Yes!5 more itt kms in the Tour 2012!

[Angliru]

Can you imagine the kerfuffle on here if the organisers announced a cut in the ITT miles citing the same reasons. ASO panders to golden boy etc etc etc. Nah, everbody just rubbing their hands in glee at another perceived stake in the heart of Andy's TDF chances.

Well, I'd have certainly have been yelling bloody murder if they had cut the ITT km's. Definitely would've smelled of a conspiracy!

 

[The Hitch]

LOL, OK. And Frank Schleck is going to win Paris-Nice, yeah...

According to the experts, he could have won it last years special Tony Martin edition, had he wanted to.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/517753/paris-nice-2011-who-will-win.html

So this year should be a piece of cake.

 

[The Hitch]

The Giro is ideal for Frank, but I fear he lacks vision and perspective.

But instead he will ride in support of his brother's bid for another Tour top 5

Funny thing is, that with the ever dwindling field for this year's Giro, even Frank has a chance to win it

Frank can't win the Giro. Not when Bassos there anyway and nor if Scarponi rides it.

Id expect Rujano to beat him too.

 

[Polish]

Another 15-20 seconds for Evans, Wigan and Menchov

That means about 30-40 for Levi then. ITT Maestro.

And since Levi has already defeated Alberto this year, he will be the undisputed boss grrr.

 

[The Hitch]

Exactly, and its not like Andy is a bad TT anyways, he is a pure climber and everybody thinks he has to be amazing at TT because he is a GC contender. How come guys like J-Rod, Basso, and Scarponi don't get

Yes they do.

J rod is the measuring stick on here for bad tts.

All the jokes about bad tts involve him. Him and Gadret. Far more than Andy.

As for Basso, well enjoy this

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15025

 

[El Pistolero]

I regulary make fun of Jrod's time trial abilities.

 

[orangerider]

Even if somehow he did top10 in those two TT's he would still probably lose time to wiggins, mechov and evans, so it is bad news.

Also, he's going to have to make drastic physiological changes if he wants to make any serious dents in time, namely being a heavier rider. That diminishes his advantage to attack on the climbs. This would create a situation where he puts in weak attacks and has to drop back down all the time because he'll get left in the dust by, say, Samu, who goes with him. So in the end, will just ride in the same groupo as Evans, Menchov and they both will still clobber him in the TT.

Time for Andy to just find some lame excuse not to participate and instead focus on the Giro. Go hard on the Giro with full intention to win, but also publically announce you're still targeting the Tour. Then, after the Giro is over, enter some small race in between and pull a "Lance" by concocting an accident to shamelessly pull away from races for a while.

 

[cineteq]

All the jokes about bad tts involve him. Him and Gadret. Far more than Andy.

Cunego should be up there as well, don't underestimate him.

 

[Fetisoff]

As for Basso, well enjoy this

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15025

Oh yeah, that brings back good memories

 

[Unkown]

Yes they do.

J rod is the measuring stick on here for bad tts.

All the jokes about bad tts involve him. Him and Gadret. Far more than Andy.

As for Basso, well enjoy this

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=15025

Fair point, I just don't see the hatred for those other guys though, probably because everyone is already angry at Andy for only racing a few races a year to win and running his mouth.

That thread about Basso is pure gold!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Frank can't win the Giro. Not when Bassos there anyway and nor if Scarponi rides it.

Id expect Rujano to beat him too.

Winning will be difficult for Frank no matter where he starts, but if one has any ambitions, one must choose carefully.

 

[Fetisoff]

Frank can't win the Giro. Not when Bassos there anyway and nor if Scarponi rides it.

Id expect Rujano to beat him too.

Well, that's what I meant by the dwindling field - Scarponi might now actually ride it. And Basso can always have a bad day in the mountains too. Then it would be almost wide open for Frank.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Fair point, I just don't see the hatred for those other guys though, probably because everyone is already angry at Andy for only racing a few races a year to win and running his mouth.

That thread about Basso is pure gold!

But Basso is much more realistic about his capabilities. He selects his targets a bit more smartly and delivers results. Same with J-Rod. Andy still thinks he should own the TdF.

 

[The Hitch]

Oh yeah, that brings back good memories

That thread about Basso is pure gold!

I see that my post (which contained Elisa) has been deleted

Youngest post underneath has also been deleted, though remembering what he said, I can see why

But Basso is much more realistic about his capabilities. He selects his targets a bit more smartly and delivers results. Same with J-Rod. Andy still thinks he should own the TdF.

Which to be fair he should, or should have last year anyway.

 

[hfer07]

Evans & Menchov must be jumping out of happiness with this announcement-& T Martin has yet another reason to improve his weaponry if he wants to be up in the Top 5

Can Cancellara......

 

[Havetts]

Evans & Menchov must be jumping out of happiness with this announcement-& T Martin has yet another reason to improve his weaponry if he wants to be up in the Top 5

Can Cancellara......

Dont forget Wiggo.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I see that my post (which contained Elisa) has been deleted

Youngest post underneath has also been deleted, though remembering what he said, I can see why



Which to be fair he should, or should have last year anyway.

Yes, but it was more because of default rather than a strategic target.

 

[staubsauger]

Frank can't win the Giro. Not when Bassos there anyway and nor if Scarponi rides it.

Id expect Rujano to beat him too.

i don't think basso is a better gt rider than f. schleck anymore. in top shape they're both on simillar level in my opinion. even if basso won the giro 10. and scarponi is a nothing as a gt contender. i just can't take him serieus as a potential gt winner. maybe he will have the luck to win against a low competitor field in the giro like cungego, but against the real big boys? no chance for michele......

 

[El Pistolero]

He did well against Contador last year. Better than most other "big boys".

Still glad it was Scarponi who got second instead of Nibbles

 

[Teddy Boom]

ASO to the Schleck brothers: Perhaps one of you two boys should consider the Giro or Vuelta.

And who knows, maybe riding the Vuelta against Contador this year could help block Saxo from getting World Tour status for 2013, thus improving their chances next year

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm going to laugh my *** off if Andy loses the Tour this year by 10 seconds which he lost in the extra 5 TT km

 

[Dazed and Confused]

And who knows, maybe riding the Vuelta against Contador this year could help block Saxo from getting World Tour status for 2013, thus improving their chances next year

Complex equation you got there. Forget Saxo for now, Contador will always start the biggest races no matter what jersey he wears.

What will hurt most: Getting beaten by Leipheimer in the TdF or Contador in the Vuelta?

 

[Teddy Boom]

Complex equation you got there.

It is in reference to this post.

What will hurt most: Getting beaten by Leipheimer in the TdF or Contador in the Vuelta?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It is in reference to this post.

Are you as confused as me? In which case welcome to the club.

 

[greenedge]

I don't get why they changed it the route is already inbalanced. Maybe ASO knew Andy could not win with 96km but they wanted to make the ITT margins between Wiggins, Evans and Menchov bigger.