Road Bike Racing - Giro d'Italia

Who does everyone think will win the Giro and what stage does everyone think Cipollini will set the record (if at all of course)?

Simoni and Cipo ties the record on day #1

Originally posted by easyrider
Simoni and Cipo ties the record on day #1

Those were the exact results that I expect as well. Anyone predict something else? It could be a while before the Lion King breaks the record (assuming he wins the opening stage) because of all the mountain stages introduced this year. Any thoughts about how that will affect if Cipo breaks the record? (assuming again of course, that he ties the record in the first stage as everyone seems to predict, even the race organizers)??

An Italian will win! ;) How's that for going out on a limb?

I'm bummed out that Quaranta is not doing the giro, he's a great sprinter and easy on the eyes! Apparenlty he's not up for it, probably they'll save him for the giro.

It's a safe bet that Cipo breaks the record and then some. My money is on simoni, but they say watch out for Gonzales.

Originally posted by wabbit
I'm bummed out that Quaranta is not doing the giro, he's a great sprinter and easy on the eyes! Apparenlty he's not up for it, probably they'll save him for the giro.

It's a safe bet that Cipo breaks the record and then some. My money is on simoni, but they say watch out for Gonzales.

Agreed! Tiger in the bushes - waiting to pounce!

Aww ok, I admit it, GO CIPO!!
(He'll surpass 43 stage wins in stage 9).

Aitor will win the giro in the time trials, Cipo will break the record by stage 5.

I'm rooting for Stefano Garzelli :D ...he was kicking ass last year until his sudden suspension...

Buuut, I think Fassa Bortolo will have a very strong team with Gonzalez and Frigo...I'm not sure Aitor is in form enough to climb with the best though...

Should be exciting though...I can't wait for the hours of coverage :D

I think cipo will take the opening stage, its like him to get the big spot light, will be fun to watch!

I was reading that the organizing committee changed the first stage lay out to make it a flatter stage. They are hoping that Cipo wins it for more publicity.

I honestly couldn't help but laugh when I saw Pantani leading the field with a grin on his face. That evil man :D

ok, I'm a late entry but here goes.
I like Garzelli, the way he pip'd all the sprinters
today was brilliant.
Cipo ties binda in stage 6
gets 42 in stage 8
gets 43 in stage 11
if he drags his butt across the dolomites
he gets number 44 in Milano.

oh yeah, Robbie McEwan gets the bloody jersey
for most combative :lol:

marty

Hahah... McEwen really has nerves of steel. Sprinting really is not for the nervous. However, he's going to have to eventually try to win without being dirty!

Ive gotta say, those finishes are stressful. All that josseling around to get a good position. I know its asking a lot of OLN , but it would be great to be able to hear the news conferences after the race. Phil kept jazzin up the move that Pantani made with his team and how Cipo was going to have some choice words, well - lets hear those words. The only times I see these riders is when there riding, I would love to get some after stage feedback.

My bet is for Simoni to win. He can climb and TT with the best. Aitor is good but I don't think his form is up- no racing in his legs for a long time.
Garzelli is excellent and if he can get away on the mountains, maybe he has a shot but he can't TT and you aren't going to make alot, if any, time on Simoni in the mountains.

I'm glad Petacchi is maglia rosa. He is Cipo's successor- not the pure sprinter but more like Friere. Anyway, he's the fastest Italian in my book.

Simoni can TT with the Best!?!?!? Garzelli will lose time to Simoni in the TT's!?!?!?

Ummmmm... I think not. Do you remember the final TT in 2000?

I'm not suggesting that Garzelli can TT that well, but let's face it, Simoni certainly can't either.

- Maurizio

Stage 4: Marco Pantani finishes 9th
:eek:
Surely a misprint!

I'm going to save this message so I can laugh at you after the Giro is over :D


Originally posted by Maurizio
Simoni can TT with the Best!?!?!? Garzelli will lose time to Simoni in the TT's!?!?!?

Ummmmm... I think not. Do you remember the final TT in 2000?

I'm not suggesting that Garzelli can TT that well, but let's face it, Simoni certainly can't either.

- Maurizio

Originally posted by roadbuzz
Stage 4: Marco Pantani finishes 9th
:eek:
Surely a misprint!

