94th Giro d'Italia May 7 - 29

[K-0tic]

I don't think the odds on Tiralongo is worth it - anyway Bet365 has him at odds 301.

Tiralongo is never worth the money anyway. If he makes up to the top-10 I would already be surprised hugely.

 

[Ferminal]

wrong thread lol.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Tiralongo is never worth the money anyway. If he makes up to the top-10 I would already be surprised hugely.

this.

he is not the team leader, nor is he good enough in this field.

 

[luckyboy]

Menchov + co. getting ready to own that ****!

 

[hfer07]

Here is a video of Conti's recon of Crostis and Zoncolan
http://video.gazzetta.it/contador-crostis-zoncolan/8e30eb22-6f41-11e0-9110-8563364cfd27

damn- he looks good....

 

[Ferminal]

Menchov + co. getting ready to own that ****!

Giau?

That looks great.

 

[Cimber]

Geox will be very dangerous in the mountains. Here is there pre-selction for the giro:

http://www.geox-tmc.com/index.php?o...italia-roster-pre-selection&Itemid=38&lang=en

Alternatively, SBS looks a bit more mediocre, but still decent, for the mountais, with Navarro, jesus and Gustov as the strongest domestics for the climbs: http://saxobanksungard.com/races.asp?r_id=2341#nu

On the other hand, SBS looks better for the TTT than Geox.

Also, it is interesting that Navarro and Larsson will also be 2 of Berti's key helpers for the Tour. While Berti might be able to recover decently, will his helpers also be able to do that as they will have to work hard the whole Giro? Especially I reckon Larsson will be worn out after also doing the cobbled classics. But Riis will most likely need him for the TTT in the Tour, so am actually a bit surprised to see him doing the Giro. Mørkov has also been mentioned by Riis as a likely Tour-rider, but his story is more or less the same as Larssons's. Conclusion: some of Berti's helpers might be pretty worn in the Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador just said he fears the Zoncolan. Also that it would be better to use a mountain bike at the 8km false flat part after the Monte Crosti lol.

Has already checked out the most important stages. But he's not going to check out the Etna.

 

[Publicus]

Geox will be very dangerous in the mountains. Here is there pre-selction for the giro:

http://www.geox-tmc.com/index.php?o...italia-roster-pre-selection&Itemid=38&lang=en

Alternatively, SBS looks a bit more mediocre, but still decent, for the mountais, with Navarro, jesus and Gustov as the strongest domestics for the climbs: http://saxobanksungard.com/races.asp?r_id=2341#nu

On the other hand, SBS looks better for the TTT than Geox.

Also, it is interesting that Navarro and Larsson will also be 2 of Berti's key helpers for the Tour. While Berti might be able to recover decently, will his helpers also be able to do that as they will have to work hard the whole Giro? Especially I reckon Larsson will be worn out after also doing the cobbled classics. But Riis will most likely need him for the TTT in the Tour, so am actually a bit surprised to see him doing the Giro. Mørkov has also been mentioned by Riis as a likely Tour-rider, but his story is more or less the same as Larssons's. Conclusion: some of Berti's helpers might be pretty worn in the Tour.

Presuming AC gets to ride the Tour (and that's a big presumption ATM), Saxo has Sorensens (Chris and Nick) to fill out that squad if Navarro and Larsson (or Hernandez) are shot. I also just noticed that Noval is NOT riding the Giro (replaced by Morkov). I wonder if this is a conscious decision giving how critical the TTT is and the amount of climbing, with an eye toward the Tour. I also wonder if we will see a repeat of the Noval temper tantrum we saw at the start of the 2009 TdF when he was excluded.

 

[Ferminal]

...and that is enough doping talk for this thread.

 

[boomcie]

...and that is enough doping talk for this thread.

You'll need to transfer it I'm afraid...

 

[Ferminal]

You'll need to transfer it I'm afraid...

If you want to discuss "will Contador keep his 2011 Giro title" you can make a thread in The Clinic to discuss it. I will split and merge the appropriate posts across.

Otherwise, if there's one more post discussing it in this thread I will delete the last twenty or so posts relating to it.

 

[The Hitch]

Will Ryo accept a, if neither Rujano nor Duarte perform - either win a stage or finish top 5, he gets an avatar forfeit?

 

[Eshnar]

I'm going to have a brief analysis of all the stages.

