Tirreno-Adriatico 2012 (07.03.-13.03.)

[Altitude]

Well as someone who likes Gilbert, Evans, Contador and Scarponi .... I am REALLY looking forward to this race!!!

I do think that Michele is going to be hard to beat - and I also think Garzelli will be in the mix this year. He will be very focused.

I disagree. Without the Giro to look forward to I don't think there's any way Garzelli will be as prepared or as motivated as years past. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

 

[The Hitch]

I agree with you about the whole idea of Levi not sucking but that is a low blow to Cadel.
He had a mechanical at the Vuelta, then showed that he was still n good form by winning Mendrisio and the Giro he was sick.

He did suck at the TDF though.

I didnt say Evans was past it, I said that other people said Evans was past it. Which they did.

if you read posts from late 2010 and early 2011, people were strongly arguing that he should leave gts and focus just on classics.

I on the other hand argued all along that reports of his demise were premature.

I didnt think hed win the Tour but I certainatly expected him to be a threat while others thought he wouldnt make top 10.

 

[greenedge]

Oh ok thx for correcting me. You are right you have stuck up for Evans. I misread it sorry.

 

[gilbertador]

Hyping Scarponi is ridiculous, hes in the race for second as i said but on a 14km mtf there is absolutely no way he can perform near Contadors level and never has beaten Contador on a proper mtf or stage

 

[dlwssonic]

Will eurosport give advantage to PN or TA?? Hope evans can repeat his win.

 

[movingtarget]

Hyping Scarponi is ridiculous, hes in the race for second as i said but on a 14km mtf there is absolutely no way he can perform near Contadors level and never has beaten Contador on a proper mtf or stage

I can't see Scarponi winning either in a short stage race with a TT on final day. He was within range last year going into the TT but Evans and Gesink were too good. The only thing in his favour is that Contador and Evans will be at an early stage of their season but neither of them race to lose. Should be an interesting race. Last year it was very entertaining with a quality field.

 

[Altitude]

Hyping Scarponi is ridiculous, hes in the race for second as i said but on a 14km mtf there is absolutely no way he can perform near Contadors level and never has beaten Contador on a proper mtf or stage

Scarponi at 100% > Contador at 75%

Contador probably won't even be there anyways.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Scarponi at 100% = Contador at 75%

Contador probably won't even be there anyways.

Please, don't go there. If even the experts don't know what's going to happen, why would you?

Btw, I fixed your post. Equals, that's what they would be.

 

[LaFlorecita]

And who says Scarponi's going to be 100%? He's going for the Giro, right?

 

[The Hitch]

I can't see Scarponi winning either in a short stage race with a TT on final day. He was within range last year going into the TT but Evans and Gesink were too good. The only thing in his favour is that Contador and Evans will be at an early stage of their season but neither of them race to lose. Should be an interesting race. Last year it was very entertaining with a quality field.

Scarponi was way way better than Gesink last year though.

Stage 1 Result
Team Time
1 Rabobank 18' 08"
2 Garmin-Cervélo + 9"
3 HTC-Highroad + 10"
4 Saxo Bank-SunGard + 11"
5 Liquigas-Cannondale + 22"
6 BMC Racing Team + 26"
7 Leopard Trek + 29"
8 Team RadioShack + 30"
9 Team Sky + 33"
10 Lampre-ISD +37"

Final General Classification
Rider Team Time
1 Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team 27h 37' 37"
2 Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank + 11"
3 Michele Scarponi (ITA) Lampre-ISD + 15"

And without the ttt Scarponi would have lost to Evans overall by 3 seconds.

He beat Evans in 2010 Tirreno. 12 seconds in it then.

So it can get very close between Evans and Scarponi. And I can see either one of them winning.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink was struggling mentally in that period with the death of his father wandering around in his thoughts. It's a miracle he even finished 2nd in that race

So don't use that as a comparison Gesink/Scarponi. They have barely EVER ridden against eachtother when BOTH where in topform...

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink was struggling mentally in that period with the death of his father wandering around in his thoughts. It's a miracle he even finished 2nd in that race

So don't use that as a comparison Gesink/Scarponi. They have barely EVER ridden against eachtother when BOTH where in topform...

Hitch's pathetic attempt at baiting worked!

 

[The Hitch]

Gesink was struggling mentally in that period with the death of his father wandering around in his thoughts. It's a miracle he even finished 2nd in that race

So don't use that as a comparison Gesink/Scarponi. They have barely EVER ridden against eachtother when BOTH where in topform...

I wasnt comparing the two on top form.

I was comparing the two at Tirreno Adriatico 2011 which was what the post I was responding to was about.

The way you immediately act as if I were trashing Gesink's entire career by pointing out, in about 8 words, that Scarponi was better at TA 2011 is, well laughable.

Hitch's pathetic attempt at baiting worked!

Or maybe your pathetic attempt at bating is working now?

I voiced my opinion that the wrong man came 2nd and Scarponi was well better than Gesink, and backed this up with results.

