Giro Di Lombardia - 16th October

[Ferminal]

Now that the forgone conclusion is out, it is a tough prediction.

Gasparotto

 

[hfer07]

apart from Gilbert- I'm going to name Nibali & Kolobnev as black horses--Is Joaquin Rodriguez riding it?

 

[auscyclefan94]

You sure you want to be bringing Nibali the Vuelta and Predictions back up again. THats a vicious triangle for you

ACF is like Homer Simpson. Mostly dopey but then surprising moments of genius.

Like when Homer was able to shockingly succesfully translate hindi, before ruining it all by guessing that Manjula must be some kind of spaceship.

Same with ACF earlier today attacking another poster for saying Australia messed up in the worlds, when what the poster had actually said was that Pozzato messed up in Australia

Then he geniusly taunts Dekker T by continuing the Gesink cant tt discussion

Anyway
Damn no Vaconsolei. WHo are radioshack bringing? And i think Liqui using the Roman Vinchenzo double for the last time, could be key.

Mostly dopey? - I don't think so!

Attacking another poster? He did not explain himself correctly which is why I pounced on him as his post indicated that australia had messed up.

Gesink can't tt, end of story.

I'm actually amazed ACF predicted 1 thing right, Nibali in the Vuelta

I am not going to knock my prediction skills but I tipped Nibali because he was the only guy I knew at that time who was doing la vuelta.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Gilbert will take it.
It's tough to think that the season is over once again, and that we have to wait till January for the road races.....
Bloody hell the years go fast.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gilbert will take it. I am not sure if evans will be able to go with gilbert on the final climb especially as cadel has had a super long season and is very tired. But this is one of his favourite races so hopefully he can win.

Shame gesink won't be there as the lanky dutchman, has some strong form and has been targeting lombardy.

 

[ultimobici]

This year's edition is a bit of a curve ball for predictions. The change of course will change the nature of the race a lot, I think.

Last year the course had 20km between the Ghisallo and Civiglio, but this year the 613m Civiglio is replaced by Sormano which is over 1100m. This obstacle is only 16km from the summit of the Ghisallo but is more than 30 from San Fermo della Battaglia potentially changing the dynamic of the race completely.

I'd love Gilbert to win again but think he'll have a harder time as the climbs are not as tightly packed into the finale this year. Also bear in mind that few if any of the current riders have raced the Sormano before.

If a small group can survive to the bottom of San Fermo it will be very hard to reel them in as the climb is steep, twisting and narrow.

So I think we may see less of a rouleur and more of a climber win. Maybe a duel between local Mauro Santambrogio and Damiano Cunego?

 

[Jamsque]

I fully expect Dan Martin to be the strongest on the climb up to Sormano, but I don't think he has the engine to stay clear on his own till the finish. I think the win goes to whoever can hang on his wheel uphill.

 

[auscyclefan94]

This year's edition is a bit of a curve ball for predictions. The change of course will change the nature of the race a lot, I think.

Last year the course had 20km between the Ghisallo and Civiglio, but this year the 613m Civiglio is replaced by Sormano which is over 1100m. This obstacle is only 16km from the summit of the Ghisallo but is more than 30 from San Fermo della Battaglia potentially changing the dynamic of the race completely.

I'd love Gilbert to win again but think he'll have a harder time as the climbs are not as tightly packed into the finale this year. Also bear in mind that few if any of the current riders have raced the Sormano before.

If a small group can survive to the bottom of San Fermo it will be very hard to reel them in as the climb is steep, twisting and narrow.

So I think we may see less of a rouleur and more of a climber win. Maybe a duel between local Mauro Santambrogio and Damiano Cunego?

Funny you say that. Last year when they team mates, Cunego was not happy with Santambrogio's tatics in lombardia as he was suppose to be working for him and did something that ****ed him off.

Looking at the profile, the course itself every year does not look overly hard, but they ride the course quite hard.

Hope Cadel can do the goods but if not a BMC rider or Gilbert. I have a mini man crush on gilbert!

 

[Climbing]

I predict a group 4-5 riders will get clear just before the end.
Gilbert, Nibali, Kolobnev, maybe Evans (looks a bit tired) and someone else... I think they are all still in great shape.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I fully expect Dan Martin to be the strongest on the climb up to Sormano, but I don't think he has the engine to stay clear on his own till the finish. I think the win goes to whoever can hang on his wheel uphill.

