Thread: The Giro Thread
View Single Post
Old 05-24-09 | 12:48 PM
  #1109  
Racer Ex's Avatar
Racer Ex
Resident Alien
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,089
Likes: 10
From: Location, location.
Originally Posted by mr. rogers
when can we say the little princess's giro win was doped and stop talking about him as a real contender?
Fixed.

I will not comment on the "D" issue other than to say he made a remarkable improvement in his TT skills for one TDF TT when the white jersey was on the line. Reminded me of a certain Kazakh.

Years ago I was saying Dammit I Cannotgo's Giro win was the result of a less than stellar field with all eyes on Cunego's teammate Simoni; I watched the race and didn't see anything that made me believe he was going to dominate anything.

I was derided and told I didn't know what I was talking about and that "Cunego is the future of the Grand Tours".

I believe Laggard was most vociferous and Roadwarrior questioned whether I actually raced a bicycle. I believe that time has provided a rejoinder to both statements, though I'm sure even retirement without another GT win will still bring a litany of excuses and no apologies or mea culpa's. This is the way of BF.

Every year since the press trots him out as one of the favorites, every year he believes it and trots out some excuse about why he didn't do well last year, we're treated to several annoying mag spreads and updates on his every move, and every year he fails to deliver, more often than not in spectacular cracking fashion.

He is a very good rider. I would respect him if he'd just shut up, own his failures rather than blaming this and that, and stick to the one day stuff and support a teammate's GC hopes. He's got a great example with his teammate Ballan. He was almost there then started reading his own press clippings again.

I was done when they rolled out the mono excuse. If he actually had mono during that Giro he should get it again because he rode a lot better with than without. At least he was able to contest a few mountain finishes.
Racer Ex is offline  
Reply