Giro 2012 Field Discussion/Rumours

[Ryo Hazuki]

terpstra will do tour I think

 

[qwerty16]

terpstra will do tour I think

Many much better riders available. Leipheimer, Velits, Chavanel, Pineau, Martin and De Weert seem locks to me. I reckon Boonen and Ciolek will go too if they like to. They need someone to Steegmans to lead Boonen/Ciolek out. Grabsch will be looking for a spot too. Can't see him making the team.

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope Boonen doesn't go to the Tour.

 

[Eshnar]

Yesterday there was an interview of Moreno Moser on Gazzetta who told that Liquigas plan for the Giro (I mean, Nibali in/out) isn't defined yet. I really think Nibali is gonna go to the Giro to help Basso or replace him in case of failure (=crash in the first week)

 

[Flamin]

My best guess: CHICCHI Francesco, BANDIERA Marco, CATALDO Dario, TRENTIN Matteo, TERPSTRA Niki, VERMOTE Julien, STEEGMANS Gert, & GOLAS Michal..

Most Italians & Younger guys for the experience.

+ Serge Pauwels. Since he was mad p*ssed Sky didn't allow him to do a GT last year and the Giro suit his characteristics best by far, he will probably be in the OPQS line-up there.

 

[El Pistolero]

+ Serge Pauwels. Since he was mad p*ssed Sky didn't allow him to do a GT last year and the Giro suit his characteristics best by far, he will probably be in the OPQS line-up there.

Good call. And I also read Stybar wants to ride a GT, but that will be the Vuelta if he gets selected as he only starts his road season in May.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

i think eshnar is right, interest in pro cycling has dropped in the last years.
on the other hand, people practising cycling in the northern part of italy are increasing and the gran fondo are making good numbers.
these people are middle aged, in their late 30s and 40s.
people like riding, they are not interested in pro road races.
no young people interested in cycling, the number of team doing races for juniors is dramatically dropping.
no parents want their children practising this sport because of traffic and doping.teenager are not interested, too much tiring and very few fashion.

in certain areas like tuscany, veneto, romagna cycling is very popular, probably the second sport, the same in certain areas of lombardia- completely the opposite in big towns and generally in the south.

giro is still beloved,but it is needed anyway a champion who can turn interested the media and the whole audience, like pantani, competing for giro and tour.

 

[Eshnar]

Back on topic, Vinokourov seem to think to do the Giro this year

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Back on topic, Vinokourov seem to think to do the Giro (and Vuelta) this year

A couple days ago he said he'd probably do the Giro (depending on his form) and the Tour. The Tour seems certain.

He wasn't planning on doing a full season, so no Vuelta or Worlds, unless he's changed his mind about that very recently. Do you have a link?

 

[Eshnar]

A couple days ago he said he'd probably do the Giro (depending on his form) and the Tour. The Tour seems certain.

He wasn't planning on doing a full season, so no Vuelta or Worlds, unless he's changed his mind about that very recently. Do you have a link?

Just a few lines in a few italian sites. Actually only one of them mentioned the Vuelta, while the others agreed for the Tour, so I was wrong

 

[Lupetto]

Androni-Venezuela announced a preselection of ten riders.

José Rujano
José Serpa
Emanuele Sella
Roberto Ferrari
Fabio Felline
Miguel Rubiano
Alessandro De Marchi
Carlos Ochoa
Jackson Rodríguez
Giairo Ermeti

 

[Kazistuta]

Androni-Venezuela announced a preselection of ten riders.

José Rujano
José Serpa
Emanuele Sella
Roberto Ferrari
Fabio Felline
Miguel Rubiano
Alessandro De Marchi
Carlos Ochoa
Jackson Rodríguez
Giairo Ermeti

I think Ochoa or Ermeti will be the odd man out from that crowd.

 

[jens_attacks]

big news from spain:

it's a very big chance cobo will do il giro and skip le tour for vuelta.if this happens i can see him as a big favourite in italy if he's motivated of course.but it's not 100% sure.cobo himself said he prefers le tour than il giro but with valverde leader there...instead of see him dropped dragging valverde,the image with him and rujano motoring the stelvio is a better one.

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2012/ledanois-valverde-nest-pas-tout-seul/

Si l’on se projette sur le long terme, avez-vous déjà un plan de bataille pour les grands Tours ?
Alejandro Valverde ne sera pas au départ du Giro, mais je pense qu’il s’alignera sur le Tour de France. C’est quasiment une certitude. Quand à Juan José Cobo, il fera peut-être le Tour d’Italie, mais ne sera pas présent au mois de juillet car c’est difficile aujourd’hui de disputer deux grands tours de suite. Il sera en revanche notre leader sur la Vuelta.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

big news from spain:

it's a very big chance cobo will do il giro and skip le tour for vuelta.if this happens i can see him as a big favourite in italy if he's motivated of course.but it's not 100% sure.cobo himself said he prefers le tour than il giro but with valverde leader there...instead of see him dropped dragging valverde,the image with him and rujano motoring the stelvio is a better one.

