"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Giro Stage 18 results

Cunego wins Stage 18 with Simoni in fourth place on the stage, he moves up to third overall. I wonder what's with Simoni. Age? His form wasn't so great at the beginning of the season, due to the weather he says. Who knows.

One more difficult mountain stage tomorrow, I don't think Cunego will have any problem at all. He was clearly dominating today.

Sort of a lackluster day, due to the lack of challengers out there. Saeco knew that they could just play defense, and the race was slowed because of it.

Similar tactic... Simoni attacked, while Cunego just played defense. I think he showed how good he is, with the way he paced the leaders over the last couple of kilometers, and finished with an incredible sprint. It was a good thing he didn't just try to play for Simoni in the sprint, because he finished 10 seconds behind! What an acceleration.

I had to sympathize with his trouble on the champeigne bottle.

Sort of a lackluster day, due to the lack of challengers out there.

I was thinking the same thing to myself as I was watching the climb up the Gavia pass and the final climb in Bormio. Liggett kept talking about the "big boys" of the Giro coming out to play in the Giro, and I thought to myself how ironic that was. Most (all?) of the "big boys" in the Giro don't even have what it takes to make top ten in the Tour.

Cunego wins Stage 18 with Simoni in fourth place on the stage, he moves up to third overall. I wonder what's with Simoni. Age?

Ah, he must be saving himself to dominate Armstrong in the mountains of the TdF this year! :D

That must be it, bac. Just like last year.

By the look of Simoni's attacks on stages 16 and 18, I don't think he is saving much. He looked to be on the limit, moreso than Cunego.

Simoni is late coming into form this year, obviously for the TDF. As for the stupid cracks about his TDF performance, that was his SECOND grand tour in one year!

Simoni would be dominant but it was tactical. Cuengo could go off ahead on his own while Popovych made the mistake of sitting with Gibo. No one would let Gibo go so Cuengo is in the lead because of the freedom to attack given by Gibo's presence.

Cuengo has this wrapped up. Gibo knows it. It will be an intersting few days for Gonchar and the other GC boys though for 2nd and 3rd

RacerX - do you honestly thing Simoni will be a serious threat against Lance, Ullrich, Mayo, Tyler and the like? Let's be serious here. Simoni is a great rider and he is my favorite Italian rider, but he doesn't have what it takes to compete against the guys I mentioned.

Let's be serious here. Simoni is a great rider...but he doesn't have what it takes to compete against the guys I mentioned.

Ok, Devil, let's be serious. You play Devil's advocate. Why doesn't he have what it takes?

Ok, let's be serious. Why doesn't he have what it takes?

Better drug controls



Simoni would be dominant but it was tactical.

Does that explain why he didn't have the gas on stages 16 and 18?

Simoni would be dominant but it was tactical.

You sound Italian. :D

Better drug controls



:rolleyes: gee, you're so clever.

RacerX - do you honestly thing Simoni will be a serious threat against Lance, Ullrich, Mayo, Tyler and the like? Let's be serious here.

???WHo said that?
I said he was late coming into form in preperation for the TDF. Don't put words into my mouth.

don d. - he would lose far too much time in the time trials to be able to compete for a top spot in the GC. I'd say he'd be in the top 10 GC (I take back what I said earlier about the big boys - but only Simoni). Alpe d'Huez might suit him well, but today he couldn't even gap Emanuele Sella.

Racer X - With your stupid crack about my stupid crack regarding Simoni's performance in the Tour last year, I took it to mean you think he will have a better chance this year, in addition to your comment about his coming late into form for the Tour.

don d. - he would lose far too much time in the time trials to be able to compete for a top spot in the GC.

That is true. He got hammered into road kill in both the TDF ITT's by the riders you mentioned.

Plus, he hasn't shown that he can be consistent in the high mountains of the TDF day in day out, which was the downfall of much greater riders than Simoni, namely Jalabert and Kelly.

:rolleyes: gee, you're so clever.

I wasn't trying to be.
I'm saying that Simoni can't win the Giro and Tour in the same year.
Lance, Ullrich, Mayo, Tyler, etc, are all preparing for the TDF in particular.
Simoni is racing the Giro.

Racer X - With your stupid crack about my stupid crack regarding Simoni's performance in the Tour last year, I took it to mean you think he will have a better chance this year, in addition to your comment about his coming late into form for the Tour.

