GIRO 2009 spectacular

kerz
kerz Posts: 37
edited May 2009 in Pro race
just looking at the course for this years giro , and wow ! the route looks fantastic. its the 100th edition of the race and i`ll be watching as much as i can on eurosport.it`s probably harder than the tour de france with 6 mountain top finishes including a 75 km sprint ! up the blockhaus. who`s gonna win ? i can`t see past Contador but i`m not too sure who else is in it apart from Armstrong and a host of italians , but it does look a truly awesome race.
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Comments

  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Contador isn't doing the Giro.

    Basso is the man.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • kerz
    kerz Posts: 37
    contador not in it- thats a shame as he would have won but i suppose his main aim is le tour this year.
    in that case Basso is a good call maybe lance will be his main rival although i`d love to see Cunego do well.
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    kerz wrote:
    contador not in it- thats a shame as he would have won but i suppose his main aim is le tour this year.
    in that case Basso is a good call maybe lance will be his main rival although i`d love to see Cunego do well.

    Nobody's talking about Denis Menchov - this could suit him if Rabo don't lose a hatful in the TTT
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    This the year where everyone stops listing Cunego as a contender? Maybe if none of us mention him, he'll actually go well.

    Think Menchov could be by himself, as he hasn't got the strongest Rabo back up team, particularly for when things go uphill, plus there's the TTT too.

    As always, plenty of climbers in the provisional line-up (Sastre, Soler etc) but they're guaranteed to lose time in the TTT and long TT I would have thought. Can see someone like Bruseghin 'lucking' in to a podium just by virtue that he doesn't lose a lot of time anywhere. Hard to look past Basso and whoever ends up leading Astana though really.

    Be interesting to see how Selle Italia (yes I know they're not called this but I can't be bothered to type their whole name) go with Simoni, Scarponi, Rebellin and Serpa. Don't think they're overall contenders but would have thought Simoni or Scarponi will be in the final top 10, and they've got plenty of opportunities there for some interesting, attacking tactics.

    Anyway, I can't wait, I'll be there for the first four stages 8)
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    GroupOfOne MkII wrote:
    This the year where everyone stops listing Cunego as a contender? Maybe if none of us mention him, he'll actually go well.

    Think Menchov could be by himself, as he hasn't got the strongest Rabo back up team, particularly for when things go uphill, plus there's the TTT too.

    As always, plenty of climbers in the provisional line-up (Sastre, Soler etc) but they're guaranteed to lose time in the TTT and long TT I would have thought. Can see someone like Bruseghin 'lucking' in to a podium just by virtue that he doesn't lose a lot of time anywhere. Hard to look past Basso and whoever ends up leading Astana though really.

    Be interesting to see how Selle Italia (yes I know they're not called this but I can't be bothered to type their whole name) go with Simoni, Scarponi, Rebellin and Serpa. Don't think they're overall contenders but would have thought Simoni or Scarponi will be in the final top 10, and they've got plenty of opportunities there for some interesting, attacking tactics.

    Anyway, I can't wait, I'll be there for the first four stages 8)

    I'm sure the team name is shorter !!
    http://tinyurl.com/332edp
    http://tinyurl.com/2nu7r3
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    Yeah, probably is :oops: Would have had to work out how to spell it though :wink:
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    You mean Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni?

    And, to mine eye, the long TT looks too hilly for the real specialists and could limit the losses of riders like Cunego and SImoni quite a bit.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • nick hanson
    nick hanson Posts: 1,655
    Apparently the long TT is really technical,so you're probably right,putting the likes of Simoni,Cunego & co in the mix.
    Possibly get a rerun of the Giro when Cunego came to promenance (won it),& Simoni showed what a true gent & sportsman he is (NOT)
    so many cols,so little time!
  • pb21
    pb21 Posts: 2,171
    The TT looks mental!
    Mañana
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    nick hanson wrote:
    Apparently the long TT is really technical,so you're probably right,putting the likes of Simoni,Cunego & co in the mix.
    Possibly get a rerun of the Giro when Cunego came to promenance (won it),& Simoni showed what a true gent & sportsman he is (NOT)


    One of the many reasons I love Gibo... What other sportsman in the modern era of media training and constant coverage would lack the foresight to see that yelling "Bastardo ignorante!" at your team mate may be construed as being a tad uncouth.

    He combines the two things I love to see in a cyclist, attacking riding and a massive napoleon complex.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • josame
    josame Posts: 1,162
    Apologies for ignorance is simeoni in the Giro now?
    'Do not compare your bike to others, for always there will be greater and lesser bikes'
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    You mean Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni?

    No I meant Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli actually ;)
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    Oh and Josame, nope, no Filippo Simeoni in the Giro unfortunately.
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    Of course no Flippo Simeoni. Why would the teams and organisers allow a doping whisleblower a platform for talking about all the abuse he's got from other riders! He's the Current Italian national champion so he'd sure get enough attention if he did ride.....
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Kloden interviewed in English, after winning the flat, but stunning beautiful ITT along Lake Garda, that opened the Giro del Trentino.
    He is definitely not riding the Giro.

