2011 Giro predictions
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 311
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Don't see how Alberto can not be the clear favorite...
5 grand tours in a row coming in, experience under pressure, and a desire to silence critics. Plus this years stages are tailor made for him, he could conceivable win this thing by 10 minutes or more.
Obviously, anything can happen such as a crash but I am going with Alberto as my guess for GC
5 grand tours in a row coming in, experience under pressure, and a desire to silence critics. Plus this years stages are tailor made for him, he could conceivable win this thing by 10 minutes or more.
Obviously, anything can happen such as a crash but I am going with Alberto as my guess for GC
#3
Upgrading my engine
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Alamogordo
Posts: 6,218
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, it has to be Alberto unless the CAS decides to ruin the Giro or he is otherwise plagued by off-the-bike issues.
Contador
Nibali
Scarponi
I'm not exactly going out on a limb here and those may be boring picks, but this year's route is just plain brutal and I think Contador knows he won't get a chance to do the TDF this year. I'd love to see the Menchov/Sastre team work well together, but it just seems like way too much climbing for Menchov.
Should be an exciting race. I think the Giro was the best race of the year last year. This year's route has tons of potential.
Contador
Nibali
Scarponi
I'm not exactly going out on a limb here and those may be boring picks, but this year's route is just plain brutal and I think Contador knows he won't get a chance to do the TDF this year. I'd love to see the Menchov/Sastre team work well together, but it just seems like way too much climbing for Menchov.
Should be an exciting race. I think the Giro was the best race of the year last year. This year's route has tons of potential.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,848
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Yes take a look at steephill, it is weird I don't see super starts but contador and contador's team is not like a super team anymore. Probably the TDF will look better but in general the teams doesn't look like last year for example, a lot of people getting ready for the tour only ?
I'll cheer up for nibali
I'll cheer up for nibali
Last edited by ultraman6970; 05-01-11 at 03:13 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 411
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Please tell me that Popo is going for the GC...
There are a number of the big teams with no real GC people, like the sprinters teams with their #1 bibs.
I would have loved to see the liquigas tandem battling the Geox tandem vs Contador. To bad Basso is only doing the tour.
There are a number of the big teams with no real GC people, like the sprinters teams with their #1 bibs.
I would have loved to see the liquigas tandem battling the Geox tandem vs Contador. To bad Basso is only doing the tour.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 311
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Northeastern USA
Posts: 255
Bikes: 2007 Bianchi Castro Valley, 1985 Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Basso will repeat! (oh wait...). OK, Andy Schleck! (wait a minute...)
On second thought, Joaquim Rodriguez. Actually, I think he'll come in second to Phillipe Gilbert
On second thought, Joaquim Rodriguez. Actually, I think he'll come in second to Phillipe Gilbert
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SLO County, CA
Posts: 136
Bikes: 2011 Specialized Tarmac Comp
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
did I read somewhere that the Schlecks are doing the Tour of California? I thought that was cool.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 912
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Out of curiosity, what's the main reason for that? Does it take more than five weeks to replenish the energy stores in the body lost in three weeks of racing? I'm sure there are many finer points I don't understand.
#17
Pointy Helmet Tribe
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Offthebackistan
Posts: 4,338
Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 519 Post(s)
Liked 627 Times
in
295 Posts
Contador - dont really see anyone continuously dropping him on long, extended climbs AND putting time on him in a TT.
Nibali comes second - he's the real deal, IMO: he, not Andy, will be the one to eventually beat Contador in a GT.
Menchov third.
V.
Nibali comes second - he's the real deal, IMO: he, not Andy, will be the one to eventually beat Contador in a GT.
Menchov third.
V.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,137
Bikes: RichardZEP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Don't see how Alberto can not be the clear favorite...
5 grand tours in a row coming in, experience under pressure, and a desire to silence critics. Plus this years stages are tailor made for him, he could conceivable win this thing by 10 minutes or more.
