What did this Giro teach us?

[Hammerhed]

What I learned from the '12 Giro

1. In an effort to make the race more "rider friendly," the organizer made the race a tad dull, not predictable, but dull.
2. A GT needs to get the GC guys involved in the race early so that they have to attack: Make it a race!
3. The "invitees" kept me watching the race on the non-sprint and/or non-mountains days.
4. The Giro needs to continue/reinstitute the "traditions" begun within the last few years (but abandoned this year) of having unusual and quirky stages such as the uphill/dirt-road ITT; the strade bianchi (the white gravel roads) stage; beginning the race with a balls-out, ride-for-your-life, real bike race stage.
5. Make the race logistics easier but keep the racing/riding harder. Italy is arguably the most beautiful bike race venue in the world with varied, compact terrain: The race doesn't have to go "exotic" locations like Denmark and the Netherlands (ha! The irony nearly choked me). Go to Sicily or to some of those little islands. Showcase Italia.

 

[norwegian]

1. In an effort to make the race more "rider friendly," the organizer made the race a tad dull, not predictable, but dull.
2. A GT needs to get the GC guys involved in the race early so that they have to attack: Make it a race!
3. The "invitees" kept me watching the race on the non-sprint and/or non-mountains days.
4. The Giro needs to continue/reinstitute the "traditions" begun within the last few years (but abandoned this year) of having unusual and quirky stages such as the uphill/dirt-road ITT; the strade bianchi (the white gravel roads) stage; beginning the race with a balls-out, ride-for-your-life, real bike race stage.
5. Make the race logistics easier but keep the racing/riding harder. Italy is arguably the most beautiful bike race venue in the world with varied, compact terrain: The race doesn't have to go "exotic" locations like Denmark and the Netherlands (ha! The irony nearly choked me). Go to Sicily or to some of those little islands. Showcase Italia.

A very good analyze, this.

 

[Angliru]

pozzovivo always fades away in a 3rd week and he also lacks true engine and big altitude climbs aren´t his thing either.

Actually if he's in the race and not injured due to a crash, he's still strong in the 3rd week from what I could see in past Giro 3rd mtf's.

Using just the 2008 Giro as an example he finished with Contador, Pellizotti, Menchov and JVDB among others on stages 19 & 20 and was second to Sella on stage 15. If memory serves me correctly his record will continue to reflect the 2008 results in the Giro's from 2009 to this year. He didn't fade in this year's Giro, he just might have peaked too soon to be able to have a serious attack in his legs in the 3rd week. A strong finish none the less. He even rode an uncharacteristically strong TT (for him).

 

[guncha]

It was entertaining Giro - it cannot be a bad race if the winner gets jersey on the final day. This time it was the race in which all-rounder competed against climber. Possibly 'there would have been more attacks if the race had mid-race long ITT – in such case climbers would have found themselves minutes down on Hejsedal thus attacking earlier.

 

[DominicDecoco]

It was entertaining Giro - it cannot be a bad race if the winner gets jersey on the final day.

That makes no sense for me. The pink shirt is just a competition in the competetition. It's the biggest and most prestigious competition, correct, but all the other great aspects in a Grand Tour should never be compromised because of the final result in the GC alone. I'd much rather see a final GC settled already in the beginning of the third week if that had happened because of attractive racing instead of conservative riding throughout to maintain any form of excitement in the GC till the very last stage.

It wasn't as bad as some make it, though. But definitely not great either. We could have asked for a lot more than we were 'served'. I think.

 

[Andre.J]

1. When about equal, riders are often afraid to lose
2. Backloading mountain's is a sin
3. Fränk doesn't give a **** about the Giro
4. I'll never laugh my *** of again at Purito on a TT bike
5. Riders should attack at the first mountain if they feel good, just to see who the opposition is.
6. Basso is fading and getting old, just as Scarponi who was too scared to try to attack from further away.
7. Rujano will never win a GT.
8. A new generation of GT riders has arrived, with a lot of colombians and TdG.
9. Cav can occasionaly be beaten, but if you really want to win, make sure he crashes.
10. Cavendish cares about the Giro more than a lot of other riders.
11. Guardini is the real deal.
12. Better have Proconti teams that aim for the Giro than WTteams that show up with crap (a.k.a. Rabo)
13. Mountains in the first and second week can't hurt the race.
14. Kreuziger didn't deliver, but showed mental strenght.
15. Bonifications on should come back.
17. You didn't realise i skipped 16.
18. You're either annoyed or amused by 17.
19. I might get a warning for this.
20. I just wanted to make 20, so i'll STFU now

Good one Red Rick

 

[The Hitch]

1. When about equal, riders are often afraid to lose
2. Backloading mountain's is a sin
3. Fränk doesn't give a **** about the Giro
4. I'll never laugh my *** of again at Purito on a TT bike
5. Riders should attack at the first mountain if they feel good, just to see who the opposition is.
6. Basso is fading and getting old, just as Scarponi who was too scared to try to attack from further away.
7. Rujano will never win a GT.
8. A new generation of GT riders has arrived, with a lot of colombians and TdG.
9. Cav can occasionaly be beaten, but if you really want to win, make sure he crashes.
10. Cavendish cares about the Giro more than a lot of other riders.
11. Guardini is the real deal.
12. Better have Proconti teams that aim for the Giro than WTteams that show up with crap (a.k.a. Rabo)
13. Mountains in the first and second week can't hurt the race.
14. Kreuziger didn't deliver, but showed mental strenght.
15. Bonifications on should come back.
17. You didn't realise i skipped 16.
18. You're either annoyed or amused by 17.
19. I might get a warning for this.
20. I just wanted to make 20, so i'll STFU now

Great post.

