Radio Shack might skip the Giro d'Italia

[Bala Verde]

Ok thread is temporarily locked, so that we can all cool down and start discussing the topic again.

 

[Bike Boy]

Which would be worse for their chances of being invited to the Tour - skipping the Giro or showing up with a non-competitive team?

Winning the team classification used to be a guarantee, that you will be invited for the following tour de france.
If this is still the case they are already invited.

 

[flicker]

I do not understand this thread. Il Giro is an Italian race. Your team rides the race to win. It is a very hard and takes great preparation.

The riders riding the Giro must attain great form after an aradous preparation period. Please, please respect the Giro.

The Radio Shack team will not ride the Giro because their focus is upon other cycling competions.

 

[badboyberty]

yay, no radioshack at the Giro. Now if I'm watching a lo-res stream I won't have to work out whether I'm seeing a grey and red RS jersey or a red and black BMC jersey.

Steegmans must be feeling good, signed on as a sprinter for a team that won't even bother fielding a squad if they're not competing for GC. He may finish the season racing less for RS than he did for Katushka....

 

[Ripper]

Sorry my 9 year old hijacked me into watching that batman flick. We had to leave as Heaths performance was way to disturbing for my son and I.

Having seen the previews, there is nooooooo way I would take a kid to see that one. However, I thought it was great.

Back to the thread topic - who cares ...

 

[Carboncrank]

yay, no radioshack at the Giro. Now if I'm watching a lo-res stream I won't have to work out whether I'm seeing a grey and red RS jersey or a red and black BMC jersey.

Steegmans must be feeling good, signed on as a sprinter for a team that won't even bother fielding a squad if they're not competing for GC. He may finish the season racing less for RS than he did for Katushka....

This is not about them not wanting to field a team there.

It's about the make up of riders they will have for the team knowing that they are sending their best riders to the Tour of Ca and whether the Giro will want them if they send their B team.

 

[Ripper]

This is not about them not wanting to field a team there.

It's about the make up of riders they will have for the team knowing that they are sending their best riders to the Tour of Ca and whether the Giro will want them if they send their B team.

Which is because of them not wanting to field a real team there.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Shouldn't the UCI look into whether a team that intends not to ride all the GTs, should be allowed to sign up half a dozen riders who specialise in riding GTs?

It comes down to this. Due to Lance's overriding obssession with the Tour, EVERYONE who is in with a chance of making the team, has to gear their training and schedule towards July. No exceptions.

As a result, The Shack refuse to release riders such as Brajkovic and Kloden, in order to give them a shot at the Giro podium.

Taking quality riders and putting them into cold storage until July, as with Lance himself, is a major factor in the ongoing dispute between the year long, ardent cycling fan and the 3 week fanboy.

 

[pmcg76]

Shouldn't the UCI look into whether a team that intends not to ride all the GTs, should be allowed to sign up half a dozen riders who specialise in riding GTs?

It comes down to this. Due to Lance's overriding obssession with the Tour, EVERYONE who is in with a chance of making the team, has to gear their training and schedule towards July. No exceptions.

As a result, The Shack refuse to release riders such as Brajkovic and Kloden, in order to give them a shot at the Giro podium.

Taking quality riders and putting them into cold storage until July, as with Lance himself, is a major factor in the ongoing dispute between the year long, ardent cycling fan and the 3 week fanboy.

Agree with this completely, RadioShack have so many good GT riders, they should be aiming for all 3 GTs instead of having them all focusing on the Tour. Sometimes I wonder if the aim of RadioShack is to see Lance win the Tour or just to try and make sure Contador doesnt win so they can say 'told you he was useless without us'

Everyone raves about how much attention Lance brings to cycling but all the attention is on one race, the Tour and his rivalry with Contador which is based around, yes the Tour. If there is one race that doesnt need any more attention its the Tour. The Tour is a money making operation so of course they want Lance for maximun profits but the race itself dont need the publicity.

I would have given Lance far more kudos if he had come back with the focus on other races outside the Tour, to try and round out his plamares, the classics which were his initial strong point when he turned pro and the other GTs. Even if he won another Tour, he still aint gonna get any closer to Merckx, Hinault or Coppi. If he and his team made the effot to be competitive outside the Tour, they would get far more respect.

Personally I dont care if they are at the Giro, just sad at the waste of talent all for one persons ego.

 

[flicker]

Agree with this completely, RadioShack have so many good GT riders, they should be aiming for all 3 GTs instead of having them all focusing on the Tour. Sometimes I wonder if the aim of RadioShack is to see Lance win the Tour or just to try and make sure Contador doesnt win so they can say 'told you he was useless without us'

Everyone raves about how much attention Lance brings to cycling but all the attention is on one race, the Tour and his rivalry with Contador which is based around, yes the Tour. If there is one race that doesnt need any more attention its the Tour. The Tour is a money making operation so of course they want Lance for maximun profits but the race itself dont need the publicity.

I would have given Lance far more kudos if he had come back with the focus on other races outside the Tour, to try and round out his plamares, the classics which were his initial strong point when he turned pro and the other GTs. Even if he won another Tour, he still aint gonna get any closer to Merckx, Hinault or Coppi. If he and his team made the effot to be competitive outside the Tour, they would get far more respect.

