Giro d'Italia Stage 1: Amsterdam ITT (8.4km)

[gingerwallaceafro]

Easy to talk the talk but with all the pressure on, Wiggins gave it everything. Teammate Roddy Hammersmythe had an intriging explanation of Wiggin's ability. http://www.atwistedspoke.com/

Exactly, he's like a Vox AC30 at full tilt when he gets going. When his valves are running hot he has that special bell-like ringing quality to his riding that other riders can only imitate.

He produces a wonderful range of voluptuous, velvety, vintage harmonics, that are quintessentially British. He might be wearing pink tonight, but he is a true gentleman - and no mistake. If other riders had such good haircuts they might go faster too.

 

[happychappy]

wigans to disappoint. He has not showed anything this year.

orly

horrible bike, no wigans, you're not going to win this time trial.

orly

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

orly



orly

Just ignore BroDeal, he knows very little about cycling.

 

[happychappy]

Just ignore BroDeal, he knows very little about cycling.

I think he learnt something today!

 

[schadenfreude]

pics from the rider's quarter, during today's prologue.

 

[stefrees]

in regards to how big the giro is in britain, there has been more coverage this year than any of the past 5 years, and even the news of the world will carry a small (5/6 lines) tomorrow, which they didnt do last year

 

[Mellow Velo]

in regards to how big the giro is in britain, there has been more coverage this year than any of the past 5 years, and even the news of the world will carry a small (5/6 lines) tomorrow, which they didnt do last year

Sunday, May 16th Stage 8 Chianciano - Monte Terminillo (first mountain finish)
Eurosport International: 14-35 - 17-30CET
British Eurosport: 16-30 - 17-30CET (providing the motorbikes don't run late )

So, after a great early season, Brit ES revert to type for the big one.

I wonder what they have planned for the Zoncolan on the following Sunday?

 

[stefrees]

Sunday, May 16th Stage 8 Chianciano - Monte Terminillo (first mountain finish)
Eurosport International: 14-35 - 17-30CET
British Eurosport: 16-30 - 17-30CET (providing the motorbikes don't run late )

So, after a great early season, Brit ES revert to type for the big one.

I wonder what they have planned for the Zoncolan on the following Sunday?

i think british eurosport are a bit inconsistent to say the least! glad im going to be at the stage next sunday then

 

[Straßenrennen]

At least you got the tour of Romandie on british eurosport on german eurosport we just got, snooker.

 

[A.Marino]

Alexandre Vinokourov in 4º ? The man is back !!!

 

[Barrus]

At least you got the tour of Romandie on british eurosport on german eurosport we just got, snooker.

Same here in the Netherlands. Tour of Romandie was too expensive I heard for Eurosport to carry around here

 

[Tugboat]

For Sky-Italia its huge.. For Sky Italy which is what the race is all about, to win on their debut in their home grand tour is massive.

Of course, Greipel is likely to take the jersey tommorow with the sprint bonus's on offer. Sky's tactic would appear now to be to keep Henderson in contention over the next two days to give them a chance of retaining it, or at least holding the points jersey (if greipel is in pink) after the TTT

In fact there is every chance that if Henderson can finish top 4 tommorow behind greipel, Greipel will take pink, but Hendo will hold the points jersey by 1pt even if greipel wins.

Have faith... Hendy looks to be in terrific form and has to be a genuine chance at the win.

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

Zip it up....

 

[Winterfold]

Whatever the relative knowledge of the Giro is in the UK media, it is nevertheless the fact that among UK cyclists and cycling fans we know that the Giro is a more beautiful and tough race than Le Tour.

So this is a great win for Wiggo. He had really talked up his chances or winning so even 2nd would be a big fail and it is great to see him take it with a balls out everything on the line performance.

Now if Sastre wins Gc and Gibo wins on Zoncolan this will be the most perfect GT for me...

