2014 Giro D'Italia, stage 1: Belfast › Belfast, 21.7 km (TTT)

[Cimber]

Orica will win

 

[Leonardus]

1. Orica
2. Movistar
3. BMC

But the weather could change everything, so any updates there? Will it be dry, wet, damp or some dangerous combo that will cause a lot of crashes?

 

[deValtos]

Hopefully the GT's bring back prologues next year

 

[cocteau_ireland]

At least with them going along Stranmillis embankment it highlights Belfast's only half-decent bike lane My already futile attempts to get a strava best along there will be a lot harder after though

Must give that route another go myself! Last time I did it was couple of years ago and have dropped from 5th to 20th. Though it is out of 849. Apparently puccio was up in craigantlet hills & smashed all the stravas there.

 

[Midrider]

Hopefully the GT's bring back prologues next year

2015 TdF starts with a 13.7k time trial/prologue. Not very technical though and flat as a pancake!

http://web-aso.engage.augure.com/www/images/4088/ET01.jpg

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think we can slot in some pre race pictures here:

The fight for pink started in the ballroom.

More pictures from the day here: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/giro-d-italia/photos/stage-00/

 

[Netserk]

I would change Roche and Scarponi with Majka and Pozzovivo.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I would change Roche and Scarponi with Majka and Pozzovivo.

Roche is just marketing imo.

For me Boots > Pozzo > Majka still.

 

[willbick]

I think we can slot in some pre race pictures here:

The fight for pink started in the ballroom.

More pictures from the day here: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/giro-d-italia/photos/stage-00/

They should have a special polka dot jersey for normal sized humans

 

[vedrafjord]

I'll be ragin (said in my broadest possible ulster accent) if it is raining!

Ah ya poor wain.

 

[Kwibus]

Ah ya poor wain.

Havoc during the stages in Ireland it seems

Hope the GC contenders stay safe and healthy though.

 

[SafeBet]

Havoc during the stages in Ireland it seems

Hope the GC contenders stay safe and healthy though.

That's the most important thing.
I'd hate losing one contender in these first stages.

 

[VeloHuman]

I would change Roche and Scarponi with Majka and Pozzovivo.

Pozzo is flying way under the radar. The Cyclingnews article about Italian hopes for GC the other day basically said that Italy didn't have one. It did say that the bookmakers' favored Pozzo the most of the Italian riders in the race, but it wasn't very hopeful.

 

[alspacka]

Pozzo is flying way under the radar. The Cyclingnews article about Italian hopes for GC the other day basically said that Italy didn't have one. It did say that the bookmakers' favored Pozzo the most of the Italian riders in the race, but it wasn't very hopeful.

I've got £5 on him at 28/1. Long shot, but he's shown good form and I can't see him finishing lower than 5th GC. With a couple of DNFs, you never know.

 

[Kwibus]

That's the most important thing.
I'd hate losing one contender in these first stages.

Than again it makes the garanteed boring stages more interesting. Allthough not a very hard wind it does look like enough together with the heavy rain to cause echelons or a split bunch. Breakaway surviving etc.

 

[Arnout]

Ah ya poor wain.

Is this normal weather in Ireland?

I mean it's quite bad here, but at least I know what the sun looks like.

 

[Afrank]

I've got £5 on him at 28/1. Long shot, but he's shown good form and I can't see him finishing lower than 5th GC. With a couple of DNFs, you never know.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up on the podium.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Was at city hall there;just watched the girls being walked thru their role. Is there a harder job in cycling than that of holding on to a leather saddle to the countdown of ten? Chapeau ladies, chapeau.

 

[Maesinho]

1. OGE (wins thightly over MOV)
2. MOV
3. ALM (surprise!)
4. AST
5. BMC

 

[the sceptic]

Cannondale to podium

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Live from the team Presentation in Belfast:

http://www.sportlemon.tv/20140506/vv536810cd3ecb75.46854306-814507.html

Green Monsters on the march now.

 

[cycladianpirate]

Live from the team Presentation in Belfast:

http://www.sportlemon.tv/20140506/vv536810cd3ecb75.46854306-814507.html

Green Monsters on the march now.

Thanks for that.

Tipping it down already! Got to be some teams wondering why the hell they chose Ireland in May to start the Giro.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Arashiro out looking for his bike.

 

[CycloAndy]

Thanks for that.

Tipping it down already! Got to be some teams wondering why the hell they chose Ireland in May to start the Giro.

Ireland in July wouldn't have been much better

 

[vedrafjord]

Tipping it down already! Got to be some teams wondering why the hell they chose Ireland in May to start the Giro.

May is generally the sunniest and driest month of the year in Ireland, although the weather is always unpredictable. Here are some graphs that have actually made me pretty depressed I'm not in California any more, now that I look at them.