Stage 1 - Quite short TTT, I don't think there will be more than 1 minute between all the gc guys
Stage 2 - Sprint. Definitely. Cav FTW
Stage 3 - This stage is the first trap of the race... The Giro comes near my place with two small bumps in the end. Madonna Delle Grazie isn't that easy. I can see an Androni (or Scarponi & Nibali, why not) attacking here and gaining 20/30 seconds. If not, breakaway FTW.
Stage 4 - A sprinter that can survive to Castellaccio should win the stage.
Stage 5 - This has a huge "???" written upon it. If someone attacks on the Croce Di Figline, it'll be epic. But it depends by many factors (weather and gc above all). If not, I can see a small 10-15 gc group sprinting for the win.
Stage 6 - Breakaway... I don't think sprinters will be able to handle this.
Stage 7 - First MTF, short stage... 15-20 gc guys together and maybe an Androni escaping at the beginning of the final climb.
Stage 8 - A fast climber could win this. I bet on Di Luca (it's his best chance imho)
Stage 9 - I have huge expectation for this stage.... just hope Etna stays quiet those days. There won't be more than 3 gc guys sprinting for the win. But more probly, it'll be a solo victory.
Stage 10 - Sprint. Nice and easy.
Stage 11 - Other "???".... I'd love to see some crazy escapes, the stage is short.
Stage 12 - Sprint
Stage 13 - I don't think there will happen much. The gc guys will stare at each other. Maybe a disgraced gc guy (3-4 minutes behind the leader) could win the stage.
Stage 14 - Awesome epicness. Whoever can't make top 5 in this stage won't win the Giro. Simple.
Stage 15 - The race will explode on the Fedaia. Let's hope for a great stage, but there's the possibility that everyone will wait for the final climb.
Stage 16 - MTT.... who knows.
Stage 17 - Breakaway FTW. Maybe a good descender will attack on Aprica.
Stage 18 - Breakaway.
Stage 19 - 5/10 gc guys finishing together
Stage 20 - 90% chance that whoever tops Finestre first will win the Giro. The 10% remaining refers to the possibility he cracks on the way to Sestriere, or falls in the descent.
Stage 21 - Final ITT, I don't think it'll be decisive. Maybe it will for the podium.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Will Ryo accept a, if neither Rujano nor Duarte perform - either win a stage or finish top 5, he gets an avatar forfeit?

duarte will have to work for that sh*tf/ck menchov so I wouldn't expect too much. rujano when not sick or injured will podium no doubt.

 

[Lanark]

I'm going to have a brief analysis of all the stages.

Stage 9 - I have huge expectation for this stage.... just hope Etna stays quiet those days. There won't be more than 3 gc guys sprinting for the win. But more probly, it'll be a solo victory.

Why do you expect so much from the Etna? On paper it looks like a long but quite easy climb, apart from a couple of kilometers at 8%, the rest barely gets above 6%.

 

[boomcie]

duarte will have to work for that sh*tf/ck menchov so I wouldn't expect too much. rujano when not sick or injured will podium no doubt.

x1000
Trying to get used to Ryo's remarks here.

 

[theyoungest]

Why do you expect so much from the Etna? On paper it looks like a long but quite easy climb, apart from a couple of kilometers at 8%, the rest barely gets above 6%.

Contador is there... any more or less serious climb means a solo victory for Contador (if on top form).

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

x1000
Trying to get used to Ryo's remarks here.

in 2005 I said the same thing and I was laughed on by everyone. 3 weeks later I was 2500 euros richer

actually in 2005 I expected him to do top 10 or top 5 and win stage and kom and put money on that and also a little on podium just in case.

 

[boomcie]

in 2005 I said the same thing and I was laughed on by everyone. 3 weeks later I was 2500 euros richer

actually in 2005 I expected him to do top 10 or top 5 and win stage and kom and put money on that and also a little on podium just in case.

That's the only bold prediction about a Colombian rider you've ever made, ánd it came true. That's incredible.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

That's the only bold prediction about a Colombian rider you've ever made, ánd it came true. That's incredible.

Rujano is Venezuelan

 

[auscyclefan94]

Have any teams don't proper recon of the ttt course that we know yet?

 

[boomcie]

Rujano is Venezuelan

I know, check out my "Rujano Farting" cd cover somewhere. I'm just lazy.

Edit: Here you go:

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

That's the only bold prediction about a Colombian rider you've ever made, ánd it came true. That's incredible.

quintana last year avenir, soler 2007. also I predicted uran, duarte and henao in 2005 and they are still showing tremendous potential so no I'm rarely wrong

 

[boomcie]

quintana last year avenir, soler 2007. also I predicted uran, duarte and henao in 2005 and they are still showing tremendous potential so no I'm rarely wrong

Just messing with you Ryo. Still, I'm sure you are wrong many times, I just haven't been around here long enough to witness this.