Giro - Pre Race Chat Thread.
Comments
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LeicesterLad wrote:frenchfighter wrote:I hope the Italians dominate with their panache and attacks.
I hope the Giro d'Italia retains its unpredictability, flair, class and difficulty.
Bring on the war. I don't really mind who wins as long as it is based on individual talent, an attacking spirit and tactical brilliance.
Why did they let Gesink have his photo taken with the favourites?
Sanchez too?
They must have been short of numbers."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'"
@gietvangent0 -
disgruntledgoat wrote:LeicesterLad wrote:frenchfighter wrote:I hope the Italians dominate with their panache and attacks.
I hope the Giro d'Italia retains its unpredictability, flair, class and difficulty.
Bring on the war. I don't really mind who wins as long as it is based on individual talent, an attacking spirit and tactical brilliance.
Why did they let Gesink have his photo taken with the favourites?
Sanchez too?
They must have been short of numbers.
Basso slipped in somehow as well...It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
I think Gesink is more likely to do something than basso... I also love how aggressive Evans looks
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disgruntledgoat wrote:LeicesterLad wrote:frenchfighter wrote:I hope the Italians dominate with their panache and attacks.
I hope the Giro d'Italia retains its unpredictability, flair, class and difficulty.
Bring on the war. I don't really mind who wins as long as it is based on individual talent, an attacking spirit and tactical brilliance.
Why did they let Gesink have his photo taken with the favourites?
Sanchez too?
They must have been short of numbers.
At least he's stood on the podium of a GT a couple of times, more than Robert "chipper" Gesink."I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)0 -
There is no variety in the mountain stages, they all seem to be mountain top finishes so its a climber fest just like the Vuelta.0
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inkyfingers wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:LeicesterLad wrote:frenchfighter wrote:I hope the Italians dominate with their panache and attacks.
I hope the Giro d'Italia retains its unpredictability, flair, class and difficulty.
Bring on the war. I don't really mind who wins as long as it is based on individual talent, an attacking spirit and tactical brilliance.
Why did they let Gesink have his photo taken with the favourites?
Sanchez too?
They must have been short of numbers.
At least he's stood on the podium of a GT a couple of times, more than Robert "chipper" Gesink.
No Scarponi?
“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
and why is it missing Scarponi?inkyfingers wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:LeicesterLad wrote:frenchfighter wrote:I hope the Italians dominate with their panache and attacks.
I hope the Giro d'Italia retains its unpredictability, flair, class and difficulty.
Bring on the war. I don't really mind who wins as long as it is based on individual talent, an attacking spirit and tactical brilliance.
Why did they let Gesink have his photo taken with the favourites?
Sanchez too?
They must have been short of numbers.
At least he's stood on the podium of a GT a couple of times, more than Robert "chipper" Gesink.0 -
TheBigBean wrote:The odds. I haven't looked at the parcours, but Wiggins seems short.
B Wiggins 10/11
V Nibali 2/1
R Hesjedal 9/1
S Sanchez 22/1
M Scarponi 25/1
C Evans 33/1
I Basso 33/1
S Henao 33/1
R Gesink 33/1
J Rujano 40/1
B Intxausti 50/1
F Pellizotti 50/1
M Santambrogio 50/1
D Pozzovivo 80/1
R Uran 80/1
J Gadret 100/1
J Brajkovic 100/1
J J Cobo 100/1
S Garzelli 150/1
C A Sorensen 150/1
F Aru 150/1
F Duarte 150/1
C Betancur 150/1
S Kruijswijk 150/1
P Niemec 175/1
D Ulissi 200/1
T Machado 250/1
D Di Luca 250/1
R Nocentini 250/1
F Kessiakoff 250/1
W Kelderman 250/1
D Lopez 250/1
A Jeannesson 250/1
P Tiralongo 250/1
D Cataldo 250/1
R Majka 300/1
J Dombrowski 400/1
S Casar 500/1
K Elissonde 500/1
E Capecchi 500/1
E Chaves 500/1
S Locatelli 500/1
S Pirazzi 500/1
R Mestre 500/1
M Rabottini 500/1
G Brambilla 500/1
J Monsalve 500/1
D Atapuma 500/1
P Stetina 500/1
If you check Victor Chandler, Santambrogio is 150/1. Got to be worth an EW0 -
Over a long TT how would Ryder perform v Wiggins?“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0
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TailWindHome wrote:Over a long TT how would Ryder perform v Wiggins?
Poorly. Remember last year and eveyone was dubious as to his ability to overhaul 30s on Purito.
He's not that good a TTer."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'"
@gietvangent0 -
disgruntledgoat wrote:TailWindHome wrote:Over a long TT how would Ryder perform v Wiggins?
Poorly. Remember last year and eveyone was dubious as to his ability to overhaul 30s on Purito.
He's not that good a TTer.
I thought it was the other way round. Purito's 30s not being near enough to hold off Ryder.
Funny, during LBL the Eurosport chaps were saying what a good TTer Ryder was.....
EDIT s'pose it's all relative. He took 46s out of Purito over 28k last year. That puts him minutes behind Wiggins.“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
TailWindHome wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:TailWindHome wrote:Over a long TT how would Ryder perform v Wiggins?
