Basso, I think! ;)
Maybe Cunego
Then Simoni.
My heart wants Danielson. :)

i don't care....i just want to see those unpaved switchback climbs!!!

Basso, I think! ;)
Maybe Cunego
Then Simoni.
My heart wants Danielson. :)

Gonchar

and call any of the 3 Liquigas guys. (Cioni, Garzelli, Pellizotti)

I think Basso will win though.

I think Liquigas's 3 heads and Lampre's 2 will work against them.

dark horse Salvodelli

It's hard not to pick Cunego. He looks to be in the same condition as last year. I got the feeling that he wasn't allowed to do as much damage as he was capable of last Giro; it seemed like his team was restraining him on some mountain stages. This year he'll probably have carte blanche

Simoni looks to be in better shape than last year and he's looking for vengeance. He doesn't have any more illusions of doing well in both the Giro and the Tour, while Cunego does.

Even though I like his refreshing attitude, Basso should win one GT before planning on winning two. I'd like to seem him win, but I don't think he will. Riis, of course, is a huge plus.

Garzelli's days of being a real contender are over. He can't climb with Cunego or Simoni.

I've been watching Pellizotti's Spring campaign and he looks to be in form. But he's one of those guys who is always with lead group in the mountains but never seems to be able to do more than hang on. Top five material but not top two.

I've always like Savoldelli, but he can't climb with Cunego and Simoni. His time trialing seems to have improved. I can't seem him winning unless Simoni starts handing out candies to his team and other contenders.

Honchar needs to have improved his climbing to deal with an unrestrained Cunego. He looks great this year and maybe he can do it. He'll have to deal with the team tactics of Cunego and Simoni, though.

Danielson is untested in a GT and his team is not strong. Mentally he seems weak. I tend to think handling the race itself will be enough for him to deal with.

My brain says Cunego. My heart says Simoni.

My podium picks

Cunego
Gonchar
Salvodelli


Basso may take that second or third spot, but I kind of doubt it. Danielson will not place in the top ten (and it pains me to predict that :( )

Gonchar

Read my mind.
Solid mountain helpers in Belli and Ivanov and Gonchar is friggin rock solid, yep I like him.
As an aside, how about Tom Steels leading out Robbie for Davitamon or vice versa, yikes.

and call any of the 3 Liquigas guys. (Cioni, Garzelli, Pellizotti)

I think Basso will win though.

I think Liquigas's 3 heads and Lampre's 2 will work against them.

dark horse Salvodelli


Make that 4, as Wegelius has been on storming form lately, Although Charlie is a content worker it seems.

Kid Rocket- aka Cunego.

Danielson goes in with almost no pressure, good form and a great team for Grand Tours, he may surprise some people with a top 10 finish. If he TT's well as he is capable, maybe even on the podium.

Basso may disappoint.

Not Basso, probably Cunego. I haven't seen any evidence that Basso has the explosiveness to match true climbers like Cunego, Simoni, etc. (Although he did do OK at Lombardy last year.) The climbs at last year's TDF were long, drawn-out battles of attrition where Postal (read Landis) rode everyone off Armstrong's wheel. Simoni and Cunego both have much more violent, attacking styles.
Although I'd love to see Garzelli take the win for Liquigas, I think it will come down to a Lampre internal brawl. And in that case, Simoni might just come out on top. He seems to have better form than last year, and he's been around much longer than Cunego so, if need be, he probably can call in some favors from other teams.

Simoni will win. This year Cunego won't be coming out of no where. GS will want to save face in the worst way I imagine.

I'd bet on Simoni; Lampre has said that Simoni will be their top rider for the Giro, and Cunego will be saved for the Tour. That may not mean anything, given that last year Simoni was supposed to be their #1, but I think that now that Cunego has emerged as a hot GC rider, they'll try to spread out the talent. Simoni is determined to bounce back after what he considers a betrayal last year, and he looks to be on form. I think Basso and Cunego will be saving something for the tour. That said, Cunego is a freakin' phenomenon, certainly not to be discounted.

I'd bet on Simoni; Lampre has said that Simoni will be their top rider for the Giro, and Cunego will be saved for the Tour. That may not mean anything, given that last year Simoni was supposed to be their #1, but I think that now that Cunego has emerged as a hot GC rider, they'll try to spread out the talent. Simoni is determined to bounce back after what he considers a betrayal last year, and he looks to be on form. I think Basso and Cunego will be saving something for the tour. That said, Cunego is a freakin' phenomenon, certainly not to be discounted.


