Off season. We need some Giro 2011 discussion.

[jens_attacks]

Menchov needs an invitation

you can't refuse sastre+menchov.
if they won't be in the team for giro,geox won't be invited.simple as that.

 

[ingsve]

Just to name someone who has not been mentioned yet: The surprise winner is Morris Possoni.

 

[El Pistolero]

Apart from Contador... absolutely not.

1 Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 89h 56' 49"
2 Riccardo Riccò (ITA) Saunier Duval-Scott + 1' 57"
3 Marzio Bruseghin (ITA) Lampre + 2' 54"
4 Franco Pellizotti (ITA) Liquigas + 2' 56"
5 Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank + 3' 37"
6 Emanuele Sella (ITA) CSF Group-Navigare + 4' 31"
7 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Silence-Lotto + 6' 30"
8 Danilo Di Luca (ITA) LPR Brakes-Ballan + 7' 15"
9 Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) CSF Group-Navigare + 7' 53"
10 Gilberto Simoni (ITA) Diquigiovanni-Androni + 11' 03"



1 Carlos Sastre (ESP) Team CSC Saxo Bank 87h 52' 52"
2 Cadel Evans (AUS) Silence-Lotto + 58"
3 None[2]
4 Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank + 2' 10"
5 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Garmin-Chipotle-H30 + 3' 05"
6 Fränk Schleck (LUX) Team CSC Saxo Bank + 4' 28"
7 Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi + 6' 25"
8 Kim Kirchen (LUX) Team Columbia + 6' 55"
9 Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne + 7' 12"
10 Tadej Valjavec (SLO) Ag2r-La Mondiale + 9' 05"

 

[Kvinto]

you can't refuse sastre+menchov.
if they won't be in the team for giro,geox won't be invited.simple as that.

The only way for Menchov to ride Giro is his team's demand. He doesn't want it because it would surely ruin his TDF chances. IMO if Geox will ride, it'll be only with Sastre

 

[IlCobraFan]

The only way for Menchov to ride Giro is his team's demand. He doesn't want it because it would surely ruin his TDF chances. IMO if Geox will ride, it'll be only with Sastre

"Speaking to Cyclingnews on Saturday, Raimondo Scimone said that Menchov still hoped to compete in both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2011"

 

[Kvinto]

"Speaking to Cyclingnews on Saturday, Raimondo Scimone said that Menchov still hoped to compete in both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2011"

There can be only 2 explanations:
1. Geox bosses need this Giro more than TDF
2. They are not sure about TDF invitation
But no metter what Mr Scimone said Menchov doesn't want to start 2011 Giro

 

[IlCobraFan]

There can be only 2 explanations:
1. Geox bosses need this Giro more than TDF
2. They are not sure about TDF invitation
But no metter what Mr Scimone said Menchov doesn't want to start 2011 Giro

Yes but that doesn't matter. Cavendish prefered to do the Giro last year... and ended up in California.

 

[Kvinto]

Yes but that doesn't matter. Cavendish prefered to do the Giro last year... and ended up in California.

Well, many things can happen, we have to wait and see. But try to look at it another way. TDF is the last GT that Menchov didn't win and he really want to win it. After a victory at Giro 09 Menchov came at TDF but couldn't do anything. One year later he skipped Giro to prepare only for Tour (where he finally reached the podium) but another rider said that he wants to objective both Giro and Tour. This rider finally won Giro but was beaten at Tour, then he admited it was a mistake. Looking at 2011 Giro's route everybody say "no way, Giro or Tour, but not both". So doesn't you find it strange to hear such Scimone's comments?
I also think that Menchov's participation at Giro can have negative consequences for Geox's Tour invitation.

 

[jens_attacks]

The only way for Menchov to ride Giro is his team's demand. He doesn't want it because it would surely ruin his TDF chances. IMO if Geox will ride, it'll be only with Sastre

"After we took a closer look at the route of the Giro d'Italia, I think that next year's race has Denis's name written all over it. There are three time trials, a team time trial, a flat time trial, and a climbing time trial. Denis knows what it takes to win a Giro. The climbing time trial in 2011 [from Belluno to Nevegal] is one to pay particularly close attention to."

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...-Denis-Menchov-and-Carlos-Sastre-in-2011.aspx

menchov will race 99% sure the first week of il giro.after the etna stage if he will feel that he can take the overall victory,he will stay.if not,he will abandon and focus on tour.

if the team geox for giro will contain only sastre,they won't be invited.and geox is italian and really want an invitation.trust me,with menchov and sastre they can't fail.

 

[Kvinto]

"After we took a closer look at the route of the Giro d'Italia, I think that next year's race has Denis's name written all over it. There are three time trials, a team time trial, a flat time trial, and a climbing time trial. Denis knows what it takes to win a Giro. The climbing time trial in 2011 [from Belluno to Nevegal] is one to pay particularly close attention to."

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...-Denis-Menchov-and-Carlos-Sastre-in-2011.aspx

menchov will race 99% sure the first week of il giro.after the etna stage if he will feel that he can take the overall victory,he will stay.if not,he will abandon and focus on tour.

if the team geox for giro will contain only sastre,they won't be invited.and geox is italian and really want an invitation.trust me,with menchov and sastre they can't fail.

