-the-Giro-in-2012.aspx

 

[ferryman]

he can prove himself in san luis against contador

Aye, likely he will, given that Contador will not be remotely in shape for this.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

contador doesn't need to be in shape to climb

 

[Angliru]

Aye, likely he will, given that Contador will not be remotely in shape for this.

I can't recall the last time that Contador showed up at a race in less than competitive condition. Even in that Criterium International where he was dropped on the only major climb of the event (due to his allergies?) he still came back and finished well in the ITT. I know I keep singing the same song but.....he ain't Andy!

 

[Michele]

I was chatting today with a chinese cycling friend about the chance that Champion System might get invited to Giro and after sending a text by chinese twitter to ChampSys he got a reply saying they already got an invite.