Procycling Magazine's Giro/ToC Articles

[ferryman]

There is an English version Hitch, cos I bought it today 'The Giro D'Italia Official 2011 Souvenir Pack' from W H Smith in Dunfermline!! You get the the Programme, 4 nice retro prints, a giant map of Italy with the stages on it and an extracts book with passages from Fallen Angel and Rough Ride.

Cost was £7.99 which is not bad or great but given the Programme alone will be my dogeared Bible for 3 weeks in May, I'm pretty happpy with the spend

And apologies for that Giro link that I did not put in. Mods get it fixed

 

[theswordsman]

ATOC had eight stages on a route that people here say was easier than the 2011 edition, but only 63 of 144 starters completed the race.

The 2010 Giro started out with one brutal stage after another, with people complaining that the organizers didn't care about riders, etc., before things settled down and people decided it was epic. It was thirteen stages longer than ATOC, and well up in difficulty, yet 139 of 198 starters made it to Verona.

After a long flight to America, why don't more guys care about even finishing the race?

 

[La Pandera]

Mmm. That Giro guy cobblestoned posted looks good. Is there an english version I can buy online or somehting?

+1000 OOOH I want one too!

 

[Archibald]

There is an English version Hitch, cos I bought it today 'The Giro D'Italia Official 2011 Souvenir Pack' from W H Smith in Dunfermline!! You get the the Programme, 4 nice retro prints, a giant map of Italy with the stages on it and an extracts book with passages from Fallen Angel and Rough Ride.

Cost was £7.99 which is not bad or great but given the Programme alone will be my dogeared Bible for 3 weeks in May, I'm pretty happpy with the spend

definately worth the coin? I saw it yesterday too, just wasn't sure as it was sealed in that box...

 

[Archibald]

ATOC had eight stages on a route that people here say was easier than the 2010 edition, but only 63 of 144 starters completed the race.

The 2010 Giro started out with one brutal stage after another, with people complaining that the organizers didn't care about riders, etc., before things settled down and people decided it was epic. It was thirteen stages longer than ATOC, and well up in difficulty, yet 139 of 198 starters made it to Verona.

After a long flight to America, why don't more guys care about even finishing the race?

I'd guess that it comes with how highly they rate the race itself...

Schlecklet and Fuglsang seemed to be enjoying it more for other things than riding last year...

 

[ferryman]

definately worth the coin? I saw it yesterday too, just wasn't sure as it was sealed in that box...

Probably not on reflection. The Programme itself is great but would have been better if it was on sale on its own without the packaging for a good few quid cheaper.

 

[Archibald]

Probably not on reflection. The Programme itself is great but would have been better if it was on sale on its own without the packaging for a good few quid cheaper.

I've certainly considered getting it.
My copy of Maglia Rosa arrived in the post today - that was money well spent!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

The people behind the Tour of California do a good PR job. And they are doing a good PR job in a big country where cycling has potential to grow. These are good things in the greater scheme of things, even if they can occasionally make more established cycling fans' teeth hurt.

Rather than criticising a race for doing a good job in hyping itself, and potentially drawing in new viewers by doing so, we should be criticising race organisers who rest on their laurels, don't bother or are just too disorganised to seek out all available publicity.

 

[La Pandera]

The biggest objections the typical cycling fan has with the organizers of the ToC is their statements of their race being the "4th grand tour" and being competition for the Giro. Since the terms "grand tour" and "Giro" aren't actually recognizable to the average sports fan but are regular parts of the typical cycling fans vocabulary, it is taken as an offense to our intellect and it disrespects the institution that is the Giro. Additionally IMO the word "grand" in front of the word "tour" denotes a stage race of 3 weeks and one with glorious history, none of which applies to ToC. They can hype it up but at least show some respect for the sport and for its actual fans. This being the first year that they even have a true mtf really only points out the complete foolishness of their statements.

 

[Cobblestoned]

The biggest objections the typical cycling fan has with the organizers of the ToC is their statements of their race being the "4th grand tour" and being competition for the Giro. Since the terms "grand tour" and "Giro" aren't actually recognizable to the average sports fan but are regular parts of the typical cycling fans vocabulary, it is taken as an offense to our intellect and it disrespects the institution that is the Giro. Additionally IMO the word "grand" in front of the word "tour" denotes a stage race of 3 weeks and one with glorious history, none of which applies to ToC. They can hype it up but at least show some respect for the sport and for its actual fans. This being the first year that they even have a true mtf really only points out the complete foolishness of their statements.

Yes, we know for years and month now, that "typical" cyclingfans are upset with the "4th GT" comment and it is an issue that never gets tired and comes back periodically.
Can we go on now, or should we make this thread a sticky, so that the "typical" cyclingfans have fixed place to cry about ToC ?

Glad that I am not a "typical" cyclingfan. Must be hell and a world full of pain and tears.

I predict some of you guys will have a hard hard time next month - and you "typical" cyclingfans will show that during race - by upsetting the "untypical" cyclingfans with your whining and old jokes. Looking forward to it.

 

[Cobblestoned]

ATOC had eight stages on a route that people here say was easier than the 2011 edition, but only 63 of 144 starters completed the race.

