Giro 2012 Field Discussion/Rumours

[gilbertador]

he doesn't plan on the giro tour, double. he said if he went to the tour, it would be to help nibali.

I just cant imagine Basso ever riding as a Domestique, I cant really imagine him going for stages either its not like the Tour offers him many possibilities and he is set to lose a hell of a lot of time in the tts

 

[hrotha]

Thing is Giro - Tour is impossible for him (see 2010) where as he would definitely have a good chance of finishing 2nd in the Vuelta

Are we taking a Contador win for granted now? He could crash, become ill or -gasp- not be the strongest one.

 

[Parrulo]

Are we taking a Contador win for granted now? He could crash, become ill or -gasp- not be the strongest one.

 

[cineteq]

yeah I was wrong

don't worry, what's funny is the hitch brings your comments, but on another thread, he created, he listed nibali as one of many to pick win the giro. LOL!!!!

 

[The Hitch]

Are we taking a Contador win for granted now? He could crash, become ill or -gasp- not be the strongest one.

Yeah, it can happen, my fear is that it could happen to Contador going up to the biggest race of his life, 2013 Tour, which is the one where after 2 years, people will be saying Cadel is the best gt rider of the generation and TGO will need to prove otherwise.

But from the point of view of the riders deciding whether to do the Vuelta, they know the chances are they will be racing for 2nd.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

was about to the same



sorry ryo but you were being mighty stubborn so he have all the right in the world to stick it up to you at least a little bit.

anyway seems like liqui decided not to split their top GT team like they have done last year. szmyd, capecchi, agnoli and salermo all at ivan's disposal when it would be expected that at least capecchi wasn't riding this saving himself for the tour and nibali. But i guess since basso will also be riding the tour working for nibali (i recall him saying something like this earlier this year) it evens itself.

basso won't do the tour. he will do the giro-vuelta double.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

We are yet to see Basso actually working for anyone other than himself. The things that Basso says are one thing, the reality is the other one. Basso is one of the best diplomats in the peloton, master at protecting his own interests within team. He found way to have Nibali to devote himself completely to him during his victorious Giro, he has Szmyd as a personal gregario. He won't work for anyone. And why should he? He was a runner up to Armstrong at the TdF, he is a double Giro champ. Such cyclists shouldn't work for anyone.
But while Basso always knew how to protect his interests, there are a couple of guys in the peloton who don't know how: Nibali and Cancellara come to mind as ready examples.

very well said. also in the media he is. he is an asskissing hypocrite and talks whatever way is needed but in the end it's all about him and his survival. he taolly licked his way up gazzetta too. now it;s basically his paper when it comes to cycling

 

[Gregory]

he taolly licked his way up gazzetta too. now it;s basically his paper when it comes to cycling

Didn't know that, interesting.

Also notice that famous commercial: Basso is serving Nibali with a smile, projecting a positive image, but in the peloton it is Nibali who is serving Basso!

 

[whittashau]

Ivan Basso and Zanatta talk about Giro d'italia. Liquigas Team revealed:

Link
Ivan Basso
Valerio Agnoli
Eros Capecchi
Damiano Caruso
Cristiano Salerno
Sylwester Szmyd,
Maciej Bodnar
Paolo Longo Borghini
Fabio Sabatini.

Wow, so Nibali is only going to have Cayetano Sarmiento as a fresh climbing domestique for the tour? That's pretty tough on him. I'm especially surprised Agnoli is riding the Giro as he always seemed like Nibali's personal domestique. I guess his role along with Capecchi and Salerno who are all good descenders will be to help Basso going downhill too.

 

[karlboss]

Just thought I'd bring this convo back up.

Appreciate it.

I'd like to see Basso go to the Tour and work for Nibali as repayment for 2010. I think Nibali has a real shot and if Basso goes to the Tour I won't have to rely on Radioshack to attack in the mountains. I feel far more comfortable relying on Nibali and liqui to animate the race.

It does concern me that Basso still seems to get exactly what he wants and won't go to the Tour to work for Nibali.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Basso getting a lot of grief...he still loves you all and want only the best for you guys.

 

[karlboss]

I want him to win the Giro...just seemed a bit unfair to have Nibali waiting for Basso's decision as to what he rides.

 

[movingtarget]

Yeah, it can happen, my fear is that it could happen to Contador going up to the biggest race of his life, 2013 Tour, which is the one where after 2 years, people will be saying Cadel is the best gt rider of the generation and TGO will need to prove otherwise.

