BroDeal said:I gotta give props to Basso simply for trying that. That is what I love about the Giro. It is more about individuals going for it than teams escorting their GC man to the final few kilometers.
Yes, and the Italians seem to like it that way. But at times to a foreign rider's or riders' advantage, which is fine of course. DiLuca would rather see Menchov win than Basso. And Basso would rather see Lance (er, um , I meant Leipheimer) win than DiLuca, etc., etc. In the end, the Italian teams thus establish a strategy of garegare contro ("to race against" the other Italian squadre), in order to neutralize the attacks of another national GC rider. The foreign teams with their GC conteders, consequently, get to sit back and enjoy (and profit from) this comedia all'Italiana. And this, as you point out, if anything, makes for an unpredictable (and less organized in the "all for one and one for all" sense) style of racing at the Giro. As if Italian cyling were still in the Middle Ages when it wasn't LPR against Liquigas but the Guelfs against the Ghibellines.
In any case, whether or not Basso truly road well yesterday, only today's stage will provide the conclusive verdict. Was there just lots of smoke but little meat on the barbie? Or will his fans be treated to a real feast today?
Tough one to call...