tomorrow will begin the tough tough road ahead in Giro. of the " favorites " who is likely to crack and perhap abannon?? i go first and say: Paolo Savedelli ( sorry can't spell his name ) you know the guy who used to ride for team disco.

Savoldelli can use the downhill to the finish to his advantage, if he can get over the mountains with the others though. He's going to suffer in monutain top finishes later on. He crashed today so we'll see how he does but I don't expect much from him.

I think Gibo will start to show himself, Cunego too but he doesn't look too strong (maybe he stopped the Chechini treatments?), maybe he's bluffing, he hasn't lost much time so if he get's his 2004 legs on, he could do well. DiLuca will eventually start to fade and suffer more. Maybe other will rise, it should be interesting in the next few days...

Good call. Savoldelli cracked like fine china today...seems to be out of the GC battle.

By Monday I suspect we'll know the likely winner of this year's Giro. Andy Schleck is looking to be the biggest surprise. I bet he ends up on the podium. The TT tomorrow is a key stage for Cunego. He needs to show up and put in a good effort. I said he'd beat Gibo in both TTs, so don't go letting me down now!

Good call. Savoldelli cracked like fine china today...seems to be out of the GC battle.

Savoldelli is done. The battle for the podium is among four guys: DiLuca, Gibo, Schleck and Cunego. DiLuca has the good fortune of his team's stage 1 TTT which gives him about an extra minute or so above the other three, and now he's tacked on bonus seconds from his two stage wins.

The good thing is that the GC is still very much up in the air; great, great race this year.

Savoldelli is done. The battle for the podium is among four guys: DiLuca, Gibo, Schleck and Cunego. DiLuca has the good fortune of his team's stage 1 TTT which gives him about an extra minute or so above the other three, and now he's tacked on bonus seconds from his two stage wins.

The good thing is that the GC is still very much up in the air; great, great race this year.
I think the battle for the podium is between these three:

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070524/capt.1e02302e61bd4fd38df14173db757025.tour_of_ital y_cycling_bri114.jpg

Seriously, I agree, DiLuca, Gibo, Cunego and Schleck seem to be above the rest of the field now that the real race has begun.

Bruszhegin? Mazzoleni? Outside shots at the podium? I ask because I don't really know. Seems like DiLuca and Gibo are solid bets, and the 3rd spot is likely Schleck. I'd guess Bruszhegin is working for Cunego? And maybe Mazzoleni is only up there because Astana had such a fine opening TTT.

The great job Liquigas did in that opening TTT, 'specially compared to S-D is really starting to play out.

By Monday I suspect we'll know the likely winner of this year's Giro. Andy Schleck is looking to be the biggest surprise. I bet he ends up on the podium. The TT tomorrow is a key stage for Cunego. He needs to show up and put in a good effort. I said he'd beat Gibo in both TTs, so don't go letting me down now!

Is he contending/in for the white jersey now?

By Monday I suspect we'll know the likely winner of this year's Giro. Andy Schleck is looking to be the biggest surprise. I bet he ends up on the podium. The TT tomorrow is a key stage for Cunego. He needs to show up and put in a good effort. I said he'd beat Gibo in both TTs, so don't go letting me down now!

Oh to be sure I will be watching like a hawk. At first I thought I might be losing this bet now I think not so. Gibo is def showing hes got the good but DiLuca has show the hes taken to the next step in a effort to win the Giro however I am not sure he will hold out in the mtns. Lampre looks weak as a team while SD is showing its strength in the mtns Piepoli was amazing today. Schlek is amazing but the return od Gibo in the sprint to the line to day wa great to watch The Killer def had to use every bit of what he had to hold Gibo off I think Gibo was suprised to see him fading and had been just trying to stay close, grewat finish by the both of em.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/giro07/giro0711/fs042.jpg

Maglia bianca for Schleck. Today's stage did nothing to change that status.

Bruszhegin? Mazzoleni? Outside shots at the podium? I ask because I don't really know. Seems like DiLuca and Gibo are solid bets, and the 3rd spot is likely Schleck. I'd guess Bruszhegin is working for Cunego? And maybe Mazzoleni is only up there because Astana had such a fine opening TTT.

The great job Liquigas did in that opening TTT, 'specially compared to S-D is really starting to play out.
Mazzoleni is a strong rider (he was the main helper on Saeco when Cunego won wasn't he?) and might have the green light now that his team captain Savoldelli has lost his chances but where he sits on GC now, I don't think he can take some time out of the big names ahead of him on GC, namely Cunego and Schleck.

Bruseghin will help Cunego so will probably fade out of the top 10 overall as stages go by.

Oh to be sure I will be watching like a hawk. At first I thought I might be losing this bet now I think not so. Gibo is def showing hes got the good but DiLuca has show the hes taken to the next step in a effort to win the Giro however I am not sure he will hold out in the mtns. Lampre looks weak as a team while SD is showing its strength in the mtns Piepoli was amazing today. Schlek is amazing but the return od Gibo in the sprint to the line to day wa great to watch The Killer def had to use every bit of what he had to hold Gibo off I think Gibo was suprised to see him fading and had been just trying to stay close, grewat finish by the both of em.

I'll be out of town from tonight until Sunday night, so if Cunego does lose to Gibo in the TT, just hold tight. I'll eat crow when I get back Sunday night :D

I'll be out of town from tonight until Sunday night, so if Cunego does lose to Gibo in the TT, just hold tight. I'll eat crow when I get back Sunday night :D


No need to wait Im eating the crow right now, Kid Cunego over Gibo easily. Hmmm the rest of the race will be interesting.