GP Zurich is on this Sunday next and it's shaping up to be an interesting race.
Daniola DiLuca needs to secure a good placing to copper fasten his Pro-Tour. However he'll have some good company in Paolo Bettini, Ivan Basso, Popoyvch, Sastre.
This race threw up an unexpected winner last year and the parcours would tend to favour a tough roadman. if Vino was competing, I'd give him my vote. But he isn't - so I am going for Bettini especially as he looked like he had the legs last weekend.
Dark Horse ? Here is the kiss of death : Axel Merckx (if he's in the starting list).
This is a great and challenging course. I think it will be an excellent race. And in Di Luca's favor, it seems to be a course perfectly suited to his strengths.
I'd have to agree with Bettini... a great choice. I didn't see Axel on the start list, but I'm always a fan. I'd think Cunego will want to redeem a bit of this season and I see him doing a strong race. Flecha had a decent enough World Champs ... perhaps he can mix it up. Gerolsteiner is fielding a strong team with Rebellin / Totschnig / Wegmann.
This is a great and challenging course. I think it will be an excellent race. And in Di Luca's favor, it seems to be a course perfectly suited to his strengths.
I'd have to agree with Bettini... a great choice. I didn't see Axel on the start list, but I'm always a fan. I'd think Cunego will want to redeem a bit of this season and I see him doing a strong race. Flecha had a decent enough World Champs ... perhaps he can mix it up. Gerolsteiner is fielding a strong team with Rebellin / Totschnig / Wegmann.
Rebellin is a very astute choice - Tcklyde. He had a super season last year and he's been a bit subdued this year in comparison but he's usually there or thereabouts.
Cunego of course is starting : he might try to get something out of what has been (for him) a guiet season.
Wesseman (if he starts) might be a darkish horse (then again, I've give him the kiss of death now, haven't I !!!!!!!!!!)
Rebellin is a very astute choice - Tcklyde. He had a super season last year and he's been a bit subdued this year in comparison but he's usually there or thereabouts.
Cunego of course is starting : he might try to get something out of what has been (for him) a guiet season.
Wesseman (if he starts) might be a darkish horse (then again, I've give him the kiss of death now, haven't I !!!!!!!!!!)
Cunego is in a great shape has won 2 semi classics in September and has to do something in order to end a bad season (he was ill) with 2 great wins (Zürich and Lombardia).
Rebellin, Flecha, and Bettini have all won in the past. I vaguely remember Ullrich coming in second a few years ago, but not until I just checked cyclingnews did I know that he has come in second four times! Some guys just can't catch a break.
Great win for Bettini today. he is a classy rider. In dreadful cycling conditions, he made the course look pretty easy. GP Zurich is a tough race - plenty of climbing and drags and Paolo made it all look easy.
We're fortunate over here - we have live coverage of the last two major European races Paris-Tours and Giro di Lombadi on Eurosport.
Great win for Bettini today. he is a classy rider. In dreadful cycling conditions, he made the course look pretty easy. GP Zurich is a tough race - plenty of climbing and drags and Paolo made it all look easy.
We're fortunate over here - we have live coverage of the last two major European races Paris-Tours and Giro di Lombadi on Eurosport.
god bless Eurosport - even though Duffers hushed tones homage to Ekimov and Armstrong was just slightly over the top....prefer him to Harmon who wets himself whenever a) and English speaking rider or b) a Discovery rider does anything - including simply turning the pedals...
interesting news about Backstedt trying the durny paced hour record...
and a great win by Bettini - kissing his good luck charm gold medal as he crossed the line - there's a lot of talk here about Riis and Bruyneel but Lefevre is the business - the QS tactics were spot on today - 3 in the lead group as a bridge for Bettini. What with the Worlds (well, Boonen is a QS rider) and now Zurich, not a bad week for QS...
god bless Eurosport - even though Duffers hushed tones homage to Ekimov and Armstrong was just slightly over the top....prefer him to Harmon who wets himself whenever a) and English speaking rider or b) a Discovery rider does anything - including simply turning the pedals...
interesting news about Backstedt trying the durny paced hour record...
and a great win by Bettini - kissing his good luck charm gold medal as he crossed the line - there's a lot of talk here about Riis and Bruyneel but Lefevre is the business - the QS tactics were spot on today - 3 in the lead group as a bridge for Bettini. What with the Worlds (well, Boonen is a QS rider) and now Zurich, not a bad week for QS...
Micron - yeah it's been a great week for QS. Lefevre is a very very canny manager. He's the best in the business, I would say. He always gets results and has been around for years.
I liked Duffers talking about PB and the Dave Rayner fund : Bettini seems like a thoroughly nice bloke. You could hear the respect that DD has for him.
Yeah and Big Max going for the derni record - that should be interesting. Are you travelling to Newport ?
god bless Eurosport - even though Duffers hushed tones homage to Ekimov and Armstrong was just slightly over the top....prefer him to Harmon who wets himself whenever a) and English speaking rider or b) a Discovery rider does anything - including simply turning the pedals...
I always assumed that DH was an Ullrich/Mobile fan. Did you notice how DH pronounces Kloden's name ? He uses the German pronounciation of AK's name - sounds like Kluuden, rather than Klooden.
