Giro d' Italia 2015

[Gen]

classy kid, already bust for drugs at age 19.

Noooit really?

[tombeej]

Can't imagine that Astana takes top 3 places at the end....

Something is fishy?

 

Couldn't agree more. Especially considering more than a few of the experienced grand tour riders are saying this year was the hardest first week they've ever had, and it's getting harder - not better. 

 

And all because Astana and Tinkoff have been hammering every day, esp. Astana. And the top of the GC is packed with their riders - like they're all on a level higher than everyone else.

 

It was so obvious to everyone in the know during the US Postal (not for the rest of us innocent plebs, has to be said). But now that we've been burnt once before, it's very understandable that people are being very cynical about what seems to be a serious case of deja vu.

 

If they keep this up through to the end of the Giro, then I will be 100% convinced they're not riding on bread and water.

 

So will everyone else with any common sense. 

[ScottCM]

I see our no2 @ the giro, Aru, has decided to sue Greg Henderson after his infamous tweet. Gonna be a battle of the chemists and bloodwork. The secret pro' has a bit to say from inside the peloton on that little drama as well over @ http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/05/the-secret-pro-aru-vs-henderson-the-giro-and-more/

 

Was it just me trying to work out the clues as to who he is?

Seasoned rider, No love for Astana, Didn't ride the tour last year but is in the Giro this year and will rider the tour too. Must be a domestique as he often only worries but making the cut off times.

[Gen]

Was it just me trying to work out the clues as to who he is?

Seasoned rider, No love for Astana, Didn't ride the tour last year but is in the Giro this year and will rider the tour too. Must be a domestique as he often only worries but making the cut off times.

And it's an aussie website.

[ScottCM]

Couldn't agree more. Especially considering more than a few of the experienced grand tour riders are saying this year was the hardest first week they've ever had, and it's getting harder - not better. 

 

And all because Astana and Tinkoff have been hammering every day, esp. Astana. And the top of the GC is packed with their riders - like they're all on a level higher than everyone else.

 

It was so obvious to everyone in the know during the US Postal (not for the rest of us innocent plebs, has to be said). But now that we've been burnt once before, it's very understandable that people are being very cynical about what seems to be a serious case of deja vu.

 

If they keep this up through to the end of the Giro, then I will be 100% convinced they're not riding on bread and water.

 

So will everyone else with any common sense. 

I still stand by my conspiracy theory that the reason why it was mostly young "B" team riders in the Astana camp that got caught doping is so that the "A" team could micro dose and cheat the bio - logical passport without being bust.

[tombeej]

From 1996 through 2004 the US Postal Team was nicknamed the "Blue Train".

 

[tombeej]

And now the 2015 'Blue Train'

 

[Gen]

Right.. I will most probably not be around at 20km to go,to pick my not favourite person for the stage... I am sommer going to commit now. . I reckon this could maybe be an opportunist stage.. I am going for a way way outsider... Paolini..

[tombeej]

I'm going to get crucified by the 'Berto fan club on this thread, but we've also been witnessing the Yellow Train every day.

 

Two teams dominating the entire peloton, where the other teams are saying they're struggling just to stay with the main pack even on the 'flattish' stages, and we haven't even reached week 3 and the big mountains yet....

 

Denigrating the 'Skyborgs' has become a bit of a sport for some. But it doesn't sit comfortably with me because the same people don't seem to be asking any questions of these blue and yellow trains. And it's been a long time since I've seen a whole Sky team driving the front of a peloton. Years in fact.

 

Just my humble opinion, but the AC fan club are acting very much like the LA fan club did in the early 2000's.

 

 

[Gen]

I'm going to get crucified by the 'Berto fan club on this thread, but we've also been witnessing the Yellow Train every day.

 

Two teams dominating the entire peloton, where the other teams are saying they're struggling just to stay with the main pack even on the 'flattish' stages, and we haven't even reached week 3 and the big mountains yet....

 

Denigrating the 'Skyborgs' has become a bit of a sport for some. But it doesn't sit comfortably with me because the same people don't seem to be asking any questions of these blue and yellow trains. And it's been a long time since I've seen a whole Sky team driving the front of a peloton. Years in fact.

