94th Giro d'Italia May 7 - 29

[roundabout]

Have you ever seen a team control the Giro in the mountains? Maybe back in 2004 when there were 20 sprinting stages lol(hyperbole).

Uh, last year?

 

[El Pistolero]

Uh, last year?

Ah yes, and Davide Arroyo came second because of that amazing control.

 

[roundabout]

Ah yes, and Davide Arroyo came second because of that amazing control.

So Liquigas didn't control the race in the mountains last year?

 

[El Pistolero]

So Liquigas didn't control the race in the mountains last year?

Not like stages are controlled in the Tour, no. Giro has always been harder to control on the mountains and undulating stages.

 

[roundabout]

Sometimes things like that just happen.

Like Kivilev and Simon finishing high on GC in the Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

By the way, Contador's final race before the Giro is going to be FW?

Should be very fresh then.

 

[Publicus]

TTT is not particularly important and a rider who's been finishing in the last group for most part of April isn't much help in the mountains

He's done that intentionally, apparently. Saving his legs for final TT. He actually rode pretty well for AC on the Queen Stage at Castilla y Leon (lasted longer than Navarro).

They'll take 1 minute max, in a 20 k TT. This doesn't really look like a team that could control the race in the mountains, except for Dani Navarro, and Hernandez, to a lesser extent.

I don't know if I would want to have the responsibility ever. The fewer days your team is responsible for bringing back the break, the better.

So Liquigas didn't control the race in the mountains last year?

Absolutely. Not sure anyone can debate that point--with a straight face.

 

[Ryaguas]

Dude Contador and Michele look fit as Hell...
If I were Il Squalo I would be really scare right now...
Contador with the ideal program I think... Riis did a very good job there...
mmmmm Porte in Il Giro? wow... that was unexpected... Do you think that He was who ask to ride it?
SBS with a great team now... They won't control the race cuz Il Giro is uncontrollabe but Contador will be very well protected...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Right, now Andrea Guardini's going, let's take a bet on which stages he can make it to the end on!

I see 4 stages with flat enough profiles for him - 2, 6, 10 and 12. 12 would be likely the best for him as it's the shortest of them and we don't know what he can do beyond 200km or so. On the other hand, 12 is after more days' racing than he's ever done before, and more climbing than he's ever done before. And to tell the truth, I don't like his chances of making the time cut on Etna.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm still baffled by Porte. I thought his freshness will be better in July in case Contador is riding his second consecutive Grand Tour. Also I thought Porte's freshness would be good for Riis to use him as a potential leader if Contador isn't eligible to ride. Very strange decision.

Guardini. That was expected. He will pull out on the first rest day.

 

[roundabout]

I'll be surprised if he isn't dropped on stage 6, he seems to be that bad at climbing.

I do wonder if Guardini riding might be enough of an incentive for organizers to include more flat (pancake flat?) stages in the future.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'll be surprised if he isn't dropped on stage 6, he seems to be that bad at climbing.

I do wonder if Guardini riding might be enough of an incentive for organizers to include more flat (pancake flat?) stages in the future.

That's my fear too, remembering Ale-Jet's 9 stages in 2004.

On the other hand, hopefully getting a bit older and stronger will make Guardini more able to climb. At the moment he's getting dropped by van Hummel, but he has Cav's express pace at the end, provided it isn't too far or too bumpy.

 

[Ferminal]

I'm still baffled by Porte. I thought his freshness will be better in July in case Contador is riding his second consecutive Grand Tour. Also I thought Porte's freshness would be good for Riis to use him as a potential leader if Contador isn't eligible to ride. Very strange decision.

Guardini. That was expected. He will pull out on the first rest day.

Maybe Riis has revised what to expect from Porte in July, given his season to date.

Not that Bertie really needs the help, but maybe helping him get the win in the Giro is worth sacrificing Porte's 15-25th in the Tour.

Or they are concerned about Porte's progress, and want to get some serious mountains in his legs. I will be surprised if he doesn't pull out at some stage during the killer weekend. Keeping him in the whole race would suggest they have given up on him getting a reasonable GC finish in July.