But from the point of view of the riders deciding whether to do the Vuelta, they know the chances are they will be racing for 2nd.

Only fools would say that about Evans. He has a third in the Vuelta, a win and two seconds in the Tour, possibly two wins including 2012 and is unplaced in the Giro. Hardly comparable to Contador's record. The one mantle Evans should be awarded would be the most versatile rider of his generation post Armstrong. Won the Worlds, won the Tour and won a classic albeit not a monument. No one else has done that, even Contador.

 

[theyoungest]

Only fools would say that about Evans. He has a third in the Vuelta, a win and two seconds in the Tour, possibly two wins including 2012 and is unplaced in the Giro. Hardly comparable to Contador's record. The one mantle Evans should be awarded would be the most versatile rider of his generation post Armstrong. Won the Worlds, won the Tour and won a classic albeit not a monument. No one else has done that, even Contador.

I'd say Alejandro Valverde might have a shot at that as well.

 

[movingtarget]

I'd say Alejandro Valverde might have a shot at that as well.

Probably but I would rate Evans superior in grand tour results and Valverde much higher in classics results. Apples and oranges. Those two would be the standouts. At the other end of the scale you have Sastre winning the Tour and not much else but his grand tour results over time were very consistent. Menchov with three grand tours and podiums at the Tour also has a good record but no one day race results at all.

 

[PedalCastro]

What sprinters can we expect to do well at the Giro??

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm going with Merckx and say Contador is still the most complete cyclist in this peloton, even if he's banned.

 

[Lexman]

Anyone knows who fits in the category of the Best young rider category?

I think Pozzovivo will go for the Mountain jersey

Top 5 of GC :
Scarponi
Basso
Kreuziger
Gadret
Schleck

 

[Lupetto]

Jan Bakelants
Daniele Bennati
Ben Hermans
Giacomo Nizzolo
Nelson Oliveira
Thomas Rohregger
Fränk Schleck
Jesse Sergent
Oliver Zaugg

http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/discover-teams-line-giro-ditalia

 

[Eshnar]

Jan Bakelants
Daniele Bennati
Ben Hermans
Giacomo Nizzolo
Nelson Oliveira
Thomas Rohregger
Fränk Schleck
Jesse Sergent
Oliver Zaugg

http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/discover-teams-line-giro-ditalia

No Kloden... So somehow Bruyneel managed to do the right thing. Kudos to Fuglsang's knee

 

[theyoungest]

No Kloden... So somehow Bruyneel managed to do the right thing. Kudos to Fuglsang's knee

Wasn't Klöden's riding the Giro a Google translate error of some website?

Not a bad team RSNT are sending. But we've said that before, this year.

 

[Eshnar]

Wasn't Klöden's riding the Giro a Google translate error of some website?

Not a bad team RSNT are sending. But we've said that before, this year.

There have been plenty of rumours about Kloden doing the Giro... Anyway it's fine, he doesn't stand a chance in this Giro, with his current shape.

 

[Christian]

Jan Bakelants
Daniele Bennati
Ben Hermans
Giacomo Nizzolo
Nelson Oliveira
Thomas Rohregger
Fränk Schleck
Jesse Sergent
Oliver Zaugg

http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/discover-teams-line-giro-ditalia

Not really sure what to think about this team. On one hand I think it's pretty weak but on the other hand I'm happy for that they included so many young guns. Especially happy for Hermans. It will also be interesting to see what Bakelants can do, also Nizzolo. But it's maybe too many young guns at once: 4 riders doing their first GT IINM.

Fränk should have good support in the mountains. Rohregger showed good form in Romandie, Zaugg lost a lot of time but I think he should still be ready by the time they get to the mountains.

If they play their cards right and don't put everything in the GC basket they should be able to get some good results. But then again it's RSNT we're talking about so probably not

 

[gregrowlerson]

No Kloden... So somehow Bruyneel managed to do the right thing. Kudos to Fuglsang's knee

After all of that....

Would be interesting to know who made the decision.

It would make sense to save Kloden for the TDF if he was time trialling like he was last season, but he is not. Not even close. And the other thing with Andreas is that he spends so much time injured and ill that the Giro could have been okay for him; at least he is coming into some minor form. What are the odds of things being smooth for him for the entire next three months? And the Giro appears like a more wide open race than the Tour this year.

 

[Christian]

Also interesting that Fränk couldn't even get Didier in ... those brothers really have no leverage whatsoever right now