Giro d'Italia 2024 Giro d'Italia pre-race poll: Best of the Rest?

[Brullnux]

Yes. When I started watching the race, riders like Simoni, Savoldelli, Cunego, Scarponi, Di Luca, Mazzoleni, Garzelli, Pellizotti, Sella etc. were still relevant and would always target the race at 100%. That was THE big objective every year. I don't even know what Italy has to offer anymore, but more or less since the early 10's, I feel like that has not been the case apart from Nibali and then a few decent riders here and there. The level is just too low and maybe some clinic stuff? I don't know, but you're completely right that you always had a chunk of very good Italian riders targetting the race. Very similar to the Vuelta in a around that time.

I do think that guy Tiberi might a rider to follow who will follow such a pattern of targetting the race over and over and being competitive. He seems talented enough along with maybe some of the other youngsters?

I feel like italian cycling has a recent habit of people who look good at 18-21, but go no further. I don't know if that's true, but I feel like there's quite a few u21 riders who win stuff at age group level but struggle to break past that

 

[ingsve]

Yes. When I started watching the race, riders like Simoni, Savoldelli, Cunego, Scarponi, Di Luca, Mazzoleni, Garzelli, Pellizotti, Sella etc. were still relevant and would always target the race at 100%. That was THE big objective every year. I don't even know what Italy has to offer anymore, but more or less since the early 10's, I feel like that has not been the case apart from Nibali and then a few decent riders here and there. The level is just too low and maybe some clinic stuff? I don't know, but you're completely right that you always had a chunk of very good Italian riders targetting the race. Very similar to the Vuelta in a around that time.

I do think that guy Tiberi might a rider to follow who will follow such a pattern of targetting the race over and over and being competitive. He seems talented enough along with maybe some of the other youngsters?

Ya, I think the clinic stuff more than anything disillussioned italians about the sport in general. Back in the early 2000s Italy had 7 teams in the top 20 ranking with several lesser teams that also got Giro invites. Even Quickstep used to be Italian before the merger with Domo - Farm Frites. Since then it has steadily declined until now when they only have 3 Proteams and none of them are in the top 20.

 

[ingsve]

I feel like italian cycling has a recent habit of people who look good at 18-21, but go no further. I don't know if that's true, but I feel like there's quite a few u21 riders who win stuff at age group level but struggle to break past that

Looking at past top 3s of Giro Baby and l'Avenir there are some who had good careers but were never top GT riders like Cataldo and Cattaneo. Then there were lots who never had much of a career at all like Caddeo, Santoro, Agostini, Penasa and Ravasi. Then some like Aleotti and Colleoni who are still up in the air but they are at least still in the WT though nowhere near being GT riders and then of course the latest pair in Pellizari and Piganzoli who still have an unknown future.

The only good Italian GT rider to top 3 one of those races in the past 20 years was Fabio Aru but even his time at the top was rather short.

 

[Earns1985]

Wow, the previous startlist is out and the GC field is sooo weak, I really don´t know, what I should think about it.

There is no other rider of the best I would say 10 best GC riders in the current peleton here. (One could perhaps argue about Thomas, when he is in top shape, but ok)

Pogacar could ride this race with 85% of his maximum potential and he would still win this. If he is doing it, that would mean that he could still start with absolute top shape at the Tour de France, which would not be the case, when he would have to go to his limit at the giro.

If I would be Bora, I would send a more serious contender to the giro (Vlasov or Hindley) just for the reason, that Pogacar has to really go to his limit here to win this, so that he would be more fatigued, when he starts the tour, which would increase Roglic chances..

 

[Potomac]

The win will be so dominant that 2nd and 3rd places won't be awarded.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Jose Rujano doesn't belong into this list at all. The coffee planter was a big cycling talent actually.

The 2005 Giro d'Italia had a stellar field. Basso, Cunego, Simoni, Savoldelli, Di Luca. Even Garate who finished 5th at least has beaten Honchar who was 2nd in 2004. Hard and aggressive racing as well. Guys like Zubeldia & Sanchez came with ambitions for Euskatels first Giro d'Italia participation and were surprised by / not prepared for the high level racing they whitenessed at the 2005 Giro d'Italia!

Colombia Sella Italia was flying that year and certainly well prepared. Due to the sponsorship paycheck from Corratec!

