"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - If Di Luca rode a TT bike

He might be able to close the 20'' gap.

You have no idea. With the wet cobbles and all the turns, he may have made the best choice. Di Luca is not a TT specialist.

He might be able to close the 20'' gap.

http://ohnolookoutitsaraygun.com/argh-Picard.jpg

He would have lost; oh wait, that already happened...

He might be able to close the 20'' gap.

Yeah, DiLuca is such a dumbass. Too bad he isn't listening to armchair DSs like you instead of his own years of racing experience and his even more experienced actual DS; he might have won the Giro by now!

:rolleyes:

He might be able to close the 20'' gap.

Is there any foundation to your statement?

he can't touch Menchov on the straights. He was using the regular bike in hopes of making up time in the corners of the technical course. Didn't work, but it was a hell of a shot. Congrats to Menchov, I like his mellow quietness, but on pure heart and effort DiLuca was insane- never mind the fact that within a couple months we'll likely find out they were both doped.

I didn't hear of a single ride in the Gyro that was sent home for doping... are they not testing? Or waiting till we have all moved on?

Would be interesting to see Di Luca at least on aero bars... he tried the same trick in two of the time trials. Likely wouldn't have changed anything.

I didn't hear of a single ride in the Gyro that was sent home for doping... are they not testing? Or waiting till we have all moved on?

Would be interesting to see Di Luca at least on aero bars... he tried the same trick in two of the time trials. Likely wouldn't have changed anything.

?


http://order.casablancacuisine.com/images/Gyro.jpg

I didn't hear of a single ride in the Gyro that was sent home for doping... are they not testing? Or waiting till we have all moved on?

Would be interesting to see Di Luca at least on aero bars... he tried the same trick in two of the time trials. Likely wouldn't have changed anything.

1) Doping tests take months to process. Not sure if the actual lab testing takes this long or if the conspiracy takes that long to cook up, but either way you're looking at a long time between blood drawn and results leaked to the media in cycling.

2) Giro.

Ok I cant spell and you only post pictures....

Ok I cant spell and you only post pictures....

Splitting hairs but...


?

Would be interesting to see Di Luca at least on aero bars.

he had some clip ons today.

Congrats to Menchov, I like his mellow quietness, but on pure heart and effort DiLuca was insane- never mind the fact that within a couple months we'll likely find out they were both doped.

I don't know about DiLuca, but Menchov has been pretty consistent in his performance. Not only on this Giro but in the other races he has participated in over the last 3-4 years. DiLuca won't be positive even if the tests show him having a plethora of stuff running through him. He is Italian, in an Italian race where he was been expected and supported by the entire country to win the 100 anniversary Giro. Not going to happen. However, if I had to put money on who would come back positive given a plain level field, the following 3 would be at the top of my list:

Garzelli
Pelizoti
Scarponi

I don't know about DiLuca, but Menchov has been pretty consistent in his performance. Not only on this Giro but in the other races he has participated in over the last 3-4 years. DiLuca won't be positive even if the tests show him having a plethora of stuff running through him. He is Italian, in an Italian race where he was been expected and supported by the entire country to win the 100 anniversary Giro. Not going to happen. However, if I had to put money on who would come back positive given a plain level field, the following 3 would be at the top of my list:

Garzelli
Pelizoti
Scarponi

http://www.all-about-renaissance-faires.com/ren_artists/bruegel/p7hg_img_1/fullsize/blind_leading_the_blind_fs.jpg

Mmm... I like gyros.

I don't know about DiLuca, but Menchov has been pretty consistent in his performance. Not only on this Giro but in the other races he has participated in over the last 3-4 years. DiLuca won't be positive even if the tests show him having a plethora of stuff running through him. He is Italian, in an Italian race where he was been expected and supported by the entire country to win the 100 anniversary Giro. Not going to happen. However, if I had to put money on who would come back positive given a plain level field, the following 3 would be at the top of my list:

Garzelli
Pelizoti
Scarponi

Scarponi is the only guy who had a Giro above my expectations. Pellizotti, and Garzelli, were both well within the realm of "normal". Garzelli is a former Giro winner, and has won some pretty big individual stages in years when he finished outside the top 3. Pellizotti, as well, is a known quantity and has been on the up and up for a while now. Not exactly a surprise. Playing off of his teammate Basso didn't hurt his chances either.

mmm... I like gyros.

