General News Thread

[issoisso]

Who are the reserves?

Stamsnijder and Kruijswijk

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Moerenhout out, Stamsnijder in. No word yet on Freire.

Susan

 

[Bicicleta]

Biciciclismo say Bennati is out. http://biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=25969

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I have a soft spot for Moerenhout since I have the song that was dedicated to him when he won the Dutch championships on my ipod.

But do you also have the song for Amets Txurruka?

 

[kurtinsc]

Biciciclismo say Bennati is out. http://biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=25969

So, what does that make the sprinter list?

Greipel vs Farrar?

Who are the others there?

 

[afpm90]

So, what does that make the sprinter list?

Greipel vs Farrar?

Who are the others there?

Petacchi, Freire(maybe), Greg Henderson, Robbie McEwen, Lucas Haedo.

 

[tgsgirl]

So, what does that make the sprinter list?
Greipel vs Farrar?
Who are the others there?

Petacchi. Oscarcito (perhaps). Modolo. Henderson. Robbie Mac. Haedo x1.

 

[kurtinsc]

Petacchi, Freire(maybe), Greg Henderson, Robbie McEwen, Lucas Haedo.

Well at least Pettachi is there. He's an A-lister. If Friere bows out, the field looks a bit light on the sprints.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Rabo is also sending Graeme Brown.

Susan

 

[issoisso]

Rabo is also sending Graeme Brown.

Susan

Ah yes, their specialist for the highly technical PETT (Pie Eating Time Trial)

 

[theyoungest]

It's final: Oscarito is not starting the Giro. He has sinusitis.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yup, instead Steven Kruijswijk is riding.

 

[craig1985]

But do you also have the song for Amets Txurruka?

No I don't. Barring a few words, I don't speak Spanish, let alone Basque.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

It's final: Oscarito is not starting the Giro. He has sinusitis.

RAbobank just told me the final decision has not yet been made.

Susan

 

[theyoungest]

RAbobank just told me the final decision has not yet been made.

Susan

Ah, gotta love the Telegraaf.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Ah, gotta love the Telegraaf.

Actually, De Telegraaf was quoting the Gazzetta.

Susan

 

[theyoungest]

Actually, De Telegraaf was quoting the Gazzetta.

Susan

I know. Makes it even worse. Copy/paste news FTW.

 

[sklein]

the giro seems to miss really a lot of big names this year which makes it a little less attractive i think. on the other hand, when you look at the great route chosen this year its double as sad as it already is...

 

[Barrus]

the giro seems to miss really a lot of big names this year which makes it a little less attractive i think. on the other hand, when you look at the great route chosen this year its double as sad as it already is...

I am starting to fear actually. More and more stage races, short and long ones, are starting to weaken the route in terms of difficulty, see for example Tour de Suisse, tour de Romandie, last few years of the tour de france (if I'm not mistaken), perhaps a very hard course just isn't interesting for the riders and instead they opt for the tour of California

 

[craig1985]

Ah, gotta love the Telegraaf.

Don't mean to sound like a n00b, but is De Telegraaf a tabloid type paper like the The Sun, or like The Daily Mail that sprouts right wing propaganda?

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Don't mean to sound like a n00b, but is De Telegraaf a tabloid type paper like the The Sun, or like The Daily Mail that sprouts right wing propaganda?

I only ever look at their sports page, but find they are usually quite reliable and have good coverage of the Dutch cycling scene. They weren't the only ones to pick up that story, either, a lot of others did too.

Susan

 

[theyoungest]

I only ever look at their sports page, but find they are usually quite reliable and have good coverage of the Dutch cycling scene. They weren't the only ones to pick up that story, either, a lot of others did too.

Susan

The sports page is the only part of the Telegraaf that is more or less acceptable, albeit sometimes a little tendentious.

It is the biggest paper in NL, known for its political right leanings, and its largely tabloid approach.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I am starting to fear actually. More and more stage races, short and long ones, are starting to weaken the route in terms of difficulty, see for example Tour de Suisse, tour de Romandie, last few years of the tour de france (if I'm not mistaken), perhaps a very hard course just isn't interesting for the riders and instead they opt for the tour of California

Well, the California roster at present hardly says that people are being put off the Giro in favour of California. It's more that the halo of glory placed around the Tour is making people focus mostly on that. Remember that for most of the last decade the Giro, no matter how entertaining, has been rather provincial, with Contador the first non-Italian to win it in years. The Giro isn't under threat, and I doubt the Giro will simplify its route (the Vuelta, similarly, has put in another monster parcours) or be particularly threatened by California. A lot of riders just want a break after the Spring classics, and a lot of riders are keeping themselves in reserve for July.

It's all well and good established races simplifying, but as a new race, California won't win people over with soft parcours. It has to go the way of the Eroica, and make itself difficult, so that it looks good on the palmarès, not just a little consolation trophy. Only once that happens can it simplify.

 

[craig1985]

Now things really will get tricky if Unipublic get their way and move the Vuelta back to it's orginal spot.

 

[issoisso]

Well, the California roster at present hardly says that people are being put off the Giro in favour of California. It's more that the halo of glory placed around the Tour is making people focus mostly on that. Remember that for most of the last decade the Giro, no matter how entertaining, has been rather provincial, with Contador the first non-Italian to win it in years. The Giro isn't under threat, and I doubt the Giro will simplify its route (the Vuelta, similarly, has put in another monster parcours) or be particularly threatened by California. A lot of riders just want a break after the Spring classics, and a lot of riders are keeping themselves in reserve for July.

It's all well and good established races simplifying, but as a new race, California won't win people over with soft parcours. It has to go the way of the Eroica, and make itself difficult, so that it looks good on the palmarès, not just a little consolation trophy. Only once that happens can it simplify.

Or, to put it another way:

Catalunya used to be at this time of year and had a far better field than California has this year (which makes sense, since it's an old and important race)