94th Giro d'Italia May 7 - 29

[greenedge]

weak line ups from BMC, LEOPARD, RABOBANK, OMEGA and QUICKSTEP. Androni should have Monsalve in there too.

 

[Ferminal]

I actually like Radioshack's team for the Giro.

It's relatively devoid of the the older riders. Unless they try a silly "ride for Popo" strategy, we may be able to see some more interesting riding then they normally put forth at GT's.

Machado, Deignan, Hermans, Rovny... I'm curious to see what those guys do here. Hunter and McEwen for the sprints too... it's not the normal one-dimensional team that's common for Bruyneel.

Yeh, I think it's a reasonable squad.

Missing one of their "big 4" doesn't take too much away from it, as Machado will be better to watch than all of them except maybe Horner.

 

[luckyboy]

Looking at stage 3 that Passo del bocco is wierd. A 80km climb is what it looks like.

Yeah that is weird. It should be more like this..

Also I see they forgot the Scanuppia circuit race I asked them for.

 

[Ferminal]

First time I have noticed this - the very end of stage 15 is unsealed.

 

[El Pistolero]

Haha, looking at Rabo's team. Now that's an even bigger joke than some other teams in the Giro. Their leader will fail to make the time cut on the first stage that has a hill in it that goes over 6%.

(Yes, it's a hyperbole)

 

[The Hitch]

Ah **** i forgot to look at whether Cav is doing this.

Turns out he is, thats good news and should not be ignored. Could on him for asking to do the Giro even though its hard for him. Hell be stupid not to leave by stage 13, but I wonder if hell have troubles making time limit on stage 9.

I suppose he wont care though. They can just take away points from points jersey comp or something, let him stay in to win a stage and then leave again.

 

[El Pistolero]

I think everyone that fails to meet the time cut should be thrown out, no matter how big the group is.

Would be funny if for example Alberto Contador had a super team(he hasn't got one) and made the pace so hard on one of the mountain stages that more than half of the peloton would be thrown out the race. Now that would be amazing and I hope it happens some day

 

[The Hitch]

I think everyone that fails to meet the time cut should be thrown out, no matter how big the group is.

Would be funny if for example Alberto Contador had a super team(he hasn't got one) and made the pace so hard on one of the mountain stages that more than half of the peloton would be thrown out the race. Now that would be amazing and I hope it happens some day

Contador doesnt need his own team for that. Androni can do it for him, just follow Rujanos wheel, then fly out after that.

 

[luckyboy]

Looks like Geox have the only team capable of going that hard.

 

[Ryaguas]

What is the queen stage though?

20! Finestre et Sestrieres!

WTF? They're bringing multiple Giro stage winner Bennati. And I'd rate Zaugg higher as a GT rider than Löfkvist, TBH. Wegmann is a decent finisher on an uphill kick.

They should at least put Hillary S.w.a.n.k in that list!!!

Why are BMC even bothering to show up with that worthless crappy team?

BMC is a classics team... I dont blame them for having a team without a GC man... but that team is way better that I expected!
But Leotard-sheet is a facking disgrace... and They called themselves "true racing"? pffff... with the team that They have They should put in that team Fuglsang and Hillary S.w.a.n.k... and then if They want use them as Domestiques in Le Tour but If I were Zomegman I'd revoke their invitation and kick them in their ar$es...
From OPL you can't expect too much, they are a classics team too and his GC man is going to Le Tour...

Well... enough with the hating... mmmmm Demonios...! Betancourt didnt make the selection for Il Giro! not even as a domestique!
mmm another poll will be great... maybe asking which team will win more stages?

Oh... Riis is reserving the Sorensens for Le Tour? I thought that at least 1 of them would be riding Il Giro...

 

[The Hitch]

Looks like Geox have the only team capable of going that hard.

I dont know. Niemiec is starting to look a lot like Szmyd, only Sella could beat Ulisi in Bartoli and Spillack held his own in a break of Menchov Anton and Valverde in Romandie.

Marzano and Malori are good climbers too.

And Androni, well do they have any none climbers?

 

[hfer07]

Looks like Geox have the only team capable of going that hard.

and either Sastre or Menchov better be ready for it-otherwise let my man Duarte take over the reigns

 

[luckyboy]

I dont know. Niemiec is starting to look a lot like Szmyd, only Sella could beat Ulisi in Bartoli and Spillack held his own in a break of Menchov Anton and Valverde in Romandie.

