Official thread: Giro d'Italia

[Alpe d'Huez]

I think your assessment is reasonable. But what about Lance? I kind of like your thoughts on Levi's personality and the Giro.

I want to add though that Sastre was with the leading chase group at Liege, including at the front of it at times, and looked pretty good. Not sure if you caught that or not. He has a history of flying under the radar, and I still like his chances here.

 

[Escarabajo]

Agreed on Sastre. he is one of the most difficult guys to figure out. He is so quiet when preparing for races. Let's wait and see.

Armstrong. I am not sure if he will make it to the end. Top ten is a long shot for him.

 

[BikeCentric]

Simoni: Too old

I agree with that assessment but it will be interesting to see if that old climber can win a mountain-top finish stage in what is likely his last Giro. Simoni was a lot of fun to watch on the climbs in his day, he was no Pantani, but he is one of the best climbers I've ever seen. He would have won another Giro too if it weren't for that little problem with the cocaine filled candy from his Aunt.

 

[ColKlink]

It certainly seems to be an open Giro this year. Of course the Italians will be motivated and when we look back at the stage winners at the end of the race, many will be Italians. They seem to like sharing it around.

But will an Italian win the GC? Many of the fancied Italian riders are probably past their best and will focus on stage wins. Basso is the most capable and has shown his form by winning the Trentino stage race. He's likely to be on the podium but which step?

Astana are bringing a strong squad and most likely will ride for Leipheimer. He'll make huge time gains in the TT's and will minimise his loses in the mountains. Armstrong is the big unknown. He'll want to finish the Giro and may even enjoy taking on domestique duties. His talent will ensure he finishes in the top 10 but a win might be beyond him given his interrupted preparation and age.

Consistent riders like Sastre and Menchov will be thereabouts and feature in the top 10. But no doubt there'll be a few surprises and lets just hope they haven't subscribed to the same formula as Sella and Ricco.

Top 3
Leip
Basso
Sastre

What will also be interesting is the performance of the top sprinters and their squads. Petacchi versus Cav. How will they get over the early mountains? Pity McEwen is not racing - his wins are always so spectacular (but then I'm an Aussie and a little biased).

 

[vv777vv]

4 more days of guessing before the race starts.

and in 25 days time, we'll see who's the winner - not only in Giro but the fantasy race here in this forum....


my pick for the GC podium -

basso/cunego/armstrong OR lepheimer - only 1 of the 2 from astana and i can't pick a winner here but these 3 should be up there.

 

[53x11 in DC]

I'd go with that. In GC's it's generally the same old hands and the Astana v Italy thing could work out just fine for Menchov and Sastre amongst others.

Good selections, but I'm thinking of a rework...

1.Leipheimer
2.Basso
3.Sastre
4.Menchov
5.DiLuca
6.Cunego


... then I give up. Lance will not be in the top 20. Will lose substantial time (25+ minutes) on mountain finishes. Will be top ten in the TT, and that will give him hope for July.

 

[tashimi76]

Agreed on Sastre. he is one of the most difficult guys to figure out. He is so quiet when preparing for races. Let's wait and see.

That's one of things I love about him - he's always up with the favourites and then he comes out of nowhere and does something special like last year's Tour. Enjoying to watch but hard to pick for a fantasy team!

I'm so psyched about this Giro. Stage 5 with the 57 km descent is like my dream stage - almost makes the 25 km of climbing at the end worth it!

I would love to see Lance really suffer during this race. He's said some mean things about it in the past and I'd love for him to take it all back.

 

[BroDeal]

I agree, Menchov is quite capable of winning any of the Grand Tours. I particularly enjoy how deeply Menchov digs on the climbs; he really knows how to suffer. Sometimes he'll get dropped by the lead group and then claw his way back, always cool to watch.

I have never been impressed with Menchov. He was gifted one Vuelta by Heras' exclusion. The other win was the worst, most boring, least challenging GT course in living memory. He has never lived up to expectations when racing with the big boys.

 

[Jasper]

Well, I guess that blows that idea out of the water.

I wonder what the story is? Z had a solid spring at TOC and that Spanish race. Saving it up for the Tour?

I truly thought they would be going for the TTT and the Pink Jersey again.

It was a genuine question really, no sarcasm or irony there

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Why are people considering armstrong? He himself says he will work for Levi...

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Because he's Lance. No other reason as I see it.

