I am not going to lie, Giro is by far my favorite race in cycling, always has been, in fact this is what got me into cycling when my uncle showed me Zoncolan battle in 2007 on Eurosport and I was immediately hooked. So I wanted to ask you - what do you consider to be the best Giro ever, and for that matter also - the worst one?
The GOAT for me has to be 2010. First the insane Montalcino stage, then the famous L'Aquila breakaway, and you know the rest. Basso on Zoncolan, then the Kronplatz MTT, then Mortirolo, this was just the best, never seen anything like this, beatiful race.
2015-16 are both excellent races for me too. 2015 had that awesome 60km ITT, Aru/Landa constantly attacking Contador, Mortirolo, Aru finally winning on Cervinia, Contador being in trouble on Finestre, hell, the semi mountain were very intruiging too - stage 18 w/Monte Ologno and a long descent saw Contador attacking outta nowhere and gaining a minute on both Astana leaders. In 2016 you had another excellent route, but what made this race so special to me was Krujswijk, a man no one predicted to even be a threat to Nibali, Uran etc., and yet before stage 19 happened, he was +3minutes in front of Chaves and Valverde. I love stuff like this, I feel so sorry for the Agnello incident, but this is cycling - anything can happen, and in retrospect that is what made this stage so famous. Then Nibali coming back like United in 99 with two quick goals (last two stages ofc) and winning the Giro for the second time ever.
What else did I like? 2011 had an INSANE route, altough it was one-sided and well, you know what happened there, I loved the race at the time. 2008 was also a great race, same about 2007. Haven't watched the whole race at the time ofc, but just solely because of the Sestriere stage, I have to guess 2005 belongs at the top of the list as well.
Time for the ok stuff, which is the 2017, 13 and 09 camp. I could never get into 2009 race, in my opinion the final week just kinda sucked. 13 had a fine route and as a Nibali fan I enjoyed it for what it was, but it wasn't a great race. This year just disappointed me as a whole, expected more, the GC battle was close, but just wish it was more than that, if that explains it. Oh and you know what was cool? One of the stages in the first part of week 1 was coming through the city my grandmother and grandfather live in & place I go to like every second summer, so that was cool. Also Nibbles attacking on Tre Cime was so badass man, don't @ me.
And the bad? That is 2012 for me. I know many probably loved that race, the route was very promising, but the race didn't deliver at all, maybe it's just me, but I was bored. No time bonuses, very little gaps, Mortirolo-Stelvio stage being..kinda meh, just don't consider this as a good race. 2014 was Aru winning a Montecampione stage which was cool af, then the most infamous stage in recent history of this sport, and then a borefest on Zoncolan (Uran not trying to do anything more than wheelsucking? wow this is new let me tell ya), not a good one here. From what I see as well 2004 had an awful route, 2006 was Ivan Basso & 180 other riders, and I guess that is all I can say.
TL;DR - 2010 Giro = GOAT, 2015, 16 and 07 were imo excellent races, 2012, 14 and 04 are meh af. Now tell me what ya think about the best thing in cycling, which is Giro d'Italia
The GOAT for me has to be 2010. First the insane Montalcino stage, then the famous L'Aquila breakaway, and you know the rest. Basso on Zoncolan, then the Kronplatz MTT, then Mortirolo, this was just the best, never seen anything like this, beatiful race.
2015-16 are both excellent races for me too. 2015 had that awesome 60km ITT, Aru/Landa constantly attacking Contador, Mortirolo, Aru finally winning on Cervinia, Contador being in trouble on Finestre, hell, the semi mountain were very intruiging too - stage 18 w/Monte Ologno and a long descent saw Contador attacking outta nowhere and gaining a minute on both Astana leaders. In 2016 you had another excellent route, but what made this race so special to me was Krujswijk, a man no one predicted to even be a threat to Nibali, Uran etc., and yet before stage 19 happened, he was +3minutes in front of Chaves and Valverde. I love stuff like this, I feel so sorry for the Agnello incident, but this is cycling - anything can happen, and in retrospect that is what made this stage so famous. Then Nibali coming back like United in 99 with two quick goals (last two stages ofc) and winning the Giro for the second time ever.
What else did I like? 2011 had an INSANE route, altough it was one-sided and well, you know what happened there, I loved the race at the time. 2008 was also a great race, same about 2007. Haven't watched the whole race at the time ofc, but just solely because of the Sestriere stage, I have to guess 2005 belongs at the top of the list as well.
Time for the ok stuff, which is the 2017, 13 and 09 camp. I could never get into 2009 race, in my opinion the final week just kinda sucked. 13 had a fine route and as a Nibali fan I enjoyed it for what it was, but it wasn't a great race. This year just disappointed me as a whole, expected more, the GC battle was close, but just wish it was more than that, if that explains it. Oh and you know what was cool? One of the stages in the first part of week 1 was coming through the city my grandmother and grandfather live in & place I go to like every second summer, so that was cool. Also Nibbles attacking on Tre Cime was so badass man, don't @ me.
And the bad? That is 2012 for me. I know many probably loved that race, the route was very promising, but the race didn't deliver at all, maybe it's just me, but I was bored. No time bonuses, very little gaps, Mortirolo-Stelvio stage being..kinda meh, just don't consider this as a good race. 2014 was Aru winning a Montecampione stage which was cool af, then the most infamous stage in recent history of this sport, and then a borefest on Zoncolan (Uran not trying to do anything more than wheelsucking? wow this is new let me tell ya), not a good one here. From what I see as well 2004 had an awful route, 2006 was Ivan Basso & 180 other riders, and I guess that is all I can say.
TL;DR - 2010 Giro = GOAT, 2015, 16 and 07 were imo excellent races, 2012, 14 and 04 are meh af. Now tell me what ya think about the best thing in cycling, which is Giro d'Italia
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