94th Giro d'Italia May 7 - 29

[auscyclefan94]

Oh gods, an Italian flag? This whole 150th anniversary nationalistic thing is going to be unbearable.

I won't have a clue of they are talking about it at least as I don't speak italian. It is 150 years, I don't think a bit of that hurts. It will make it harder for commentators and tv viewers when trying to read the race numbers.

 

[The Hitch]

this is why i love the Giro.

Look at the crowds for the team presentation.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/giro-ditalia-23-teams-presented-in-turin/172468

True passion.

 

[taiwan]

Alberto Contador, DanielNavarro

 

[Parrulo]

Oh gods, an Italian flag? This whole 150th anniversary nationalistic thing is going to be unbearable.

i don't think you understand the kind of pride the latin descent countries in Europe have on their history. tbh i like all this celebration

Alberto Contador, DanielNavarro

lol at riis in the background.

will he be dsing the entire race like he does in le tour?

 

[The Hitch]

The guy in Orange is a Scarponi fan.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

this is why i love the Giro.

Look at the crowds for the team presentation.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/giro-ditalia-23-teams-presented-in-turin/172468

True passion.

Italians, even if indifferent to cycling, love the giro.
I have a couple of Italian friends here, they tell me cycling sucks, but If I mention the giro it is one of the best things in the world.



love it.

 

[Frosty]

Steven Kruijswijk is 14-1 to finish in the top 10 on bet365. 18th last year, a year older, did well on the climbs towards the end. There are quite a lot of better riders than him but that seems very long, am i missing something?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Guys i have to say if contador does not win this i will be utterly suprised. A few Qs about him though. When did he perfect art of ITT? Who was his most influential DS? And does he have a book that's been translated to English?

he already had itt down to a perfection as a junior, in youth the itt was his biggest weapon, more so than climbing

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

she's cute but no cameltoe no glory

lol

.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Steven Kruijswijk is 14-1 to finish in the top 10 on bet365. 18th last year, a year older, did well on the climbs towards the end. There are quite a lot of better riders than him but that seems very long, am i missing something?

field has dramatically improved.
He will do very well to get in the top 10. Those seem about right imo.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

The biggest disapointment is that the Finnestre descent is so short. I was hoping they would go down the same mountain they climb, but instead its a tiny drop before the high grades resume on Sestrieres.

In 2005 was that descent everyone loves so much down the whole mountain or similarly as short as this one?

same one. there is only one I think to go to sestrieres

 

[Frosty]

field has dramatically improved.
He will do very well to get in the top 10. Those seem about right imo.

Fair enough. Some better riders are taking part this year but then Evans, Vino arent taking part. Some of the better riders probably wont make it to the end, ie Anton has a habit of crashing out. The top 10-14 in the odds do look quite imposing though. I dont think he'll finish in the top 10 but those odds are a bit long. I would go for him finishing 14th.

I'll be interested to see how Lofkvist goes. He did well at the start in 2009 but suffered later on. Whether this was down to poor recovery or just going too hard early on i dont know. He did well at the tour last year despite having to work for Wiggins. However, was disappointed by the second Tourmalet stage when he didnt have to worry about Wiggins. The unfortunate circumstances surrounding the Vuelta mean that we wont know how well he was going then.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I will doubt kruiswijk would even finish top 20. as often with young rabo riders they start of well in their first 1 or sometimes 2 years and them become the centerfold of being average like posthuma, weening, kozontchuk, ten dam.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Really getting into the giro with my new avatar! Like?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Really getting into the giro with my new avatar! Like?

too small

 

[jens_attacks]

ok in one and a half hour,si gira begins on rai
i've heard mister berruti will be there.that won't be good after his arrogance regarding il piratta.

«W il Giro, W Coppi, ma Pantani no»

poor old man...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I will doubt kruiswijk would even finish top 20. as often with young rabo riders they start of well in their first 1 or sometimes 2 years and them become the centerfold of being average like posthuma, weening, kozontchuk, ten dam.

agree with weening and posthuma. But LTD has proved to be a valuable domestique in the past. He was awesome for menchov at 09' giro.
however his personal achievements have dried up.

But not sure that is a solid theory to base Kruijswijk fail on.
Clutching at straws.

I suspect he will be somewhere between 10-30 tho. Probably 20ish.
Hopefully he proves me wrong.

 

[theyoungest]

I will doubt kruiswijk would even finish top 20. as often with young rabo riders they start of well in their first 1 or sometimes 2 years and them become the centerfold of being average like posthuma, weening, kozontchuk, ten dam.

Lol. Ten Dam. A typical late bloomer, who wasn't that great in his first 2 years. And Kozonchuk?? He has only been a domestique during his pro career.

If you're going to Rabo bash, at least let it make sense. And try to limit it to twice a month, rather than twice a day.

 

[El Pistolero]

Alberto Contador, DanielNavarro

I see both of them are Kenny van Hummel fans

 

[FeyRRR]

Lol. Ten Dam. A typical late bloomer, who wasn't that great in his first 2 years. And Kozonchuk?? He has only been a domestique during his pro career.

If you're going to Rabo bash, at least let it make sense. And thiry to limit it to twice a month, rather than twice a day.

It may sound harsh, but it's true. Take a look at their best rider(besides Freire, ofcourse):Gesink. He was an awesome talent three years ago and could climb even the steepest of climbs. And look at him now, he spend time on his time trailing, which ofcourse if good if you want to place high as a GC rider, but if it comes at the expense of his climbing, than Rabo are doing something wrong. And ofcourse their is the mental aspect, where most of these Dutchies just seem to collapse at the slightest of problems. Atleast it seems that way, to me.

 

[theyoungest]

It may sound harsh, but it's true. Take a look at their best rider(besides Freire, ofcourse):Gesink. He was an awesome talent three years ago and could climb even the steepest of climbs. And look at him now, he spend time on his time trailing, which ofcourse if good if you want to place high as a GC rider, but if it comes at the expense of his climbing, than Rabo are doing something wrong. And ofcourse their is the mental aspect, where most of these Dutchies just seem to collapse at the slightest of problems. Atleast it seems that way, to me.

Yes, Gesink is a typical example of a once talented rider who is now decidely average

Anyway, this has nothing to do with the Giro.

 

[larryduff]

Would love to see Anton winning this or getting a podium place and have placed a small wager on him at 20/1. I think course suits him and easy to forget how well her perfromed in the Vuelta. A concern though would be what is strength of his time like not just for today but throughout the three weeks? Also does anyone know what time bonuses are for stage wins?

 

[El Pistolero]

20 12 8 I guess.

 

[taiwan]

I see both of them are Kenny van Hummel fans

He has been going pretty well recently They are really pretty similar though...

 

[Frosty]

Would love to see Nibali winning this or getting a podium place and have placed a small wager on him at 20/1. I think course suits him and easy to forget how well her perfromed in the Vuelta. A concern though would be what is strength of his time like not just for today but throughout the three weeks? Also does anyone know what time bonuses are for stage wins?

Where did you find odds of 20/1? Best odds i can find are 6/1.