Marzano and Malori are good climbers too.

And Androni, well do they have any none climbers?

Geox only have Kozontchuk who can't climb. Don't really know anything about him otherwise.

Yeah Lampre look good too.

Few guys on Androni I don't know much about - Ferrari is more a hilly rider than a climber I think, Ermeti isn't a climber (that I know of), and De Marchi I know nothing about.


Thing is, I don't know how most of the Geox guys TT. It's always harder to remember how people TT vs how they climb.

 

[greatking88]

I actually like Radioshack's team for the Giro.

It's relatively devoid of the the older riders. Unless they try a silly "ride for Popo" strategy, we may be able to see some more interesting riding then they normally put forth at GT's.

Machado, Deignan, Hermans, Rovny... I'm curious to see what those guys do here. Hunter and McEwen for the sprints too... it's not the normal one-dimensional team that's common for Bruyneel.

Yeah I agree, Deignan seems to be coming into good form and staying healthy..think he might grab a stage win in a breakaway and a top 20 Heres hoping And v interesting to see Machado in a three week race..

 

[luckyboy]

Was just about to ask why Betancourt wasn't starting but then I realised he's only 21.

 

[luckyboy]

Finally found this video again - Pantani singing about the Giro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddDyakMniSs

I have no idea what he's singing, but he seems to be bigging up this great race. Actually sounds pretty good from 30secs onwards (the female 'pedalas' voice).

RIP

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

such a good field!
Top 10 will be very difficult to crack here

And such a monster course.

Anyway I will be supporting Scarponi

 

[auscyclefan94]

I hope the BMC team does not camp in italy, I like their team much better than the one ACF suggested expect them to create some havoc in the breakaways. anyway I think contador will win but I will support someone else have not decided who yet.

Yes I am quite happy with the team

Glad to see BMC have put in a much better line up than the shower ACF predicted.

Hehe, I am very glad to. Giro is always exciting. I very much look forward to it.

EDIT:Thanks Ferminal for putting the thread together. Would of been fiddly.

 

[dlwssonic]

so anyone got ideas for KOM winner

 

[Squire]

so anyone got ideas for KOM winner

Haven't seen anyone stating the KoM jersey as a goal, but I bet Wegmann will have a go. Sella too.

If they lose out on the GC early in the race, I can see Pozzovivo, Machado, Garzelli, Gadret and possibly Rujano targeting the green jersey.

You also have aggressive riders like De Greef, Cataldo, Duarte, Nieve, Rohregger or Valls who may find themselves in a Lloyd position after the first few mountain stages, and decide to defend their KoM jersey.

I think my money would be on Sella though.

With all that said, I wouldn't be surprised to see Contador win it because of all the MTFs. A bit unsure about the points system.

 

[auscyclefan94]

so anyone got ideas for KOM winner

Garzelli might go for it. One of the Androni guys (Sella, Rujano, Serpa). Tschopp or Pozzovivo. Any of the overall gc guys will have a chance.

GC riders
Anton
Menchov
Rodriguez
Scarponi
Nibali
Contador

then we have some outsiders
Carrara
Kreuziger
Sastre
Machado
Lofvkist
Seeldrayers
Kiserlovski
Tiralongo
Arroyo
Szmyd
Cobo
Pozzovivo


Sprinters
Ferrari
Kristoff
Modolo
Cavendish
Renshaw
Petacchi
Bennati
Ciolek
Bos
Farrar
Cardoso
Hunter
McEwen
Bozic
Ventoso

 

[jaylew]

Add Ventoso to your sprinters list.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Add Ventoso to your sprinters list.

I suspect he will take a couple of stages too.

After stage 12, I suspect a bunch of them to quit

 

[dlwssonic]

Its a pity that morabito isnt participating he might have gotten a top 10 in the GC. him and evans are the only GC riders in BMC.

 

[Ryaguas]

so anyone got ideas for KOM winner

I can see Kiriyienka targeting KOM besides the stage win...
Other big contender would be Rujano He took it in 2005 also finishing in 3rd place... I think that He could target GC and KOM too... but La Maillot vert could be a goal with so many MTF...