 

Just my humble opinion, but the AC fan club are acting very much like the LA fan club did in the early 2000's.

It's very true. These colourful trains are a worry.

 

 

But I wouldn't say that the sky express hasn't been around though.

[Cav']

Ok.

 

Missed all of the Giro up to date (due to having a serious case of the Flu and being at Sani2C)

So had to watch the extended highlights for all 11 stages and read every post in this thread (took me over 2.5 hours to catch up)

 

- Very pleased with AC performance so far.

- Also don't see how so many Astana riders can be in the top 5.

- Pity about Porte as I like him, if it was Froome I wouldn't care at all.

- I don't see Aru losing time in the ITT

- Expect a lot of GC attacks on stage 15/19/20

 

I might have missed 11 good stages, but there's 10 even better ones to come.

http://41.media.tumblr.com/b6cc7a4115cdd487e97e5b869de361d5/tumblr_nonwfh7kEB1ropreyo1_500.jpg

[tombeej]

It's very true. These colourful trains are a worry.

 

 

But I wouldn't say that the sky express hasn't been around though.

 

They are there, but more in the background these days. It's been some time since we've seen a Skyborg train on the front of a grand tour. In the big mountains you'll see Froome with maybe 2 riders left to take him up a summit finish. Not his entire team. This Giro all they've been able to do is tag along behind the other two.

 

Siutsou and Kiryienka both have reputations for being incredibly powerful riders. Kiryienka ('Robocop') has podiumed at the TT World Champs. I've seen them both do massive pulls on hard stages for their team leaders. But this year they're getting dropped well before the end of a stage because they can't keep up. Yes, I know their job is to do the big pulls for Ritchie and then drop off before the end of a stage when they finally blow, but they're not even riding in the wind at the moment - they're not keeping up even though they've been riding in the bunch. I've heard nothing about sickness from Sky so that can't be a reason. 

 

A team like Astana rides on the front the whole day, riding world class riders right off their wheels. And then they still have enough in the tank to have multiple riders go on big attacks at the end to win stages.

[Cav']

Todays stage:

 

The stage is likely to come to down to some form of sprint finish on top of the Monte Berico. At approximately 1km in length and with an average gradient of nice per cent, it is comparable to finishes at the Ardennes Classics - and anyone capable of winning Amstel Gold or Flèche Wallonne will fancy their chances.

 

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/Giroditalia/2015/images/tappa/tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_12.jpg

 

['Dale]

Todays stage:

 

The stage is likely to come to down to some form of sprint finish on top of the Monte Berico. At approximately 1km in length and with an average gradient of nice per cent, it is comparable to finishes at the Ardennes Classics - and anyone capable of winning Amstel Gold or Flèche Wallonne will fancy their chances.

 

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/Giroditalia/2015/images/tappa/tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_12.jpg

 

 

 

Puncheur time

1 km at 7% to the white chalk

 

Ulissi definitely the favourite hey

Maybe Gerro' has some better legs now, depends who OGE pegs as their nr 1 for the day

I am hoping for PhilGil to make it count

[_C50_]

I'm going to get crucified by the 'Berto fan club on this thread, but we've also been witnessing the Yellow Train every day.

 

Two teams dominating the entire peloton, where the other teams are saying they're struggling just to stay with the main pack even on the 'flattish' stages, and we haven't even reached week 3 and the big mountains yet....

 

Denigrating the 'Skyborgs' has become a bit of a sport for some. But it doesn't sit comfortably with me because the same people don't seem to be asking any questions of these blue and yellow trains. And it's been a long time since I've seen a whole Sky team driving the front of a peloton. Years in fact.

 

Just my humble opinion, but the AC fan club are acting very much like the LA fan club did in the early 2000's.

 

Only difference is that by the time they hit the climbs all of the Tinkoff riders (or most of them) are off the back, after doing all the hard work. The Astana team on the other hand...    

[Cav']

Puncheur time

1 km at 7% to the white chalk

 

Ulissi definitely the favourite hey

Maybe Gerro' has some better legs now, depends who OGE pegs as their nr 1 for the day

I am hoping for PhilGil to make it count

Yup hoping Gil or Betancur