2013 Giro D'Italia 04/05 - 26/05

[Afrank]

Locatelli might suprise, seeing how he climbed in Trentino

That's what I'm hoping for. A good outside bet for white.

I could also see Battaglin or Colbrelli doing well in a couple stages. Colbrelli's been very good this season so far. Battaglin hasn't looked great, but he's shown some signs of improvement.

Edit: Also Cattaneo's shown potential, but it's his first GT so don't expect too much.

 

[Squire]

@Eshnar & co:

Is there überhaupt any Italian youngster who could be the big suprise this giro and would be able to follow the footsteps of the likes of Ricco, Simoni, Cunego and might become the dark horse / wildcard in the gc this time? Except Aru, because he's in a domestique role?

Santa is 28 already and Betancur is Colombian. Ulissi isn't there right!? What about Locatelli? Somebody from Androni (Felline or Rosa)? Or is there really no real prospect atm in Italian cycling

My 2c:

Even though Aru is a domestique, so was Ricco for Simoni in 2007. Judging by results, Aru is the most likely to have a breakthrough I think.

Then there is also Cattaneo, but he hasn't showed much since turning pro. Looking beyond those two prodigies, what about Rabottini? He's not the youngest anymore, and if he ever was to step up at any point, I feel this Giro would be it.

Locatelli is interesting, but I don't know much about him apart from what he did in Trentino.

We sort of know the level of Pozzovivo, Capecchi and D.Caruso, although the latter might have some room for improvement still. Also look out for a good performance from the older Caruso. He's having his best year in a long time.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Ricco's got a suggestion for the young guys and for the federation.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Quite cool of him on one level, bad on another.

Everyteam had a flag...

 

[theyoungest]

Everyteam had a flag...

It's not about the flag, but about the way he holds it, obviously.

 

[The Hitch]

Bmc playing possum with Phinney waving the US flag rather than cuddles the Ozzie one?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Did Delfino carry il Tricolore?

 

[Afrank]

Did Delfino carry il Tricolore?

Yep

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Yep

Thank you .... I have been searching for the dolphin

 

[SafeBet]

Santa is 28 already and Betancur is Colombian. Ulissi isn't there right!? What about Locatelli? Somebody from Androni (Felline or Rosa)? Or is there really no real prospect atm in Italian cycling

Hard to say. I don't see much GT potential in any of these guys except for Aru.
Locatelli is promising and I'm curious to see him go against the top dogs.
I like Felline a lot, but at this point I really don't know what kind of rider he will end up being.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Hard to say. I don't see much GT potential in any of these guys except for Aru.
Locatelli is promising and I'm curious to see him go against the top dogs.
I like Felline a lot, but at this point I really don't know what kind of rider he will end up being.

Yea, but Aru is one hell of a talent though

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Hard to say. I don't see much GT potential in any of these guys except for Aru.
Locatelli is promising and I'm curious to see him go against the top dogs.
I like Felline a lot, but at this point I really don't know what kind of rider he will end up being.

Just like Spain future GC guys prospect is not very good right now.

 

[SafeBet]

Just like Spain future GC guys prospect is not very good right now.

True.
Italian cycling problem is not only GTs-related though. It's been years since we last won a monument.


Any news on Kessi's health? It'd be a huge loss for Astana.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

True.
Italian cycling problem is not only GTs-related though. It's been years since we last won a monument.


Any news on Kessi's health? It'd be a huge loss for Astana.

Well, moser is the great white hope for that.

 

[Pippo_San]

Regarding young Italian guns...

# Aru really looks to be the brightest star considering GT potential.

# Locatelli looks set on the right course, one can only hope (but, I don't know why, I'm not so overly confident).

# I don't know what happened with Battaglin. Maybe he was just a fluke who knows, yet I'm sure the guy's got talent, and quite a lot of it yet something seems like it's not working right.

# Epic Moser is a big "if". Could be an amazing champion or a total fluke much like Lovkvist. We'll see, then again I'd say the guy is full of talent, which sparkles through.

# Ulissi is surprising, he's building up veeeeeery slowly, yet you clearly see he's improving with time, and who knows, could be the next Nibbles maybe, he really reminds me of him. He looks much of an attacker also. Really interesting stuff there.

# Same goes for Malori...he's building up veeeeery slowly but he's progressing. Maybe in a couple of season he'll explode and then who knows! I'll pair with him Boaro, the guy could develop something important, he's got some real raw talent there, yet something doesn't work right now.

# Felline is interesting but when he was riding for Giannetti, he looked to be a brighter prospect than he actually is now. He could develop into a mix of Pozzato and Bettini, and he'll probably be worse of both of them.

