Eve of Giro poll: Who will wear pink in Milan.

[taiwan]

Think that must be Jackson Rodriguez, but maybe you knew.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's clearly obvious Contador is gonna get away with the overall. It's going to be interesting to see Menchov and Anton fight it out with Contador, but I just don't see them parring with Contador. Maybe Menchov has a chance, but we won't know til that day comes.

Nice to see someone believes in Rujano. He has a damn good shot at the KoM.

rujano said he doesn't want to win kom since he already did in 2005. his only goal is to win the giro and nothing else so chances he will win kom are small as he isn't going to sprint or attack for them.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Funny how Rujano's being rated above Purito. Not even Rujano thinks he`s better than Rodriguez ("third best climber" comment).

I guess rujano probably said that as a friendly statement/joke to one of his best friends which is quim rodriguez.

 

[phanatic]

It looks like it's Bertie v. the fanboys.

Come on, Nibali! Come on, Nibali!

Let's go, kid. We'll bet on Basso at the Tour.

Nevermind the money. You're going to stay here and enjoy the show.

 

[taiwan]

Man, Rodriguez has been shafted in this poll. And to think I voted for Sastre on a whim.

 

[El Pistolero]

Rodriguez definitely has more change than Igor Anton(said he isn't riding for the GC, but stages), Rujano, Kreuziger, Di Luca and Nibali.

Yeah, Nibali won the Vuelta against Joaquim, but this Giro has the Zoncolan and a good Rodriguez can take a lot of time on Nibali on mountains like that.

 

[taiwan]

Rodriguez definitely has more change than Igor Anton(said he isn't riding for the GC, but stages), Rujano, Kreuziger, Di Luca and Nibali.

Yeah, Nibali won the Vuelta against Joaquim, but this Giro has the Zoncolan and a good Rodriguez can take a lot of time on Nibali on mountains like that.

Rujano, Kreuziger and Di Luca at the very least. I mean he was able to get 8th in the Tour and 4th in the Vuelta after dropping 4 minutes in both TTs. In the climbs he was better than any of these guys save Bert, Anton and Menchov. (don`t know about Scarponi). How long is this Giro`s ITT again? If this race is to be won in the mountains he`s a good shout IMO.

But where did Anton say that?

 

[The Hitch]

Rujano, Kreuziger and Di Luca at the very least. I mean he was able to get 8th in the Tour and 4th in the Vuelta after dropping 4 minutes in both TTs. In the climbs he was better than any of these guys save Bert and Anton (don`t know about Sarponi or Menchov). How long is this Giro`s ITT again? If this race is to be won in the mountains he`s a good shout IMO.

But where did Anton say that?

The tt is 32km or some such I think.

Rodriguez definitely has more change than Igor Anton(said he isn't riding for the GC, but stages), Rujano, Kreuziger, Di Luca and Nibali.

Yeah, Nibali won the Vuelta against Joaquim, but this Giro has the Zoncolan and a good Rodriguez can take a lot of time on Nibali on mountains like that.

Same answer

 

[taiwan]

Considerbly shorter than those in the Tour or the Vuelta (52km, 46km). Then consider the mountain TT and the general difficulty of the course.

 

[The Hitch]

Considerbly shorter than those in the Tour or the Vuelta (52km, 46km). Then consider the mountain TT and the general difficulty of the course.

Well its 31.5 k to be precise so yeah shorter than TOur but still about 25k too long for Purito.

The tt specialists also have the first 5k of the nevgal tt

I wonder where theyll hold the presentation though. Last year the ampitheater was epic.

Also Im not sure if the tt goes out of the city and then comes back in or goes round the city or what. Hope it goes through the main parts so we can see similar crowds to Amsterdam last year.

 

[Ferminal]

I would also like to know where Anton said he wasn't riding for GC...

 

[nvpacchi]

“Anton will be at 100 per cent. We know that the Italians will all be there, but we will stay in the shadows and not take on too much responsibility,” Gonzalez de Galdeano explained. “It’s a race which we can adapt too very well. In principle, the objective is a stage, something we’ve never achieved there, but Igor has made a big leap, both physically and psychologically, and he’s capable of more.”

-Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano

Link

Of course this was said last year so it may not be as relevant now. But Galdeano also said that Anton was going for stage wins in the 2010 Vuelta, and we all know that he had full intention of going for the GC. I expect Anton to aim for nothing less than the GC at the GIro.

