View Full Version : Giro, lets talk contenders
After todays stage it looks like Contador has a shot, despite taking 10 days off prior to the start. Di Luca and Ricco both look good as well. Did anyone hear how Soler faired? I was surprised Levi didn't do better
Heidi
05-16-2008, 03:51 PM
I'm gonna back Contador. I don't buy that he was sitting at the beach making sand castles and drinking tequilla shots.
I'm gonna back Contador. I don't buy that he was sitting at the beach making sand castles and drinking tequilla shots.
Alcohol increases testosterone production, maybe thats why he is doing so well :biggrin:
golgiaparatus
05-16-2008, 04:08 PM
After todays stage it looks like Contador has a shot, despite taking 10 days off prior to the start. Di Luca and Ricco both look good as well. Did anyone hear how Soler faired? I was surprised Levi didn't do better
I think Levi will ride into form right at the end and will be able to kill those last 2 TTs. Kloden on the other hand hasn't done much yet... this Giro suits both of them very well. Contador, I don.t think we'll see much success out of him unless he can pull some serious crap in the mtns... too many TT's.
I think Levi will ride into form right at the end and will be able to kill those last 2 TTs. Kloden on the other hand hasn't done much yet... this Giro suits both of them very well. Contador, I don.t think we'll see much success out of him unless he can pull some serious crap in the mtns... too many TT's.
I don't think the TTs will hurt Contador, he's not too bad and one is a team time trial (already happened), and one is an uphill TT (which will suit him).....thats leaves two time trials where he stands to lose time
James
05-16-2008, 05:37 PM
I think the TT on Monday or whenever is going to change the field. You're going to see the real contenders.
And don't forget that Levi just lost 23 seconds in that police moto stall, and they denied his protest.
I'd like to see Kloden do well, even if I'm not 100% convinced he's not dirty, or at least used to be until recently.
After today Ricco is starting to look like a serious contender. I guess we'll see how things shape up
James
05-17-2008, 09:57 PM
After today Ricco is starting to look like a serious contender. I guess we'll see how things shape up
Too bad he's a douche...
Too bad he's a douche...
Can't he get anti-douche stuff to fix that?
James
05-17-2008, 11:56 PM
Can't he get anti-douche stuff to fix that?
You need a TUE for that...
James
05-19-2008, 01:05 AM
So after today's stage, how does everyone feel?
So after today's stage, how does everyone feel?
I feel sorry for Zabel, he would have had a shot had he not gotten boxed in
Heidi
05-19-2008, 09:52 AM
I laughed hard at the footage of David Millar tossing his bike over the barrier.
James
05-19-2008, 10:40 AM
I feel sorry for Zabel, he would have had a shot had he not gotten boxed in
I would LOVE to see Zabel take a win this year. He's the freakin' MAN!
Heidi
05-19-2008, 11:02 AM
I would LOVE to see Zabel take a win this year. He's the freakin' MAN!
He's a freakin' confessed doper. I don't trust him.
James
05-19-2008, 11:32 AM
He's a freakin' confessed doper. I don't trust him.
Yeah, that's true, but so is Millar. He came forward.
I choose to believe that he's clean now, and it's great to see a 37 year old fighting for wins...
Side note: anybody see the news about Contador today? That's going to suck for the TT!
Heidi
05-19-2008, 11:44 AM
Millar served a sentence though.
Yah, tough luck for him. I hope he can hang in there.
James
05-19-2008, 12:01 PM
Millar served a sentence though.
Yah, tough luck for him. I hope he can hang in there.
He got busted though...
Yeah, that's true, but so is Millar. He came forward.
I choose to believe that he's clean now, and it's great to see a 37 year old fighting for wins...
Side note: anybody see the news about Contador today? That's going to suck for the TT!
Ya gotta link the article!
http://www.velonews.com/index.html
Reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) has promised to continue riding in the Giro d’Italia, despite learning that he suffered a minor elbow fracture in a crash last Saturday.
"Contador's visit to the radiologist today (Monday) revealed a fissure in the radius head of his left elbow," his Astana team said in a statement on Monday. "The fracture without dislocation stems from his Stage 8 crash from Rivisondoli to Tivoli (on Saturday).
Though Contador was able to complete the stage and Sunday's Stage 9, the bruising and discomfort prompted the team to ask for a detailed examination on the Giro d'Italia's first rest day.