# Ponzi seems to share some similarities with Felline...interesting but...

# And how about Trentin? He's very highly considered by both Bettini and OPQS. Maybe they know something about him we don't. Could really surprise.

# Malacarne anyone? He's the weirdest of them all, because I really think he doesn't know exactly what kind of rider he wants to become. Maybe when he'll find out, we'll see how much he's worth.

# Watch out for Puccio. Once he masters the marginal gains...

# Rosa just doesn't click me. Looks very mediocre at best if you ask me.

# A couple of season ago there was some mediatic battage regarding Alafaci, dunno why exactly. Anyway he's just being invisible so...

We shouldn't forget Italy also has a great generation of young sprinters starting with Guardini, Viviani, Nizzolo, Modolo and Appollonio. So the future is not SO grim, it's been worse in past years!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

We shouldn't forget Italy also has a great generation of young sprinters starting with Guardini, Viviani, Nizzolo, Modolo and Appollonio. So the future is not SO grim, it's been worse in past years!

Add Pelucchi to that list

 

[SafeBet]

@Pippo: most of the guys you mention are very long shots though. Even a clear talent like Moser could end up being a total fluke.

Ulissi is good stuff indeed. I was very sceptical but he's been gret this year.

 

[spalco]

I fear Wiggins will win this. In 2008, I feared Contador would win, which he did then, but he´s a great rider, so it was OK, though I always prefer Italians to win their domestic GT.

I disagree. I want Italians to win the Giro occasionally, but it helps the race's prestige internationally when non-Italians win imo.

 

[SafeBet]

I disagree. I want Italians to win the Giro occasionally, but it helps the race's prestige internationally when non-Italians win imo.

Though I agree with this in general, I would add that it also depends on who's the italian winning it.

When Basso won it in 2006, riding for CSC and being a worldwide popular rider, the race's prestige didn't decrease a bit (clinic related issues aside).

Would you say the Giro's prestige would decrease if Nibali wins this edition after an epic battle with some strong international competition like Wiggo and Hesjedal?

 

[spalco]

I don't even know how to measure this, but my guess would be that it's better for the Giro if Wiggins wins than Nibali.

I'm sure millions of Canadians got aware of the Giro for the first time last year, but no idea if that has any lasting effects.

The Giro did well for decades with (almost) only Italians winning, so my theory might be nonsense anyway.

 

[SafeBet]

I don't even know how to measure this, but my guess would be that it's better for the Giro if Wiggins wins than Nibali.

That's true. Acquarone would certainly love it

 

[Libertine Seguros]

And this is just another reason to add to the insanely long list of why Zomegnan is better than Acquarone.

He may have been a homer, but Zomegnan would have wanted the course to favour the guy that attacks with 80km remaining in monuments, tries solo attacks from 25km from home in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and attacks on descents three mountains from home in GT stages, rather than actively hoping for the victory of a man who has only attacked once in his whole life, and that was six years ago when he was nothing more than pack fodder.

 

[theyoungest]

And this is just another reason to add to the insanely long list of why Zomegnan is better than Acquarone.

He may have been a homer, but Zomegnan would have wanted the course to favour the guy that attacks with 80km remaining in monuments, tries solo attacks from 25km from home in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and attacks on descents three mountains from home in GT stages, rather than actively hoping for the victory of a man who has only attacked once in his whole life, and that was six years ago when he was nothing more than pack fodder.

You're a romantic and a cycling fan, who doesn't have to bother about economics. Acquarone is a race director who has to save his race in dire economic times. Different vantage point.

The Giro has about 150 accredited journalists following it. The Tour has 1000. Acquarone simply has to spark international interest.

 

[airstream]

And this is just another reason to add to the insanely long list of why Zomegnan is better than Acquarone.

He may have been a homer, but Zomegnan would have wanted the course to favour the guy that attacks with 80km remaining in monuments, tries solo attacks from 25km from home in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and attacks on descents three mountains from home in GT stages, rather than actively hoping for the victory of a man who has only attacked once in his whole life, and that was six years ago when he was nothing more than pack fodder.

Did you see many early attacks while Zomegnan was the Giro director?

 

[Red Rick]

And this is just another reason to add to the insanely long list of why Zomegnan is better than Acquarone.

He may have been a homer, but Zomegnan would have wanted the course to favour the guy that attacks with 80km remaining in monuments, tries solo attacks from 25km from home in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and attacks on descents three mountains from home in GT stages, rather than actively hoping for the victory of a man who has only attacked once in his whole life, and that was six years ago when he was nothing more than pack fodder.

The most true statement I read in a while