 

[hrotha]

They're just being prudent because Antón has never peformed at a GT outside of the Vuelta, and the Giro is a very different race with a much harder parcours and it's ridden very differently. What does Antón know about the sterrato, or about successions of long and steep climbs? For a 28-year-old who first burst into the elite five years ago, he's a quite inexperienced rider. It only makes sense to go in with a wait and see attitude.

Also, when Galdeano said that I guess there was some uncertainty about Antón reaching his top form in time for the Giro after his crash, but it seems that won't be a problem after all.

 

[Ryaguas]

Yeah, Nibali won the Vuelta against Joaquim, but this Giro has the Zoncolan and a good Rodriguez can take a lot of time on Nibali on mountains like that.

Against a REALLY tired Purito I must say...

But where did Anton say that?

I would also like to know where Anton said he wasn't riding for GC...

mmmmmmm Here and Here...

Euskaltel intentará conseguir un podio en el Tour de Francia, la victoria en la Vuelta a España y una etapa en el Giro

"Euskaltel will try to get a podium in Le Tour, the GC in La Vuelta and 1 stage in Il Giro"

That was said by Igor González de Galdeano... is a logical desicion tho... Euskaltel doesnt have a team to give, even a mediocre, support to Fuji in Il Giro, They are going for stages and a very good position in the GC, their main objective is Le Tour and La Vuelta... this Giro will be a great build up facing La Vuelta later in the year...

 

[Ryaguas]

What does Antón know about the sterrato, or about successions of long and steep climbs?.

They even haven't made recon to 1 stage... I truthly think that They are going for stages and a very good position in GC but nothing else...

 

[Ferminal]

I do not read that as Anton not looking to get a good GC place, as opposed to "if a stage win is all we achieve, we will be content".

 

[python]

before cas hearing ?...conti.

after...don't know. probably purito.

 

[Eshnar]

I wonder where theyll hold the presentation though. Last year the ampitheater was epic.

I think I read somewhere they're gonna hold it in Piazza Duomo.
Yeah last year arena was epic

 

[taiwan]

who dat, thanks.

 

[K-0tic]

I do not read that as Anton not looking to get a good GC place, as opposed to "if a stage win is all we achieve, we will be content".

Well the expectations are less high but indeed it doesn't mean Anton is not trying to achieve a good spot for the GC. If I read Euskaltel's team news then Samuel Sanchez is aiming for the podium in the Tour and Anton should be going for the Vuelta. We all know he can still try something in the Giro but with less expectations the pressure will also be less high. I don't know if that's a good sign. Besides, Anton has not shown to be very stable. I would be surprised to see him ending within the top five.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

purito will fail on zoncolan. you heard it here first (and I really like the guy).

 

[taiwan]

I think he`ll be good. Podium on that stage at least as I said before. Trying to find precedents to back me up. 3rd on the Angliru in `08? 3rd on the Bola del Mundo last year?

 

[The Hitch]

Against a REALLY tired Purito I must say...



mmmmmmm Here and Here...



"Euskaltel will try to get a podium in Le Tour, the GC in La Vuelta and 1 stage in Il Giro"

That was said by Igor González de Galdeano... is a logical desicion tho... Euskaltel doesnt have a team to give, even a mediocre, support to Fuji in Il Giro, They are going for stages and a very good position in the GC, their main objective is Le Tour and La Vuelta... this Giro will be a great build up facing La Vuelta later in the year...

but who to get that gc in Vuelta? Samu is going for podium in the Tour, but that doesnt mean he cant challenge at the Vuelta 4 weeks later. Its been done before.

 

[The Hitch]

I hope Harmonn doesnt have to call the first 3 stages all by himself again. That makes it a nightmare.

 

[icefire]

but who to get that gc in Vuelta? Samu is going for podium in the Tour, but that doesnt mean he cant challenge at the Vuelta 4 weeks later. Its been done before.

From the very same link you posted:
http://www.marca.com/2011/02/04/ciclismo/1296817899.html

Dichas metas consisten en ir a por el podio del próximo Tour de Francia de la mano de Samuel Sánchez, la victoria en la Vuelta a España con Igor Antón y la consecución de la primera etapa en el Giro de Italia.

They will target the Vuelta with Antón.