94th Giro d'Italia May 7 - 29

[Eshnar]

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%.

for three reasons.
1) this stage is the day before a rest. This often provides for a great show - Top riders will attack
2) The first serious MTF of the Giro is usually the best raced.
3) Even if the Etna is quiet, the air there isn't that nice, someone will have a bad day.

 

[Ferminal]

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%.

It's hardly easy. 19km @ 6.35%. The fact that is the only real long/gradual climb of the 4 major mountain stages makes it interesting.

It will be a tough stage and I will be surprised if we don't have a solo winner, given the amount of attack talent which will be present.

 

[icefire]

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.

http://www.marca.com/2011/04/25/ciclismo/1303747438.html

His words in this link are a bit ironic on Crostis saying that it's a nice place for a BBQ, but he says that he likes Zoncolan and that the stage the day after (Giau, Fedaia, Gardeccia) is easier.

Apart from Etna, neither him nor the GEOX team seems to have checked out Finestre.

 

[Tuarts]

If someone exclaims each and every rider in the Giro will win it, he'll be right at least once...

 

[Thomsena]

With those stages what a race this could turn out to be.

Is it 1 of 8 hill/mountain stages that end with a descent?..

Love it.

 

[Christian]

Bennati out of the Giro

Fragmented collarbone, multible broken ribs and contusion of the right lung

http://www.leopardtrek.lu/news/bennati-abandons-tour-de-romadie-after-early-race-crash

This is really too bad because it looked like he was getting close to being the "old" Bennati again ... I know Circuit Sarthe was insignificant but still it would have been nice to see him at the Giro.

LEOPARD TREK are a little screwed now, as I believe they were mainly hoping for Bennati in the Giro and they don't really have anyone to replace him ... Weylandt would be my best guess

 

[hrotha]

It has to be Weylandt for the sprints, but I hope they change the roster further to make it more attractive for the Giro organizers (Bennati is Italian and Weylandt isn't, after all). At least send Fuglsang or something.

 

[roundabout]

Weylandt is already listed as a starter so it would be someone else.

 

[El Pistolero]

Poor Italians. No Bennati, Pozzato, Paolini and Ivan Basso. Is Petacchi going?

Otherwise all their hope is on the shoulders of Vincenzo Nibali and Zapatero... Against Alberto Contador.

 

[Christian]

It has to be Weylandt for the sprints, but I hope they change the roster further to make it more attractive for the Giro organizers (Bennati is Italian and Weylandt isn't, after all). At least send Fuglsang or something.

Unfortunately they don't have many Italians left ... Vigano is already in it and Nizzolo is a neo-pro. Maybe they'll ad Denifl but Fuglsang is highly unlikely. I'd enjoy seeing him there but it's probably on too short notice (he probably just peaked for Ardennes)

Weylandt is already listed as a starter so it would be someone else.

The official line-up hasn't been released yet and Weylandt is actually listed to start 4 Jours de Dunkerque, which runs through the 8th.

If they still want to go for sprint stages with Weylandt they'll probably add a rouleur so maybe Posthuma or Martin Pedersen. However in the regular sprints Weylandt will be without a chance. So maybe they'll change their strategy a bit and add a somewhat decent climber with Denifl

 

[roundabout]

There's a preliminary start list in the first post of this thread with Weylandt on it so he must be at least listed as a reserve.

I'll copy the link here.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/21-04-2011/lista-iscritti-giro-d-italia-80924758696.shtml

Number 108.

Of course it has Pozzato and Paolini on it so it's by no means definite.

 

[hfer07]

"Creo que serán cerca de 6.500 metros de desnivel en total de la etapa. Nunca lo he hecho en mi vida. Es increíble, y además hay que tener en cuenta los 230 kilómetros que se afrontarán tras la jornada del Zoncolan"[quote/]

I think is going to be near 6.500 mts of climbing in total for the Stage alone. I've never done that in my life. Is incredible y also has to be considered the 230 km journey during the Zoncolan stage



Even Conta recognizes the uniqueness of the challenges ahead............. damn I can barely wait!!!!!

 

[Christian]

There's a preliminary start list in the first post of this thread with Weylandt on it so he must be at least listed as a reserve.

I'll copy the link here.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/21-04-2011/lista-iscritti-giro-d-italia-80924758696.shtml

Number 108.

Of course it has Pozzato and Paolini on it so it's by no means definite.

Thanks, didn't see that ... also there is no Gerdemann on this list, that's kind of odd. I wonder what he's doing in Romandie then ... preparing for California?!

