Giro picks

Bro Deal said:

With Cunego in good form and his new found time trialing ability, picking the winner might be too easy. Pick the podium.

1) Cunego
2) Simoni
3) Pellizotti

I am pulling for Simoni but how can you bet against Cunego? I think Di Luca might melt down in the mountains and leave Pellizotti, who has looked good in small stage races this Spring, to take over for Liquigas.

I also want Simoni to win but it's hard to say if his losses in the TTs can be kept low enough. I think Di Luca could well surprise a few folks. Not sure what happened to him last year but I saw him on the Mortirolo and he looked like he had died a thousand deaths - reckon he's got his preparation right this year but not right enough to win.

1)Simoni
2) DiLuca
3)Cunego

Rolfrae said:

I also want Simoni to win but it's hard to say if his losses in the TTs can be kept low enough. I think Di Luca could well surprise a few folks. Not sure what happened to him last year but I saw him on the Mortirolo and he looked like he had died a thousand deaths - reckon he's got his preparation right this year but not right enough to win.

1)Simoni
2) DiLuca
3)Cunego

I'd say Cunego he seems pumped this year and over all of his sicknesses. Simoni I'd love to see do well because he is a legend and he exposed Basso for the freak he is...... Il Falco ? I'll wait for the 6000 page dossier to come out before I comment....

where can one even find a startlist in English?

I do not think that DiLuca has a three week grand tour in his legs.

It will be between Simoni, Cunego and Savoldelli, IMVHO.

May the best man win.

I am beginning to secretly cheer on Simoni the loudmouth... although I have always liked Cunego.

1. Simoni
2. Cunego
3. Popovych

1. Savoldelli. His win two years ago was awesome, but Zoncolan will be his enemy I think. He has a very strong team this year.
2. Simoni. Because he has more experience than Cunego. Also has a very strong team.
3. Cunego.
4. Popovych.
5. Di Luca
6. Casar
7. Cioni
8. Andy Schleck
9. Ghisalberti
10. Mazzoleni

Just checking i'm not going delusional here, Hincapie is riding the Giro?

Oh, and for the points competition: Bettini, Haedo, Petacchi.

Eldrack said:

1. Savoldelli. His win two years ago was awesome, but Zoncolan will be his enemy I think. He has a very strong team this year.
2. Simoni. Because he has more experience than Cunego. Also has a very strong team.
3. Cunego.

I don't know. I am a fan of Savoldelli, but he does not climb as well as Simoni or Cunego, and he won't be able to compensate for that in ITTs if Cunego continues his streak of good time trials.

Bro Deal said:

I don't know. I am a fan of Savoldelli, but he does not climb as well as Simoni or Cunego, and he won't be able to compensate for that in ITTs if Cunego continues his streak of good time trials.

We will have to see what happens - Simoni will definitely be out to prove that he would have won more had there not been Basso and others. He will bust open the field on the climbs, and we will see if Cunego's improvements in time trialing have not come at the cost of his climbing ability...

As for Savoldelli, he may gain from some Simoni - Cunego rivalry...

Powerful Pete said:

We will have to see what happens - Simoni will definitely be out to prove that he would have won more had there not been Basso and others. He will bust open the field on the climbs, and we will see if Cunego's improvements in time trialing have not come at the cost of his climbing ability...

As for Savoldelli, he may gain from some Simoni - Cunego rivalry...

Good point about what Cunego's TTing may have cost him.

This Giro is looking to be very good. You take the ETs out of the running and you end up with a competitive race. Last year was a joke.

Bro Deal said:

Good point about what Cunego's TTing may have cost him.

This Giro is looking to be very good. You take the ETs out of the running and you end up with a competitive race. Last year was a joke.

You are right. I am looking forward to this Giro! In spite of the doping scandals... 😠

Frihed89 said:

where can one even find a startlist in English?

velonews.com12215.0.htmlOpen ↗

JRMDC said:

velonews.com12215.0.htmlOpen ↗

Note that Hamilton is not on Tinkoff's Giro team. Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

Frihed89 said:

where can one even find a startlist in English?

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/12215.0.html

My bad, someone already posted it above. 🙁

I'll pick:
Simoni
Cunego
Garzelli
DiLuca
Caucchioli
Pellizotti
Popovich
Savoldelli
Cioni
Mazzoleni
Rasmussen
Zubeldia
Ricco
QUOTE=Bro Deal]With Cunego in good form and his new found time trialing ability, picking the winner might be too easy. Pick the podium.

1) Cunego
2) Simoni
3) Pellizotti

I am pulling for Simoni but how can you bet against Cunego? I think Di Luca might melt down in the mountains and leave Pellizotti, who has looked good in small stage races this Spring, to take over for Liquigas.[/QUOTE]

I think on podium in Milano will be Cunego, Simoni and Savoldelli. With Savoldelli not better than third. Cunego can win the Giro if he neutralizes Saunier Duval's climbing squad. With that kind of climbing lineup Saunier should completely destroy the field on those brutal climbs. And the only man, in my opinion, who can respond in mountains is Cunego. So, with his latest TTing improvements Cunego has slight advantage.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Zoncolan should decide the winner between Cunego and Simoni (Simoni has to attack strongest he can), Savoldelli will lose plenty of time, but in TTs and with "limiting losses" climbing should get to third spot.

Double post -- now eliminated from this thread ....

I agree Simoni will probably win it, with Cunego second. If he's lucky in limiting his losses on the steepest climbs, Il Falco will be third, but I doubt it given some of the climbs. Third could be somebody like Popovych or Andy Schleck.

1. Simoni
2. Cunego
3. Garzelli

hehe I haven't been here in a while and I'm surprised no one has picked Hincapie... I guess all the Lance Monkeys finally gave up after TdF '06.
I pick Hincapie :p