Obviously, anything can happen such as a crash but I am going with Alberto as my guess for GC
5 grand tours in a row coming in, experience under pressure, and a desire to silence critics. Plus this years stages are tailor made for him, he could conceivable win this thing by 10 minutes or more.
Obviously, anything can happen such as a crash but I am going with Alberto as my guess for GC
#19
Heretic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 2,246
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Giant OCR3, Giant CRS3
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2827 Post(s)
Liked 561 Times
in
429 Posts
I don't think AC is in top form at the moment so I'm going for Nibali.
I like to stick my neck out so I'll predict Contador won't finish the Giro this year.
I like to stick my neck out so I'll predict Contador won't finish the Giro this year.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Rural Missouri - mostly central and southeastern
Posts: 3,013
Bikes: 2003 LeMond -various other junk bikes
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 44 Times
in
35 Posts
You have to ride well everyday- that's why they have the race. It a big field, going fast - on a lot of crazy roads.
There will be plenty of great riders trying to make a good impression. We'll see.
There will be plenty of great riders trying to make a good impression. We'll see.
#21
convert
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 735
Bikes: 1994 Bridgestone XO-4, 2006 Trek 1500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
Upgrading my engine
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Alamogordo
Posts: 6,218
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Same goes for the TDF- lots of guys want it and build their whole season around it. The Giro and the TDF are too close together for a guy to recover and build back up to his peak in time (plenty of time to recover, but not enough to build back up). It doesn't help that the Giro is usually insanely difficult with tons of climbing. So if a guy wants to do both races, chances are he won't be in top form for both of them. It's hard to do well when not in top form.
Nobody was able to be top 10 in both races last year. Sastre and Vino both did top 20, but neither was ever a threat to win either race.
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Tennessee
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You're on the right track. These days to win almost any major race a guy has to be on top form and time his peak perfectly. There are plenty of guys who won't get to ride the TDF who will focus 100% on the Giro. If anybody wants to beat those guys he'll either have to be that much better than them or he'll have to be on top form himself. I think Contador is the only guy who could win without being 100%, and I'm sure many would argue that even he couldn't do it.
Same goes for the TDF- lots of guys want it and build their whole season around it. The Giro and the TDF are too close together for a guy to recover and build back up to his peak in time (plenty of time to recover, but not enough to build back up). It doesn't help that the Giro is usually insanely difficult with tons of climbing. So if a guy wants to do both races, chances are he won't be in top form for both of them. It's hard to do well when not in top form.
Nobody was able to be top 10 in both races last year. Sastre and Vino both did top 20, but neither was ever a threat to win either race.
Same goes for the TDF- lots of guys want it and build their whole season around it. The Giro and the TDF are too close together for a guy to recover and build back up to his peak in time (plenty of time to recover, but not enough to build back up). It doesn't help that the Giro is usually insanely difficult with tons of climbing. So if a guy wants to do both races, chances are he won't be in top form for both of them. It's hard to do well when not in top form.
Nobody was able to be top 10 in both races last year. Sastre and Vino both did top 20, but neither was ever a threat to win either race.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Northeastern USA
Posts: 255
Bikes: 2007 Bianchi Castro Valley, 1985 Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Contador announced last year that he would try for the triple (Giro, TDF & Vuelta in one season). Seems like it was Bjarne Riis (his team's manager) who had this idea, or at least pushed it and made it public. So in a way he's already committed to at least trying all three. My speculation: if he was victorious (or sniffed podium) in all three while clean, this would be so insanely impressive that everyone would forget about the TMI (tainted meat incident).
#25
....gets the cheese
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SLC, Utah
Posts: 2,577
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale Caad 8, Wilier Triestina Jareen
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Kudos to Cav for trying to speak Italian in the post race interview with the Italian guys after Stage 12 today. Pretty sure he murdered the language, but it's nice to see some of the riders at least make the attempt. I'd think it's appreciated by the hosts.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
diphthong
Professional Cycling For the Fans
22
07-14-12 05:00 PM
Kayce
Professional Cycling For the Fans
6
08-24-10 06:53 PM