Where's Liquigas?

[theyoungest]

You are saying that based on what exactly?

Looking at average speeds, this year's Giro wasnt much slower then this tour, and it had a tougher route.

Based on the fact that almost all of them have outclimbed Basso in top form before. Except for Contador and Schleck, but I think it goes without saying that those guys are stronger than Basso.

Look, I like Basso, in fact he's one of my favourite riders, but the strongest riders in this Tour are probably stronger than him. And of course the Giro had tougher climbs (when does it not, really?) but for which of the best riders in this Tour would that be a problem? Not one.

 

[dancing on pedals]

as a liquigas fan i am disappointed but not too much. The removal of Pellizotti left a big gap which had to be filled by Nibali in the giro, and lets not forget the work they did there!
Nibali was wasted at the Giro, but Basso did win. I think Basso will still finish top 5 and Nibali will sek revenge in Vuelta.
that said after Romans fighting talk pre race it is a bit disappointing
thanks
(basically they have been outgunned by Astana)

 

[torsten]

Had some high expectations on Kreuziger and also on Szmyd since he was really good at Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and played really well with the big boys.
But this...

 

[Bordercollie1]

The Giro has a long line of overall winners who flop at the Tour. Basso's performance (steady but unspectacular) is about par for the course.

In the 90's we had amazing Giro performances from Rominger, Berzin and Tonkov, none of whom could could recreate it at the Tour.

During the Armstrong years I hoped that Simoni or Cunego would carry their Giro form to the Tour but it just never works out that way.

I don't think the Giro is bad preparation as such, it worked three times for Indurain and infamously for Pantani.

Worth noting that the temperature at the Giro in May is much cooler than the Tour in July. For a few other reasons it is not fair to compare average speeds.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

The Giro has a long line of overall winners who flop at the Tour. Basso's performance (steady but unspectacular) is about par for the course.

In the 90's we had amazing Giro performances from Rominger, Berzin and Tonkov, none of whom could could recreate it at the Tour.

During the Armstrong years I hoped that Simoni or Cunego would carry their Giro form to the Tour but it just never works out that way.

I don't think the Giro is bad preparation as such, it worked three times for Indurain and infamously for Pantani.

Worth noting that the temperature at the Giro in May is much cooler than the Tour in July. For a few other reasons it is not fair to compare average speeds.

get your facts straight the reason it worked for indurain was because the vuelta was in between

 

[movingtarget]

Basso has not got it at the moment just like all of the other Giro participants. Kreuziger is a level below the top riders. He is still young like Gesink but it is uncertain as to how much more he can improve. Some young riders look like they have plenty of potential but never get to the next level. It is not happening for him this year.

 

[hrotha]

get your facts straight the reason it worked for indurain was because the vuelta was in between

Actually, no. The Vuelta was before the Giro.

 

[Bordercollie1]

get your facts straight the reason it worked for indurain was because the vuelta was in between

Er........ Nope. None of the contendors ride 3 tours in a year. Ever.

Indurain did the Vuelta in 90 and 91 and won the Giro in 92 and 93. So my facts are perfectly straight.

Rominger used to ride the Vuelta when it had the spring slot, when it was moved to September he did the Giro instead.

 

[CatsNK]

I find it interesting that the media commentators are all over Vino for doping (his entire article about the stage win in our local paper was about his history) but with Basso it's totally forgotten? Wha?

 

[Nikolai]

I find it interesting that the media commentators are all over Vino for doping (his entire article about the stage win in our local paper was about his history) but with Basso it's totally forgotten? Wha?

Basso never doped, remember? He thought he would like to try one day though...and then they got him

 

[Saddlesaw]

I find it interesting that the media commentators are all over Vino for doping (his entire article about the stage win in our local paper was about his history) but with Basso it's totally forgotten? Wha?

Completely understandable;

Vino won't talk about it but has said that he never did it.....

Basso only thought about it......but admitted that he thought about it. Who couldn't forgive that