[Jayhawk]

As my commentary is frequently out of depth here (you guys really know your stuff), I appreciate the kind words about my blather and fluffery

This post has been edited by Jayhawk: 14 January 2012 - 09:21 PM

[N.B.O.L.]

Well it is getting close enough that we can start getting excited about it. I see that BMC has announced their start list.

Pinotti as leader with the entire team being: Pinotti, Ballan, Hushovd, Phinney, Mauro Santambrogio, Ivan Santaromita, Mathias Frank, Johan Tschoop and Danilo Wyss.

[Burkni]

Jayhawk, on 14 January 2012 - 09:20 PM, said:

As my commentary is frequently out of depth here (you guys really know your stuff), I appreciate the kind words about my blather and fluffery

Don't deride yourself Jayhawk, your posts are every bit as much at home here as everyone elses.

[Strategy]

Radioshack's year continues.

Jakob Fuglsang is out of the Giro with a knee injury - huge loss for Fuglsang and Danish cycling in general. This was supposed to be Fuglsangs big chance to finally show what he is capable of and to justify the hype around him in DK, and also to show the flag in the first ever Danish GT start.

Franck Schleck will replace him in the Giro. Given that his form was definitely not there for the Ardennes, perhaps he will be able to build on it to reach top form in the Giro. He is such a superb rider that a top placing should be within his reach, and I've always felt that he should have focused more on riding the Giro earlier in his career, as this is a much better race for him. But I do wonder how he is going to perform when forced to ride a Grand Tour that he did not want to participate in, did not prepare to ride, and for a team that clearly he is not very keen on.

[Burkni]

Trouble is that he won't have Andy around for "support" like in the 2010 Vuelta. Things really better shape up for RS in time for the Tour, Bruyneel is definitely not accustomed to such bad fortune.

[The Rake]

Strategy, on 29 April 2012 - 08:59 AM, said:

...But I do wonder how he is going to perform when forced to ride a Grand Tour that he did not want to participate in, did not prepare to ride, and for a team that clearly he is not very keen on.

Didn't harm Contador a few years ago

[Burkni]

The Rake, on 30 April 2012 - 09:25 AM, said:

Didn't harm Contador a few years ago

AS is a far, far cry from being Contador.

[MrHarm]

Burkni, on 30 April 2012 - 09:44 AM, said:

AS is a far, far cry from being Contador.

Ah, but weren't we talking about FS?

(That obviously invalidates your comment completely - hah! )

This post has been edited by MrHarm: 30 April 2012 - 12:19 PM

[Burkni]

MrHarm, on 30 April 2012 - 12:19 PM, said:

Ah, but weren't we talking about FS?

(That obviously invalidates your comment completely - hah! )

Err yeah ... Fränk being the much better GT rider

[Strategy]

The Rake, on 30 April 2012 - 09:25 AM, said:

Didn't harm Contador a few years ago

Franck does not have even close to the same mentality that Contador possesses.

Contador appears to be mentally incapable of riding a race without trying to win it. I am not, and will probably never be a big fan of AC, but that is one thing that I cannot help but admire about him. He is simply a Champion Racer - from helmet to toe clip.

The Schleck's are "mood" riders. They ride well if they feel good, and ride terribly when they feel bad. The result of that has been evident this spring. Maybe the prize of the Grand Tours can get them out of the funk and make them put forth their best - one would expect so - but to be honest, it would not surprise me at all if both of them flop this year.

[shag]

Strategy, on 03 May 2012 - 05:17 PM, said:

Contador appears to be mentally incapable of riding a race without trying to win it. I am not, and will probably never be a big fan of AC, but that is one thing that I cannot help but admire about him. He is simply a Champion Racer - from helmet to toe clip.

True and well put (though I can imagine readers of a younger vintage than you and I thinking "toe clip? ... WTF is that?")

[VdB]

Shag's signature reminded me of this news I read on Sporza today: the organisers have invited Wouter Weylandt's widow (and mother of his child) as honorary guest this year. She will attend the first 3 stages in Denmark and the TTT in Italy. Stage 3, the stage Weylandt crashed in, will more or less be dedicated to the late rider.

De Graeve (Weylandt's widow) said she accepted the invitation because "Italy is in our hearts. Not because of what it took from us, but because of what it has given us and will continue to give us. We are united in our memories of Wouter."

RCS also announced that it started a monetary fund for Wouter's daughter Alizée for when she turns 18.

All very classy and thoughtful. This is why the Giro is my favorite GT, over the Tour and Vuelta.

[Burkni]

So much class. Chapeau.

[mapeifan]

For US dwellers, Universal Sports Network will be showing the Giro live

[crockett]

mapeifan, on 04 May 2012 - 04:06 PM, said:

For US dwellers, Universal Sports Network will be showing the Giro live

Thanks! I just realized that USN is now part of the Dish Network package. I was getting ready to subscribe to RAI for the month, but I'll go this way. Now, for HD please!

[N.B.O.L.]

crockett, on 04 May 2012 - 11:46 PM, said:

Thanks! I just realized that USN is now part of the Dish Network package. I was getting ready to subscribe to RAI for the month, but I'll go this way. Now, for HD please!

Universal makes the signal available in HD, I don't know why DirecTV, and I assume from your comment Dish doesn't offer it that way.

[mapeifan]

N.B.O.L., on 05 May 2012 - 01:07 AM, said:

Universal makes the signal available in HD, I don't know why DirecTV, and I assume from your comment Dish doesn't offer it that way.

Yes, it is a huge letdown to have to watch the La Bella Corsa Rosa in standard def

This post has been edited by mapeifan: 05 May 2012 - 03:54 AM