Now Gesink is out I hope Martin will win, he deserves it.

I would want TGBM to do well but he didn't seem to have any form at the momeny seeing Emilia (5 minutes behind)

 

[auscyclefan94]

Now Gesink is out I hope Martin will win, he deserves it.

I would want TGBM to do well but he didn't seem to have any form at the momeny seeing Emilia (5 minutes behind)

Why bother in a race that his main competition (cuddles) is not racing in? He wants to be ready for the showdown against cuddles in lombardy. Seeing a battle of this proportion makes ACF very excited!

btw, BMC have there "A" team for hilly classics in the upcoming races. Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Chris Butler (USA), Cadel Evans (AUS), Karsten Kroon (NED), Jeff Louder (USA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Mauro Santambrogio (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI).

 

[Tuarts]

Barring Act of God, I can watch this on the weekend \o/

 

[theyoungest]

Why bother in a race that his main competition (cuddles) is not racing in? He wants to be ready for the showdown against cuddles in lombardy. Seeing a battle of this proportion makes ACF very excited!

btw, BMC have there "A" team for hilly classics in the upcoming races. Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Chris Butler (USA), Cadel Evans (AUS), Karsten Kroon (NED), Jeff Louder (USA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Mauro Santambrogio (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI).

Are we supposed to be impressed by this list of cycling superstars? Evans, and some over the hill (or never even been on the hill) domestiques? Oh, and a former world champion who's had the curse of the rainbow jersey for seemingly all his life.

That being said, Evans will crush TGBM comfortably. The only Rabo rider who might (just might) do something is Paul Martens.

 

[Anonymous]

It will be minorly amusing if bmc win in lombardia, gives acf the whole off season to gloat

 

[miha1234]

Brajkovic...

 

[sigsky]

News on streaming video for Lombardy?

 

[Anonymous]

News on streaming video for Lombardy?

first post of the thread.. there will be streams on the "stream" link - in fact theres one there already.

 

[Roland Rat]

Nibali.

blah blah blah.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Poll

Could we maybe get a poll? As to who will win Lombardia this year. Think it would be nice to see what everyone thinks, summed up.

 

[ultimobici]

Funny you say that. Last year when they team mates, Cunego was not happy with Santambrogio's tatics in lombardia as he was suppose to be working for him and did something that ****ed him off.

Looking at the profile, the course itself every year does not look overly hard, but they ride the course quite hard.

Hope Cadel can do the goods but if not a BMC rider or Gilbert. I have a mini man crush on gilbert!

I think you underestimate the course. Having ridden all if the climbs bar Sormano I can assure you it's deceptive. The Ghisallo has sections of 10 to 12% along its length and the surface is not good at all. The gradient never really settles either. San Fermo della Battaglia is similar in that its surface is that grippy tarmac.
So with Sormano's addition the route is even nastier.
If you look at the list of winners there aren't any real oddball entries.

 

[skidmark]

I like the parcours and the incredibly big climb. Although it's far from the end, it's a one day race so it'll be all out. Maybe a small group moves away from it with some real climbers? I dunno if Gilbert could make the cut if that was the case, I'd imagine it'd be guys like Evans, Martin, S. Sanchez, F. Schleck, Nibali... maybe Frank will make what looks like a winning move and then crash out like 3 or so years ago. Or like in the TdS the next year after that.

 

[The Hitch]

Could we maybe get a poll? As to who will win Lombardia this year. Think it would be nice to see what everyone thinks, summed up.

Give me a list of 10 options then

Defending champion
Cuddles
Dany boy
Sammy
Purito
Kolobnev
Il Sharko
Schlecklet

who else? WHo shouldnt be there? (with the odd Bauke Mollema joke) (will look bad to me if he wins

 

[momomomo]

Give me a list of 10 options then

Defending champion
Cuddles
Dany boy
Sammy
Purito
Kolobnev
Il Sharko
Schlecklet

who else? WHo shouldnt be there? (with the odd Bauke Mollema joke) (will look bad to me if he wins

EBH? He may have a day similar to Montreal.

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm thinking Schlecklet will take this one. If he puts his mind on it instead of binge drinking.

Stay away from the Whisky Schleck!

 

[Christophe]

I'm feeling cantankerous -- Kolobnev FTW