Personally I dont care if they are at the Giro, just sad at the waste of talent all for one persons ego.

I agree and I hate Lances' Tourcentricity. Lance sometimes shows me how he thinks, the Universe revolves around him and Texas. I know Lance and Eddy are pals but Lance is a pale whimsical ghost compared to Merckx. I would have loved to see Kloeden in the 2010 Giro, he brings class to whatever competiton he competes in.

 

[LeonG2010]

Rs = la

One equation governs: RS = RA. We have to remember that RS is all about Armstrong, the great "team man" who places the team first and self-interest last, as we all know, because he told us at TdF 2009 when Alberto had the mistaken impression he could attack in the mountains without him. Therefore, RS is all about the TdF and Mr LA winning his number 8. Nothing but this counts in 2010. Perhaps when he realises his back is well and truly against the wall, he might allow someone else to fill his very big baseball cap. If the GI does not suit him then there will be no RS.

 

[Publicus]

I would have given Lance far more kudos if he had come back with the focus on other races outside the Tour, to try and round out his plamares, the classics which were his initial strong point when he turned pro and the other GTs. Even if he won another Tour, he still aint gonna get any closer to Merckx, Hinault or Coppi. If he and his team made the effot to be competitive outside the Tour, they would get far more respect.

Personally I dont care if they are at the Giro, just sad at the waste of talent all for one persons ego.

+10000

He had an opportunity, but fell back into his old routine. Frankly it would have been sweet if he had gone for the Giro/Vuelta double this year (and skipped the Tour).

 

[kurtinsc]

+10000

He had an opportunity, but fell back into his old routine. Frankly it would have been sweet if he had gone for the Giro/Vuelta double this year (and skipped the Tour).

I do wonder what would have happened if Lance hadn't gotten injured.

It felt like he really was gearing his training toward the Giro prior to breaking his collarbone. After that, he couldn't get ready to be in race shape for the Giro.

I don't know if he would have gone all out for the Giro and assisted in the Tour, done the Giro/Vuelta double or what... but I do think he was really thinking he was going to win the Giro prior to the accident.

 

[Angliru]

I do wonder what would have happened if Lance hadn't gotten injured.

It felt like he really was gearing his training toward the Giro prior to breaking his collarbone. After that, he couldn't get ready to be in race shape for the Giro.

I don't know if he would have gone all out for the Giro and assisted in the Tour, done the Giro/Vuelta double or what... but I do think he was really thinking he was going to win the Giro prior to the accident.

Based on his quoted and then retracted opinion of those contenders that competed in the 2008 Tour do you think that he was considering adding a Giro/Tour double to his palmares in 2009 prior to his crash out in Spain?

It's also possible that the fact that Contador requested that they ride together at least once prior to the Tour, Bruyneel relenting and the results being his first serious crash since who knows when, that his animosity towards Contador grew even more. He was injured at an event that he previously had no intention of competing in, on the home soil of the rider that was a threat to his magnificent Tour return thus negatively affecting his "ideal" prep for the Tour & potentially the Giro.

 

[Carboncrank]

Shouldn't the UCI look into whether a team that intends not to ride all the GTs, should be allowed to sign up half a dozen riders who specialise in riding GTs?

It comes down to this. Due to Lance's overriding obssession with the Tour, EVERYONE who is in with a chance of making the team, has to gear their training and schedule towards July. No exceptions.

As a result, The Shack refuse to release riders such as Brajkovic and Kloden, in order to give them a shot at the Giro podium.

Taking quality riders and putting them into cold storage until July, as with Lance himself, is a major factor in the ongoing dispute between the year long, ardent cycling fan and the 3 week fanboy.

How rediculous, "overrding obssession (sic)". That's like having an overriding obsession with the Indianapolis 500.

Alberto will be equally obsessed.

I'm glad they moved the Tour of Ca date. I may actually be able to go. I'm shooting for the San Francisco to Santa Cruz stage.

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...rnia-stage-3-route-details-becoming-available

Way tougher than last year. The tour of ca keeps getting better, even with a mountain top finish now.

 

[Publicus]

How rediculous, "overrding obssession (sic)". That's like having an overriding obsession with the Indianapolis 500.

Alberto will be equally obsessed.

I'm glad they moved the Tour of Ca date. I may actually be able to go. I'm shooting for the San Francisco to Santa Cruz stage.

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...rnia-stage-3-route-details-becoming-available

Way tougher than last year. The tour of ca keeps getting better, even with a mountain top finish now.

Maybe I'll run into you.

 

[Big GMaC]

Maybe I'll run into you.

you don't drive a semi by any chance?

 

[Publicus]

you don't drive a semi by any chance?

heh, heh, heh.

Alas no, but I'm deadly with a pen.

 

[flicker]

I watched it at summit of Empire grade. Pretty good place to watch plus a fun ride to the intersection. If you come early you can probably ride the climb. Or there are about 5 other routes to get to the top.