Poorly. Remember last year and eveyone was dubious as to his ability to overhaul 30s on Purito.
He's not that good a TTer.
I thought it was the other way round. Purito's 30s not being near enough to hold off Ryder.
Funny, during LBL the Eurosport chaps were saying what a good TTer Ryder was.....
Agree with DG. Hesjedal's not a top tester. Certainly a very decent one, but not top level.0 -
TailWindHome wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:TailWindHome wrote:Over a long TT how would Ryder perform v Wiggins?
Poorly. Remember last year and eveyone was dubious as to his ability to overhaul 30s on Purito.
He's not that good a TTer.
I thought it was the other way round. Purito's 30s not being near enough to hold off Ryder.
Funny, during LBL the Eurosport chaps were saying what a good TTer Ryder was.....
EDIT s'pose it's all relative. He took 46s out of Purito over 28k last year. That puts him minutes behind Wiggins.
Eurosport innit. Riders characteristics change depending on race situation and level of excitement."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'"
@gietvangent0 -
How much fun must the Giro route-planning lunch be?
I'm picturing a messy table, perhaps under an awning on some sunny coastline, with a few maps and bottles of chianti strewn about...0 -
I would expect Nibali and Hejedal to be fairly evenly matched in the long TT, both will be at least a couple of minutes behind a top form Wiggins."I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)0
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Crozza wrote:How much fun must the Giro route-planning lunch be?
I'm picturing a messy table, perhaps under an awning on some sunny coastline, with a few maps and bottles of chianti strewn about...
THAT is a job to kill for...
Perhaps I'll see if there's any vacancies - I know Italy (a bit), I've followed pro cycling for 25-30 years, and I love maps. And I like Chianti.It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
At some other internet betting websites, you can get Wiggins at 2-1, and Nibali at 3-1 or 7-2.TheBigBean wrote:The odds. I haven't looked at the parcours, but Wiggins seems short.
B Wiggins 10/11
V Nibali 2/1
....
If you fancy Pozzovivo or Uran, or you’re a diehard fan of Di Luca, or you want to place a second bet on an outsider like Betancur, Ulissi, Cataldo, Kessiakoff or Tiralongo, you should place your bet with wherever BigBean got these odds from.
Those riders’ odds are all less at other betting sites, e.g. Tiralongo is just 50-1 on another website, but in BigBean’s list he’s at 250-1.0 -
Ryder looking very lean and relaxed and has been testing his legs powerfully over the past two weeks. He also hasn't shaved and has been wearing pink glasses.Contador is the Greatest0
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I like the time bonuses, even 20 secs. I think they bring an extra competitive and tactical element.Richmond Racer wrote:
I'd have to agree. On the very chunky side, that isALIHISGREAT wrote:
20 seconds isn't within good reason though..Rick Chasey wrote:
It's a good ( if perennial ) discussion. I prefer them, within reason.No tA Doctor wrote:I effing hate time bonuses. They've got no place in a GT.
(Had the bonus scheme for this year been used in the last Giro instead of the 2012 bonus scheme, Rodriguez would have been the Giro winner, not Hesjedal, by about 8 secs I think)0 -
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frenchfighter wrote:Ryder looking very lean and relaxed and has been testing his legs powerfully over the past two weeks. He also hasn't shaved and has been wearing pink glasses.
But pink Radarlocks with a fire path lens? As much as I like Hesjedal, it's a "fail" I'm afraid!0 -
Gazzetta did post a link to the official race handbook last year. Garibaldi.pdf I think. Anyway, I'll post the 2013 version up here if I find it anywhere.0
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No value in a Wiggins bet what so ever. Major favorite, mind, but has shown very little so far this season and preparations been troubled. If I was to put money on Sky I'd go with either Henao or Porte.0
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ThomThom wrote:No value in a Wiggins bet what so ever. Major favorite, mind, but has shown very little so far this season and preparations been troubled. If I was to put money on Sky I'd go with either Henao or Porte.
You'll certainly get long odds on Porte.
Not sure you could say that Wiggins preparations have been "troubled", albeit he hasn't been flying like he was last year."I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)0 -
He was on antibiotics for a saddle sore just a week ago.0
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Really looking forward to this, although the time bonuses will be bad news for Wiggins it will make it a more exiting race, seeing him actually having to try the other day was quite good!0
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Paul 8v wrote:Really looking forward to this, although the time bonuses will be bad news for Wiggins it will make it a more exiting race, seeing him actually having to try the other day was quite good!
Please, not an exiting race...he had one of those in 2011...
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Time bonuses do nothing except encourage riders to sit in and try and nick it at the end. They don't encourage agressive riding to try and take a chunk of time.
I dislike them enough on grounds of purity alone, but I don't think they add anything to a race.
BTW - there are time bonuses for the intermediate sprints as well.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:Paul 8v wrote:Really looking forward to this, although the time bonuses will be bad news for Wiggins it will make it a more exiting race, seeing him actually having to try the other day was quite good!
Please, not an exiting race...he had one of those in 2011...
If he has to work for it you'll get less people moaning about "lack of panache" or "the sky train" :-)0 -