 

[ferryman]

well its big.. not as well followed as the tour as its only on eurosport, and also less accesible from the uk (except obviously the prologue etc), not on itv or anything, more followed by the serious fans. but not on a par with the tour.
But for sky, the italian market is a big one.

That said, the newscorp papers will have nice big photos of brad over the next few days, which doesnt hurt

First off. A great ride by Wigans. And he says he has another kilo to lose

And there will be some nice pics in Sunday's papers.

But to say the Giro is big in the UK or the Vuelta for that matter is just wrong I'm afraid. Most people know Le Tour but even the casual fan with an interest in cycling dies not know about the Italian or Spanixh equivalent.

 

[stefrees]

Whatever the relative knowledge of the Giro is in the UK media, it is nevertheless the fact that among UK cyclists and cycling fans we know that the Giro is a more beautiful and tough race than Le Tour.

So this is a great win for Wiggo. He had really talked up his chances or winning so even 2nd would be a big fail and it is great to see him take it with a balls out everything on the line performance.

Now if Sastre wins Gc and Gibo wins on Zoncolan this will be the most perfect GT for me...

+1 pretty much what i feel

 

[thehog]

Whatever the relative knowledge of the Giro is in the UK media, it is nevertheless the fact that among UK cyclists and cycling fans we know that the Giro is a more beautiful and tough race than Le Tour.

So this is a great win for Wiggo. He had really talked up his chances or winning so even 2nd would be a big fail and it is great to see him take it with a balls out everything on the line performance.

Now if Sastre wins Gc and Gibo wins on Zoncolan this will be the most perfect GT for me...

I agree. I've knocked more out over the Giro than the Tour. I guess it's like watching College ball vs NBA. NBA gets the media attention but college is much better game to watch.

Now where's Lance to run the riders protest this year?

 

[Goldberger]

Now where's Lance to run the riders protest this year?

What a funny Lance Armstrong comment again.......

Lance was not the only rider furious with the organizers, as there where many poor security decisions made last year.

 

[Ripper]

Finally, the first GT of the year. Fun to watch today and looks like it will be an interesting race!

 

[thehog]

What a funny Lance Armstrong comment again.......

Lance was not the only rider furious with the organizers, as there where many poor security decisions made last year.

Tell me about it. Can't believe they expected them to ride on the road. What next? No helmets?

 

[thehog]

Whatever the relative knowledge of the Giro is in the UK media, it is nevertheless the fact that among UK cyclists and cycling fans we know that the Giro is a more beautiful and tough race than Le Tour.

So this is a great win for Wiggo. He had really talked up his chances or winning so even 2nd would be a big fail and it is great to see him take it with a balls out everything on the line performance.

Now if Sastre wins Gc and Gibo wins on Zoncolan this will be the most perfect GT for me...

The British press are already showing their deep understanding of the Giro:

"The absence of top riders such as Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, who will concentrate on July's Tour de France, has also hurt the Giro's standing this year but the Dutch did their best to put on a good show."

 

[santacruz]

Hey Svein Tuft did a good ride, 15" down, 17th place.

 

[Mambo95]

The British press are already showing their deep understanding of the Giro:

"The absence of top riders such as Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, who will concentrate on July's Tour de France, has also hurt the Giro's standing this year but the Dutch did their best to put on a good show."

I wouldn't lump the 'British Press' all together as one entity. The 'grown-up' newspapers have some really good knowledgable, journalists working for them, who have written some great cycling books. But beyond the 'broadsheet four', there isn't too much interest in cycling day to day - no 'cycling correspondent', so if anything happens some staff hack is told to knock up a couple of paragraphs.

What is worse is when the highly paid columnists, who know nothing about the sport, decide to comment. It's truely embarrasing.

(Your quote came from Reuters, so I wouldn't condemn anyone just for C+Ping that)

 

[aarnold517]

Wigans enjoying his prologue victory:

 

[blaxland]

BMC 2 and 3!

Great quote auscyclefan94...............Fantastic ride by Evans and Brookwater both top 3......Well done to Wiggins good to see he still can ride a good chrono....