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Giro 2010

Posted: 09 May 2010, 22:05
by simon.sharwood
Seems logical to have a thread for the Giro.
here's the official site: http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2010/en/.
Prepare for some exceptional translation if you head there. Today's coverage, for example, says:
The Commander of the British Empire, Bradley Wiggins (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is the winner of the first stage of the Giro d’Italia 2010. On the 8,4 kilometers of the individual time trial in Amsterdam, the English runner, born in Belgium and living in Spain, champion in track cycling (three Olympic titles and six world champion title) with a time of 10'18" beats , just two seconds, the surprise of the day, Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team), and the reigning world road, Cadel Evans (Bmc Racing Team).

<<Music, applause, beer and “walls of people” crowded the barriers - explains the winner - a real festive atmosphere that reminded me much of my city, London>>.
Not that I could do better in Italian, mind you ...

S.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 13 May 2010, 00:05
by geoff m
Great start. Cadel's BMC first team in TTT, and ahead of about the next 6 teams starting by 40 seconds or more. I'm sure they won't be the best, but looks like it wasn't a disasterous ride, like Silence Lotto in TDF last year.

Lets hope they can close the gap or keep in check with the drug cheat team.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 13 May 2010, 00:10
by geoff m
YES.....its starting raining heavily for the last half of the field.......

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 13 May 2010, 00:19
by geoff m
That's the latest from the finish...so the BMC Racing Team has done very well. Some questioned how the team would get on, but it's all good for now...
1 BMC Racing Team 00:37:58
2 Footon-Servetto 00:00:42
3 Colnago-CSF Inox 00:00:47
4 Quick Step 00:00:53
5 Bbox Bouygues Telecom 00:00:58
6 Caisse d'Epargne 00:01:00
7 Androni Giocattoli 00:01:03
8 Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 00:01:07
9 Acqua & Sapone 00:01:11
10 Ag2R-La Mondiale 00:01:29


Live Report By Shane Stokes

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 13 May 2010, 00:24
by geoff m
16:21 CEST
Katusha comes in towards the finish, with what looks like being a superb time...

16:22 CEST
The team is down to five riders at this point, so they've gotta stick together inside this final kilometre.

16:22 CEST
New best time! They were a full 54 seconds faster than BMC Racing.


Bumma...might be time to go to bed!Still not a bad effort by BMC

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 14 May 2010, 09:21
by Stuart
IMO Cadel's race is already over. I wonder how he keeps the interest up when he's already 2 mins behind? I've been watching it live on Eurosport and it's not been that exciting so far, although it was good to see the breakaway get a win last night. Looks like racing in the Netherlands may not be on the cards for future races although the TdF is starting there this year too - they must throw buckets of $$ at the organisers.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 16 May 2010, 03:53
by Strawburger
Just saw Cadel 20kms from the finish line and he looked the goods. Got back to the hotel to find he won the stage! Go the Aussies, in contention for all jerseys thus far!

I'll post some pics up below. We were standing on the climb just after the end of the mud tracks at about the 15% gradient.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 16 May 2010, 04:09
by Strawburger
Image
Image
Image
Image

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 16 May 2010, 11:27
by Stuart
Great pics and a great stage for Cadel - I should keep quiet in future although Cadel is still a long way back at 1' 12" but today showed that anything can happen.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 16 May 2010, 16:47
by hugo
well he's ahead of all the real contenders, vino's got nothing (except a truckload of epo :) )

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 16 May 2010, 23:33
by weiyun
well he's ahead of all the real contenders, vino's got nothing (except a truckload of epo :) )
Just to clarify the facts. Vino didn't have EPO, he had the real thing... Blood. 8)

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 01:15
by T-Bone
today showed that anything can happen.
I think we can say that again!

Richie Porte in Pink!!

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 16:47
by Stuart
Yeah, and Cadel at 12' 45" .... Just when I think I understand stage racing tactics a stage like that happens ... just why didn't Astana, Liquigas and BMC chase????? Still, an Aussie in the lead with a strong team but can he climb mountains?