+1

Is there any foundation to your statement?

Hey, you've got to be provocative enough to start a good (and dumb) thread, right? ;)

within a couple months we'll likely find out they were both doped.

:roflmao2: I'd put $ on that.

If only he could have somehow compelled Menchov to crash and ....

oh.

;)

Of the top 15 in the TT today, the ones in bold simply don't belong there. Perhaps there are others that I'm not highlighting;

1. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) Cervelo TestTeam 14.4km in 18:42(46.203kph)
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Garmin-Slipstream in 18:43
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Columbia-Highroad in 18:49
4. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) Astana in 18:53
5. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C in 18:58
6. Giovanni Visconti (ITA) ISD-Neri in 19:00
7. Dries Devenyns (BEL) Quick Step in 19:02
8. Maarten Tjallingii (NED) Rabobank in 19:03
9. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo in 19:05
10. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank in 19:06
11. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana in 19:09
12. Marco Pinotti (ITA) Columbia-Highroad in 19:11
13. Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) LPR Brakes Farnese Vini in 19:12
14. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Silence-Lotto in 19:18
15. Andriy Grivko (UKR) ISD-Neri in 19:21

now I want a Gyro too

The amount of stupid in this thread is impressive.

Of the top 15 in the TT today, the ones in bold simply don't belong there. Perhaps there are others that I'm not highlighting;

1. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) Cervelo TestTeam 14.4km in 18:42(46.203kph)
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Garmin-Slipstream in 18:43
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Columbia-Highroad in 18:49
4. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) Astana in 18:53
5. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C in 18:58
6. Giovanni Visconti (ITA) ISD-Neri in 19:00
7. Dries Devenyns (BEL) Quick Step in 19:02
8. Maarten Tjallingii (NED) Rabobank in 19:03
9. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo in 19:05
10. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank in 19:06
11. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana in 19:09
12. Marco Pinotti (ITA) Columbia-Highroad in 19:11
13. Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) LPR Brakes Farnese Vini in 19:12
14. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Silence-Lotto in 19:18
15. Andriy Grivko (UKR) ISD-Neri in 19:21
Brusgehin- Proven TTist. He podiumed in the last Giro and placed pretty high up in one of the TT's.
Garzelli- The guy won the Giro once. With a few rare exceptions (i.e: Sastre '08 Tour) you have to be a damn good TTist to win.
Bosisio- Can't speak for him
Visconti- He won the '07 Italian road championship and has proven himself in TT's.

brusgehin- proven ttist. He podiumed in the last giro and placed pretty high up in one of the tt's. brusgehin wins uphill time trials, not pan flat ones
garzelli- the guy won the giro once. With a few rare exceptions (i.e: Sastre '08 tour) you have to be a damn good ttist to win. since when do 38 year old kom winners favor so well in pan flat tt's? See rasmussen in stage 20 of the '05 tour.
bosisio- can't speak for him climber
visconti- he won the '07 italian road championship and has proven himself in tt's. yea the guy's is a great road racers, but he doesn't belong 17 seconds off of a focused wiggens and ahead of pinotti. I ain't buyer what he's sellin'


12

so................ your point is...?

maybe those guys finished before the rain came.

Of the top 15 in the TT today, the ones in bold simply don't belong there. Perhaps there are others that I'm not highlighting;

1. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) Cervelo TestTeam 14.4km in 18:42(46.203kph)
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Garmin-Slipstream in 18:43
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Columbia-Highroad in 18:49
4. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) Astana in 18:53
5. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C in 18:58
6. Giovanni Visconti (ITA) ISD-Neri in 19:00
7. Dries Devenyns (BEL) Quick Step in 19:02
8. Maarten Tjallingii (NED) Rabobank in 19:03
9. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo in 19:05
10. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank in 19:06
11. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana in 19:09
12. Marco Pinotti (ITA) Columbia-Highroad in 19:11
13. Gabriele Bosisio (ITA) LPR Brakes Farnese Vini in 19:12
14. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Silence-Lotto in 19:18
15. Andriy Grivko (UKR) ISD-Neri in 19:21

You know that Bruseghin is a former Italian TT champion, right?

