94th Giro d'Italia May 7 - 29

[El Pistolero]

The point is you can do that with almost every country.

France, take away Chavanel, Peraud
Italy, take away Pinotti, Malori, Nibali - only Quinziato, Bruseghin left
Belgium, take away Monfort, Devolder, Rosseler
Netherlands, take away Stamsnijder, Boom, Westra
Russia, take away Menchov, Gusev, Karpets - only Ignatiev left
Germany, take away Martin, Grabsch, Klöden - only Lang, Gretsch left
UK, take away Millar, Wiggins, Thomas - only Dowsett left
Australia, take away Porte, Rogers, Bobridge - still very good in depth
USA, take away Zabriskie, Leipheimer, Phinney

You can actually argue that Spain is a quite decent time trial country. At least most countries will struggle to top10 the Worlds without their three best TTers.

I know I'm very off topic. And this is as much of an exercise in identifying TT strength as an attempt to prove you wrong.

But that's not my point. I never said anything about removing the best from other countries. In South America only south Americans race with some Spaniards. In Europe all kinds of nationalities compete in time trials. The Colombians can't beat Contador or Lulu/Guttierez hence I left them out. With them taken out you have no good time-trialists and beating them doesn't say that much about your tt strength. Don't argue against the point.

I'm not saying Spain as a nation sucks in time trials(I'm saying they don't have a time trial tradition), they still have Contador and Lulu. But there's not much glory to be found in beating the other Spainiards. Doing well in a time trial in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon without beating the likes of Richie Porte, Contador, etc doesn't really indicate all that much. Especially when the big guns aren't even in their peak form.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Héctor Guerra was a very good time triallist and I miss him. Rubén Plaza's 2005 Vuelta TT was close to the fastest ever recorded at the time I believe.

Still, with Lulu and Contador not entering, at the Mendrisio Worlds Spain had José Iván Gutiérrez and Héctor Guerra as their representatives in the ITT, which is a pretty solid pair, but after Guerra's positive at the Volta Juanjó Cobo (!!!!!) was given the second slot.

 

[Duartista]

Héctor Guerra was a very good time triallist and I miss him. Rubén Plaza's 2005 Vuelta TT was close to the fastest ever recorded at the time I believe.

Still, with Lulu and Contador not entering, at the Mendrisio Worlds Spain had José Iván Gutiérrez and Héctor Guerra as their representatives in the ITT, which is a pretty solid pair, but after Guerra's positive at the Volta Juanjó Cobo (!!!!!) was given the second slot.

Does anyone know if Cobo has had any health problems or anything since 2009? His decline really has been steep, even taking into account the obvious. He lost 17 minutes today on a fairly routine stage in Trentino.

 

[hrotha]

Does anyone know if Cobo has had any health problems or anything since 2009? His decline really has been steep, even taking into account the obvious. He lost 17 minutes today on a fairly routine stage in Trentino.

By all accounts he's as much of a professional as Ivan Quaranta.

 

[The Hitch]

Rodriguez has shown twice last year in the space of 3 months that he can last 3 weeks without cracking.

TDF last year he was the third best climber in the race behind Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador.

I know the media dont pay much attention to Samu, but come one, Samu was clearly the best of the rest in the climbs. No way was Rodriguez above him in last years tour.

 

[Duartista]

By all accounts he's as much of a professional as Ivan Quaranta.

In that case, I wonder if Geox will even take him to the Giro? This is their pre-selection:

Mauricio Ardila, David Blanco, Gianpaolo Cheula, Juan Jose Cobo, Fabio Duarte, Arkaitz Duran, Dmitriy Kozontchuk, Denis Menchov, Daniele Ratto, Carlos Sastre, Rafael Valls, Marcel Wyss

They said that Trentino would help decide the final selection, in which case Cobo ought to be worried.

Although thinking about it, none of those riders have really shown any form this year apart from Duarte and Menchov.

 

[The Hitch]

Spain doesn't even have good time trial specialists besides Contador and Lulu.

Agreed.

I think if Spain had a time trialist that could beat Menchov in a long time trial in 2007 and come second in 2009 time trial then they could say they have a good time trialer.

