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

[Libertine Seguros]

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

Notwithstanding the usual break-of-the-day characters, over the last 5 years we've had:

2012 - only de Gendt, maybe Cunego in the same stage

with Zomegnan:
2011 - Rodríguez and Arroyo three mountains out on Giau, Nibali on Giau descent, Rujano on Finestre
2010 - Vino and Sastre in the group on Gavia, Nibali/Scarponi/Basso on Mortirolo, and of course the whole group of peripheral contenders to L'Aquila
2009 - Garzelli over Moncenisio and Sestrières
2008 - Emanuele Sella, like, every day, di Luca and Riccò to Monte Pora, Nibali over Giau and Falzarego

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

Well, why doesn't every single race just consist of a bunch of pancake flat stages for Cavendish and a couple of ITTs to make sure Wiggins wins, and take advantage of that lovely "international interest"?

Maybe that's where the Spanish races that keep going under are going wrong - not making them tailor-made for the guys from the new fad countries to win.

 

[spalco]

Just for the record, I'm not saying races should be designed with any particular rider in mind, whether positively or negatively, and attacking should always be enouraged.

All I meant was, that given the course is what it is anyway, riders from different countries winning is good for a race like the Giro. On the other hand, a certain level of local enthusiasm is necessary also; a French guy winning the Tour again someday will be excellent for example.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Notwithstanding the usual break-of-the-day characters, over the last 5 years we've had:

...
2008 - Emanuele Sella, like, every day, di Luca and Riccò to Monte Pora, Nibali over Giau and Falzarego

Yeah, those Sella and Riccò attacks are something I really miss.

 

[theyoungest]

Well, why doesn't every single race just consist of a bunch of pancake flat stages for Cavendish and a couple of ITTs to make sure Wiggins wins, and take advantage of that lovely "international interest"?

It's a fine balance. As it stands, this course is far from tailor made for Wiggo, but still suited enough to lure him in. And to say that this Giro is purposefully designed to attract Cav is plain nonsense, as you can guess yourself from one look at the profiles. You could say the first stage was altered to make it still somewhat interesting for him to show up.

Maybe that's where the Spanish races that keep going under are going wrong - not making them tailor-made for the guys from the new fad countries to win.

No. It's even worse. They can't even attract sponsors from Spain itself. Imagine how little other countries care.

 

[Eshnar]

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.

Yeah Zomegnan would have literally hated to see LA win the Giro in 2009... surely.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

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.

Nonsense. Brad will mostly have his team on the front, smashing the race to smithereens. You may not like it, but that's one long, constant attack.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yeah, those Sella and Riccò attacks are something I really miss.

Yea, attacking cycling isn't possible from clean riders. Guys like Monco... oh wait.

Well, at least the more conservative style of racing is an indication of increased cleanliness in the péloton, as after all attacks were the legacy of the doping era, which is why riders like Leiphei... oh wait.

 

[spalco]

To be fair, you explicitely mentioned Sella, Ricco and Di Luca who probably haven't been clean a day in their lives after the age of 12 or so.

 

[whittashau]

To be fair, you explicitely mentioned Sella, Ricco and Di Luca who probably haven't been clean a day in their lives after the age of 12 or so.

But the year was 2008. Almost all of the successful riders then were not clean, and the clean riders probably didn't have a chance to do longer attacks due to the epo-boosted peloton.

 

[Netserk]

And I think you all know where such a discussion belongs.

 

[cineteq]

Pre race favorites GC
Wiggins
Nibali +14
Santambroggio +22
Scarponi +22
Hesjedal +25
Gesink +28
Evans +38
Sanchez +1.01

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Pre race favorites GC
Wiggins
Nibali +14
Santambroggio +22
Scarponi +22
Hesjedal +25
Gesink +28
Evans +38
Sanchez +1.01

Delfino +46

 

[cineteq]

Delfino +46

Sorry I forgot about him, should I have included Machado as well?