The rain messed a lot of people up. Some people decided to take more risks, and it paid off for some of them.

http://velonews.com/article/92659/menchov-wins-the-giro-d-italia-despite-fall-in-the-last

Konovalovas in the dry
Riders were on edge about the technical, cobblestoned course through the heart of downtown Roma.
While it made for great TV, no one was looking forward to the prospect of riding the 20-plus-turn course, with 9km of the 14.4km route on cobblestones. The threat of rain ratcheted up nerves even worse.

The early starters enjoyed dry conditions and that proved to be the decisive factor in the stage.

Konovalovas, a tall, gangly rider who raced with the Lithuanian national time trial jersey on his back, posted an early fast time of 18 minutes, 42 seconds (46.2 kph), a time that would stand as rain started to fall midway through the race of one of the pre-race favorites, Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream).

Wiggins was three seconds faster than Konovalovas at the 7.7km time check when rain turned the cobblestones to ice. The Olympic individual pursuit champion was forced to ease back to avoid crashing, but regained time on the final paved section only to stop the clock one second slower.

FWIW

Edit- It's not as if any of these guys came out of the blue on the last day.

Results- Stage 12 ITT

1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.34.29 (38.483 km/h)
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0.20
3 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.03
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 1.14
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 1.27
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 1.54
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 1.59
8 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 2.04
9 Jose Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 2.13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 2.17
11 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
12 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.18
13 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 2.26
14 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 2.46
15 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISD 2.48
16 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 2.53
17 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 3.00
18 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia - Highroad 3.27

FWIW

Edit- It's not as if any of these guys came out of the blue on the last day.

Results- Stage 12 ITT

1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.34.29 (38.483 km/h)
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0.20
3 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.03
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 1.14
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 1.27
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 1.54
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 1.59
8 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 2.04
9 Jose Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 2.13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 2.17
11 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
12 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.18
13 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 2.26
14 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 2.46
15 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISD 2.48
16 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 2.53
17 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 3.00
18 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia - Highroad 3.27



FWIW, stage 12 had hills ... lots and lots of hills. Bruseghin's national TT championship was also on a hilly course. Rome is flat by comparison. I admit the rain may have played a part.

I wasn't questioning Konovalova's result, although I've never heard of him.

12

responding to all your posts on this topic:

keep in mind ITT results in a 3 week stage race particularly at the end of a 3 week stage race are often very different than those from an ITT or 7 day stage race. results can be very wacky, particularly on the final ITT. also, the final ITT was more like a crit than a TT, it wasnt just tailored for big churning motor TT specialists with all the turns, cobbles, other poor road surfaces, slowing and accelerating, etc. Plus, it looked to me as though at least half the field was just mailing it in so that they finished the stage race.

given all of these factors, plus the fact that everyone you highlighted actually has in the past demonstrated themselves to be competent or better TT riders, I strongly disagree with your sentiment that they "simply dont belong there".

FWIW, stage 12 had hills ... lots and lots of hills. Bruseghin's national TT championship was also on a hilly course. Rome is flat by comparison. I admit the rain may have played a part.

I wasn't questioning Konovalova's result, although I've never heard of him.

sounds like you kind of are questioning him

sounds like you kind of are questioning him

Maybe so ... it's just that it wasn't as blatent an issue for me as seeing the likes of Garzelli up there.

As someone else pointed out, the Italian authorities are probably less likely to blow the whistle on an Italian rider, especially in the 100 year anniversary of the race. I've gotta think that the Italians in the race must have felt as though they had a hall pass for this one. In other words, if anyone thinks that DiLuca just happened to ride this one clean is probably more than a little mistaken.

I enjoy playing the conspiracy theorist. It's fun.

On the other hand, it should also be pointed out that DiLuca put on one hell of a show and clean or dirty, I have a ton of respect for the guy. In the context of this race, it wouldn't make me too upset to hear that he and Menchov were on the juice.