    Brajkovic a second down. Basso and Brushegin a minute back over 16kms.

    Todays stage is a nice one.
    2a-tappa-altimetrie.jpg

    Nothing like it in Romandie, next week.

    Rai Piu 19-27 BST.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Kloden interviewed in English, after winning the flat, but stunning beautiful ITT along Lake Garda, that opened the Giro del Trentino.
    He is definitely not riding the Giro.
    Odd as those on form for Trentino usually head for the Giro.

    The Giro should be an interesting race. I've often watched it from a far, like the Vuelta you keep seeing the little teams surging to the front and improbable performances from unknown riders. Often you know why, as we saw last year's edition was a festivale of doping with the likes of Ricco and Sella getting rumbled after the race. The result of many stages was next to meaningless.

    There doesn't seem to be any wonder drug in circulation at the moment so it might be a more level race for once. The route is certainly spectacular but every race.

    Is Cavendish riding?
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Kléber wrote:

    Is Cavendish riding?

    I think so.

    I'm really looking forward to the Giro. I still think Basso is the man for it - He said he wasn't that pleased with his TT but it's going to be interesting seeing what he does on the hills.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Yes, that was not a good TT. Some time lost there, especially to people like Garzelli who has, to employ a Kimmage term, a bigger briefcase.
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Basso has to hope that 61km TT is REALLY hilly or Levi is going to romp home.

    JB ain't taking Klodi cos it would be embarrassing if he put 30 secs into LL and more into LA on the TT, then had to be told to pull them over the first 2 cols of every mountain stage (again) to knacker him out so he wasn't a threat.
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    nick hanson wrote:
    Apparently the long TT is really technical,so you're probably right,putting the likes of Simoni,Cunego & co in the mix.
    Possibly get a rerun of the Giro when Cunego came to promenance (won it),& Simoni showed what a true gent & sportsman he is (NOT)


    One of the many reasons I love Gibo... What other sportsman in the modern era of media training and constant coverage would lack the foresight to see that yelling "Bastardo ignorante!" at your team mate may be construed as being a tad uncouth.

    He combines the two things I love to see in a cyclist, attacking riding and a massive napoleon complex.

    :x

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw9oX-kZ_9k
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I can't bloomin' wait for the Giro, I think it tries to do some hair brained crazy things that you would never see in the more conservative TdF. Bring it on!

    Think it will be a Levi win :(
  • Sirius631
    Sirius631 Posts: 991
    How's about Andy Schleck? He was just off Davide Rebellin in Fleche Wallonne, and he did come very close on the Giro overall the other year. I reckon he's coming into form.
    To err is human, but to make a real balls up takes a super computer.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Trentino Stage 2

    http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=14612

    So Basso ok uphill.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Interesting to see Niemec winning in Trentino. He's always grabbing wins on the hilly stages but still rides for the tiny Miche outfit. Anyone know anything more about him?
  • Sirius631
    Sirius631 Posts: 991
    What did I say about Andy Schleck? L-B-L win with a good attacking ride. I'll risk a fiver down the bookies.
    To err is human, but to make a real balls up takes a super computer.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Here's the Barloworld team:
    John Lee Augustyn (AFS), Francesco Bellotti (ITA), Diego Caccia (ITA), Felix Cardenas (COL), Gianpaolo Cheula (ITA), Christopher Froome (GRB), Robert Hunter (AFS), Paolo Longo Borghini (ITA), Mauricio Soler (COL)

    And they gave them a late entry? This has to be one of the most exciting teams in the race.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Absolutely - JLA, Froome, Cardenas and Soler should be good in the mountains. Hunter in with a shout on the stages which might shell Cav.

    I'd really like to see JLA do a bit of a break through ride.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Yeah, JLA is an exciting prospect alright. Hopefully he'll avoid any unexpected off-road mountaineering expeditions this time. That nearly gave me a heart attack last year. I thought he was a goner!

    Soler is a puzzling one. I know he's had crashes and lots of injuries since he won the Tour KOM, but something tells me that was a complete one-off and he'll just fade into obscurity like a lot of the Colombians who have one brilliant race, gets heaps of praise, then do nothing for the rest of their career.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Jose Rujano i'm looking in your direction...

    I'd love to see JLA do the same kind of ride as young Van Den Broek did last year, come to think of it I'd love to see another good ride from him too.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    Leaky-Gas have named their nine too:

    Ivan Basso, Franco Pellizotti, Kjell Carlström, Manuel Quinziato, Gorazd Stangelj, Alessandro Vanotti, Valerio Agnoli, Vladimir Miholjevic and Sylwester Szmyd.

    Bennati's out injured again, so that line up looks pretty much all geared towards Basso (and Pellizotti). Quite reminiscent of the old Saeco and Lampre teams for the Giro, where it would be eight strong domestiques all working for Gibo.

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