Uh yeah, he will have a better chance this year and will be better prepared for the TDF because he is later coming into form. That's what I said.

You're the one making assumptions that I said he was some Lance-beater. I never said anything like that.

That is what you said, and I disagreed with it and explained why. Nothing more.

Simoni is late coming into form this year, obviously for the TDF.

From this not so informed observer's seat, it does appear to me that Simoni is keeping it out of the red zone this year at the Giro. He's riding very cautiously and one could read into his performance that he is saving it for the TDF. He may have made a trade with Cunego for Cunego's cooperation in the TDF, but I think that would be a bad trade, since I don't see Simoni having much of a chance for a podium finish in the TDF and, at least to me, a victory in the Giro would seem to be worth more to him than a third in the TDF, and definitely worth more than a 5-10 placing, which is the best I can envision for him.

Stepping aside from the Smoni debate I'll state that I'm quite impressed with young Cunego.

The Giro is not the TdF and this probably isn't a real strong Giro but it is a 3 week GT and Cunego is displaying real potential. Obviously, if Lance is dethroned in July it won't be by Cunego but he's only 22 and on a strong team. The future looks bright and the tifosi may be smiling in a few years.

Cunego is riding a fabulous race espacially for his age. We will certainly see more of this young star. Simoni clearly doesn't have the form right now, he's riding ok but doesn't have the zip in his legs which was evidant today. He attacked and the group brought him back because he didn't have the legs to stay away. When Cunego attacked at the end Simoni tried to jump with him but again he didn't have the legs. I think he will come into better form for the TDF, but top 3? Nevertheless, this years tour is building to be an incredible event. I just hope Ullrich & Beloki hit form soon.

Beloki? He can't even stay pace with the peloton in a div 3 race much less the TDF! Beloki is finished before he started, maybe next year.

I think Simoni can do great things in the TDF but he can't TT so that's why he will be out of the GC podium. Some stage wins (a mountain stage win against Armstrong) and a top 5 GC would be a real success for him.
Simoni and Armstrong ride the mountains the same way so seeing them battle will be worth it. It will go down as one of the great cycling moments- that's why we need Simoni in prime condition!

From cyclingnews.com


""After the stage finished, Simoni turned around and rode down the mountain to the team bus without talking to anyone, a with a sour, angry look on his face.

As Simoni passed by Cunego, who was surrounded by journalists, Gibo pointed his finger at the 22 year old Maglia Rosa and angrily said "You're a bastard...you are really stupid.""

It seems that Simoni, who really wanted to win the stage was peeved for two reasons. After the chase group caught him on the ascent of Bormio, Cunego rode too hard of a rhythm, which took whatever remaining "juice" out of Simoni's legs there was.

Then Simoni thought that Cunego didn't do a very good job of leading him out, and then further humiliated the proud mountain man by sprinting away for the stage win.

After the stage, Simoni and his wife left the team hotel and went for a walk after dinner, which is when Cunego then came down to the dining room."

Wow. I can't say I'm surprised, honestly.

[QUOTE=RacerX]Beloki? He can't even stay pace with the peloton in a div 3 race much less the TDF! Beloki is finished before he started, maybe next year.

You're right, which is a shame. I think he would have been fabulous in the mountains. I would have liked to have seen him in good form for the Tour but his time is running out. That crash last year really screwed him up.

..and what's with Ullrich, is he gonna ride ANY races before the Tour?

From cyclingnews.com


""After the stage finished, Simoni turned around and rode down the mountain to the team bus without talking to anyone, a with a sour, angry look on his face.

As Simoni passed by Cunego, who was surrounded by journalists, Gibo pointed his finger at the 22 year old Maglia Rosa and angrily said "You're a bastard...you are really stupid.""

It seems that Simoni, who really wanted to win the stage was peeved for two reasons. After the chase group caught him on the ascent of Bormio, Cunego rode too hard of a rhythm, which took whatever remaining "juice" out of Simoni's legs there was.

Then Simoni thought that Cunego didn't do a very good job of leading him out, and then further humiliated the proud mountain man by sprinting away for the stage win.

After the stage, Simoni and his wife left the team hotel and went for a walk after dinner, which is when Cunego then came down to the dining room."