The 2010 Giro started out with one brutal stage after another, with people complaining that the organizers didn't care about riders, etc., before things settled down and people decided it was epic. It was thirteen stages longer than ATOC, and well up in difficulty, yet 139 of 198 starters made it to Verona.

After a long flight to America, why don't more guys care about even finishing the race?

This post nearly isn't worth answering.
Check your numbers, check the facts, check how it happened and stop comparing apples with pears.

 

[Archibald]

pity the weather wouldn't suit, but moving the ToC to August would be a blinder. Summer holiday for those winding down after the Tour, plus a warm up for those looking at the Vuelta...

 

[Mambo95]

The biggest objections the typical cycling fan has with the organizers of the ToC is their statements of their race being the "4th grand tour" and being competition for the Giro. Since the terms "grand tour" and "Giro" aren't actually recognizable to the average sports fan but are regular parts of the typical cycling fans vocabulary, it is taken as an offense to our intellect and it disrespects the institution that is the Giro. Additionally IMO the word "grand" in front of the word "tour" denotes a stage race of 3 weeks and one with glorious history, none of which applies to ToC. They can hype it up but at least show some respect for the sport and for its actual fans. This being the first year that they even have a true mtf really only points out the complete foolishness of their statements.

The problem with this is the organizers have never said it was the fourth grand tour. What they actually said was "We want to grow this into a fourth grand tour. We want to grow this into one of the biggest events in the world.”.

But, as so often happens on the internet, people wilfully misquote so it fits their own prejudices and insecurities.

 

[Astana1]

This post nearly isn't worth answering.
Check your numbers, check the facts, check how it happened and stop comparing apples with pears.

Most of the attrition happened on the last stage. Given the way that race worked out, unless you were in the Hesjedal/Hincapie group or the Zabriskie/Rogers/Leipheimer group then why bother?

The ToC is great. I don't get the hate. Do you people really want less racing? Cause I am so sure that the big names who race th ToC would give it ther all at the Giro! NOT lol

Cycle Sport hypes up alot of stuff. I see in the latest issue they yet another article on Brailsford/Sky. I swear that article gets written every month, along with the article on the future of Mark Cavendish, (Can he win the Tour?) and the obligatory six page discussion on Edvald Boassen Hagen framed in the backdrop of him "just hanging out" with the Cannibal who hasn't done anything since 2009.

You'd think that Sky was actually editing the magazine.

I'd rather read about the ToC then endure yet another genuflection to Brailsford. But I guess thats what gets the fanboy Brits to buy more magazines.

 

[Astana1]

Hooray!

With May just around the corner I had feared we might not get the usual run of "I hate the Tour of California because..." comments. My fears appear to have been unjustified.

Seriously, people, it's OK to like both the ToC and the Giro. I know I'll be watching (and enjoying) both.

I'm with you. You can watch the Giro and then a few hours later catch the ToC. Last year May was the best month in cycling in my opinion. I could give a rat's *** about the Tour.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The problem with this is the organizers have never said it was the fourth grand tour. What they actually said was "We want to grow this into a fourth grand tour. We want to grow this into one of the biggest events in the world.”.

But, as so often happens on the internet, people wilfully misquote so it fits their own prejudices and insecurities.

But Bob Stapleton did say it was on the level of the Tour de Suisse and the Dauphiné and growing faster than them.

It may be growing faster than them, but it isn't on their level yet.

The big problem with their marketing was not what they said, nor with what they delivered. It was with the discrepancy between the two. They promised something they had no hope in hell of ever delivering.

This year, it looks like they've learnt from the mistakes. The Big Bear stage was something of a disaster, being too hard for many but without any chance of breaking away, so you got the destruction at the back and dropping out, but you didn't get the excitement of the race at the front. As in February, the race came down to the climb of Bonny Doon and the ITT. The parcours this year looks MUCH, MUCH better and actually could be a better race than Paris-Nice, which is not something I thought I'd find myself saying.

 

[La Pandera]

Yes, we know for years and month now, that "typical" cyclingfans are upset with the "4th GT" comment and it is an issue that never gets tired and comes back periodically.
Can we go on now, or should we make this thread a sticky, so that the "typical" cyclingfans have fixed place to cry about ToC ?

Glad that I am not a "typical" cyclingfan. Must be hell and a world full of pain and tears.

I predict some of you guys will have a hard hard time next month - and you "typical" cyclingfans will show that during race - by upsetting the "untypical" cyclingfans with your whining and old jokes. Looking forward to it.

If you're so unhappy with all the fans who share a viewpoint contrary to your own on this site, which is what I derived from the majority of your posts why do persist on coming on this site and whining about it? Do you thrive on making your self unhappy/ are you just a masochist?

 

[webvan]

I looked but I coulnd't find any other topic on the TOC 2011...anyway I was wondering if anyone had tips on watching the finish on Sierra road? I looked at a map and I wonder if it wouldn't make sense to drive up Felter Road to get close to the finish. Still trying to locate where it's going to be exactly.

EDIT - some good info here http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage4.html

Looks like the finish line will be around : 37.40920, -121.80147

 

[El Pistolero]

Tour de Suisse used to be considered the fourth GT in the seventies.