Oh wait

Valverde is also very good.

 

[The Hitch]

Probly all of you already know it, but the combo Crostis/Sterrato/Descent/Zoncolan is something more than awesome
Pretty sure those are the hardest 50 Kms ever

The big question though is, will eurosport show the stage? if so, only the last 10km???

 

[jens_attacks]

oh man who cares about damn eurosport?i want to see it whole on rai,from si gira to anteprima to processo alla tappa.fresh interview of nibali just after he lost ten minutes to rujano on zoncolan,alessandra de stefano congratulating di luca for wearing maglia rosa and so on.i hope there will be good streams for this.
and for the race,gazzeta live should be all good.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Does anyone know if Cobo has had any health problems or anything since 2009? His decline really has been steep, even taking into account the obvious. He lost 17 minutes today on a fairly routine stage in Trentino.

He's already scored ∞ more points this year than last year... reuniting with what he knew before has reignited his ability to finish races.

Caisse also didn't bother taking him to anything major in the second half of the season after he was so abysmal in the first half of it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Does anyone know if Cobo has had any health problems or anything since 2009? His decline really has been steep, even taking into account the obvious. He lost 17 minutes today on a fairly routine stage in Trentino.

the guy is mentally about as weak as vdb was in his last days. it;'s very unfortunate because he's an out of this world talent. and not it had nothign to do with dope

 

[Duartista]

By all accounts he's as much of a professional as Ivan Quaranta.

He's already scored ∞ more points this year than last year... reuniting with what he knew before has reignited his ability to finish races.

Caisse also didn't bother taking him to anything major in the second half of the season after he was so abysmal in the first half of it.

the guy is mentally about as weak as vdb was in his last days. it;'s very unfortunate because he's an out of this world talent. and not it had nothign to do with dope

So it's something in his head rather than physical problems.
Looking at his results this year, he started off well but seems to have been going downhill since early February, which isn't very encouraging.

 

[auscyclefan94]

And the other riders on your list have?



And the other riders on your list arent?



And the other riders on your list have?

Seriously ACF what have you got against these guys. You similarly left Sella out of the list for Trentino on the basis that "he was a doper" while including Schumacher and Garzelli

Riders of note is different to riders who might win a stage. If Sella wasn't in a breakaway he would of not featured in the finishes with the big boys in the mountain stages. Schumacher and Garzelli are more of 'note' because what they have done in the past.

Tour of Langkawi
1. MONSALVE PERTSINIDIS Yonathan Alejandro AND 30h08'57"
2. NIÑO CORREDOR Libardo L2A 05"
3. SELLA Emanuele AND 24"
4. VAN NIEKERK Dennis MTN 25"
5. EMEMI Rahim IUA 25"

Pierre Rolland and Pozzovivo were the only other riders of note of which they finished below him. not a bad result but doesn't indicate anything for the giro.

Giro di Sardegna
1. SAGAN Peter LIQ 22h28'24"
2. SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo AND 03"
3. CUNEGO Damiano LAM 07"
4. SCARPONI Michele LAM 18"
5. SELLA Emanuele AND 32"
6. HERMANS Ben RSH 43"
7. KISERLOVSKI Robert AST 47"
8. BRUTT Pavel KAT 57"
9. CAPECCHI Eros LIQ 01'02"
10. MIHOLJEVIC Vladimir ASA 01'26"

Not bad but didn't do anything to indicate he is going to do much in the giro.

Settimana Coppi e Bartali

1. SELLA Emanuele AND 14h57'34"
2. ULISSI Diego LAM 30"
3. PIRAZZI Stefano COG 32"
4. VISCONTI Giovanni FAR 38"
5. MALORI Adriano LAM 43"
6. SUTHERLAND Rory UHC 56"
7. MEERSMAN Gianni FDJ 59"
8. SCHUMACHER Stefan MIE 01'05"
9. VICIOSO ARCOS Angel AND 01'08"
10. POZZOVIVO Domenico COG 01'11"

A good result but the field was pretty average tbh.

Trentino he finished 23rd overall with 2nd from a breakaway stage. The other stages he didn't show much but this result says he might pick up a stage.