Where did you find this at Cyclingnews.com? Could you post a link to the article? Thx.

Where did you find this at Cyclingnews.com? Could you post a link to the article? Thx.


It was in the paragraph at the beginning of the live coverage this morning.

[QUOTE=RacerX]
..and what's with Ullrich, is he gonna ride ANY races before the Tour?

I believe he started LBL but abandoned midrace.

Ullrich finished 5th either today or yesterday in a prep race for the Tour of Germany. He rode off the front of the main group in pursuit of the break, so he looked good.

see article on TEAG race at Cyclingnews.com

..and what's with Ullrich, is he gonna ride ANY races before the Tour?
To further hijack a Giro thread...

Ullrich raced today (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2004/may04/hainleite04) in Germany.

(Don D - the Cunego to my Simoni - beat me to it. Never mind. :))

(Don D - the Cunego to my Simoni :))

In my dreams! :)

Hahaha... boo hoo.

Glad I read this. I was at that stage, albeit at the beginning of the stage. I opened up the Italian newspaper and vaguely made out Simoni calling Cunego a bastard and idiot, and something about... retirement? And something about being "infuriated".

Apparently, the Italians aren't too impressed with Cunago here- they say that he's a fly by night and prefer their champions. At least, that was the impression when I was waiting on the train platform randomly talking to Italians as we waited for the train to take us back home.

Somehow, I get the feeling they're right... This is not the strongest representation of teams, and I'm sure the teams in the Tour de France will be much stronger and much more of a challenge for this young dude. This seems more like a fluke than anything to me.

Koffee

P.S. I just left the end of the Giro too, and that was da bomb too- Cunego still doesn't know how to open a champaigne bottle! :) ;) Now Petacchi won the stage, and he sure can open a bottle in style! He needs to give Cunego a few lessons on how to do it right and with class AND still spray the audience too! ;) :D

Koffee

Does anyone have any idea what song that is, that OLNtv has played throughout their Giro coverage? (the music at the start/end)

I like that song too. The only song I'm familiar with that they played sometimes when coming back from commercials is "O Fortuna" by Carl Orff.

Koffee - I think it's too early to tell if Cunego's win was a fluke OR if he's the next Lance Armstrong.

By the way, people called Lance's '99 win at the Tour a fluke too, as there were no real challengers there - notably Pantani and Ullrich. And then look what happened in 2000 (and 2001, 2002, 2003).

P.S. I just left the end of the Giro too, and that was da bomb too- Cunego still doesn't know how to open a champaigne bottle! :) ;) Now Petacchi won the stage, and he sure can open a bottle in style! He needs to give Cunego a few lessons on how to do it right and with class AND still spray the audience too! ;) :D

Koffee

I think Cunego is going to get plenty of practice in the years to come... A pretty impressive Giro for a 22 yr old.

Somehow, I get the feeling they're right... This is not the strongest representation of teams, and I'm sure the teams in the Tour de France will be much stronger and much more of a challenge for this young dude. This seems more like a fluke than anything to me.


I think it is as much and as little of a fluke win as the Giro d'Italia is in itself.
He did plenty of work for his 'team leader', and fought hard for this win, against the best Italians.
It's true that much of his victory goes to the stage where he attacked and nowone did anything about it. But that is the Italian competition, I guess.
The best of Italy... but I don't know if it's much more than that.

I think he has the talent and potential to be the best rider in the world.

I think he has the talent and potential to be the best rider in the world.

I think so too. And that is based on how fast he can finish a race. He looks like a good road sprinter. I wouldn't be surprised to see LBL on this guy's palmares in the not so distant future. If he masters the time trial, watch out.

All the tifosi will be singing, "...don't you love him madly...". :)

Glad I read this. I was at that stage, albeit at the beginning of the stage. I opened up the Italian newspaper and vaguely made out Simoni calling Cunego a bastard and idiot, and something about... retirement? And something about being "infuriated".

Apparently, the Italians aren't too impressed with Cunago here- they say that he's a fly by night and prefer their champions. At least, that was the impression when I was waiting on the train platform randomly talking to Italians as we waited for the train to take us back home.

Somehow, I get the feeling they're right... This is not the strongest representation of teams, and I'm sure the teams in the Tour de France will be much stronger and much more of a challenge for this young dude. This seems more like a fluke than anything to me.