Which reminds me.

Some of us got a bit of a beat down for saying rabo was sending an unworthy team to the giro.

Slagter will easily top 10, we were reassured.

i feel i was right, and if the shoe was on the other foot, and rabo had top 10d or won a stage, i would be getting a lot more of this

 

[badboyberty]

I think the main thing this Giro taught me is, if the first two weeks are dull as possible, and the only other road race is the Bore of California, the World Cup XCO on RedbullTV becomes the most watchable cycle sport on TV.

Flat sprints, some TT's and a couple of hilly stages in the first two weeks is not how a GT should be. And I know it's probably geographically impossible but had the last real stage ran Stelvio then Mortirolo it would have been a corker.

 

[CatsNK]

that i love watching pro cycling even when they ride like crrap for three weeks...

I have to agree. What was missing for me was:
1. the sense that any of the riders were really trying to win
2. real mano-a-mano combat between any of the riders

The scenery was gorgeous, and although I did watch it every day, I didn't feel COMPELLED to do so.

I love the sounds of the helicopter and the motorcycle - it signals to me that bike-race season is on, and the shots of Italy are incredible, I love Todd & Gogo, but as for the race? Most of the time it was really, really boring.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Flat sprints, some TT's and a couple of hilly stages in the first two weeks is not how a GT should be.

Again with the complaints.

If it was so boring then you be Grand Tour designer for a few weeks and show us what an exciting Grand Tour looks like.

 

[hrotha]

Again with the complaints.

If it was so boring then you be Grand Tour designer for a few weeks and show us what an exciting Grand Tour looks like.

You can't sue for medical malpractice unless you are a doctor yourself! You couldn't have done that simple surgery better yourself, could you.

 

[Jakob747]

This is quite interesting indeed. Who are the prospects?

Ulissi I guess, he seems to have that mentality
Cappechi maybe?
I should say I was very impressed by Damiano Caruso.
Mr. Moser? Or he is more of a classics guy?
Brambilla is quite young right?

Who else?

Italy has one of the deepest talent pools around. I follow them intensely and have a lot of contacts in the U-23 ranks.

Whether its Fabio Aru 1990.

Federico Zurlo 1994. (Ruudz0r - favorite talent, or so I think)

Or Attilio Viviani 1996 (Little-brother of Elia Viviani at Liquigas)

They have tons of talent coming through in all categories! Also, for stage-races, I can guarantee you that.

 

[DominicDecoco]

If it was so boring then you be Grand Tour designer for a few weeks and show us what an exciting Grand Tour looks like.

Stop. Just... just stop...

 

[The Hitch]

You can't sue for medical malpractice unless you are a doctor yourself! You couldn't have done that simple surgery better yourself, could you.

I think many on this forum - Eshnar, Libertine Seguros, SKip madness, Ferminal etc, could create far better course's for gts than what the so called experts who unfortunately have the power, are dishing out.

 

[will10]

Again with the complaints.

If it was so boring then you be Grand Tour designer for a few weeks and show us what an exciting Grand Tour looks like.

Check out the Race Design Thread.

 

[airstream]

Didn't the Giro really teach you that the route itself gives almost nothing and this field would have given an absolutely the same "show" with any parcours projected by any specialist at race design?

 

[More Strides than Rides]

that i love watching pro cycling even when they ride like crrap for three weeks...

I missed this post earlier, but I agree 100%. I held my tongue during the complaints most stages, but I enjoyed it. Loved the tension on each stage, even if it fizzled out.

Just be glad you guys aren't fans of track and field: rabbited races, tactical 10k's, waiting a whole meet to watch the 100m dash...

 

[SiAp1984]

- That GT withOUT Contador is way better than with[...] him.

I fixed this for you. This was a great Giro. Real competition, several top GT-racers, beautiful stages, lots of suffering and fighting, an outsider winning... I just wonder why Rodriguez didn't race more aggressively in the mountains. At the stage when Ryder attacked and dropped him, he was on his limit but in the other mountain stages he looked like he could have done more... Anyway, I hope he will go on and spoil the return of the dancing one at the Vuelta.

 

[Red Rick]

I think many on this forum - Eshnar, Libertine Seguros, SKip madness, Ferminal etc, could create far better course's for gts than what the so called experts who unfortunately have the power, are dishing out.

Yeah Hitch, your Giro del Trentino was perfectly managable. As a parcours designer i would be tempted to use newer and harder climbs than the ones that are being used every year. I would also get rid of pointless mountainstages where only the break would do something. Every high or medium mountain stage would have a spot for GC contenders to attack, if i was in charge. But then again, Zomegnag would probably think my routes are overkill

 

[UlleGigo]

Wiggins has no hope. Won't even podium.

 

[Mongolian Torque]

The only thing it really 'taught' us is...

Is that Ryder won the 2012 Giro and everything else is conjecture.

But, that doesn't mean we can't chit chat about it until every proverbial horse is beaten to death.