 

[CyclingCentral]

Thanks for the feature on Americans at the Giro, but you missed the first American team in 1984. Robin Morton managed the Gianni Motto team registered in America, Robin not only took the first American team to the Giro and other top pro races in Europe but was the first woman to manage a team. The team included John Eustice and four other Americans. They did not win a stage but all finished the race and laid the groundwork for others to follow. Robin and John deserve more recognition for their history making journey and the fact they were there before team 7-11.

 

[LiamAtTheLine]

Menchov, not a contender in the overall in my Opinion. Hopefully for the teams sake, Graeme Brown can get a stage or two.

Soler, VDV, Leip, Basso, and Rodríguez will be the top 5 in no particular order. It will be a big Stage 12 and lots of fun finishes throughout, no doubt.

 

[Jasper]

Seriously, do people ever read cycling news?

Brown will not ride the Giro, VdV clearly said he has no means of going for the GC and puts all on the Tour, while Menchov in turn ís fully going for the Giro podium.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Menchov, not a contender in the overall in my Opinion. Hopefully for the teams sake, Graeme Brown can get a stage or two.

Brown won't be there. The team said that while a stage win would be nice, they will concentrate on Menchov's GC ranking.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I think top five will be Basso , Leiphaimer, Menchov, Sastre and Cunego.

Winner Leiphaimer because Contador is strong favourite for the TOUR and he will also race in his homeland so 2 grand tours Levi will work for Alberto, so only this one is for him. Basso will give the best here to win on home soil after the ban, Armstrong, Sastre and Menchov are all targeting Tour de France. So it will be battle between American and Italians including Cunego, Di Luca, Pelizotti, Pozzovivo and Bruseghin.

 

[Bala Verde]

I'm so psyched about this Giro. Stage 5 with the 57 km descent is like my dream stage - almost makes the 25 km of climbing at the end worth it!

That stage might be Menchov's Achilles Heel If it's a technical descent, he might not be able to stay with the big guns, if they decide to hit it from the start.

 

[DenisMenchov]

That stage might be Menchov's Achilles Heel If it's a technical descent, he might not be able to stay with the big guns, if they decide to hit it from the start.

Yes he lost Tour on the descent but I think the fall on Pratto Nevosso sheked his selfconfidence .

 

[pmcg76]

I think it will be between Levi, Basso and Cunego for the victory with Levi as my favourite due to better TT than Basso.

Di Luca always goes well in uneven years but cant see him doing it this time but will be supermotivated for the stages in Abruzzo.

Menchov, Mr.invisible, i think Menchov is more of a diesel, i.e not suited to punchy climbs. Top five.

Simoni, maybe a stage win and top ten overall.

Sastre, hard to call, would love to see him win to back up his Tour victory.

Armstrong, domestique to Levi, will abandon if Levi is not in contention in the last week.

My total darkhorse- Scarponi

 

[manolo]

Giro Questions

I have a couple of questions about the Giro:

Are there limits on how much time can be lost in the team trial at the Giro? Or will actual times be used for GC purposes?

How are the mountains rated in the Giro? On the Giro website and Cyclingnews website, mountains have colors but no numbers. Can you confirm which colors are for which mountain classification?

Thanks!

 

[que sera cera]

I'm impressed by recent form of Garzelli. He finished second in Tirreno this march and overall GC of Trentino fourth, with a good performance in the stage to pejo fonti.

In 2007 Garzelli captured three stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, he can be counted as a killer, something like Valverde.

Won't be enough for GC victory though, cause of lacking time trial capabilities

 

[Jasper]

Are there limits on how much time can be lost in the team trial at the Giro? Or will actual times be used for GC purposes?

Hmm, I assume they'll use the same time limit as in other stages, being a certain percentage (10%, 20%?) of the winners time added up to his time? And if a rider needs more time to finish the TT, he's simply out of the race?

 

[jb12345]

top 10:
1)Menchov
2)Siutsu
3)Basso
4)Pfannberger
5)Rogers
6)Sastre
7)Brajkovic
8)Pelizotti
9)Cunego
10)Leipheimer

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Ten people in the Top Five?

 

[bvfrompc]

It was a genuine question really, no sarcasm or irony there

From the Wave the USA Flag cyclingnews article:

"Zabriskie will ride the centenary Giro d'Italia for Garmin-Slipstream and should be a threat in all of the tests against the clock. The final day's time trial in Rome holds special significance for the Utah native. "

I would love to see him in Pink after day 1.

Of course, according to the latest daily updates it seems like half the teams are targeting the TTT.