Koffee


The Fluke..........(from cyclingnews.com)


"In 1997, at 15 years old, he started to race in the Gaiga-Goretex team in Verona and won 12 races his first year, including the uphill time trial on the Colle Gallo in Casazza. Cunego had the fastest time of all riders, including junior riders three years older and far more experienced.

In the Italian "allievi" (young juniors) championship, Cunego was 2nd behind Filippo Pozzato. The next year in the Junior category, Cunego took eight wins, followed by seven wins in 1999, including the Junior World Championship in Verona. After his success in Verona, Mercatone Uno director Giuseppe Martinelli had Cunego sign a "pre-contract" that would provide him with a pro deal in two years, but meanwhile, Damiano would ride in the U23 category for the prestigious Zalf Fior amateur squad. Right away, Cunego hit pay dirt, winning the tough Bassano-Montegrappa climbing race and the next year, he had three wins in the U23 category for Zalf Fior.

But Cunego didn't want to waste too much time in the amateur ranks and when his mentor Giuseppe Martinelli went to Saeco as a director, Cunego followed him and turned pro at 20 years old in January 2002. Martinelli, nicknamed "Martino", has a great nose for talent and had directed both Pantani and Garzelli to Giro d'Italia wins.

Cunego clearly has tremendous natural talent. He's 1m71cm tall and weighs 58 kilos. His resting heart rate is 44 and he has 5% body fat. His power output at anaerobic threshold is 420 watts, which gives him a world class power to weight ratio of more than seven watts per kilogram. One interesting fact about new phenom Cunego is that his natural level of haematocrit is between 52 and 53%. His father Enzo has the same levels and thus, Cunego has a special medical certificate in his rider's medical book that enables him to race with his high levels of haematocrit. "


7 watts per kilogram is the magic number. He is making more than that, below his Anaerobic theshold!!

With a little more experience, strong team, and a good DS, he is capable of winning any stage race in the world.

In 1997, at 15 years old, he started to race in the Gaiga-Goretex team in Verona and won 12 races his first year, including the uphill time trial on the Colle Gallo in Casazza. Cunego had the fastest time of all riders, including junior riders three years older and far more experienced.

In the Italian "allievi" (young juniors) championship, Cunego was 2nd behind Filippo Pozzato. The next year in the Junior category, Cunego took eight wins, followed by seven wins in 1999, including the Junior World Championship in Verona. After his success in Verona, Mercatone Uno director Giuseppe Martinelli had Cunego sign a "pre-contract" that would provide him with a pro deal in two years, but meanwhile, Damiano would ride in the U23 category for the prestigious Zalf Fior amateur squad. Right away, Cunego hit pay dirt, winning the tough Bassano-Montegrappa climbing race and the next year, he had three wins in the U23 category for Zalf Fior.

But Cunego didn't want to waste too much time in the amateur ranks and when his mentor Giuseppe Martinelli went to Saeco as a director, Cunego followed him and turned pro at 20 years old in January 2002. Martinelli, nicknamed "Martino", has a great nose for talent and had directed both Pantani and Garzelli to Giro d'Italia wins.

Cunego clearly has tremendous natural talent. He's 1m71cm tall and weighs 58 kilos. His resting heart rate is 44 and he has 5% body fat. His power output at anaerobic threshold is 420 watts, which gives him a world class power to weight ratio of more than seven watts per kilogram. One interesting fact about new phenom Cunego is that his natural level of haematocrit is between 52 and 53%. His father Enzo has the same levels and thus, Cunego has a special medical certificate in his rider's medical book that enables him to race with his high levels of haematocrit.


Amazing. Your summation of Cunego is the same word for word as Cyclingnews.com used in their bio of Cunego. What are the chances? :rolleyes:

Amazing. Your summation of Cunego is the same word for word as Cyclingnews.com used in their bio of Cunego. What are the chances? :rolleyes:


my earlier post in this thread was taken from cyclingnews, as was this, I guess I should have prefaced it.

A pretty impressive Giro for a 22 yr old.
Phenomenal, if you ask me. It's unusual for a rider so young has the stamina to remain competitive for a grand tour. Plus, he was getting plenty of attention from the start... it's not like he appeared from nowhere, so the teams and riders were watching him.

An outstanding job... he would be a nice addition to the TdF!