"The x-rays showed that the fracture is stable and the 2007 Tour de France Champion has been cleared to ride Tuesday's time-trial," the team said Monday.
Contador insisted that he had no intention of quitting the Giro.
"As all riders know, winning a grand tour takes some hard work, luck and health," Contador was quoted as saying in the release. "Unfortunately, having a small fracture does not make the journey to Milan any easier, but I'm motivated and will try to fight through the pain. I do not intend to leave the race."
Contador admitted that he had felt his elbow during a training ride Monday and that the position of the injury could pose a problem for Tuesday's individual time-trial as he may have difficulty getting into a fully aerodynamic position.
"That is a problem but I hope I still make a good time trial. The doctors tell me that it is a small fracture. With a bit of luck, I can recover a bit during the 'easier' stages from Wednesday to Friday."
Heidi
05-20-2008, 10:02 AM
Holy Crap - the TT today was interesting!
PsychO!1
05-20-2008, 11:03 AM
Looks like the elbow didn't slow Contador down at all.
Astana 2 of the top 3, and 3 of the top 10....gotta love it!
Suck on that ASO!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0810
James
05-20-2008, 11:22 AM
Holy Crap - the TT today was interesting!
I can't believe Contador! Even with a chain issue and the elbow?
Holy Crap - the TT today was interesting!
Hell yeah! Contador has really improved his TT....Kloden is one of the best in the world.
OGRipper
05-20-2008, 11:32 AM
Damn the Astana guys are looking super strong. Let's hope they continue to work together and help each other as needed rather than ride alone. Lots of potential leaders, would be a shame if they don't deliver a win.
And I am very skeptical about the official story on the last-minute acceptance of Astana. Aside from rider preparation - a huge issue people seem be shrugging off - it just seems nearly impossible to mobilize the entire team and staff and get everything over there in such short time. Unless they decided to prepare just in case (at huge cost and risk) I have to believe they were tipped much earlier.
ulockjustice
05-20-2008, 12:58 PM
Looks like the elbow didn't slow Contador down at all.
Astana 2 of the top 3, and 3 of the top 10....gotta love it!
Suck on that ASO!
yeah, we'll show those guys we're not a team full of dopers by placing 2 guys in the top 3 and 3 in the top 10. yeah. thatll show them that we're like, totally clean and stuff. yeah.
Heidi
05-20-2008, 01:15 PM
Kloden has been drug tested 22 times already this year!
PsychO!1
05-20-2008, 02:47 PM
I had read that 40 riders from 5 different teams were tested on the rest day , including Astana. All test results were clean.
ulockjustice
05-20-2008, 10:56 PM
I had read that 40 riders from 5 different teams were tested on the rest day , including Astana. All test results were clean.
as if that means anything these days. a good portion of these guys are on the sauce. look at millar and zabel, both of which admitted to doping, but neither of which ever tested positive. Its only the sloppy ones that get caught. just because the tests are negative doesnt mean people arent doping.
Heidi
05-21-2008, 10:55 AM
Did anyone NOT crash in the Giro today? HOLY TOLEDO!!!!
Did anyone NOT crash in the Giro today? HOLY TOLEDO!!!!
I didn't...oh....wait....I'm not racing
Contador still looks good
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) tried to break the deadlock, but was unable to shake Alberto Contador (Astana) or his other GC rivals.
Cant Climb
05-21-2008, 03:06 PM
Anyone know of an audio feed for the Giro......?
uk.yahoo.eurosport used to carry it but isn't now....has left me out of the loop...
Heidi
05-21-2008, 05:02 PM
http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/#live
Tons of options there though I've not tried the audio only.
Cant Climb
05-21-2008, 07:04 PM
http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/#live
Tons of options there though I've not tried the audio only.
thanks !!
Heidi
05-22-2008, 10:15 AM
HA - one of the Gerlosteiner riders was pulled from the Giro because his father was stopped by the Italian anti-doping investigators. He was in a car with two other people, and they were found to have a lot of Viagra with them – either 82 tablets or 82 packages, depending on which source you read. I remember reading a time ago that Viagra has been shown in studies to improve high altitude performance by up to 45%. It causes blood vessels in certain tissues like the lungs to relax. This improves blood flow from the heart and increases oxygen transport to working muscles. It seems like it would be tough to ride a Giro stage with a boner though!