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2012/ledanois-valverde-nest-pas-tout-seul/

Si l’on se projette sur le long terme, avez-vous déjà un plan de bataille pour les grands Tours ?
Alejandro Valverde ne sera pas au départ du Giro, mais je pense qu’il s’alignera sur le Tour de France. C’est quasiment une certitude. Quand à Juan José Cobo, il fera peut-être le Tour d’Italie, mais ne sera pas présent au mois de juillet car c’est difficile aujourd’hui de disputer deux grands tours de suite. Il sera en revanche notre leader sur la Vuelta.

That's much better provided Cobo gets in shape in time. Valverde being the undisputed leader for the Tour GC is a failure waiting to happen.

 

[airstream]

nightmare. cobo is much better bet for the Tour but movistar faith in valverde truly has no limits. i don't see juanjo being a real threat in the gc.probably he will animate the race on particular stages as anton did last year

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

nightmare. cobo is much better bet for the Tour but movistar faith in valverde truly has no limits. i don't see juanjo being a real threat in the gc.probably he will animate the race on particular stages as anton did last year

Probably yes but it all depends on his motivation. No one cares about the Giro in Spain which doesn't help much either.

Anyway, he has a much bigger engine than Anton and it's not like the Giro doesn't suit him with the Stelvio finish, which is more similar to a hard Tour climb than the typical Giro stuff. Also, remember that he didn't think the Angliru would suit him at all. He did quite well on the short and steep Pena Cabarga as well.

 

[greenedge]

Odd for Cobo. Maybe he wants to do the Giro/ Vuelta. I'm sure he could do well on the plethora of mountains here but will he have the form/ compete for GC.

I did want him to do the TDF as well as the Vuelta though ( he might have been able to go with Shleck/ Samu and maybe Gesink in the mountains ).

It would be nice to see Jackson Rodriguez do the Giro even though he is still young.

 

[search]

It would be nice to see Jackson Rodriguez do the Giro even though he is still young.

in recent years he did it three times in a row, so I think there's not much doubt about him being selected again.

 

[jens_attacks]

no, i don't think he wants to do il giro,he is kind of forced to.in an interview he said he's not suited to il giro at all but maybe he changed his mind now with valverde 100% leader for le tour.personally i just want him to ride with the vuelta 2011 form and mind doesn't matter if it's giro or tour.

about cobo,i found this.look at cristiano bowing down to the cobo legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMNTW21rUQ&feature=related

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Odd for Cobo. Maybe he wants to do the Giro/ Vuelta. I'm sure he could do well on the plethora of mountains here but will he have the form/ compete for GC.

I did want him to do the TDF as well as the Vuelta though ( he might have been able to go with Shleck/ Samu and maybe Gesink in the mountains ).

It would be nice to see Jackson Rodriguez do the Giro even though he is still young.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

no, i don't think he wants to do il giro,he is kind of forced to.in an interview he said he's not suited to il giro at all but maybe he changed his mind now with valverde 100% leader for le tour.personally i just want him to ride with the vuelta 2011 form and mind doesn't matter if it's giro or tour.

about cobo,i found this.look at cristiano bowing down to the cobo legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMNTW21rUQ&feature=related

if cobo doesn't want to do the giro it's the beginning of the end again for him **** unzie for always choosing valverde. cobo should be their man. he has potential. valverde has not and aun unkotivated cobo. movistar already know all about that

 

[LaFlorecita]

about cobo,i found this.look at cristiano bowing down to the cobo legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMNTW21rUQ&feature=related

Lol.

 

[The Hitch]

Probably yes but it all depends on his motivation. No one cares about the Giro in Spain which doesn't help much either.

Anyway, he has a much bigger engine than Anton and it's not like the Giro doesn't suit him with the Stelvio finish, which is more similar to a hard Tour climb than the typical Giro stuff. Also, remember that he didn't think the Angliru would suit him at all. He did quite well on the short and steep Pena Cabarga as well.

Giro got very good coverage in Spain last year though of course mainly thanks to the fact that The Great One was there and that Spain won 6 stages and because a few later stages were dedicated to xavi.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

giro always got great coverage in spain.. the vuelta does not however in italy. yet all the flemish races even 3 days de panne are all broadcasted live in italy italians like more heroic stuff like cobbles and sterrato

 

[The Hitch]

no, i don't think he wants to do il giro,he is kind of forced to.in an interview he said he's not suited to il giro at all but maybe he changed his mind now with valverde 100% leader for le tour.personally i just want him to ride with the vuelta 2011 form and mind doesn't matter if it's giro or tour.

about cobo,i found this.look at cristiano bowing down to the cobo legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMNTW21rUQ&feature=related

Much thanks for that. I love those kind of videos.