 

[Havetts]

At the moment he's getting dropped by van Hummel,

Uh oh, that means he'll NEVER make the Etna.

 

[Sasquatch]

Maybe Riis has revised what to expect from Porte in July, given his season to date.

Not that Bertie really needs the help, but maybe helping him get the win in the Giro is worth sacrificing Porte's 15-25th in the Tour.

Or they are concerned about Porte's progress, and want to get some serious mountains in his legs. I will be surprised if he doesn't pull out at some stage during the killer weekend. Keeping him in the whole race would suggest they have given up on him getting a reasonable GC finish in July.

Yeah that's true.

I do think he will pull out at some stage. If he completes the Giro we know they will be looking at Sorensen for the Tour. I mean, Porte at best in the Tour would do 15-30. Sorensen will probably do 20-40 so not much difference.

Then again, the Tour's climbing is **** poor and the riders that do the Giro will probably be able to handle the Tour.

 

[Eshnar]

I'll be surprised if he isn't dropped on stage 6, he seems to be that bad at climbing.

I do wonder if Guardini riding might be enough of an incentive for organizers to include more flat (pancake flat?) stages in the future.

no.
You can easily forget to see more than 6 sprints per year in the Giro in the next 20 years.
2004 was the first Giro by Zomegnan (if I remember well). he was hugely criticised by almost everyone, so he decided to f*ck the sprinters and put in the Giro all those bumps even in the flat stages.
in 2009 he retried to make an easy Giro, and was criticised even more than 2004... I'm pretty sure he has definitely understood.
Plus, TV ratings of flat stages (in Italy) are mortally low.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

2004 was the first Giro by Zomegnan (if I remember well). he was hugely criticised by almost everyone, so he decided to f*ck the sprinters and put in the Giro all those bumps even in the flat stages.
in 2009 he retried to make an easy Giro, and was criticised even more than 2004... I'm pretty sure he has definitely understood.
Plus, TV ratings of flat stages (in Italy) are mortally low.

You know, I always loved Italy... May have to seek out a new life in the Südtirol.

 

[K-0tic]

What about Kevin Seeldrayers from Quick-Step btw? He'll not make it up to the top-5 but he'll surely be their man for the GC. Any thoughts about him?

 

[Sasquatch]

What about Kevin Seeldrayers from Quick-Step btw? He'll not make it up to the top-5 but he'll surely be their man for the GC. Any thoughts about him?

If he's on form he will do a top 10. Probably squeeze somewhere between 8th and 15th.

 

[Reuell]

Yeah sure, Kevin is a mentally undevelopped rider who is so insecure he will never ride to his full potential.
If he rides top 20, he will amaze me

 

[Eshnar]

Anyway, it seems that the "Processo Alla Tappa" (the RAI stage review) will feature Eddy Merckx as permanent guest

 

[hrotha]

Maybe Porte was selected because Larsson is sick/injured/unfit/unable to ride for personal reasons?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8283/No-Giro-dItalia-for-Guardini-after-all.aspx

Seems it was a hard decision but probably the right one. If a week of the flats and being dropped on the minor bumps of Anatolia has left him tired, he'll be eaten alive in the Giro. This way he can get a rest then come back for the July-August-September races.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Anyway, it seems that the "Processo Alla Tappa" (the RAI stage review) will feature Eddy Merckx as permanent guest

Any idea why Rai Sport 2 don't appear to be showing any cycling next week?
Surprised we aren't getting replays of a load of classic tappi.

Porte in sounds like it's all the Saxo eggs going into the Giro basket.
All bets for the Tour are now CASt off.

 

[meandmygitane]

Porte in sounds like it's all the Saxo eggs going into the Giro basket.
All bets for the Tour are now CASt off.

Maybe Larsson is the GC back-up, sort of, for Contador in the Tour? Of course if Contador is clear to ride it, then Larsson will be demoted to go for a TT-stage and being a domestique.

I know Larsson has a 14th place from the Giro but it's highly unlikely he'll fare any better in TdF, but Saxo doesn't have much cards to play in case of Conta-ban.

If all eggs go to the Giro basket should they get a chicken for TdF?