Ivan Basso..where are you

Chris_E said:

anyone heard what he's up to? He seems to have just dropped off the face of the earth. I know he's starting the Giro, but what's his form like? Is he a contender for the Tour?

I don't know but I will see if anyone that I can contact might shed some light on the subject. I will get back to you if I get anything.

jhuskey said:

I don't know but I will see if anyone that I can contact might shed some light on the subject. I will get back to you if I get anything.

😕 you mean check cyclingnews.com and google?
Basso hasnt been doing anything unusual - he's taken part in races sparingly like the other GT contenders.And yes , of course he will be a TdF contender unless injury prevents him.He's going for a Giro-TdF double though which seems a bit optimistic.
- form now is irrelevant to what form will be like in July.The Dauphine is about the only decent guide to TdF form and even then last year Lance proved otherwise.

Chris_E said:

anyone heard what he's up to? He seems to have just dropped off the face of the earth. I know he's starting the Giro, but what's his form like? Is he a contender for the Tour?

18th, I think, in Leige. Pretty good.

Check in when it starts going vertical. He might be able to get the GC if Cunego/Simoni leads to acrimony and division within LC; however, disagreement didn't stop Cunego last year...

Roadrash Dunc said:

😕 you mean check cyclingnews.com and google?
Basso hasnt been doing anything unusual - he's taken part in races sparingly like the other GT contenders.And yes , of course he will be a TdF contender unless injury prevents him.He's going for a Giro-TdF double though which seems a bit optimistic.
- form now is irrelevant to what form will be like in July.The Dauphine is about the only decent guide to TdF form and even then last year Lance proved otherwise.

No, I mean talk to people I know that are aligned with European cycling and find out if they have heard any news.
I couldn't tell you a thing about Lance but have somewhat of a casual contact with some other teams outside the US.
Of course even first hand knowledge is just theory when compared to actual results.

jhuskey said:

I don't know but I will see if anyone that I can contact might shed some light on the subject. I will get back to you if I get anything.

I heard don't know where that he is riding the Giro for his mother that just died of cancer and the Tour for himself. His lack of racing seems to be that he plans to ride into form during the GIro (the first 10 days are pretty easy) and then continue to the tour. It might be a lot to ask for the Giro Tour double, but who knows reall. I don't think that he has the TT ability to win the tour anyway.

Basso has been training quietly, and apart from showing his face out front on the final climbs of the LBL, has had a quiet spring.

He is talking big at the Giro, so let us see what he does there. Appears to be quite confirdent. Simoni and Cunego have been showing fine form at the Giro degli Appennini and the Romandie... Let us see, should be a good Giro. 😄

i hope Basso is in good form... i hope he is just bluffing (which he may well be doing as this years tour is his best oppourtunity).

i want Basso to give Lance another worthy challenge 😄

Ruff_Ryder said:

i want Basso to give Lance another worthy challenge 😄

But IB never gave LA any worthy challenge in 04. He was behind from the get-go, with the TTT and the Prologue. Then, he stuck with LA a bit in the mountains, but the ITTs came nd Basso died. 😉

Don't forget CSC and USPS were secretly part of the Livestrong alliance, which collaborated together to prevent any evil German riders from scuppering Lance's plans to achieve the 'miracle' and gain maximum US dollars.

IB was after all acting as a super-domestique for Lance last year 😉

That's why I think Basso is going to be 100% at the giro and after that he just looks if he can do something in the tour. The giro is I think his biggest goal, because he knows he can't beat lance just yet...

musette said:

But IB never gave LA any worthy challenge in 04. He was behind from the get-go, with the TTT and the Prologue. Then, he stuck with LA a bit in the mountains, but the ITTs came nd Basso died. 😉

Dead Star said:

Don't forget CSC and USPS were secretly part of the Livestrong alliance, which collaborated together to prevent any evil German riders from scuppering Lance's plans to achieve the 'miracle' and gain maximum US dollars.

IB was after all acting as a super-domestique for Lance last year 😉

I am gratified to see that you are not bitter.