Giro d'Italia: Stage 2: Alba - Parma 244km

[El Pistolero]

also i should point it out that with the start of the giro the punishment for losing my bet against barrus for the AGR is over and a new bet against barrus starts

bet is as it follows: i bet that a portuguese rider will finish higher on the GC then any dutch or belgian rider barrus covered the bet

avatars are at stake. maybe even sigs if he is up for it XD

don't fail on me machado <_<

Tom Boonen being WC is as good as Belgian flag to me

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

also i should point it out that with the start of the giro the punishment for losing my bet against barrus for the AGR is over and a new bet against barrus starts

bet is as it follows: i bet that a portuguese rider will finish higher on the GC then any dutch or belgian rider barrus covered the bet

avatars are at stake. maybe even sigs if he is up for it XD

don't fail on me machado <_<

If Kruiswijk, Slagter, Weening or Seeldraeyers finish in one of those L'Aquila breakaways you're ****ed

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Do you want 21 MTFs in a GT or something?

Oh, come on. Let's not go overboard.

I'd allow a couple of finishes on descents from cat.1 or 2 mountains.

The Muro di Sormano as the prologue.

 

[Parrulo]

If Kruiswijk, Slagter, Weening or Seeldraeyers finish in one of those L'Aquila breakaways you're ****ed

i am not worried

machado to slaughter all competition >:3

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

i am not worried

machado to slaughter all competition >:3

If anyone would slaughter something it's the guy with the appropriate name for it. Tom-Jelte SLAGTER

 

[DenisMenchov]

The sprints are nice, but it is a waste of time. 244km that is what 6 hours of racing to see a bunch sprint. And I feel sorry for the riders in the breakaway because they have no chance whatsoever to win a stage in first week flat stages. If you ask me bring on a 100-150km flat stage with 3 3rd or 4th cat. climbs and that`s it. Also it is a little bit dangerous because GC riders can get hurt in the sprints even if they don`t compete for the podium or top 10, crashes are likely tomorrow.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The sprints are nice, but it is a waste of time. 244km that is what 6 hours of racing to see a bunch sprint. And I feel sorry for the riders in the breakaway because they have no chance whatsoever to win a stage in first week flat stages. If you ask me bring on a 100-150km flat stage with 3 3rd or 4th cat. climbs and that`s it. Also it is a little bit dangerous because GC riders can get hurt in the sprints even if they don`t compete for the podium or top 10, crashes are likely tomorrow.

The way to make flat stages interesting if you don't have the option of different terrain (cobbles, dirt etc) is to either stick it somewhere exposed and hope the wind plays havoc, or to make stages either much shorter (break riders are fresher, and if it's dull at least it's not dull for long) or much, much longer (a small obstacle like the Poggio is nothing in a 150km race, but in a 300km race it's a potential killer).

 

[DenisMenchov]

Yes that`s what i`m saying someone can stay in a breakaway for 3 hours, but 6 is just impossible. These 200+ flat stages kill cycling, and those are the ones that none wants to watch.

 

[Parrulo]

If anyone would slaughter something it's the guy with the appropriate name for it. Tom-Jelte SLAGTER

well machado in english does mean axe so i think his name is appropriate enoguh

 

[meandmygitane]

The sprints are nice, but it is a waste of time. 244km that is what 6 hours of racing to see a bunch sprint. And I feel sorry for the riders in the breakaway because they have no chance whatsoever to win a stage in first week flat stages. If you ask me bring on a 100-150km flat stage with 3 3rd or 4th cat. climbs and that`s it. Also it is a little bit dangerous because GC riders can get hurt in the sprints even if they don`t compete for the podium or top 10, crashes are likely tomorrow.

Stage 5 of last year's Giro was comparatively flat and the breakaway held off by 4s.. there is hope (not so much when HTC is leading the chase maybe).

This year's Giro will be a war of attrition, I think stuff can happen even on "boring" flat stages, maybe not this tough.

3 flat stages; the 8th, the 10th and the 12th, seems to go almost exclusively along the italian coast.

Is there a great-ish possbility of interesting wind from the Adriatic or the Tyrrhenian sea in may?

 

[The Hitch]

Stage 5 of last year's Giro was comparatively flat and the breakaway held off by 4s.. there is hope (not so much when HTC is leading the chase maybe).

That was an out of this world stage

 

[Moondance]

I'd settle for a few of your Giro thread intros.
It seems as if you have been usurped, this time around.


Oh and the HTC scheduled train service arrives in Parma at approx 17-10CET.

I was planning on doing them again you know. I had just begun writing something nice about Turin when I saw ACF had already posted something.

