Manuele Boaro

[ulrikmm]

Bjarne Riis from Team Saxo Bank seems to expect a lot from this young (and to me unknown) rider. After the Giro 2012 stage 1 TT, Riis admiringly stated that the cornering style of Boaro (finishing fourth) resembles that of Cancellara. I was at the finish line at the Giro TT yesterday in Herning, and Boaro certainly looked very strong.

Data from his team indicate that he is relatively light for a rouleur (64 kg and 173 cm):
http://saxobanksungard.com/person_profiles.asp?p_id=209

In your opinion: What chances will Boaro have as a climber and GC contender?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Boaro is quite a bad climber, but he can still develop of course. He's pretty awesome, though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

he's not a bad climber at all. he's 173 and 64 kg, which says enough. however he's not a huge talent and never was. when you ride for riis. one thing is certain. if you have talent and especially in itt he will get it out of you. but he will never be a top class rider. riis said this about a milion of his riders in the past

 

[DominicDecoco]

I think he could do a top-20 with that TT of his. But he could really lose some minutes in the last week. But again, so can everyone else.

 

[ulrikmm]

Thanks for reply.

So it seems Boaro won't be the new Richie Porte in this years Giro. To bad for Bjarne Riis, who definitely could use some luck for this season.

 

[ulrikmm]

he's not a bad climber at all. he's 173 and 64 kg, which says enough. however he's not a huge talent and never was. when you ride for riis. one thing is certain. if you have talent and especially in itt he will get it out of you. but he will never be a top class rider. riis said this about a milion of his riders in the past

Admitted, Riis seems to be especially in love with TT talents, and has often preferred that type of riders over the years.

 

[DominicDecoco]

He could. Remember, the reason for Porte's great Giro position was partly due to being in a decisive breakaway.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Admitted, Riis seems to be especially in love with TT talents, and has often preferred that type of riders over the years.

he's not as bad as bruyneel who only get's itt talents and then tries to make them into gc-riders, which is pointless.

 

[ulrikmm]

He could. Remember, the reason for Porte's great Giro position was partly due to being in a decisive breakaway.

But that was due to Porte "flying under the radar" - no one thought he would have talent and endurance enough to cling onto his lead for that long.

Will a guy like Boaro be allowed to have a long break-out? After Riis' positive comments?

 

[Michele]

he's not a bad climber at all. he's 173 and 64 kg, which says enough. however he's not a huge talent and never was. when you ride for riis. one thing is certain. if you have talent and especially in itt he will get it out of you. but he will never be a top class rider. riis said this about a milion of his riders in the past

Yesterday when asked from Rai about Boaro, Riis said that he has a lot of talent (for itt) and reminds of him a of Cancellara in some ways.

 

[gustienordic]

he's not as bad as bruyneel who only get's itt talents and then tries to make them into gc-riders, which is pointless.

And then ruins their TT... I sure hope he doesn't destroy Olivera's TT abilities.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

He is on my team.

 

[El Pistolero]

He is on my team.

The Eye-talian squad?

 

[Jakob747]

Data from his team indicate that he is relatively light for a rouleur (64 kg and 173 cm):
http://saxobanksungard.com/person_profiles.asp?p_id=209

In your opinion: What chances will Boaro have as a climber and GC contender?

He might have the physical stature for it, but personally I would completely rule out any chance of him performing in the high mountains at elite level. He simply hasn't showed any climbing-pedigree what so-ever in his career.

On the stage to Kitzbuheler Horn in last year's Tour of Austria. He was in the breakaway-group who entered the final 7.1km ascent with a 2min 10sec advantage over the peloton. As soon as Nicolas Edet and Simon Clarke upped the tempo in the front group, M. Boaro had to let go; only out-lasting the likes of Daryl Impey by some 25 meters. He eventually finished the day some 7mins down on stage-winner Fredrik Kessiakoff!

I also remember the ultra-short "introduction" Zalf-Désirée-Fior had with him before of the 2009 season. One of the questions where the following.

La salita più dura : Tutte Le Salite Per Me Sono Dure!

Most difficult climb : All climbs are difficult for me!

http://www.zalfdesireefior.com/archivio-atleti.php?id_stg_arc=27&id_atl=110

Not exactly the answer of a future scalatore!

Obviously he has managed to raise his TT abilities a notch or two over these past 12 months. As a U/23er he was a tactical sound rider with a nose for the right break-away as well. His winning-instinct has always been intact - him being reasonable fast, having spent a lot of time together with Daniel Oss leading out Sasha Modolo back in the day! I would in fact rather he worked on those qualities instead of becoming a third tier climber.

In fact I would compare him a lot with his old teammate Daniel Oss (In there U-23 days at least - totally disregarding the huge sizes difference between them as well), although I hands down would give the nod potential wise to D. Oss ten out of ten times. Incredible B. Riis let Daniel Oss slide out of his hands btw.

 

[Parrulo]

And then ruins their TT... I sure hope he doesn't destroy Olivera's TT abilities.

i think that has already been done