 

[SundayRider]

As expected today - Sky, to have pink until the end of the race no doubt

 

[SafeBet]

Pre race favorites GC
Wiggins
Nibali +14
Santambroggio +22
Scarponi +22
Hesjedal +25
Gesink +28
Evans +38
Sanchez +1.01

Benat +9..

 

[cineteq]

Benat +9..

Sure, why not?

Pre race favorites GC
Wiggins
Intxausti +9
Nibali +14
Santambroggio +22
Scarponi +22
Hesjedal +25
Gesink +28
Evans +38
Sanchez +1.01

 

[jens_attacks]

Sorry I forgot about him, should I have included Machado as well?

it doesn't work that way

savio is not iznougood

and savio said delfino will target the overall podium. and he's in superb shape indeed il tricolore

 

[saneguy]

After looking at yesterday's TTT, Sky look seriously too good for the rest of the field. But come the mountains I am not sure baring Uran and Henao who will be left with Wiggo to help him. Wiggins will miss Froome. Sets the stage right for Nibali and others.

I think some of the teams will keep attacking the Sky Train. Week 1 and Week 2 they will get through pretty unscatched but Week 3? Have serious doubts. And if Wiggins has to keep defending himself it will take a toll and someone then surely will take advantage.

I dont know whether I am simply building these sand castles in my head just to get excited. Is this realistic at all? Loving all the prospects for this Giro. Just hope at least some of the scenarios works out and its not just Sky Train all the way.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Uran, Henao and Wiggins is 3 riders. That's still probably more than most teams will have at that point, unless Vini Fantini go totally nuts.

 

[theyoungest]

Yea, attacking cycling isn't possible from clean riders. Guys like Monco... oh wait.

Well, at least the more conservative style of racing is an indication of increased cleanliness in the péloton, as after all attacks were the legacy of the doping era, which is why riders like Leiphei... oh wait.

Moncoutié was a breakaway rider. Leipheimer was a GC rider. Pointless comparison.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

After looking at yesterday's TTT, Sky look seriously too good for the rest of the field. But come the mountains I am not sure baring Uran and Henao who will be left with Wiggo to help him. Wiggins will miss Froome. Sets the stage right for Nibali and others.

I think some of the teams will keep attacking the Sky Train. Week 1 and Week 2 they will get through pretty unscatched but Week 3? Have serious doubts. And if Wiggins has to keep defending himself it will take a toll and someone then surely will take advantage.

I dont know whether I am simply building these sand castles in my head just to get excited. Is this realistic at all? Loving all the prospects for this Giro. Just hope at least some of the scenarios works out and its not just Sky Train all the way.

Knees, Xandio, Siutsov & Cataldo are more than enough to bring Uran, Henao & Wiggins to the bottom of the last climb, which will be more than sufficient.

If anyone wants to play early and drop those guys, the end result will be Uran, Henao, Wiggins, and no more than 1 man per team for everyone else.

Cataldo & Siutsov both have high overall placings here before.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Moncoutié was a breakaway rider. Leipheimer was a GC rider. Pointless comparison.

It serves to illustrate the point that it is wrong to conflate more boring racing with cleaner racing on the basis that people attacking left right and centre were all doping. Because many of those who were racing boring in those days were dirty too.

We see people justifying dull racing again and again with the "would you rather go back to the days of doped riders launching all over the place?" - but it is rather too convenient a division. "Attacking racing = doping. Dull racing = clean". Not so.

 

[jens_attacks]

libertine i think you embarass moncoucou with those thoughts.
next pick

 

[cineteq]

Pre-race favorites GC
Stage 3

WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING)
INTXAUSTI, Benat (MOVISTAR TEAM) +9
NIBALI, Vincenzo (ASTANA PRO TEAM) +14
HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN SHARP) +17
SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro (VINI FANTINI) +22
EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) +25
GESINK, Robert (BLANCO PRO CYCLING) +28
SANCHEZ, Samuel (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) +1.01
SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE) +1.06