On more than one occasion Cunego has said he is going to defend his title. And honestly I dont know how they could possibly have the illusion of wining the Tour no matter how strong a climber he is. He can't Time trial to save his life and that team will go the full 2.5 minutes down on the TTT.

Anyway, I am looking forward to Simoni cleaning house, but I think everyone is underestimating Tommy D. He sounds humble but will eat you alive if you aren't carefull. He is a rider that can attack from the back of a pack of 10 and catch everyone off guard as they watch their rivals. And yes he can Time trial.

If by the grace of god he can figure out a good recovery schedule........ I can see him catching a podium spot. I say it goes

Tommy D
Simoni
Basso.

The ONLY reason I put Tommy D up top, is that he is the only guy that can do it all, and I can see it hapening. So I will go out on a limb.

And peterpen, The term True climbers I think is getting attached to too many people. Lance has an EXTREMELY explosive attacking style, and that is AFTER long grueling climbs. Basso kept up with him in arguably Lances most impressive victory to date. If Basso has the legs he did goign into the Tour, he should be able to stay with any of those guys through the first two weeks at least.

But I am most looking forward to Cunego, Tommy and Simoni going at it on THIS

http://www.socalvelo.com/images/Races/stelvio.jpg

but if Cunego goes down 2.5 minutes in the TTT so does Simoni. I think the teamwork of CSC and Disco will give them certain advantages on certain stages that could be crucial.
Many of these Italian Teams haven't done the Tour, only Simoni has any experience dealing with them and his experience wasn't shall we say, pleasant.

Simoni will win. This year Cunego won't be coming out of no where. GS will want to save face in the worst way I imagine.
I agree.

On more than one occasion Cunego has said he is going to defend his title. And honestly I dont know how they could possibly have the illusion of wining the Tour no matter how strong a climber he is. He can't Time trial to save his life and that team will go the full 2.5 minutes down on the TTT.

Anyway, I am looking forward to Simoni cleaning house, but I think everyone is underestimating Tommy D. He sounds humble but will eat you alive if you aren't carefull. He is a rider that can attack from the back of a pack of 10 and catch everyone off guard as they watch their rivals. And yes he can Time trial.

If by the grace of god he can figure out a good recovery schedule........ I can see him catching a podium spot. I say it goes

Tommy D
Simoni
Basso.

The ONLY reason I put Tommy D up top, is that he is the only guy that can do it all, and I can see it hapening. So I will go out on a limb.

And peterpen, The term True climbers I think is getting attached to too many people. Lance has an EXTREMELY explosive attacking style, and that is AFTER long grueling climbs. Basso kept up with him in arguably Lances most impressive victory to date. If Basso has the legs he did goign into the Tour, he should be able to stay with any of those guys through the first two weeks at least.

But I am most looking forward to Cunego, Tommy and Simoni going at it on THIS

http://www.socalvelo.com/images/Races/stelvio.jpg

That climb looks like fun!!!

That climb looks like fun!!!
It depends which way you're going... :D

Danielson will not place in the top ten (and it pains me to predict that :( )

I think you are right, based on what I have been hearing Tom say. He is there just for Il Falco. 'It is just for learning how to ride a grand tour'

Is he bluffing or what? 2 weeks and we shall know.

I think you are right, based on what I have been hearing Tom say. He is there just for Il Falco. 'It is just for learning how to ride a grand tour'

Is he bluffing or what? 2 weeks and we shall know.

When you show up for a race do you know how it will turn-out?

He's probably got bigger questions in his mind than any of us here as to how he will perform in a 3 week stage race against some of the best climbers and TTers in the world.

Even if he wins the thing, I don't think he will have been "bluffing".

Even if he wins the thing, I don't think he will have been "bluffing".

Particularly since he's never done a GT, and he's not the only one on that team in that situation - McCartney and Hesjedal are still on their first continental RR season.
Danielson held up nicely and delivered in Georgia, and this is a test of an entirely different magnitude. Considering this year's Giro field, Disco's team is kinda small beer and it's clear that Brunyeel's goals are somewhat modest. Which is probably best for a potential (eventual) GC contender's first GT. Hope he does well.

Looks like "Switchback Heartattack". Oh my freakin gosh.

This kid has got an axe to grind with some Italiens. Don't rule him out at least if Disco needs him to break open a couple of stages.

Cunego showed at Romandie that he's worked hard at his TTing (as has Basso - CSC report that wind tunnel tests and new position have made him maybe 5 mins faster) and there's nowt wrong with his climbing legs - he actuallyn looks a stronger contender than last year - and he has the experience of actually winning a GT.