Yeah on stage 2 (I think?) when I checked the results on the website, I thought it said Pantani finished last, 25 minutes behind the field... but I looked back later and noticed I read the name wrongly :funone:

It's the Giro. Anything's possible. :rolleyes:

That's why the Giro is my favorite of the grand tours. It's not dominated by one person- almost no one ever wins the giro more than once, and there aren't five time consecutive winners like the Tour. And it's less of a circus, it's more fun- and then there's the incredible italian scenery.

Originally posted by wabbit
That's why the Giro is my favorite of the grand tours. It's not dominated by one person- almost no one ever wins the giro more than once, and there aren't five time consecutive winners like the Tour. And it's less of a circus, it's more fun- and then there's the incredible italian scenery.

Well, there are no five-time champs in large part because winning it once establishes a rider as a TdF threat and their team changes their structure (season goals). Salvodelli, for example, didn't bother to try to defend his title because winning once enabled him to sign a lucrative contract and focus on the TdF with his new team.

As Beloki said, it's better to finish second in the TdF than to win the Vuelta. The same applies to the Giro. This attitude has been noted as a threat to the sport as a whole by more than one "big name" but at the moment it is simply a fact.

I, too, greatly enjoy the event but I wish that the three grand tours each had the status of the TdF.

That's great easyrider.
A real triple crown of grand tours and other excellent races such as Langkawi could grow to a higher uci status.
It would be great for cycling globally.

Cipo is getting more and more problems to tie Alfredo Binda´s record of 41 stage wins. What´s wrong with him ? Did the Lion King lose his claws ?

Originally posted by Piratello
Cipo is getting more and more problems to tie Alfredo Binda´s record of 41 stage wins. What´s wrong with him ? Did the Lion King lose his claws ?
I've kind of been thinking the same thing. Cipo just doesn't
seem to have it this year. I'm guessing he retires soon,
passing the mantle of best sprinter to Petacchi.
but I'm sure gonna miss him when he is gone,
the rolled up sleeves and legs of his shorts was a hoot.

Marty

Wow, Ive watched all the stages so far, Cipo is making me sad. I wish he would have won the first stage, Im getting emotionally tired watching him struggle in the climbs. His team seems strong, but their just flat out dragging him up those climbs with no success. McEwen was impressive Tuesday.

or is it the famous bad luck of the rainbow-jersey ?
Almost every world-champion had a lousy year after his triumph.

I thought Cipo had todays stage when he forced Pettachi to lead going down the stretch. I was surprised when he beaten to the line. Now the question is when Cipo will leave the race. The one thing all would have to admit is that he is not a graceful loser.

Wow, I thought today was more of a mountain stage, or so Phil sort of said Tuesday. So I was thinking that Cipo was going to fall way back, whats up with him getting to the front at the end?

Originally posted by georgesnatcher
I thought Cipo had todays stage when he forced Pettachi to lead going down the stretch.

Me too!

Perhaps Super Mario is showing his age? Perhaps it's the curse of the rainbow jersey? Perhaps everyone else has gotten a bit better?

I dunno the answer, but I can't wait to see more! :D

Pettachi is just riding great. I've been a big fan of his since his ride in Paris-Tours 2000.
He's not a pure sprinter so it's great to see him right there with Cipo and McEwen.

About the stage today (5)... with that crash, I thought all time gaps would be void? Or is that just in the Tour? I thought I remember some rule about the field being set at equal gaps within 5km to go in case of a crash or something like that.

According to what I heard on the broadcast the limit in the Giro is the last kilometer.

Originally posted by georgesnatcher
According to what I heard on the broadcast the limit in the Giro is the last kilometer.

Aye, thats what it was. Thanks

It's pretty neat to see Pantani in 11th place. He's really doing well at his comeback. I don't think he'll win, but it's an impressive show for him, especially after last year. He was waaaaay back and then he bailed and everyone was writing him off! We'll see how he does in the mountains. It would be great if he won a stage.

Originally posted by wabbit
It's pretty neat to see Pantani in 11th place. He's really doing well at his comeback.
It's gotta be the aero ears.

Cipo? Call it the curse of the jersey... I think it's mostly that he's now a totally marked man. The jersey and the record... The other riders/teams aren't just trying to beat him, they're riding against him. Condition, focus, age, etc. may be factors, but that situation is pretty tough to beat, in any case. When he gets it (and he will), it'll mean that much more... it sure wasn't a gimme.

