Official thread: Giro d'Italia

[Mellow Velo]

I wonder what the conversation was like?

 

[Jasper]

"The stack of doping I bought was this high"

 

[BroDeal]

"The stack of doping I bought was this high"

LOL.

I thought the Killer was demonstrating the karate chop he plans to deliver to Armstrong on the road.

Does anyone think that DiLuca looks like the Mimbo in that Seinfeld episode? "Step off, Lance. Just step off."

 

[Pimich]

rwtwwtywgfwgwgw

 

[Pimich]

sdhgdhdhdh

 

[Pimich]

http://cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/giro09/?id=/photos/2009/giro09/teams_presentation/PIC27693899

 

[Pimich]

 

[craig1985]

I wonder what the conversation was like?

Well depending on how good Armstrong's Italian, they were probably talking about how they are going to drop Armstrong in the Dolomites and Alpes. Then again Basso and Lance are friends, so I really don't know

 

[Bumeington]

Anyone think Cancellara might have a crack at a high classification finish (top 15 maybe)? He said he would consider switching to a grand tour focus in the future and Bjarne backed him based on his performance in the mountains at the tour 08.

 

[ingsve]

Anyone think Cancellara might have a crack at a high classification finish (top 15 maybe)? He said he would consider switching to a grand tour focus in the future and Bjarne backed him based on his performance in the mountains at the tour 08.

Not in a million years...in this giro...Who knows about the future...

 

[Zoncolan]

Anyone think Cancellara might have a crack at a high classification finish (top 15 maybe)? He said he would consider switching to a grand tour focus in the future and Bjarne backed him based on his performance in the mountains at the tour 08.

Well, if Zomegnan has his way and continues shortening any serious climbs

 

[mr. tibbs]

HAY GUIZ!

I've seen a couple of threads trumpeting interwebz coverage of the Giro, but is it showing on cable at all? I just got a DVR for the classics this year and I wouldn't mind recording some grand tour porn, too.

 

[franciep10]

HAY GUIZ!

I've seen a couple of threads trumpeting interwebz coverage of the Giro, but is it showing on cable at all? I just got a DVR for the classics this year and I wouldn't mind recording some grand tour porn, too.

What this is a joke right

 

[Escarabajo]

Anyone think Cancellara might have a crack at a high classification finish (top 15 maybe)? He said he would consider switching to a grand tour focus in the future and Bjarne backed him based on his performance in the mountains at the tour 08.

Hec, Indurain and Bjarne Riis did it and they are big guys too. But you know how they did it. All of them are just too big.

I was doing some calculations in my computer and compared the power output of Fabian Cancellara with the power output of a true climber in Mt Ventoux and Fabian would come 13-15 minutes behind.

Weight Climber: 140 lbs
Weight Fabian: 180 lbs
Total Power Output: 380 watts

So it does not mean that Fabian Cancellara can not defeat the climbers if they are not in good form because 380 watts is no small feat, but He can not beat the top form climbers.

I hope I did go off the topic too much.
Thanks.

 

[bvfrompc]

HAY GUIZ!

I've seen a couple of threads trumpeting interwebz coverage of the Giro, but is it showing on cable at all? I just got a DVR for the classics this year and I wouldn't mind recording some grand tour porn, too.

http://www.universalsports.com/ViewA...ATCLID=3734597

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone think Cancellara might have a crack at a high classification finish (top 15 maybe)? He said he would consider switching to a grand tour focus in the future and Bjarne backed him based on his performance in the mountains at the tour 08.

if he does i think we have to question BR's methods... :?
hes got the strength to cause trouble in the mountains, but consistently finish high enough... i dont think so..

im actaully dissapointed theres no nicholas roche.. the kids been getting stronger and stronger and more consistent.. and ive got a feeling charlie wegalius could sneak something special (like top 20) im not talking podium.. charlie was hired to help out cadel, and i think he could put in some decent performances..

 

[markoz8]

hey guys,

i'm form zagreb and i'm going to trieste sunday..
what's up with that montebello climb, do you think it's steep enough to be a good viewing point? and can it make a surprise in the race

really looking forward to seeing la corsa rosa live and following it for the next month.

btw, basso or levi win it, nobody is in their league..i think lance will be a great teammate...and cav will wreak havoc out there, he's capable of something huge, like winning 5 stages

 

[ingsve]

Regarding Cancellara and racing in GTs. I would compare him to Rik Verbrugghe who also had the ambition to turn into a GT rider but never managed to. David Millar is another example I guess...