If this is his best season for a long while then I don't see him being in the top 5 and it doesn't seem likely that he will top 10. Maybe I should of put him on my outsiders list.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Agreed.

I think if Spain had a time trialist that could beat Menchov in a long time trial in 2007 and come second in 2009 time trial then they could say they have a good time trialer.

Oh wait

Valverde is also very good.

gesink also beat ebh.

therefore gesink > ebh @ tt.

see what i did there

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So it's something in his head rather than physical problems.
Looking at his results this year, he started off well but seems to have been going downhill since early February, which isn't very encouraging.

cobo is a guy that despite his talents can never be a leader and he only seems to be motivated by a very strong leader like with ricco and piepoli in 2008 or perhaps a strong manager like gianetti. the decline last year was incredible as it was after 2008 when ricco and piepoli were caught and he was another mental blow for him and it was basically over for him after the tour. he seemed to have started of well this year but again I suppose a lack of leader means he just rides with no goal whatsoever.

it's really ashame as he was one of the biggest talents in spain in youth.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Great work Ferminal!

It's terrific the way that you've put all the stage profiles in a row like that.

I should take more interest in this years Giro then any in the past. Very interested to see how AC copes with the multiple attacks that are sure to be thrown at him by his numerous rivals during the MANY horrendous mountainous stages.

So many stages where any rider could have a bad day and lose 5+ minutes.

 

[El Pistolero]

Great work Ferminal!

It's terrific the way that you've put all the stage profiles in a row like that.

I should take more interest in this years Giro then any in the past. Very interested to see how AC copes with the multiple attacks that are sure to be thrown at him by his numerous rivals during the MANY horrendous mountainous stages.

So many stages where any rider could have a bad day and lose 5+ minutes.

It's simple really, by riding faster than them.

 

[theyoungest]

It's simple really, by riding faster than them.

You must be confusing this with the nice and organized borefest that is the Tour de France.

 

[El Pistolero]

You must be confusing this with the nice and organized borefest that is the Tour de France.

Trust me if Contador is in top form he'll rape them. Now I don't know if he'll reach that, but if he does he will do just that.

Just look at his strongest opponent. Michele Scarponi.... Contador is going to turn him into Italian cheese.

 

[theyoungest]

Trust me if Contador is in top form he'll rape them. Now I don't know if he'll reach that, but if he does he will do just that.

Just look at his strongest opponent. Michele Scarponi.... Contador is going to turn him into Italian cheese.

I'm not saying he won't be the strongest, he probably will. But this race isn't that easy to control. Last year is an extreme example, but look what happened: the strongest man in the race suddenly finds himself with a 13 minute deficit to the maglia rosa.

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm not saying he won't be the strongest, he probably will. But this race isn't that easy to control. Last year is an extreme example, but look what happened: the strongest man in the race suddenly finds himself with a 13 minute deficit to the maglia rosa.

I know that, don't worry. But if he'll have top form I'm afraid it could turn into a snoozefest. If you hate him at least.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I know that, don't worry. But if he'll have top form I'm afraid it could turn into a snoozefest. If you hate him at least.

Let us enjoy Conti's athletical exploits

 

[Eshnar]

If I were Androni's director, I would make them attack on every single stage. They have 4 guys that could possibly drop everyone when they are in top form. If they want to have an actual chance of winning the Giro, they must make clear that none of the top riders can have a rest day (something like stage 12 of last year). Gc guys must sleep every night with the fear of Androni.

 

[jsem94]

Hopefully we'll get good coverage on Eurosport... so excited.


Hopefully Contador will be given a good fight.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

If I were Androni's director, I would make them attack on every single stage. They have 4 guys that could possibly drop everyone when they are in top form. If they want to have an actual chance of winning the Giro, they must make clear that none of the top riders can have a rest day (something like stage 12 of last year). Gc guys must sleep every night with the fear of Androni.

I;m sure that will happen. in 2005 selle italia had only 2 strong guys and they made every mountainstage a living hel for everyone, parra winning 2 back to back mountainfinishes and rujano winning the final stage. they attacked like mad.

now there team is way stronger and doesn't relie on 1 or 2 guys, 1 guy for gc of course but like 4 other very good climbers