James
05-22-2008, 10:33 AM
It seems like it would be tough to ride a Giro stage with a boner though!
Actually, that's par for the course in Italian races...
It seems like it would be tough to ride a Giro stage with a boner though!
:rofl:
golgiaparatus
05-23-2008, 02:39 PM
It seems like it would be tough to ride a Giro stage with a boner though!
LMAO!
it looks like Contador is holding his own, several seconds out of the lead and over a minute up on Di Luca. I'm going to be purchasing this Giro on DVD......I want to see how its all unfolding.
http://www.velonews.com/article/76617/sella-wins-in-dolomites-bosisio-takes-over-lead-at-giro
James
05-24-2008, 11:11 PM
iI'm going to be purchasing this Giro on DVD......I want to see how its all unfolding.
Oh HELL yeah! With all the stuff we're missing with OLN's coverage, it'll be totally worth it!
One word.....awesome
http://www.velonews.com/files/images/CORONES3.jpg
http://www.velonews.com/article/76717/pellizotti-wins-the-giro-s-uphill-time-trial
The race is still really close...there are going to be some good battles
UNHrider
05-26-2008, 05:02 PM
the time trial sounded awesome. very unique.
Today's race is a nail biter, Di Luca is up right now and Contador is chasing with Kloden
Heidi
05-30-2008, 10:32 AM
So Close!
Westy
05-30-2008, 10:34 AM
Today is the first day I have followed the Giro. Good timing on my part.
James
05-30-2008, 10:35 AM
Check this out:
http://www.cyclingfans.com/
They link some foreign video feed with UK audio, I love it!
AMAZING stage! I was lucky enough to catch the last 20 minutes or so of the stage, when Ricco went. Just flippin' amazing!
Can't believe how close everyone is, tomorrow is going to be a pretty spectacular stage!
Whats up for tomorrow? Is it another climbing stage with a time trial on Sunday?
James
05-30-2008, 10:51 AM
I think it's the Gavia tomorrow, no?
Here's some info on it: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0820
Another big stage, we'll see if anyone recovered enough to put those last couple of seconds into the Accountant, or if he's going to fight back hard.
I think it's the Gavia tomorrow, no?
Here's some info on it: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0820
Another big stage, we'll see if anyone recovered enough to put those last couple of seconds into the Accountant, or if he's going to fight back hard.
Wow, looks tough. I would like to see Contador win, I think he has been a good representative of the sport, but the other side of me wants to see an epic nail bitter that sees him lose the race by a few seconds. :) I can't wait for the DVDs
<edit> I'm off for a ride.....I'm going to pretend I'm Di Luca attacking :p
I'd guess that Contador will lose the pink tomorrow and then have to get it back in the time trial on Sunday. I wonder if Di Luca shot his wad today though....
James
05-30-2008, 12:03 PM
Wow, looks tough.
I'll say!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//giro08/graphics/profile20.gif
OGRipper
05-30-2008, 12:32 PM
Wow, great to see the race get so close as we get toward the end, it is truly up in the air. Twenty years after Breukink and Hampsten made history, another epic battle on the Gavia in the works. Should be killer. I am going to predict that Contador will drop them all and gain some time back.
golgiaparatus
05-30-2008, 12:44 PM
Wow... great stage today. LPR did a badass job... I don't think they can do it again tomorrow though and I don't think they can take out Astana in the ITT. Ricco though, I'm curious about that little whiner... the "cobra" may be a little b!tch but I think he might have the gas to pull another attack out tomorrow, he has been there on every climb so far.
I love how he was -->:rant: at the summit today about not getting the jersey... funny sh!t.
James
05-30-2008, 02:18 PM
Wow... great stage today. LPR did a badass job... I don't think they can do it again tomorrow though and I don't think they can take out Astana in the ITT. Ricco though, I'm curious about that little whiner... the "cobra" may be a little b!tch but I think he might have the gas to pull another attack out tomorrow, he has been there on every climb so far.
I love how he was -->:rant: at the summit today about not getting the jersey... funny sh!t.
The video feed I was watching was peering into the little room where they recover, DiLuca was coughing his ass off, and Ricco, man he looked PISSED! It was pretty cool to look into that private little world.
golgiaparatus
05-30-2008, 02:43 PM
Ricco was apparently throwing a fit because the other teams didn't isolate Contador and make him climb alone.
