Giro d'Italia 2012

[Bianchisti]

Here, GOG

 

Bernhard Eisel, Juan Antonio Flecha, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas, Sergio Henao, Rigoberto Urán and Peter Kennaugh, Cav

 

Wonder what their strategy will be. Last year Cav took a few stages, and dropped out when they hit the mountains, no doubt shaking in his Sidi's (if thats what he wears) moaning and itching something about preparing for the Tour.

[Christie]

Kloden or Horner would have a good shot if they ride.

[petatodd]

Kloden or Horner would have a good shot if they ride.

They are both waaaay too old to be anything other than domestiques, JB's take over of Leopard has really backfired so far this season. The Leopard guys are crashing out and he is left with his RS old age pensioners.

 

And then there are the rumours of the Schlecks not getting on with him. Not hard to imagine being true.

 

Grumpy is too kind. JB is a throwback to the days of anything goes in cycling and without that "anything" he is clutching at straws. The team he put together at RS (prior to Leopard merger) was made up of yesterday's men, not the new generation.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Contenders?

 

Scarponi would fancy his chances of "defending" his title, with few big names in the field.

Basso leading Liquigas, he could be a factor, but imo he won't podium if he tries to ride clean.

Frank Schleck is to lead Nissan, he could be a contender if he leaves his issues at home and races with determination. But I don't think his heart will be in the race.

Perhaps one of the Spanish climbers - Sanchez or Rodrigues?

 

I dunno Christie, Scarponi is a great mountain goat, and he can TT a lot better than Rodriguez, Sanchez is a possibility I guess but he hasn't really looked convincing to me, Lampre is looking the strongest to me so far, Cunego is in great form and I think he will almost certainly take a stage and then help Scarponi, Frank as you say could be a contender, but I agree, his mind wont be there and I think going hard here pretty much will kill his chances of assisting Andy much in the TDF.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

AdH is all of 15km with 18 switchbacks, the Passo dello Stelvio is 22,3km with 46 swithcbacks - sure I have all the Garmin info somewhere. Passo dello Stelvio is also the second highest tar road in Europe, and peaks at about 2650m. The AdH finish is at 1860.

 

Are they climbing it form that side GoG - the Swiss side?

 

Yeah agreed Bontjie, the Stelvio is a lot harder than the ADH and as far as I can ascertain this will finish on the absolute summit, so no respite at all and coming on the second last day there will be some very tired bodies to boot.

 

"The 2012 Giro d'Italia penultimate stage will climb the famous Passo dello Stelvio (via the Bormio side) for the first time since 2005 and will finish at the summit for the first time in the history of the event"

['Dale]

When I look at that valley I wonder what forces of nature formed its gouged out profile.... one almighty glacier?

 

Tankman had a pic earlier on another thread with that valley cast in snow...

Awesome!

['Dale]

Nice images...

Wow!

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Colle delle Finestre: Italy

 

Yeah, another climb that put the Giro in the History books when Simoni, Di Luca and Rujano fought it out on the slopes, untarred, devoid of vegetation, thousands of spectators and three great climbers - this is what makes the Giro special.

[nochain]

 

 

I dunno Christie, Scarponi is a great mountain goat, and he can TT a lot better than Rodriguez, Sanchez is a possibility I guess but he hasn't really looked convincing to me, Lampre is looking the strongest to me so far, Cunego is in great form and I think he will almost certainly take a stage and then help Scarponi, Frank as you say could be a contender, but I agree, his mind wont be there and I think going hard here pretty much will kill his chances of assisting Andy much in the TDF.

I really hope Sanchez will be riding?He might be a outsider,if riding the Giro was part of hes plans then i think he will be good.

Also think Scarponi will be the one to beat and i am hoping Frank will be up there fighting for the win.Will make the race more interesting if Sanchez,Rodriguez and Frank goes well in the mountains.

Also don't understand LG not taking Nibs,he is in great form at the moment and Basso is not looking good at all!!Basso stuggled big time yesterday with the uphill TT in Romandie and he really should be close to top form right now if he wants to win the Giro.

I think the problem might be Nibs looks like he wants the TDF this year so LG planned It this way and now Basso is not up to standard.

Can't wait for the race to start!!

[Lucky Luke.]

5900m ascent over 218km on the penultimate stage with a good chance of snow - insane. I wonder what the vertical ascent record is for a grand tour stage? This must be close and comes at the very end of 3 weeks of racing.

['Dale]

5900m ascent over 218km on the penultimate stage with a good chance of snow - insane. I wonder what the vertical ascent record is for a grand tour stage? This must be close and comes at the very end of 3 weeks of racing.

 

Checkit out... the final week.

Anyone's GC until the last few stages.

 

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/zoom/G2012_alt_generale_03.jpg?v=20120420144634

['Dale]

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_21.jpg?v=%3C!--%20%5Ban%20error%20occurred%20while%20processing%20this%20directive%5D%20%20--%3E

 

The final stage is TT.

Great finale!

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I really hope Sanchez will be riding?He might be a outsider,if riding the Giro was part of hes plans then i think he will be good.

Also think Scarponi will be the one to beat and i am hoping Frank will be up there fighting for the win.Will make the race more interesting if Sanchez,Rodriguez and Frank goes well in the mountains.

Also don't understand LG not taking Nibs,he is in great form at the moment and Basso is not looking good at all!!Basso stuggled big time yesterday with the uphill TT in Romandie and he really should be close to top form right now if he wants to win the Giro.

I think the problem might be Nibs looks like he wants the TDF this year so LG planned It this way and now Basso is not up to standard.

Can't wait for the race to start!!

 

Yeah, I agree, it looks like it. I think Nibs would have done better to take a Giro win or certainly a podium, over a "possible" (and in my opinion a pretty uncertain) podium at the TDF.

['Dale]

 

Also don't understand LG not taking Nibs,he is in great form at the moment and Basso is not looking good at all!!Basso stuggled big time yesterday with the uphill TT in Romandie and he really should be close to top form right now if he wants to win the Giro.

I think the problem might be Nibs looks like he wants the TDF this year so LG planned It this way and now Basso is not up to standard.

Can't wait for the race to start!!

 

It is a bit of a personnel management challenge for LeakyGas.

No one else is a contender for the GC at TdF, but Nibs.

 

So, holding thumbs, let's see what 2010 Giro winner Basso can muster.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_21.jpg?v=%3C!--%20%5Ban%20error%20occurred%20while%20processing%20this%20directive%5D%20%20--%3E

 

The final stage is TT.

Great finale!

 

Indeed, there's no loafing around and drinking champagne on the final day of the Giro, its business as usual, and could be the deciding day if there are small time gaps.

['Dale]

Indeed, there's no loafing around and drinking champagne on the final day of the Giro, its business as usual, and could be the deciding day if there are small time gaps.

 

Makes it thrilling to watch.

 

Those that are still "lacking form" can also ride themselves into form until the final week.

3 weeks is a long time in cycling.