Going into 2008, the Italian teams (or Italian-loaded teams) except Liquigas seem to have at least an experienced GC-type rider to ride for the overall at the Giro -- e.g., Lampre with Cunego, Acqua & Sapone with Garzelli, Saunier with Ricco, LPR now has DiLuca and Savoldelli, Selle Italia has Simoni. Liquigas has Beltran but he's being saved for the Tour and the Vuelta.

So who is Liquigas going to throw to challenge for a GC placing at the Giro? Would it be Vicenzo Nibali?? Or Pelizotti? Or someone else (I can't figure out who)?

Going into 2008, the Italian teams (or Italian-loaded teams) except Liquigas seem to have at least an experienced GC-type rider to ride for the overall at the Giro -- e.g., Lampre with Cunego, Acqua & Sapone with Garzelli, Saunier with Ricco, LPR now has DiLuca and Savoldelli, Selle Italia has Simoni. Liquigas has Beltran but he's being saved for the Tour and the Vuelta.

So who is Liquigas going to throw to challenge for a GC placing at the Giro? Would it be Vicenzo Nibali?? Or Pelizotti? Or someone else (I can't figure out who)?

This is what you're worried about on a Thanksgiving evening?

Does it really even matter? Nah, most likely not. Save the Giro talk for sometime near the time that it starts, in about 6 months maybe?

This is what you're worried about on a Thanksgiving evening?

Does it really even matter? Nah, most likely not. Save the Giro talk for sometime near the time that it starts, in about 6 months maybe?
On Thanksgiving evening you were replying to a post that you find frivolous for posting on Thanksgiving?

Somewhat ironic.

He finished 9th last year 12th the year before - he's a climbing specialist - he's 29 - that would be my guess. /h

Liquigas may be in a similar situation to Discovery in this year's Tour, with a proven consistent but unspectacular gc man (Leipheimer, Pellizoti), and a young, unproven rider with greater star potential. Nibali is still very young (22?), but he's already a strong time-trialer. If the rumors of four TTs in next year's Giro are correct, and if, like Contador and Andy Schleck this year, Nibali comes of age as a gc rider next year, he could end up placing higher than Pellizoti.

Liquigas may be in a similar situation to Discovery in this year's Tour, with a proven consistent but unspectacular gc man (Leipheimer, Pellizoti), and a young, unproven rider with greater star potential. Nibali is still very young (22?), but he's already a strong time-trialer. If the rumors of four TTs in next year's Giro are correct, and if, like Contador and Andy Schleck this year, Nibali comes of age as a gc rider next year, he could end up placing higher than Pellizoti.

LPR signed DiLuca, and Liquigas' only big post-season signing this week was Bennati -- a sprinter. So I agree, it would have to be Nibali.

This is what you're worried about on a Thanksgiving evening?

Does it really even matter? Nah, most likely not. Save the Giro talk for sometime near the time that it starts, in about 6 months maybe?

This pro cycling board goes on life support in the off-season -- just trying to wake people up a little.:23:

Also, who will be the non-Italian threats to the gc? Will Popo try again? I seem to remember hearing schleck is doing the tour this year instead? Robert Gesink I think will be riding the giro this year and has some serious potential. What about Astana?

Didn't they hire Daniele Benatti? Maybe they'll just become a classics/sprinter team...

Didn't they hire Daniele Benatti? Maybe they'll just become a classics/sprinter team...

Agreed, nothing wrong with being a Quick-Step type team. You have Pozzato for the moderates and some sprints. Bennati for the total sprints. Kreuzinger (maybe?) for the TT's and Pellizoti/Nibali for a mountain win. Nothing sells bikes like a stack of stage wins :p.

What about Astana?

Horner.