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Cipo is right.

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taiwan

taiwan

Aug 18, 2009
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Well, apart from tipping Cavendish for the Worlds. The Azzuri are meant to be riding for Pippo, who hasn't had an outstanding year and definitely doesn't have an answer for Gilbert's evident great strength. Gavazzi, Visconti: possibly more convincing. Nibali may actually be their best bet, coming off his Vuelta win, but it maybe isn't the sort of course you would ideally choose for him. A couple of omissions were disappointing IMO. Bennati worked hard to show his worth in Spain, and Marco Marcato has been scoring in races like this all year. But without a really obvious leader, I say just call up everyone in Italy who can spint after a hard course (no shortage there) and let the other teams try and mark them all.
 
The Hitch

The Hitch

Jun 14, 2010
34,930
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taiwan said:
Well, apart from tipping Cavendish for the Worlds. The Azzuri are meant to be riding for Pippo, who hasn't had an outstanding year and definitely doesn't have an answer for Gilbert's evident great strength. Gavazzi, Visconti: possibly more convincing. Nibali may actually be their best bet, coming off his Vuelta win, but it maybe isn't the sort of course you would ideally choose for him. A couple of omissions were disappointing IMO. Bennati worked hard to show his worth in Spain, and Marco Marcato has been scoring in races like this all year. But without a really obvious leader, I say just call up everyone in Italy who can spint after a hard course (no shortage there) and let the other teams try and mark them all.
Click to expand...

To be fair, Cipo was quite accurate in his constant "Scarponi will deliver in the mountains" predictions during the Giro when few others tipped him and Lequip gave him 2 stars out of 5 chance.
 
M

Mambo95

Jul 2, 2009
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There was a big interview with Bettini in one of the British cycling magazines (ProCyciling I think). He said that he was going to chose a certain number of dedicated domestiques first, based on who was putting the work in in races. And the leader(s) was the last consideration.

I hope Cipo is proved right though (re Cavendish)
 
I

indurain666

May 13, 2009
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taiwan said:
Well, apart from tipping Cavendish for the Worlds. The Azzuri are meant to be riding for Pippo, who hasn't had an outstanding year and definitely doesn't have an answer for Gilbert's evident great strength. Gavazzi, Visconti: possibly more convincing. Nibali may actually be their best bet, coming off his Vuelta win, but it maybe isn't the sort of course you would ideally choose for him. A couple of omissions were disappointing IMO. Bennati worked hard to show his worth in Spain, and Marco Marcato has been scoring in races like this all year. But without a really obvious leader, I say just call up everyone in Italy who can spint after a hard course (no shortage there) and let the other teams try and mark them all.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more with Cipo, he is spot on. His analysis of the race is quite intelligent. But he is right, they don't have a Bettini or Cipollini (i.e. clear leader taking into consideration course) not even a Bartoli. I really don't see them winning this thing.
 
nvpacchi

nvpacchi

Mar 13, 2009
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Daniel Oss is very handy at getting into breakaways. And with his top 10s in a few TDF stages, plus his better than average climbing for a sprinter, he may be a better bet than Bennati.
 
auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

Jun 16, 2009
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The big mistake bettini made was not selecting Ballan. He is suited to this course and would have a very good chance of winning in Melbourne.
 
Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
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I agree with Cipo when he says that Bettini is just calling his long time friends, who probably are not the ones with the better shape right now.
Just as Ballerini used to do.
 
sublimit

sublimit

Jan 18, 2010
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Tossato can sprint and do a lead out or workhorse job. I dont know enough about Tonti to comment.

Bennati should of gone though.
 
auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

Jun 16, 2009
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joy118118 said:
Ballan's form seems to be not good enough. not a better choice than Pozzato.
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I never said that but you need options in a WC and i think he was the 2nd best option and was going quite well in poland and canada. 6th and 10th place in canada.
 
J

joy118118

May 15, 2009
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auscyclefan94 said:
I never said that but you need options in a WC and i think he was the 2nd best option and was going quite well in poland and canada. 6th and 10th place in canada.
Click to expand...

courses like Canada i think Visconti can handle it well. Bettini prefers a domestique to a option that is not good enough.
 
Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
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sublimit said:
Tossato can sprint and do a lead out or workhorse job. I dont know enough about Tonti to comment.

Bennati should of gone though.
Click to expand...

Tonti used to be a good domestique for hilly routes, but now he start being quiet old and didn't show any particular form during this season.

Eyeballs Out said:
Isn't Tonti only a reserve anyway ?
Click to expand...

Nocentini and Ulissi (if I recall correctly) are the ones supposed to be reserves.
 
Willy_Voet

Willy_Voet

May 2, 2009
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The discussions of "form" make me giggle. Riders are showing very different "levels" this year, so it is tough for someone like Bettini to pick who will "peak" at the right moment.

I think Cipo is right that they should have brought a sprinter just in case, but Bettini (and Ballerini) have a workable formula in bringing together people who will work together.

I think you see this with other national team selections as well. The leaders have 3-5 domestiques from their trade teams.
 
Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
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Willy_Voet said:
The discussions of "form" make me giggle. Riders are showing very different "levels" this year, so it is tough for someone like Bettini to pick who will "peak" at the right moment.
Click to expand...

Thats what a selector has to do, find the right guys for the route with (at least) a good condition.
Hope that he's right, but by my own opinion, guys like Tonti didn't show much.
 
L

Luis Ocaña

Jul 24, 2010
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The Italians won't stand any chance. They lack someone of Bartoli/Bettini's class and I actually can't see them winning a lot of big races in the near future anymore too. Maybe Basso or Nibali the Giro, thus avoiding the two best climbers in the world by far. But that's about it..
 
Vonn Brinkman

Vonn Brinkman

Apr 26, 2010
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Cipo is wrong.
I think the course will be too hard for the pure sprinters. Freire has a chance, Cavendish (sadly) not, and I don't think Bennati could have had a great impact.
I am not saying that Bettini made all the right choices, I just think that the Italians lack the proper talent for one-day races like this. Maybe in the years to come they will win again, but not this year. Although Pozzato has a chance, I would not tip him as favourite, as he will not be fast enough in a selected sprint, and he lacks the attacking spirit of Gilbert to successfully get away.
 
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