Jose Rujano was a talented, pocket climber (weighting around 50 kg), who won the queen stage then. That Giro 2005 edition was brutal and high level. I definitely expected way more from him back in 2005 but he only had one more noticeable result in Europe (6th in Giro 2011 with a stage victory) with most of successes achieved in South America.

 

[Netserk]

Wow, the previous startlist is out

No Gee-ro

Potential top-10 riders not named in the poll: Juampe López, Woods, Carthy, Hirt, Storer, Poole(?), Dunbar, Pozzovivo, Pellizzari.

I somewhat expect Astana to actually deliver, Fortunato and Scaroni can win a stage.

 

[Sciatic]

Ya, I think the clinic stuff more than anything disillussioned italians about the sport in general. Back in the early 2000s Italy had 7 teams in the top 20 ranking with several lesser teams that also got Giro invites. Even Quickstep used to be Italian before the merger with Domo - Farm Frites. Since then it has steadily declined until now when they only have 3 Proteams and none of them are in the top 20.

Could be—but there was also a major recession near-depression (2008 +) that probably had an impact on cycling team financing as well.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Apparently the Giro organizers care very much about riders' safety and in order to slow down the race and make it more competitive the top favorite will have to ride a special bike. Add Teddy to the poll, the race should be exciting!

Spoiler

 

[Andre]

I think Uijtdebroeks will get his act together and podium. I don't think he will lose all that much time in the ITTs against Bardet and O'Connor.

I'm also going with Cian...and if Tadej has a mishap, then Cian for the win.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Cian is one of the most overrated gc riders in the world. God, he sucks so much. He is another Zubeldia

 

[Froome]

Cian is one of the most overrated gc riders in the world. God, he sucks so much. He is another Zubeldia

Imagine calling someone overrated with just 21 years, in his second season in WT, after a top 10 in La Vuelta.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Imagine calling someone overrated with just 21 years, in his second season in WT, after a top 10 in La Vuelta.

Remco was already overrated at 18.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

I voted for Bardet , more with my heart than head but maybe Allaphilipe will have a very good Giro ..not beyond the realms of possibility

 

[Escarabajo]

Let's be honest, all we are doing is projecting last year's performance into this year. Even though, we don't believe He will have the same performance. The challenge, if any, will come from somewhere else most likely.

 

[Froome]

Arensman.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Imagine calling someone overrated with just 21 years, in his second season in WT, after a top 10 in La Vuelta.

Yeah and If I have to call him overrated again, I will. If his legs were as good as his mouth, he would be better than Pogacar.

 

[Froome]

Yeah and If I have to call him overrated again, I will. If his legs were as good as his mouth, he would be better than Pogacar.

Do you know who is really overrated? Joao Almeida.

 

[YavorD]

Do you know who is really overrated? Joao Almeida.

Not really, no. Everyone thinks he's top 3-5 contender ot most and he is there... abouts.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Not really, no. Everyone thinks he's top 3-5 contender ot most and he is there... abouts.

Forget it. He was trying to annoy me because he knows I'm portuguese. But in fact, I agree with him, João is overrated (and I know you are "tuga" too @Froome )

 

[SHAD0W93]

Do you know who is really overrated? Joao Almeida.

Most over, under, and properly rated rider in the peloton honestly.

 

[Sciatic]

Most over, under, and properly rated rider in the peloton honestly.

I thought there was a thread for that anyways?

 

[SHAD0W93]

I thought there was a thread for that anyways?

The way these last few weeks going, it’s the Wild CyclingNews West for what goes where.

 

[SafeBet]

There is no other rider of the best I would say 10 best GC riders in the current peleton here. (One could perhaps argue about Thomas, when he is in top shape, but ok)

Thomas has podiumed the last two GTs he's targeted, one of them being the Tour, so him being a top10 GT rider is not really a debate.

 

[Earns1985]

Thomas has podiumed the last two GTs he's targeted, one of them being the Tour, so him being a top10 GT rider is not really a debate.

Well he is 37, he had an unprofessional winter and his shape in the spring wasn´t top10 GT.

Yes, this also had been the case last year. But I wouldn´t take it for granted, that his level in this years giro will be the same like last year. But of course, I would be happy, if I am wrong about this.