Questions to PINEAU. Giro vs Tour
frenchfighter
Posts: 30,642
Taken from the July issue of Cycle magazine, his comments regarding the Grio vs Tour are very interesting.
I would love to see Andy and Contador both turn up to the Giro in their best form and looking for the win.
You participated in your first Giro and got a victory. How did you find it?
I am very satisfied to discover this test as it really is a unique course. There is a special atmosphere and I really appreciated the parcours.
What differences did you find between the Tour and Giro?
There are several things. The length of stages, to start, because one time we even did a stage of 260km. The dificulty of the climbs - maybe a bit shorter then those in France, but clearly steeper for some, like the Mortirolo or the Zoncolan. Finally, the length of the transfers, Each day we were doing at least 100km to reach our hotels. It was an additional stress to cope with.
You crossed some particularly difficult climbs, what gearing did you use?
I had a 34x27 for the hardest climbs. I have never used this gear in the Tour or even in other courses - it was quite something.
How did you find the atmosphere? Were there as many people along the routes as in France?
Not necessarily when we rode in the countryside, but in all the villages or hard climbs it was always the same fervour. I would even say that the fans are more disciplined becuase it is a public of connisseurs. On the Tour, it is more a mix of tourists or holiday makers.
Was the level of stages as hard as those of the Tour?
Yes, even during the long stages. When the breakaway hadn't developed, it rolled hard. There were very few starts 'a l'italienne', that is to say, with a slow allure.
Will you be at the Giro next year?
Yes I hope so, as rather than a race, we participate in an adventure. There are hard stages, on roads sometimes hardly suitable, monstrous climbs, but these really give a special atmosphere. We don't complain, we let ourselves be carried by the event.
You will also start the Tour, will you be recovered?
We will see. For the moment, I am recovering well and I hope to be in form. In addition, this year, the profile of some stages is interesting. We should see breakaways suceed.
I would love to see Andy and Contador both turn up to the Giro in their best form and looking for the win.
You participated in your first Giro and got a victory. How did you find it?
I am very satisfied to discover this test as it really is a unique course. There is a special atmosphere and I really appreciated the parcours.
What differences did you find between the Tour and Giro?
There are several things. The length of stages, to start, because one time we even did a stage of 260km. The dificulty of the climbs - maybe a bit shorter then those in France, but clearly steeper for some, like the Mortirolo or the Zoncolan. Finally, the length of the transfers, Each day we were doing at least 100km to reach our hotels. It was an additional stress to cope with.
You crossed some particularly difficult climbs, what gearing did you use?
I had a 34x27 for the hardest climbs. I have never used this gear in the Tour or even in other courses - it was quite something.
How did you find the atmosphere? Were there as many people along the routes as in France?
Not necessarily when we rode in the countryside, but in all the villages or hard climbs it was always the same fervour. I would even say that the fans are more disciplined becuase it is a public of connisseurs. On the Tour, it is more a mix of tourists or holiday makers.
Was the level of stages as hard as those of the Tour?
Yes, even during the long stages. When the breakaway hadn't developed, it rolled hard. There were very few starts 'a l'italienne', that is to say, with a slow allure.
Will you be at the Giro next year?
Yes I hope so, as rather than a race, we participate in an adventure. There are hard stages, on roads sometimes hardly suitable, monstrous climbs, but these really give a special atmosphere. We don't complain, we let ourselves be carried by the event.
You will also start the Tour, will you be recovered?
We will see. For the moment, I am recovering well and I hope to be in form. In addition, this year, the profile of some stages is interesting. We should see breakaways suceed.
Contador is the Greatest
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Comments
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I'm convinced that if all the best GT riders in the world rode the Giro, it'd be a much tougher and more exciting race than the tour de france.0