 

[ElChingon]

So Garmin and Columbia are engaging in smack talk against each other of course never getting any Italian team in the mix, who would want to actually get involved with the teams wanting to really win it? Instead they will smack talk each other because they have no chance at the overall GC. Looks like they're settling on picking up the lesser prizes already.

Now that is disrespect to the race and the fans...

 

[tashimi76]

Yeah it's like when Brad McGee said he was going to be a GT rider... What Escarabarjo said about watts - totally true and Cancellara does tend to finish at least that far behind on mountain stages in tours. He can do the odd one or two day effort but if he starts winning GTs I'm going to be concerned.

If a team wants to focus on something 'small' I've no problem with it. Would love to see Dave Z wearing it, he was up playing Wolverine after Basso had gone to bed last night on twitter!

 

[Rosebud]

First post [I think!]. Been trying to access online coverage of the Giro here in the UK. Anyone know if there as an online live feed of the Giro in the UK?

Thoughts on Pellizotti?

 

[ingsve]

First post [I think!]. Been trying to access online coverage of the Giro here in the UK. Anyone know if there as an online live feed of the Giro in the UK?

Thoughts on Pellizotti?

You could sign up for Eurosport player for a monthly fee to get any Eurosport coverage online.

 

[Anonymous]

First post [I think!]. Been trying to access online coverage of the Giro here in the UK. Anyone know if there as an online live feed of the Giro in the UK?

Thoughts on Pellizotti?

links for todays feeds here..
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=38268&part=sports

all media player links will play directly in your browser..
for sopcast links (usually the most reliable) just google on sopcast or look on the software page on myp2p and install the software (with your browser closed)
aunties is kind of a waste of time at the moment.. the streams seem a nightmare to connect to...

edit: the ria tre media player feed for me connecting and was playing perfectly in about 5 seconds..

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Good post Dim. Thanks.

Love that picture from last page, btw. Yeah, the language must have been interesting. Probably a mishmash of English, French and Italian. Basso speaks pretty good English. I've heard Simoni butcher some English, but I don't know about DiLuca. Does Lance speak any Italian? They all probably speak fair French. Great photo though. Does this mean Levi, Denis, Carlos and Damiano were on the other gondola? Picture that language barrier!

Back to the race. Today's TTT wasn't that telling, but cool to see. Tomorrow and Monday will be pretty flat, and perfect for Cavendish to showcase his new favorite color. Tuesday's stage 4 up the Castrozza is where the fun begins. The real key is going to be not if, but how well some of the climbers (Simoni, Soler, Sastre, Cunego, DiLuca) can team up and attack with efficency on Croce d' Aune, and sustain that to the finish. Unless that happens, I don't expect many splits among leaders. Even Lance will probably ride fairly well to the finish:

By Wednesday, we really should see who came to play. It would have been nicer to see another climb before the Alpe Di Siusi, as it's mostly downhill until that point, and a short 125km stage. But we should see some furious attacks in the final 10km.

Not many major climbs in this Giro though, first with the big climbs in and back from France were removed, and especially now that the Blockhaus has been neutered. The Cima Coppi is actually going over Sestriere, barely over 2000m (compared to the Stelvio or Lavaredo at nearly 3000m) and they are going up the easy side, many km from the finish. This leaves Stage 16, where the climbers are going to have to attack from way out in order to gain back the time they are likely to lose on that very long stage 12 ITT.

This really is a course for Levi, Basso and Menchov - lots of moderate climbing, with that very long and technical ITT in the middle. The climbers are going to have to look for very specific times and places to attack, as most mountain stages look to be the kind that give up seconds, not minutes.

 

[palmerq]

I drank wine, but does anyone else think the mountains in the first week, well first few days really, will play havoc with the sprinters, and maybe this has put off a lot of the sprinters from competing in this giro..... I am still suspcious of cavendish of surviving in this things, but i think he will survive and have a great giro, but i think the mountains in the first few stages has put off a lot of the sprinters and could have an interesting effect on the final standings of the sprint jersey.


ps
I am playing the cyclingnews fantasy game(despite their extortionate prices) and as i bet real money on pellizotti to win it, I chose him on my team S: and di luca too :S pellizotti, di luca and garzelli oh my!!!