justcycling.myfastforum.org

Slapshot · Site Owner Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 1414

http://giroditalia2007.gazzetta.it/it/

pantanifan · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:25 am Post subject:

I think I'll stick my neck on the line first and predict an Italian winner Laughing

Slapshot · Site Owner Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 1414

I would like to see Cunego winning again.
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NB All posts listed under this name belong to Berg, the transfer of site ownership meant the change of name on these posts.

Bartali · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 8025 Location: Hertfordshire

If he rides .... Basso's for the taking!

crash48 · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

Yeah can't see how you can go past basso.

I think Cunego will have a good year. He is a bit older now, and a lot stronger, and his riding in the last weel in the tour showed he has what it takes.

paperman · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1315 Location: Ireland

I'm sticking with Basso for the giro can't see anyone beat him really. Not sure if Cunego will win it, but am looking forward to a good season from him. Think I remember an article on cycling news about Astana letting Savoldelli lead. Surprised

Although apparently he wants out if they don't get pro tour licence.

earth_dweller · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 216

I'm hoping that we see the Mayo of old and that Simoni, Mayo & Peipoli put the hurt in.

Realistically tho, the race is Basso to lose.

crash48 · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:48 pm Post subject:

Mayo without pressure and on a climbers course-perfect for him.

Of course he will find a way to put pressure on himself. But I want to see him go-might be asking for a bit much however.

nzovu · Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 391 Location: Denmark

I'm betting we'll se the Basso/Piepoli act again. Although contrary to last time, I'll be cheering for Piepoli now!

mayofan · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 1527 Location: good ol eire

i suspect bassos made a few too many enemies since this time last year...you will see mayo, piepoli and gibo try and break him, and if mayo and piepoli are both in form not even basso could withstand repeated attacks from them....if cunego, di luca and svo join the party basso could have real problems

bbnaz · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:38 am Post subject:

In what way has he made enemies?
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mayofan · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 1527 Location: good ol eire

i dont know but it could perhaps be any of the following
1) the cocky,arrogant manner hes developed
2) the nothing is more important than winning attitude
3) the way he pointlessly dropped and humiliated an old friend(who now has a very good team)on one of the last climbs of the giro when he was already 11 minutes up and unbeatable
4)the "ET" like way he won the giro, seeming leagues ahead of everyone else and not even breaking sweat on some of the hardest climbs in the world.....DRUGS
5) the involvement in operation puerto
6) the signing to discovery, the most loathed team in professional cycling, who if we use our logic are very likely to be forcing riders to take drugs
7) the apparent outrage of every other PT team that his new team have broken the gentlemans agreement in signing him

or it could be a combination of these things......i think also if you ask around youll find hes lost a lot of admiration in the cycling world

bbnaz · Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:31 am Post subject:

Well interesting summary there. Sounds all suppositional to me but then when I am listening to Lou Reed it is hard to be too cynical.
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badbrains · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 69

I would like to see Rujano come good next year. It's unlikely he'll ever win the giro but he is certainly good fun to watch. Other than that it will obviously be Cunego and Basso who will be the most likely to win as has been said many many times (not enough time trailing for savoldelli). The saunier duval team looks great on paper but both mayo and piepoli are fairly erratic form wise and Gibo has no hope of putting enough time into Basso and Cunego in the mountains. Also Gibo never reacts well to his underlings outriding him.... other than that I look forward to the great scenery and interesting parcours. However it is a bit early for concrete predictions with the way things are in pro cycling at the moment.
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mayofan · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 1527 Location: good ol eire

true badbrains....very foolish to be speculating on who can beat basso given his team may not even be allowed ride the giro...and that clearly he wont be focusing on the giro and that the current atmosphere around him cannot be conducive to good training

Jackov · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Giro D´Italia

pantanifan · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:48 am Post subject:

Can anyone tell me how old Simoni is?

What are the chances of him:

a) finishing on the podium again, and
b) throwing a tantrum if things don't quite go as planned?

Guest · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:27 pm Post subject:

I can't see anyone beat Basso but I hope that he at least makes it look as if he's trying this year.

kellyrocheearly · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 2969 Location: Ireland/Boston

i think Simoni is turning 35 this year? I still think he'll make the podium but my money is on Cunego to win, he's turning 26 now and hitting his peak years. He'll win the Tour too if he gets a year with only one 50km plus TT on the route.
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crash48 · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject:

basso just needs to take a little less juice and it might make him look like he is trying.

And before Bartali gets into me, I think they are all on the juice so that still makes basso the strongest.