 

[Carboncrank]

Even if he won another Tour, he still aint gonna get any closer to Merckx, Hinault or Coppi. If he and his team made the effot to be competitive outside the Tour, they would get far more respect.

Where were those guys at age 38?

Let me answer that for you. Out of cycling for many years.

Merxkx finished 6th in his last tour at age 32 after a light racing schedule focusing completely on the tour.

Hinault finished second at age 32, then retired.

Coppi last tour podium was a win at age 32. He wasn't competitive past 35. But that must have been all those broken bones and his treatment in those awful British POW camps right?

Who are you kidding? There's nothing Lance could do that would earn your respect. If he wins this year you'll just claim he was doping or some other lame internet crank conspiracy.

You're already setting it up. If he wins it won't matter because he didn't do enough of the classics, or because he went the the tour of CA instead of the Giro.

 

[Publicus]

Where were those guys at age 38?

Let me answer that for you. Out of cycling for many years.

Merxkx finished 6th in his last tour at age 32 after a light racing schedule focusing completely on the tour.

Hinault finished second at age 32, then retired.

Coppi last tour podium was a win at age 32. He wasn't competitive past 35. But that must have been all those broken bones and his treatment in those awful British POW camps right?

Who are you kidding? There's nothing Lance could do that would earn your respect. If he wins this year you'll just claim he was doping or some other lame internet crank conspiracy.

You're already setting it up. If he wins it won't matter because he didn't do enough of the classics, or because he went the the tour of CA instead of the Giro.

Because they did not focus on just one race per year. So specialization has allowed Lance to enjoy an extended career, but the depth and breath of experience of the greats cannot be challenged because they were not able to compete at a high level past 35. My guess is Lance would have been used up before he turned 35 if he followed in their footsteps (which isn't a knock on him).

 

[pmcg76]

How rediculous, "overrding obssession (sic)". That's like having an overriding obsession with the Indianapolis 500.

Alberto will be equally obsessed.

I'm glad they moved the Tour of Ca date. I may actually be able to go. I'm shooting for the San Francisco to Santa Cruz stage.

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...rnia-stage-3-route-details-becoming-available

Way tougher than last year. The tour of ca keeps getting better, even with a mountain top finish now.

Except Lance has nothing to prove at the Tour and Contador has already won the Giro/Vuelta as well as other races early in the season like Basque Country and Paris-Nice. I think there is also a good chance of Alberto doing the Vuelta this year.

The original point was when Lance came back, he had nothing to prove at the Tour and could have tried to aim for some other races to beef up his palmares and bring attention to other areas of the sport, which is what his fans say is the biggest benefit of his comeback.

 

[Mellow Velo]

How rediculous, "overrding obssession (sic)". That's like having an overriding obsession with the Indianapolis 500.
I'm glad they moved the Tour of Ca date. I may actually be able to go. I'm shooting for the San Francisco to Santa Cruz stage.

Way tougher than last year. The tour of ca keeps getting better, even with a mountain top finish now.

I may well be rediculous, whatever that means, but I'm certainly not ridiculous.
Shack have 8 Grand Tour "specialists", but can't risk a couple at the Giro?

Anyhow, now I'm glad they moved the Cali date, too.
It now means we won't have your good self, Speedway, Flicker, Polish etc, mangling intelligent debate over the Giro.
Watching Cali, typing love letters in the relevant threads here and masturbating over when your old guy is on screen, will take all your gang's concentration.

Enjoy it while you can. California will peak this year, before suffering Pat's Pro Tour kiss of death, next season.
Once Lance and Levi retire, it will soon make the ENECO Tour look like the 4th Grand Tour.

 

[flicker]

Oh come on mellow-man. I know the ToC has been at the wrong time of the year but give it a chance. Some great riders there,Cancellara Lovquist etc.

Plus its kinda cool to wonder into the back alleys of Palo Alto and bull-hit with Bettini+ Boonen before the TT while they warm up. That's an hour twenty from my home, Santa Cruz half hour.

+ maybe the Schleck bros. can set the race on fire. come on mellow.

 

[Carboncrank]

I watched it at summit of Empire grade. Pretty good place to watch plus a fun ride to the intersection. If you come early you can probably ride the climb. Or there are about 5 other routes to get to the top.

Cool! Empire Grad at Pine flat? Perfect spot. Or along Pine Flat.
Did you read the part where their adding the decent down Kings Mountain Rd? Man! that's the lee side. It's steep and tight. Then up that 8 mile Page Mill Rd section? Then descend back to Coast Highway, then back up Bonny doon/Pine Flat, then descend back into Santa Cruz. I almost don't believe but the article was on the steephill.tv site.

I still imagine the attacts won't come until Bonny Doon Rd.

It would be cool to think I could make it from Page Mill over to where you are by the time they get there but on a good day one might make it back out to 270 and up Higway 9, but trying to make it up 9 on the lee side of the mountains in the least bit of traffic? Not possible.

As far as riding up there? It will be just passed my 60th birthday. I'm 6'2" 220. Never could climb. I like to say, let's throw 80 pounds on Contador's back and see how he climbs.