Giro 2012 Field Discussion/Rumours

[FF'Wilco]

He decided to set Giro as his main goal because hes usually keeps improving during the race and his top shape appear in 3rd week so its perfect for Giro. In both 2010 and 2011 he done very well on the last MTFs of Tour (4th on Tourmalet and 10th on Alpe). Im really courious what can he achive on Giro.

 

[shalgo]

Hesjedal was 10th on the Alpe last year and he wasn't even riding for himself--he was pulling Danielson because Danielson was the team's GC leader at the time. He was also 10th the day before on the Galibier stage.

 

[Duartista]

it's the truth. I heard it from a friend who knows the situation. you think lampre would be as stupid to let him stay in colombia for 5 months?

Last news I read was that he was supposed to travel to Italy in mid March - since then nothing. Do you know what the problem is with his visa?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Last news I read was that he was supposed to travel to Italy in mid March - since then nothing. Do you know what the problem is with his visa?

he simply can't get into europe. this happens all the time with colombian riders. but this one is indeed taking very long. idiot european rules about colombians traveling to europe. ughh

 

[hrotha]

What's the deal with that. It's not like the Colombian state is an enemy of the West or anything.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

yes it is appearantly. europe treats colombians like they are all coke dealers from a third world country.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Hesjedal got stronger as the Tour progressed. He finished just in/outside the top 10 in the first mountain stages.
But in the last stages he managed a top 5 on the Tourmalet (i think? one of the last climb finishes)... without any breakaway

indeed.

Recuperation and recovery can mean just as mcuh as pure climbing ability in Grand Tours.

 

[Mogwai_]

As a Belgian I hope some Belgians will ride a decent Giro and do well in the GC.

Maybe Bakelants can ride top 15 and De Clercq too. Seeldraeyers is selected too but he isn't that great anymore compared to three years ago when he won the best young rider jersey.

I think Meersman can win a stage.

 

[42x16ss]

IMO Hesjedal has the potential to really contend. A very solid top 20 at the Tour last year after losing time in the crashes on the first week and doing a lot of work in the intermediate and mountain stages for Hushovd and Danielson was as impressive as coming 7th in 2010 if you ask me

 

[meat puppet]

I also think Hesjedal could be up there and with Rujano he will be the one I'm cheering for now that CAS appears to not start. So let me be bold and predict a top five for Hesjedal. The reasons have already been stated, by and large: good recovery and the ability to become stronger during a GT, usually rides consistently within himself though not a fireworks type of a ryder, and so on.

TDF 2010 Arenberg stage and Tourmalet stages were really top rides by him. Hope he can reproduce those performances, or even come close.

 

[42x16ss]

My prediction is about 4th-8th, certainly possible considering the quality of his main domestique (CVV)

 

[theyoungest]

As a Belgian I hope some Belgians will ride a decent Giro and do well in the GC.

Maybe Bakelants can ride top 15 and De Clercq too. Seeldraeyers is selected too but he isn't that great anymore compared to three years ago when he won the best young rider jersey.

I think Meersman can win a stage.

Bakelants can't do a top-15, he's a hilly rider, not a climber. De Clercq... don't know, since his stage win last year I don't think he's ever been in the top 20 on a climb.

Seeldraeyers is just as good as three years ago.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

there won't be any belgian that will do great. de clerq I don't think I've seen ever again after that win last year.

 

[hrotha]

yes it is appearantly. europe treats colombians like they are all coke dealers from a third world country.

Yeah, but when you have a guy with a professional cycling contract, which should be pretty easy to verify, I would only expect delays if the Italians were being dicks to Colombia for diplomatic reasons. But Colombia is pals with USA and Europe.

 

[Lexman]

As a Belgian I hope some Belgians will ride a decent Giro and do well in the GC.

Maybe Bakelants can ride top 15 and De Clercq too. Seeldraeyers is selected too but he isn't that great anymore compared to three years ago when he won the best young rider jersey.

I think Meersman can win a stage.

Best hope for a belgian is Meersman, Bakelants will have to work for Schleck as Seeldrayers will have to do for Kreuziger.

De Clerq well as others said we didn't hear anything from him again after his win..and he won because the others didn't react fast enough (remember they just came on his rear wheel at the finish). De Greef will be first in the GC at 25th position.

I wish Vanendert should have gone to Il Giro, he's in form and must be able to get a top 10 in GC. All the more since he says himself he doesn't like the TDF that much and will go there mainly in support for VDB (and maybe the Climbers jersey?)

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I looked up weather forecasts and it will be sunny/clouded, 3 days in denmark and without any wind either in herning (18 km/h) or horsens (5 km/h)

 

[trevim]

Bakelants can't do a top-15, he's a hilly rider, not a climber. De Clercq... don't know, since his stage win last year I don't think he's ever been in the top 20 on a climb.

Seeldraeyers is just as good as three years ago.

On the right breaks, Bakelants can go for a decent GC. The only problem is that with Schleck on the team, Radioshack might not let him go all crazy with all breaks. I hope he gets a free role.

 

[boomcie]

Bakelants can't do a top-15, he's a hilly rider, not a climber.

Saying he can't do a top-15 is premature.

 

[PedalCastro]

My prediction is about 4th-8th, certainly possible considering the quality of his main domestique (CVV)

I predict (although admittedly it could go very, very wrong) Hesjedal to finish above Schleck, who wont top 20 based on him not being ready

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Saying he can't do a top-15 is premature.

No it isn't. Bakelants isn't a real climber. Top 15 would need some freak breakaway like L'Aquila or something

 

[greenedge]

What about JRod? He can't TT to save his life and will he be able to hang in there on the really long, steep climbs? Top 5? This Giro is so open and hard to predict a thing in it!

He has been in the top 5 here before so i definitely think he could.

 

[hrotha]

No it isn't. Bakelants isn't a real climber. Top 15 would need some freak breakaway like L'Aquila or something

He was 22nd last year...

 

[Havetts]

He was 22nd last year...

Was the winner of the Traguarda Valente (sorry for my probably horrid spelling) so he was in the break very often and possibly finished ahead of the main bunch very often because of that.

 

[roundabout]

He was still about 20 minutes behind 15th though.

And yes, he was in the breaks a lot.

 

[hrotha]

Of course, but the point is, if he improves a little and gets in breaks (as he usually does), it's not that far-fetched.