 

[El Pistolero]

I was planning on doing them again you know. I had just begun writing something nice about Turin when I saw ACF had already posted something.

Write the Dolomite stages now, so no one beats you when they come

 

[The Hitch]

I say we let Wallace start a few of the Giro threads as well.

He earned it with his stage 19 intro last year

The Passo di Mortirolo: at the very name professional cyclists shyte themselves. The carnage will be tremendous. Some riders will gouge their own eyes out with their bike forks, rather than even attempt the climb. Others will have their legs literally ripped off, and will finish the ascent pedaling with their hands. Others will die...

 

[theswordsman]

HTC would have had a much easier day tomorrow if they weren't in the pink and expected to lead for the whole stage. Who knows how much the leadout riders will have left for the end, especially if it's windy?

The way I get through stages like this is to enjoy the scenery and root for the break to succeed. It's the Giro - the peloton could have to stop for a train, or some labor protest, or who knows what. How many boring stages did there end up being last year?

I'm picking Chicchi because he's my only sprinter in Velogames, plus he's Italian

 

[El Pistolero]

HTC would have had a much easier day tomorrow if they weren't in the pink and expected to lead for the whole stage. Who knows how much the leadout riders will have left for the end, especially if it's windy?

The way I get through stages like this is to enjoy the scenery and root for the break to succeed. It's the Giro - the peloton could have to stop for a train, or some labor protest, or who knows what. How many boring stages did there end up being last year?

I'm picking Chicchi because he's my only sprinter in Velogames, plus he's Italian

Pink jersey or not they would have been forced to control a stage like that anyway. Besides, their team is strong enough to do it

Besides, for a team a win in a TTT is just as good as a win from an individual stage. Especially if you win the pink jersey while at it with an Italian cyclist. Glad they didn't let Cav sprint for it, at least shows he isn't an ungrateful sob.

As far as sprinters go, I'll probably root for Cavendish.

 

[jens_attacks]

we have that 3 km climb with 5,8% average and 10% max when 30 km to go.so expect mayhem!!!haha it's giro.
someone will try.remember,the climb is after 210 km of racing.visconti will go.there will be some surprises.

 

[La Pandera]

Do you want 21 MTFs in a GT or something?

Boy wouldn't that be something! A climbers only grand tour. The carnage would be monumental!

 

[greenedge]

Think it will be between cav, petacchi, chicchi, farrar or McEwan. Think it will suit farrar because cav's team will be tired. I go for farrar.

Though cav performed well in the TTT.

 

[Jancouver]

Think it will be between cav, petacchi, chicchi, farrar or McEwan. Think it will suit farrar because cav's team will be tired. I go for farrar.

Though cav performed well in the TTT.

Why would they be tired? Its a first stage. These guys are pros and ready to rumble. Bunch sprint ... Cav causing another crash ...

 

[Carl0880]

I see this being a Cav finish, and I am not sure who will finish 2nd. Ale Jet has lost a few pounds because of the mountain training, so his top end speed won't be there, but I think it will help him later in this Giro on a few lumpy stages that could dispatch most sprinters.

Farrar hasn't shown me much to make me feel confident in him lately. He looked very unimpressive in the Tour of Turkey.

I am not sure of Modolo ability for longer stages. I guess maybe a Chicci or Ventoso up there at the finish maybe near the Top 3.


Hopefully we will have a surprise tomorrow, maybe Cavs leadout doesn't get it right and its a chaotic sprint.

 

[mewmewmew13]

possible Cav might get blocked in, and some argy bargy ensuing....good luck shot for Ale Jet...but would really love to see Robbie finally get back something. ...although he sure looked tired at the end today. I'm looking for someone unexpected tomorrow....

 

[hoolaparara]

Do you want 21 MTFs in a GT or something?

Why only 21?

Actually got me thinking an evil idea for an opening prologue would be a 1km uphill in the middle of a steep hill.. Hell even somewhere like that that hill from (I think) last years tour of Britain would work so should be able to find one somewhere in a city willing to pay!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Think it will be between cav, petacchi, chicchi, farrar or McEwan. Think it will suit farrar because cav's team will be tired. I go for farrar.

Though cav performed well in the TTT.

lol you do realize garmin, lampre etc rode the same ttt, and put in the same amount of effort. HTC just have a superior team for yesterday's stage.

Yesterday's effort means nothing for today.

As for the winner, I think one of the bigger guys will win, it is a very long stage.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Why only 21?

Actually got me thinking an evil idea for an opening prologue would be a 1km uphill in the middle of a steep hill.. Hell even somewhere like that that hill from (I think) last years tour of Britain would work so should be able to find one somewhere in a city willing to pay!

use a steep flemish hill. That would be fun.