Well, but if he'll ride Giro for the general classification they can fail at Tour. He can ride Giro as the preparation, working for Sastre. I think it could be the compromise option.
Edit: then Colnago or Acqua Sapone will be out

 

[jens_attacks]

yep that's what i think.menchov will stay just one week in giro for preparation and to get the wildcard for geox.colnago will miss the invitation.garza deserve one more giro.

 

[maltiv]

"After we took a closer look at the route of the Giro d'Italia, I think that next year's race has Denis's name written all over it

If that is the case, then every single GT has Menchov's name "written all over it".

 

[hfer07]

Juan Mauricio Soler as part of the "MoviStar Magic"
I might be too hopeful on this guy , but IF he does not crash/gets injured & finds his past form, the motivation & most of all the opportunity form the team-I'd say he has a chance..



other than that is Nibali's Giro to loose-The Cobra needs another year...

 

[The Hitch]

I think you a bit underrate the importance of these tts. Nibali showed that he can overcome high mountain stages at Vuelta 2010 and you know what stage I mean first of all The specialty of Giro's mountain stages is cruel ascents like Zoncolan, Mortirolo or Grappa. But look at Zoncolan stage: Evans loses to Basso only 1:19, these stages are too hard even to the best climbers and they can't gain big gaps there. But Nibali will have strong team and 2 absolutely flat tts to gain time over his rivals. 21.5km TTT in Turin (Stage 1) and 32.8km ITT in Milan (stage 21). It doesn't make him the main favourite but we can't disregard this.

The comment was a bit of a joke.

But i remember that in the 20k Verona tt this year, Nibali took 11 seconds on Scarponi. So say he quintuples that in the 30k tt (which is being favourable) and gets a minute. A minute and a half is what Scarponi took on the Zoncolan.

I would also mention however that in the Kronplatz tt, Nibali beat Scarponi by about 5 or 6 seconds. So that boads well for him for the less mountinous tt on stage 15/16/17, one of those.

But another crucial point is i see Scarponi winning a stage. Nibali won Monte Grappa this year, but then i think he was aloud to go a bit on the descent because he was with Basso, and he wasnt the favourite. Also, he went for it cos he knew the next day it was going to be about Basso.

In fact Basso helped him a lot. I dont see Nibali sticking with Evans and Scarponi on Grappa and Scarponi on Mortirolo. I think they could have dropped him if they were fighting it out. But with Basso there they didnt try.

And in his gt which he won, he didnt take a stage.

The big variable is descents. I cant remember if Nibali has a lot of descents where he can take big time.

I also cant remember how many stages are mtfs, but any mtf, i see Nibali cracking.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Carlos Sastre ftw, he will comeback strongly from a disastrous 2010. Anyone but ricco, PLEASE!

 

[Angliru]

Juan Mauricio Soler as part of the "MoviStar Magic"
I might be too hopeful on this guy , but IF he does not crash/gets injured & finds his past form, the motivation & most of all the opportunity form the team-I'd say he has a chance..



other than that is Nibali's Giro to loose-The Cobra needs another year...

Hey, I'm rooting for Soler too. I figure he has to have a stretch like the 2007 Tour where he simply stays on his bike and displays his immense talents.

 

[The Hitch]

Regarding Menchov, he would be foolish to go for the Giro imo. I dont think the route is suited to him, i think there are better climbers there. And this is probably his best chance at the Tour. Contador might not be there in 2012 either, but Valverde will, Schleck will be stronger, Menchov will be older.

Hes already won the Giro, hes won the Vuelta, he needs the Tour for the Grand Slam.

I think when he says hell ride the Giro, what he means is "please invite Geox to the Giro"

He might ride the first week, but riding the first week is not the same as competing for the gc.

 

[theyoungest]

Of course, we all know the Giro will be won by whomever BMC are going to send... Santambrogio maybe?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Of course, we all know the Giro will be won by whomever BMC are going to send... Santambrogio maybe?

Or Santaromita? Could be a good team to have Santaromita attack, let the others chase him then Santambrogio counter over the top!

 

[profff]

soler simply cannot stay on the bike

and betancur and duarte both outweigh soler in climbing talent
they are much stronger than him.

ralso uyano from venezuela is stronger than soler ( considering both at their best peak)

unfortunately duarte will probably run to help sastre and eventually menchow
betancur team a&s probably will not be selected
it is very difficult to preview the condition in which soler and ruyano will be at the giro
it a pity that such a climbing army runs the risk of waste such a chance

 

[Bike Boy]

1. Ricco
2. Scarponi
3. Di Luca

As much as I hate it, Ricco is the favourite in my eyes.

Why so many votes for Anton? I've probably missed something but I would assume he is aiming more for the vuelta

 

[who dat]

I chose Ricco FTW. But would much rather Scarponi won

 

[blaxland]

Considering Ricco, how well or how bad do you guys think Vacansoleil will do in the TTT?

They will go okay and loose about 1-2 minutes.......

 

[hfer07]

Why so many votes for Anton? I've probably missed something but I would assume he is aiming more for the vuelta

self explanatory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiuHwNHM5L0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91kvGlb0UpM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bzP-aFxmrg&feature=related

 

[theyoungest]

self explanatory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiuHwNHM5L0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91kvGlb0UpM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bzP-aFxmrg&feature=related

It's not such a weird question, as I believe Anton has indicated he'll go for stage wins... and finishing GTs seems to be hard for him, let alone winning them.