(I guess there is a spoiler in here somewhere...)

What's up with Dario Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) ? what else has he raced? or shown up at?
He's not young young...30 years old or so.

During the Giro, Phil and Paul mentioned that he was working seriously for Pettachi (chasing down breaks and even some lead out work) but still hanging with the climbers in the mountains. So I thought, no big deal, this Giro does not have the quality...so he is hanging easily enough. Decent CG finish in the Giro.

Now he hangs with some of the big boys in Switzerland. Granted, this climb was probably not super steep as JU probably big gear ground it out...and it was probably a nicely paced ascent. But, there are some serious names there.

If he does not have domestique duties for Pettachi and can ride for himself, he may top 10...but will Aitor Gonzalez show up in form as the leader?

As I was just thinking that it's hard to draw too much from Switzerland on Ullrich's form (or from Spain on Heras' form) because there really aren't that many big hitters there you post this. The competition at the Giro was of a much higher calibre if you want to draw some conclusions about Cioni's rise in status as a GC contender. He's a former mountain biker, who has primarily been a domestique for the last couple of years (with Mapei before, I think?). There really isn't anybody at Switzerland other than Ullrich that could be considered anything but a huge long shot to be in for a podium shot a Grand Tour. Toschnig and Cioni are heading in that direction, Julich and Guerini are top 10s at best now.

As for Aitor he's racing without distinction in Spain at Catalunya if I saw his name correctly. I think the only way he shows up at the Tour with anykind of shot at the GC is if he spends some serious time with his former Kelme Docs between now and then :-) I think he lost over 2 minutes to Pediguero in a 30 minute uphill TT today.

The real dark horses who have been below the radar largely are guys like Basso, Pecharroman (not sure if he is riding the tour), Rasmussen, even Simoni if he were to show up on top form. Frigo? Looking at the preliminary start list there might be 20-25 guys with a serious shot at a top 8 finish or so, maybe 10 if on their best game who could make the podium.

Thanks. The mountain bike cross over explains it fairly well then.

I do not see Cioni as a dark horse for anything other than the 'top 10'...but like you said, there are a good 20-25 or so that some chance at top 10. I was just impressed at his domestiquing and holding a CG position.

Totschnig is not a great climber, more like Ullrich, hold in the mountains and TT. While Guerini is a true climber, he was riding for JU. Moos maybe a real deal climber, but he was working for Oscar C, so that explains a little time loss for him. So, maybe not as impressive as I thought.

Agree about JU in Switzerland. While he is looking tough and fit, we cannot tell if he is top shelf yet. But, a win would boost the morale a bit.

Cioni is named as only an alternate for the Tour team. Possibly too much work since the beginning of the Giro?

he's done a lot of work, he deserves a rest.

The other thing about Fassa's lineup...Pettachi is getting Pozzato for lead outs. Pozzato may be the second fastest in the Tour (sorry Cippo).

Dario Cioni is one of the great revelations of the year. The finest revelation is of course Damiano Cunego.

Cioni, the mountain biker is the rider who chased the gap on Alberto Simoni's two misguided attacks on the pink jersey during the Giro. Cunego was being gracious not to hunt down and slap Simoni.

Incredibly, Dario Cioni chased down Simoni on two great mountain stages. On the first one, he caught Simoni and Cunego sprinted for the win. On the second one, he chased down Simoni and Garzelli and closed the gap down to 1 minute.

Cioni finished 4rth place in the Giro and I think should be the GC leader of Fassa Bartolo. He earned his way into the top dog position.

francois

Results of the Italian National Championships Time Trial Stage. Basso's been spending time in the wind tunnel at MIT to improve his TT and Cioni (better known for his climbing) put 22 seconds on him! It looks like Cioni will be a Fassa Bartolo reserve for the TdF...



1 Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) 54.06.62 (48.798 km/h)
2 Andrea Peron (Team CSC) 0.05.18
3 Marco Pinotti (Lampre) 0.20.88
4 Ivan Basso (Team CSC) 0.22.33
5 Giairo Ermeti (U.C. Palazzago Av Isol.) 0.49.56
6 Marzio Bruseghin (Fassa Bortolo) 1.05.19
7 Manuel Quinziato (Lampre) 1.20.05
8 Filippo Pozzato (Fassa Bortolo) 1.31.19
9 Domenico Passuello (Amore & Vita Beretta) 1.50.48
10 Fabio Borghesi (Team Miche) 2.02.05
11 Stefano Guerrini (Team Nippo) 2.17.26
12 Alex Gualandi (Asfra Racing Team) 2.17.84
13 Roberto Sgambelluri (Vini Caldirola Nobili Ru) 2.20.94
14 Gianluca Sironi (Vini Caldirola Nobili Ru) 2.29.95
15 Dario Andriotto (Vini Caldirola Nobili Ru) 2.31.48
16 Daniele Contrini (Team LPR) 2.35.90
17 Marco Milesi (Vini Caldirola Nobili Ru) 2.46.28
18 Gianpaolo Mondini (Team Salieri) 2.46.59
19 Andrea Rossi (De Nardi) 2.50.36
20 Gabriele Bosisio (Tenax) 3.11.53
21 Dario Benenati (Ima Moro Brugnotto) 3.12.77
22 Francesco Secchiari (Domina Vacanze Elitron) 3.14.37
23 Nicola Loda (Tenax) 3.24.13
24 Alessandro Donati (Acqua e Sapone) 3.32.25
25 Massimo Boglia (Team LPR) 3.34.33
26 Rinaldo Nocentini (Acqua e Sapone) 3.38.66
27 Francesco Failli (Domina Vacanze Elitron) 4.00.95
28 Daniele Balestri (Team Icet Stilneon) 4.49.33
29 Stefano Ciuffi (Amore & Vita Beretta) 4.57.21
30 Daniele Di Batte (Team Casini Vellutex) 5.34.94
31 Gianmario Rovaletti (Team Icet Stilneon) 6.06.79
32 Daniele Della Tommasina (Team Nippo) 6.38.31
33 Alessandro Brendolin (G.S. Perutnina) 7.12.93

Great post, thanks. Not that I'd call myself a Cioni fan, but if he continues this year
with quality rides and continues growth, he need to be on the GC radar soon.

Basso been working on the TT at MIT and 22 second back.

Cioni is having a heck of a year. A converted mountain biker wins the national TT. Is this more because of he just has the guns and had a heck of a ride? or maybe is this more like Ullrich climbing in Tour de Suise? and it's all relative....who else was there?

Peron is a good all arounder. Decent TT'er, second place.
Pinotti, strong man, 3rd?

Heck, Pozzato is a young gun sprinter and he still top 10'ed. I know the Italians are not great time trialists. Over the last decade, most of their TT training was probably more pharmacutical than anything else. But, I don't see any name in the list to say that this was a quality win for Cioni. If it is not a quality win, Basso is still going to be plastered in the TT come July. Am I missing someone of TT quality in the list?

(I'm not trying to demean Cioni's ride, he is having a heck of a year!)

to be forgetting the main thing. The Tour is just SO much harder than all these races. (Giro included). the pace is faster, the race is longer and harder than any of these 3-5 day mini's or the Giro (no piano riding in France as everyday is nasty). it's why IMHO Mayo will be hurt as he lacks the team depth, remember he and Haimar alone trying to counter Tylers break? The Tour eats the lesser contenders and their teams. Cioni has had a great season and will continue to improve. He needs rest and he probably lacks the legs right now to compete. All the Tour could do is hurt his psyche with a big dose of "Welcome to the Big Leagues". I think Simoni suffered this last year and we'll have to 'check his head' as well as his legs this year.