Originally posted by roadbuzz
Cipo? Call it the curse of the jersey... I think it's mostly that he's now a totally marked man. The jersey and the record... The other riders/teams aren't just trying to beat him, they're riding against him. Condition, focus, age, etc. may be factors, but that situation is pretty tough to beat, in any case. When he gets it (and he will), it'll mean that much more... it sure wasn't a gimme.

perhaps, but what happened in todays stage(6)?
Cipo sat up?! and didn't contest the sprint? or he didn't have it in him to contest.... :rolleyes:

It's going to be a tough giro for super mario

I wonder. Is he really toast (mentally & physically), or is he sandbagging?
Remember the TdF a couple of years ago, a climb where Lance gave every impression of suffering? Then went on to win the stage. He should have gotten an Oscar. I think it's an act. Cipo didn't get where he is by giving up when the chips (Cips?) were down.

Regardless, it will be a tough Giro and a tough year for super mario.

No. That was no act. What would he gain? He loses a chance at a tie for the all-time record and heads into the mountains only hoping to make it through to compete later. If he could have competed today he certainly would have. According to his post race interview he just didn't have anything in his legs.

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
perhaps, but what happened in todays stage(6)?
Cipo sat up?! and didn't contest the sprint? or he didn't have it in him to contest.... :rolleyes:


I would say that by the time he really needed to go, he knew he already lost, so he didn't even bother trying.

Lombardi was prolly really frusturated. Honestly... maybe if Cipo and the gang lead out Lombardi, Lombardi woulda won it ;)

Mountaintop tomorrah. This will be sweet. :D (Ive been waiting for months)

I keep wondering if maybe Cipo is suffering from the "rainbow jersey of doom" syndrome. He really had such a great year last year, and started out the season well, winning stages in the tour of the med. I doubt he'll just give up. He is one determined guy. And I can't imagine him bailing, while wearing the rainbow jersey.

Originally posted by easyrider
No. That was no act. What would he gain?
I dunno whether it was an act or not. Remember, he couldn't give a r/a about the GC. If the other riders decide he's no longer a player, they stop marking him so closely, and boom, he pulls off a win.

Originally posted by roadbuzz
I dunno whether it was an act or not. Remember, he couldn't give a r/a about the GC. If the other riders decide he's no longer a player, they stop marking him so closely, and boom, he pulls off a win.

If it was an act why would his team bother to show off their form?
He had his best chance yesturday. He could have pulled off a win if he had the legs, whether they were marking him or not.

Originally posted by roadbuzz
I dunno whether it was an act or not. Remember, he couldn't give a r/a about the GC. If the other riders decide he's no longer a player, they stop marking him so closely, and boom, he pulls off a win.

I am well aware that he doesn't care about GC (although the winner of stage one led the GC and wore the Maglia Rosa and he had stated that was a goal).

Further, the other riders will not decide, at any point on any flat stage in the Giro, that Cipo is no longer a player.

Finally, he wins field sprints. Being marked is a part of his life in the sport. He wins despite other riders fighting tooth and nail to get on his wheel. His train is designed to accelerate the pace to the point that nobody on his wheel can come around him in the final meters. He was won 40 Giro stages while being closely marked. Getting riders to stop marking him is not a part of the plan. Breakaway artists can be marked out of a race. Sprinters can't.

He got 41 today!! (may 18)

Velonews has the story...Cipo wins (http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/3928.0.html)

And I think that it is great. To tie a record that old... what an accomplishment. We all may die at a ripe old age and Cipo may still hold this record.

Watching that train lead him out at the end there... It was a work of art. That's what makes him and his boys famous. Way to go Cipo!

I was watching the telecast on OLN and coming down the stretch it was amazing watch his team set him up. At the end though I was worried that McEwan was going to edge him out. The next couple of stages should suit Cipo's style and hopefully he can break the record. No matter what Cipo does though Binda's record is still amazing. 41 stages in 7 Giro's is beyond belief. It has taken Cipo 12 Giro's to get his 41.

Yes, indeed. You name it.
Binda (years 1925-1933) was a league of his own...
But Cipo admitted that Binda is still one of the most outstanding riders ever, even if he should break his record now.

Again, Cipo's lead-out guy was smart enough to let McEwen go out for just a second or two and then release Cipo. McEwen was then ahead for a couple of seconds, but when Cipo hit he was fully charged. It was that little bit of strategy that ultimately put him ahead.