The Time has come.

[eljimberino]

Cunego looks good. Podium for him.

 

[mortand]

That reminds me: Will VDV make it to Italy?
In 2010 both the Giro and the Tour started in the Netherlands, he made it to neither Italy nor France that year. I actually thought he'd done the same stunt in the 2009 Vuelta...
You think he'll be a bit more lucky starting in Denmark?

It doesn't look promising. He usually crashes out of the Giro in stage 3, so that'll be somewhere in the Horsens region. The descent of Ejer Bavnehøj might be critical. My fingers are crossed, though, for VDV. Hopefully he'll manage to stay upright throughout the race.

Oh, i've voted for Michel(l)e Scarponi. Why not?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Hitch, sir do you hate michele scarponi?

 

[Azabael]

I went for Basso, partially because I hope he'll win it. Between him, Scarponi and 1 or 2 we don't expect.

Btw, why are so many people voting for Nibali? Due to the time trials in the tour, at Liquigas they decided for Basso to focus on the giro, assisted by Nibali. And thus let Nibali focus on the tour. Nibali would be crazy if he truly tries to peak for the giro still.

 

[hoerpi]

I hope Mikel Nieve shows some goods for us, if he gets in good shape after the first week I think he can win, but not very likely. Basso will be good when the mountains come, I'm sure of that.

 

[nevada]

So Klodi is confirmed to ride the Giro? Maybe now would be good since Fuglsang won't be riding anymore.

Did you see him at Romandy ?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

even if i do agree.
Avatar bet for the fun of it?

I already have avatar bets going on I think about kreuziger

 

[Caruut]

Willing to bet someone that Rujano will beat Scarponi.

 

[markene2]

even if i do agree.
Avatar bet for the fun of it?

Ey, me and Ryo already have a bet going on.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Ey, me and Ryo already have a bet going on.

Kreuziger?
im gona cheer for you then

 

[markene2]

Kreuziger?
im gona cheer for you then

If Kreuziger gets in the top 5, Ryo will take a Kreuziger avatar for a year, if he does not i will take a Rujano avatar for a year.

 

[burning]

I hope Mikel Nieve shows some goods for us, if he gets in good shape after the first week I think he can win, but not very likely. Basso will be good when the mountains come, I'm sure of that.

I totally forgot about him, he might do even better compared to last year

 

[spalco]

Willing to bet someone that Rujano will beat Scarponi.

Just to be clear: which side are you on? If I can bet for Scarponi beating Rujano you're on.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I hope non italian riders have a shot. Would be really boring if this was an all Italian affair.

 

[El Pistolero]

A more important question is: who will win the Ronde van België/Tour de Belgique?

Anyhow:

1. Michele "Il presidente" Scarponi
2.Ivan "The Robot" Basso
3. José "the Calimero" Rujano

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

If Kreuziger gets in the top 5, Ryo will take a Kreuziger avatar for a year, if he does not i will take a Rujano avatar for a year.

could be worse, Rujano atleast got some balls, and that is something you can't say about every rider in the peloton

 

[veganrob]

If Nibali is really riding for the win he is my choice of person I like and can actually win.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Actually i really hope someone hammers the Italians. It's obvious that the organisiers wanted to create a parcours which suits the Italians yet again. Hope they get punished for this.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I hope non italian riders have a shot. Would be really boring if this was an all Italian affair.

2008 was a very Italian affair but was won by a Spaniard. 2009 was altogether more cosmopolitan, since di Luca's removal there's only 4 Italians in the top 10. Same goes for 2010 where, though the three strongest in the mountains were three Italians (debatable whether you count Nibali or Evans, but Nibali was the one that was there on Mortirolo), and an Italian didn't win a stage until stage 12. Last year featured only 2 Italians in the top 10 (though since Contador's DQ they were 1st and 2nd).

The first week of the Giro looks worryingly bad, but I don't think it's designed as an all-Italian affair. The Giro's been becoming increasingly cosmopolitan.

 

[Bavarianrider]

2008 was a very Italian affair but was won by a Spaniard. 2009 was altogether more cosmopolitan, since di Luca's removal there's only 4 Italians in the top 10. Same goes for 2010 where, though the three strongest in the mountains were three Italians (debatable whether you count Nibali or Evans, but Nibali was the one that was there on Mortirolo), and an Italian didn't win a stage until stage 12. Last year featured only 2 Italians in the top 10 (though since Contador's DQ they were 1st and 2nd).

The first week of the Giro looks worryingly bad, but I don't think it's designed as an all-Italian affair. The Giro's been becoming increasingly cosmopolitan.

Just read F.Schleck will be captain for Team Bruynell. That's interesting.
And i guess this also means that Klöden isn't going to the Giro but to the Tour. That would be great news.

 

[El Pistolero]

Klöden is past it in my opinion. Might still be good enough for a domestique, but that's about it. Frank will probably still do the Tour even if he already has the Giro in his legs.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Actually i really hope someone hammers the Italians. It's obvious that the organisiers wanted to create a parcours which suits the Italians yet again. Hope they get punished for this.

It wont be any ****ing germans though.

 

[tomazo]

Does anyone know if the rules of points classification have been changed? In eurosport giro preview they annouce it as the sprinters challenge.

 

[El Pistolero]

It wont be any ****ing germans though.

Good job, you jinxed it. Marcel Kittel just won the Giro.

 

[Havetts]

Does anyone know if the rules of points classification have been changed? In eurosport giro preview they annouce it as the sprinters challenge.

Possibly cause there are no 11 MTFs so sprinter have some chances to finish in the top 100..