79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 05/05/2022 01:20 PM |
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The season begins! Where 200 lucky ones get fully paid 3 week bike tours around scenic Europe. Accommodations in a different hotel each night. Meals provided. Fully supports to the max. They do not have to do anything but ride, What a life! And people line up by the hundreds and thousands just to see these lucky suckers.
So, who ya go? (I'm remiss, I haven't scanned the start lists yet and barely the course profiles.)
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 05/05/2022 01:42 PM |
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Just went to CN. (Thanks OC. I can now read those articles!) Girmay. Gotta root for him! Second year pro, 22 years old, this is completely new territory for him so I won't hold my breath. But - could he become the first Black to ever win a GT stage? Can he finish a very mountainous Giro? Can he make this (and can it play out to be) a positive experience he can build from.
I'd love to see the range of kit colors in the pro peloton reflected in the skin colors of the riders. (Well, I'll accept passing on the greens and blues - until the aliens show their worth.) So Africans who make it to the big dance can have mentors and not have to be a pioneer, each and every one of them. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/05/2022 02:48 PM |
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A Girmay/Valverde/VDP battle on Stage 1 for that first pink would be epic. All three are gunning for it but finish may not be hard enough to distance sprinters. VDP even spent some rare time on a TT bike this week so as to stay in contention for early pink; a radical departure from his recent training which have been epic gravel rides in Spain. As with Girmay, this will also be VDPs first GT that he'll try to finish; they can hold hands. The old fox meanwhile is hoping for one final pass at glory.
As to overall, haven't really looked into it and Giro tends to surprise anyway. Mostly still wondering if Dumoulin still has what it takes. He is wondering too. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 05/05/2022 11:38 PM |
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Fast forward crystal ball post.
Pick or shut up:
Cav vs. that younger dude. Forced choice. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 05/05/2022 11:41 PM |
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Self response to own post, apologies:
Nearly a coin toss for me. My team "old and crafty" does not always beat young, fearless and fast.
In this Giro, the rare bunch sprint stages may be a side note, at least short term.
But this forumite rejoices in the upcoming Giro. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/06/2022 12:22 AM |
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| I’m thinking Caleb tomorrow. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/06/2022 08:28 AM |
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I’m thinking Caleb tomorrow.
I think you mean Sunday...tomorrow is the 9k TT.
Girmay is a good pick for today, but I also think Valverde is relishing the opportunity to grab the maglia rosa at the end of the day. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/06/2022 08:31 AM |
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Mostly still wondering if Dumoulin still has what it takes. He is wondering too
Yeah, he is already questioning himself, which is never good for a guy who, IMO, suffers from mental struggles.
And the reality is that this is not a parcours for him in the slightest....55K feet of climbing. Even though there is very little high altitude stuff, there just aren't enough TT miles to offset what he will lose in the hills. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/06/2022 09:07 AM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 05/06/2022 08:28 AM
I’m thinking Caleb tomorrow.
I think you mean Sunday...tomorrow is the 9k TT.
No I meant today he can survive the hill possibly. I posted this yesterday. As to Dumoulin, it’s not questioning himself although it may come across as such in translation, it’s self reflection he’s always done at. He’s in a good mental spot right now but it’s been two years. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/06/2022 09:09 AM |
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I posted this yesterday.
Hah...must be a time zone issue. I see 5/6 as the date stamp on your post. 
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/06/2022 10:27 AM |
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Pink > Moss Green.
He’s become really patient in putting out efforts and chose the right wheel. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 05/06/2022 10:43 AM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 05/05/2022 02:48 PM
A Girmay/Valverde/VDP battle on Stage 1 for that first pink would be epic. All three are gunning for it but finish may not be hard enough to distance sprinters. VDP even spent some rare time on a TT bike this week so as to stay in contention for early pink; a radical departure from his recent training which have been epic gravel rides in Spain. As with Girmay, this will also be VDPs first GT that he'll try to finish; they can hold hands. The old fox meanwhile is hoping for one final pass at glory.
As to overall, haven't really looked into it and Giro tends to surprise anyway. Mostly still wondering if Dumoulin still has what it takes. He is wondering too.
Settle for 2/3s? Girmay continues to look like the real deal. Yes, that finish is to his liking, but it also took race smarts and toughness to be there after the hairpin bottleneck.
So, for now we have MVdP as MVP (to inject some Americanism into the GIRO). Boo ...
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/06/2022 10:57 AM |
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MVP was impressive....thought he was out of it a few times, but he clawed back each time.
Bummer for Ewan, but that was 100% on him....and he was out of it by then anyway.
Looking forward to Girmay getting his first stage win sometime this race. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/06/2022 10:59 AM |
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| VDP wasn’t feeling super his morning so good on him. And Caleb’s fate is pretty much Lotto this year. So close but it took so much out of him to be there he crashed himself. |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 05/06/2022 11:55 AM |
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| I am following Girmay closely as I wonder how long he will go in his first GT. 2nd place today was a great result and showed his chops for knowing when and where to be. He is wicked fun to watch and has all the right stuff to be a hero if he isn't already! |
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