Yes, we are allowed to be critical even of Robert Gesink, and some of us would appreciate it if next time someone points out that riders were better than Gesink in a race, they arent accused of baiting.

 

[Ryaguas]

Shaping up to be a pretty strong field, BTW. Biggest stage race beside the Tour de France?

Last year it was tho... but Dauphine was quite nice too!

Will Valverde be riding this?

Italy doesnt exist for Alejandro

Contador is saving himself for the Tour this year too, so who knows how his form will be in T-A. Scarponi is the man to beat.

Scarponi had a nice form in TA cuz He peaked early I'm pretty sure that it wont be the case this year... Il Giro is the goal...

Oh boy, another "Contador-only" poster.

Jerk...

Did you even think to consider the context in which my post was written? Or did you just see something about Contador's form and go into *** "fan girl" mode? Grow up.

Both of you stop harassing her... WTF is wrong with you ppl? if you dont like what She says just use /ignore... I'm pretty sure that She will be devastated cuz You put her in the ignore list
You are the one that should grow up and learn to respect differents opinions... her post wasnt even a fanboy post, She used facts against what you said....

 

[theyoungest]

I wasnt comparing the two on top form.

I was comparing the two at Tirreno Adriatico 2011 which was what the post I was responding to was about.

The way you immediately act as if I were trashing Gesink's entire career by pointing out, in about 8 words, that Scarponi was better at TA 2011 is, well laughable.



Or maybe your pathetic attempt at bating is working now?

I voiced my opinion that the wrong man came 2nd and Scarponi was well better than Gesink, and backed this up with results.

Yes, we are allowed to be critical even of Robert Gesink, and some of us would appreciate it if next time someone points out that riders were better than Gesink in a race, they arent accused of baiting.

Dude, I don't care what you think about the guy, I assumed you'd read by now that he on the verge of abandoning halfway through Tirreno, and finishing the race at all was a feat in itself. That's why it seemed an obvious baiting attempt. But maybe I was wrong.

Actually, where he eventually lost the race was on a molehill. That says enough about his focus in the race.

 

[The Hitch]

Dude, I don't care what you think about the guy,

Well thats a bit of a low blow.

Because I never did voice "what I think about Gesink".

Take a good look at the 10 words I posted and explain to me where you found that?

Scarponi was way way better than Gesink last year though.

Stage 1 Result

Final General Classification

And where then did you get the idea that I was baiting?

Or is it that everytime I say anything about Gesink you will accuse me of baiting?

BTW Accusations of baiting are just as serious as baiting itself. Please do not insult me this way in the future.

 

[Ryaguas]

That's why it seemed an obvious baiting attempt. But maybe I was wrong

mmmm well if I can have a word or two... I didnt see it as a baiting attempt... I didnt know that Gesink was that bad and depressed at that time...

 

[Ryaguas]

BTW Accusations of baiting are just as serious as baiting itself. Please do not insult me this way in the future.

come on mate lets take it easy there is no need of taking it so serious =(
this is a place to share opinions and have fun... well that is how I look it

 

[theyoungest]

BTW Accusations of baiting are just as serious as baiting itself. Please do not insult me this way in the future.

Okay, no "insults" coming from me anymore

(PS I think that "being critical of" signifies having an opinion about someone, but maybe I'm wrong)

 

[Woody22]

wow, you must really not enjoy cycling...

Love cycling!!

Why would you say that?

Guess your avitar makes it pretty clear how you feel about honesty and fair play in cycling. How much did he pay you to use it?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Love cycling!!

Why would you say that?

Guess your avitar makes it pretty clear how you feel about honesty and fair play in cycling. How much did he pay you to use it?

Jesus! Don't be so pathetic.

 

[maltiv]

Love cycling!!

Why would you say that?

Guess your avitar makes it pretty clear how you feel about honesty and fair play in cycling. How much did he pay you to use it?

In my opinion just training with Ferrari (like Evans did) is about as suspicious as having 50 picogram of clenbuterol in one's blood (none of which are even close to prove anything).

 

[Ryaguas]

Love cycling!!

Why would you say that?

Guess your avitar makes it pretty clear how you feel about honesty and fair play in cycling. How much did he pay you to use it?

woot? how old are you mate?

 

[theyoungest]

woot? how old are you mate?

Twenty two?

 

[The Hitch]

Twenty two?

Forty five is my guess, based on a post from a few months ago.

In my opinion just training with Ferrari (like Evans did) is about as suspicious as having 50 picogram of clenbuterol in one's blood (none of which are even close to prove anything).

Yep. And having your brother pay Fuentes, is as suspicious too

Thats the case of the guy that will get the 2010 (and 2013) Tours, if things go one way.

Aint no justice in it. Banning riders who fail drugs test aint about justice, its about doping prevention by setting an example.

One of the reasons why its easier to say let Contador off for his 50pcg, or justify his potential escape anyway.