 

[hfer07]

"Creo que serán cerca de 6.500 metros de desnivel en total de la etapa. Nunca lo he hecho en mi vida. Es increíble, y además hay que tener en cuenta los 230 kilómetros que se afrontarán tras la jornada del Zoncolan"

I think is going to be near 6.500 mts of climbing in total for the Stage alone. I've never done that in my life. Is incredible y also has to be considered the 230 km journey during the Zoncolan stage



Even Conta recognizes the uniqueness of the challenges ahead............. damn I can barely wait!!!!!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Unfortunately they don't have many Italians left ... Vigano is already in it and Nizzolo is a neo-pro. Maybe they'll ad Denifl but Fuglsang is highly unlikely. I'd enjoy seeing him there but it's probably on too short notice (he probably just peaked for Ardennes)

Also worth noting a mountaintop stage finish in Austria, which makes Denifl a good bet for a bit of hometown cheer. Can't imagine many Austrians will be at the Giro, imagine he'll probably be in the break of the day hoping to climb in for the stage. Not like Leopard will have any GC concerns to deal with that would stop him.

 

[hrotha]

I like Denifl despite his efforts to drive me away by means of his hairstyle, but even I must admit that including him doesn't make the team any more attractive. To compensate for Bennati's absence, it has to be Fuglsang, or a major revamp (say, Denifl plus Monfort and others).

 

[Christian]

Well plus I was just thinking it would make sense for TREK to want a good result in California, and Gerdemann's GT days (if they ever existed) are well behind him. Another possible candidate would be Anders Lund for the Giro.

Bennati's season might not be completely ruined though, if he manages to make a speedy recovery and a good build-up he could have good chances at the Vuelta

 

[theyoungest]

Also worth noting a mountaintop stage finish in Austria, which makes Denifl a good bet for a bit of hometown cheer. Can't imagine many Austrians will be at the Giro, imagine he'll probably be in the break of the day hoping to climb in for the stage. Not like Leopard will have any GC concerns to deal with that would stop him.

They already have their stock Austrian, Rohregger. No need to overdo it with the hometown boys.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Well plus I was just thinking it would make sense for TREK to want a good result in California, and Gerdemann's GT days (if they ever existed) are well behind him. Another possible candidate would be Anders Lund for the Giro.

Bennati's season might not be completely ruined though, if he manages to make a speedy recovery and a good build-up he could have good chances at the Vuelta

Not at the expense of the other lot, though.
LT's Giro team was very, very ordinary, even with Bennati.
I suggest that with such an emphasis on PT licence points favouring the Giro,
LT had better detour one of the lads who was supposed to be on holiday in California.............or else leave the room.

 

[roundabout]

Ok, so who was supposed to ride to make it just very ordinary?

 

[hfer07]

Not at the expense of the other lot, though.
LT's Giro team was very, very ordinary, even with Bennati.
I suggest that with such an emphasis on PT licence points favouring the Giro,
LT had better detour one of the lads who was supposed to be on holiday in California.............or else leave the room.

you already know that ToC for the Schleck, Fabian & Co. is only for booze & party time gotta be the "California Love"

 

[Christian]

Yes even with Bennati their team was weak but he had decent chances to get a couple of wins, or if not at least good placements and be in contention for the points jersey. Even if the team was weak that was still a realistic prospect ...

It is true if they don't put in one of the bigger names (and I doubt they will), then they have a very weak team with very little hope for stagewins. Of course Wegmann, Denifl and Rohregger are nice guys but in terms of stage wins they are long shots. Weylandt might have the best odds but still rather low.

Anyhow there are two reasons why I believe they will not put Fuglsang or Monfort in: first of course because they want to put everything on the Tour but also because this is such short notice and neither Monfort nor Fuglsang were able to build up for this. Their planning was built around the Ardennes, which they just did - now they are supposed to be resting before starting the build up for the Tour. There might be a chance that they'll add Brice Feillu, but he hasn't shown anything this year.

On the other hand you have to look on the bright side. With no real team leader, the riders will be able to go into the breakaways and by doing so animate the race. We've seen LEOPARD TREK pulling the peloton quite a few times already this season so this will be very different. It might be the chance to shine for one of the workhorses!

 

[ferryman]

Don't think this has been posted yet. Bertie has some trepidations! And just checked and Stages 14 and 15 fall on a Saturday and Sunday

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-fears-about-giro-ditalia-climbs-are-confirmed

 

[c&cfan]

Don't think this has been posted yet. Bertie has some trepidations! And just checked and Stages 14 and 15 fall on a Saturday and Sunday

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-fears-about-giro-ditalia-climbs-are-confirmed

i know what contador did. well, we all know. still, to me, he is the other C.

for me, the perfect giro, is the giro that as a contador full with rage, with the will to attack in every stage where he can win, even if he is already in pink.

i would love to see him win the double this year.. really. in modern cycling, doing that, it's a new chapter in history, a feat unmatched in the sport.

just like others have already said, the most talented guy that ever put his feet on a bike.

its obvious that i expect some fighting in heroic moments, especially from menchov, the second favorite from everyone that really watches this sport, scarponi (number three), and then anton (he has the potential to deliver right know).

based in what we know as facts, nibali is unlikely to reach top 4.

 

[El Pistolero]

Menchov has been absolutely crappy so far. So based on what we know now, I doubt it. Menchov isn't going to beat anyone on this course. Not enough time trials.

It's an odd year(2011), so he'll win the Vuelta.

The second favorite is Michele Scarponi.