I know if I had to choose between helping a humble well mannered guy, or helping self centered prick that calls himself "the cobra", I'd pick the humble well mannered guy.
Ricco was apparently throwing a fit because the other teams didn't isolate Contador and make him climb alone.
I know if I had to choose between helping a humble well mannered guy, or helping self centered prick that calls himself "the cobra", I'd pick the humble well mannered guy.
Very true. Even if Ricco attacks and gets some time tomorrow he'll lose it all on Sunday, Contador is a lot better time trialist
Heidi
05-30-2008, 03:34 PM
For once it isn't Simoni whining!
James
05-30-2008, 03:39 PM
For once it isn't Simoni whining!
He hasn't finished the stage yet, that's why...
For once it isn't Simoni whining!
Hey, Simoni's whining was justified after the '06 edition....turns out Basso was a doper :) Here are some photos
http://www.velonews.com/files/images/RICCOATTACK_0.jpg
http://www.velonews.com/files/images/GIRODITALIASTAGENINETEEN110.jpg
http://www.velonews.com/files/images/BERTCHASES1.jpg
MtnbikeMike
05-30-2008, 05:34 PM
Ricco was apparently throwing a fit because the other teams didn't isolate Contador and make him climb alone.
I know if I had to choose between helping a humble well mannered guy, or helping self centered prick that calls himself "the cobra", I'd pick the humble well mannered guy.
Speaking of referring to oneself...
“The team rode brilliantly today. Thanks especially to Savoldelli, who did a great job. Never doubt Di Luca, because Di Luca never gives up.”
:rofl: :rofl:
Conditions must be sh!tty if the leader stops at the top of the climb to put on his jacket.
Astana does have a nice looking kit. Especially when compared to that green and orange disaster.
Looks like Contador sealed the deal today, it would take a miracle for Ricco to overcome him in the time trial. Poor Di Luca, shot his wad yesterday....and Sella is the man! Is his team in the Tour? Seems like he would have a good shot at the best climbers jersey
Here is a nice shot from today
http://www.velonews.com/files/images/gaviaastana.jpg
Ricco is such a whiny bitch.
MtnbikeMike
05-31-2008, 09:37 PM
Ricco is such a whiny bitch.
:stupid:
I saw him quoted in Velonews saying that if he had the team Contador had, he would have won. I doubt this however, because his team would probably stop riding for him after his incessant bitching. That, and having a team won't make him TT any faster...
:stupid:
I saw him quoted in Velonews saying that if he had the team Contador had, he would have won. I doubt this however, because his team would probably stop riding for him after his incessant bitching. That, and having a team won't make him TT any faster...
:rofl:
he was trying to get Contador to help him chase, like that would happen. Wonder if he'll lose his second place
<edit> here is a nice quote from Sella about Ricco:
How will the third-year professional Riccò mature? Will the flame get hotter or will it fizzle out? Sella had the last word: "He is younger than me and he is defiantly gifted. However, if he makes these statements... he is a great athlete but small man."
Contador seals the deal!
http://www.velonews.com/article/76936/alberto-contador-wins-the-2008-giro-d-italia
http://www.velonews.com/files/images/bertpod1.jpg
maddog17
06-01-2008, 04:40 PM
so i was watching the Giro on Vs and i dont know if it was my eyes getting screwy on me or what but did anyone else notice it looked like Astana's name was being blured on purpose. i thought it looked that way when ever the camera would get a good chest shot.
so i was watching the Giro on Vs and i dont know if it was my eyes getting screwy on me or what but did anyone else notice it looked like Astana's name was being blured on purpose. i thought it looked that way when ever the camera would get a good chest shot.
I was playing on the net while watching, so I didn't notice.....I will get my tinfoil hat on just in case :)
golgiaparatus
06-02-2008, 04:06 PM
:stupid:
I saw him quoted in Velonews saying that if he had the team Contador had, he would have won. I doubt this however, because his team would probably stop riding for him after his incessant bitching. That, and having a team won't make him TT any faster...
I always TT faster after 5 or 6 cups of tea... :brows:
cliffster5
06-02-2008, 05:39 PM
Ricco got totally owned in the TT. What did Contador put into him... some 1'52" or something like that? Until Ricco learns how to race against the clock he needs to learn how to stfu!
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