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 18:09
by weiyun
Apparently Astana's team of hit but the stomach bug and the domestiques got decimated by the runs. BMC Racing sent a 2nd tier squad to the Giro and now 1/2 of the domestiques have collapsed after 11 stages. So, neither team had the resources or willingness to chase. Further, from Astana's point, they sure can't work for the jersey for the rest of the stages so might as well relinquish it... But not for the amount of time gap they ended up with.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 18:59
by Stuart
OK, but what about Liquigas .. Basso & the other dude are dead now and how come Evan's didn't see what was happening and try to jump the gap with what's left of his team? anyway, interesting racing indeed

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 19:04
by weiyun
OK, but what about Liquigas .. Basso & the other dude are dead now and how come Evan's didn't see what was happening and try to jump the gap with what's left of his team? anyway, interesting racing indeed
Guess there were "tactical mistakes" made by quite a number of riders and team managers. But you are right, it has made putting down bets at the bookies that much harder for everyone. ;)

The big worry for Evans at the TdF will be having F Schleck helping his brother Andy and Vino helping Contador. I am not sure who BMC Racing has that can match the calibre of these super domestiques.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 19:07
by NOOG
Hincapie

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 19:12
by weiyun
Hincapie
Yes, but not convinced he is in the same calibre at this stage of his career.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 20 May 2010, 23:33
by geoff m
Hincapie
He's getting a bit of press today..... I wonder if he'll survive the attention........Might end up being just Cadel left in BMC.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 21 May 2010, 08:08
by Strawburger
Guess there were "tactical mistakes" made by quite a number of riders and team managers.
The press here are saying that the riders and team managers did not know sastre was in the breakaway until it was too late. If they knew earlier they would have chased them down. An error on their part not looking hard at the footage! Although in saying that, sastre has been the invisible man up until that stage, lots of talk about being back in the pack but very little footage of him until that stage.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 25 May 2010, 18:09
by Stuart
re stage 15: I hate it when I watch Basso the convicted drug cheat, who IMO should have been banned for life, accelerate away up a 20% gradient to win the stage and not look too buggered after that effort. Makes me think he's still a drug cheat. When will the ICC wake up and ban drug cheats for life, or at least 5-10 years not the pathetic 2 they have now that allows them to come back.

Anyway, great ride from Cadel (first clean rider home?), Porte is showing he's got class and it looks like another Spanish victory with Arroyo in the drivers seat.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 26 May 2010, 09:22
by Hung
I was thinking the same thing
Basso was climbing like if it was just another training day

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 26 May 2010, 10:14
by jimmy
+1

I remember a couple of mountain finishes (not containing Basso).

1) 2008 Tour de France - Stage 10. Won by Piepoli, second was Ricco. Both riders looked as fresh as daisys, and that they had just been on a nice Sunday jaunt. Compare to the photograph of Frank Schleck who is in a world of hurt.
2) 2007 Tour de France - Stage 16. Won by Rasmussen. Again, compare the winners photo to Cadel limiting his losses.

Then compare Basso Winning to Evans crossing the line.

But you have to remember.... Basso never doped, but he was thinking about it for the 2006 Tour.

James

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 26 May 2010, 19:05
by Stuart
But you have to remember.... Basso never doped, but he was thinking about it for the 2006 Tour. James
"Basso, who rides for Liquigas, returned to competition in 2008 having served a lengthy ban for his implication in the 'Operation Puerto' drugs affair which erupted in Spain in 2006.

Well, maybe they never actually caught him but he was on the juice alright - blood doping anyone?

Great post BTW James - the pics say it all for mine ....

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 03 Jun 2010, 16:46
by timyone
first clean rider,,, :D never been caught doing drugs :)

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 03 Jun 2010, 20:02
by hugo
Just on the whole 'if he's not grimacing, he must be doped' thing, have a look at this.....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/the ... pictures-2

I don't know about you, but I don't make that face when I'm out on a training ride.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 04 Jun 2010, 11:19
by shrubb face
I make that face while training all the time. Your just not trying hard enough hugo.

Image

Least we know that im not doping. Well other than james squire porter.

Re: Giro 2010

Posted: 04 Jun 2010, 19:09
by hugo
You're too busy yawning to feel pain?