Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Start Lists for the Giro

Are you ready for some major stage racing?
I almost -- almost -- like the Giro more than the Tour de France. There are those who think it's a tougher, more grueling tour (OK, so argue with me). The mountain stages are truly staggering.
So, who's favored?

Here's the preliminary start list for Discovery Channel:
1. Defending and two-time champion Paolo Savoldelli, (ITA)
2. Tom Danielson, last year's Tour de Georgia champion (USA)
3. Manuel Beltran Martinez, (SP)
4. Viatcheslav Ekimov, (RUS)
5. Benoit Joachim, (LUX)
6. Jason Mccartney, (USA)
7. Pavel Padrnos, (CZE)
8. José Luis Rubiera Vigil, (SP)
9. Matthew White, (AUS)

And here's CSC, the team to watch if you're not watching the Discovery boys:
191. Ivan Basso, (ITA)
192. Bobby Julich, (USA)
193. Volodymir Gustov, (UKR)
194. Jens Voigt, (GER)
195. Giovanni Lombardi, (ITA)
196. Nicki Sorensen, (DEN)
197. Michael Blaudzun, (DEN)
198. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro, (SP)
199. Christian Vande Velde, (USA)

From VeloNews:

CSC boss Bjarne Riis voiced his confidence that his red army is ready to push Ivan Basso onto the highest step of the Giro podium in what would be the team's first grand tour victory.
As sport director, Riis has earned four grand tour podiums (2nd in 2002 Giro with Tyler Hamilton; 3rd and 2nd in 2004 and 2005 Tours with Basso; 3rd in 2005 Vuelta with Carlos Sastre) and seems sure the time is right for Basso to step up.
"We've selected an exceptionally strong team and there's no doubt it's a team which is able to provide Ivan with the best possible help in his attempt to win this race," Riis said on the team's web page. "[Ivan's] in perfect shape for the job and he has the strength and the experience to win his first big stage race."
The team revealed its lineup Monday with the surprise addition of Sastre, who wasn't expected to start. Sastre initially was looking to race the Tour and Vuelta, but approached Riis about his desire to help Basso in the tough final week in the mountains.
"Carlos himself came up to me and suggested that he should do the Giro," Riis explained. He's willing to sacrifice himself in the mountains to be there for Ivan, and his help could actually be crucial. The plan is for him to get through the first part of the race as easy as possible in order to be with Ivan in the final week, which will be an extremely tough one."

Other teams to watch:
T-MOBILE
211. Scott Davis, (AUS) 212. Serhiy Honchar, (UKR) 213. Matthias Kessler, (GER) 214. André Korff, (GER) 215. Joerg Ludewig, (GER) 216. Olaf Pollack, (GER) 217. Michael Rogers, (AUS) 218. Bram Schmitz, (NED) 219. Jan Ullrich, (GER)
219??????

SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
171. Gilberto Simoni, (ITA) 172. Rubens Bertogliati, (SWI) 173. Angel Gomez Gomez, (SP) 174. Ruben Lobato Elvira, (SP) 175. Manuele Mori, (ITA) 176. Leonardo Piepoli, (ITA) 177. Marco Pinotti, (ITA) 178. Riccardo Ricco', (ITA) 179. Guido Trentin, (ITA)

LAMPRE - FONDITAL 111. Damiano Cunego
, (ITA) 112. Marzio Bruseghin, (ITA) 113. Paolo Fornaciari, (ITA) 114. Evgeni Petrov, (RUS) 115. Gorazd Stangelj, (SLO) 116. Sylvester Szmyd, (POL) 117. Paolo Tiralongo, (ITA) 118. Tadej Valjavec, (SLO) 119. Francisco J. Vila Errandonea, (SP)

1 comment:

53rd Tooth said...

A Basso and Cunego duke out is in store.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Start Lists for the Giro

Are you ready for some major stage racing?
I almost -- almost -- like the Giro more than the Tour de France. There are those who think it's a tougher, more grueling tour (OK, so argue with me). The mountain stages are truly staggering.
So, who's favored?

Here's the preliminary start list for Discovery Channel:
1. Defending and two-time champion Paolo Savoldelli, (ITA)
2. Tom Danielson, last year's Tour de Georgia champion (USA)
3. Manuel Beltran Martinez, (SP)
4. Viatcheslav Ekimov, (RUS)
5. Benoit Joachim, (LUX)
6. Jason Mccartney, (USA)
7. Pavel Padrnos, (CZE)
8. José Luis Rubiera Vigil, (SP)
9. Matthew White, (AUS)

And here's CSC, the team to watch if you're not watching the Discovery boys:
191. Ivan Basso, (ITA)
192. Bobby Julich, (USA)
193. Volodymir Gustov, (UKR)
194. Jens Voigt, (GER)
195. Giovanni Lombardi, (ITA)
196. Nicki Sorensen, (DEN)
197. Michael Blaudzun, (DEN)
198. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro, (SP)
199. Christian Vande Velde, (USA)

From VeloNews:

CSC boss Bjarne Riis voiced his confidence that his red army is ready to push Ivan Basso onto the highest step of the Giro podium in what would be the team's first grand tour victory.
As sport director, Riis has earned four grand tour podiums (2nd in 2002 Giro with Tyler Hamilton; 3rd and 2nd in 2004 and 2005 Tours with Basso; 3rd in 2005 Vuelta with Carlos Sastre) and seems sure the time is right for Basso to step up.
"We've selected an exceptionally strong team and there's no doubt it's a team which is able to provide Ivan with the best possible help in his attempt to win this race," Riis said on the team's web page. "[Ivan's] in perfect shape for the job and he has the strength and the experience to win his first big stage race."
The team revealed its lineup Monday with the surprise addition of Sastre, who wasn't expected to start. Sastre initially was looking to race the Tour and Vuelta, but approached Riis about his desire to help Basso in the tough final week in the mountains.
"Carlos himself came up to me and suggested that he should do the Giro," Riis explained. He's willing to sacrifice himself in the mountains to be there for Ivan, and his help could actually be crucial. The plan is for him to get through the first part of the race as easy as possible in order to be with Ivan in the final week, which will be an extremely tough one."

Other teams to watch:
T-MOBILE
211. Scott Davis, (AUS) 212. Serhiy Honchar, (UKR) 213. Matthias Kessler, (GER) 214. André Korff, (GER) 215. Joerg Ludewig, (GER) 216. Olaf Pollack, (GER) 217. Michael Rogers, (AUS) 218. Bram Schmitz, (NED) 219. Jan Ullrich, (GER)
219??????

SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
171. Gilberto Simoni, (ITA) 172. Rubens Bertogliati, (SWI) 173. Angel Gomez Gomez, (SP) 174. Ruben Lobato Elvira, (SP) 175. Manuele Mori, (ITA) 176. Leonardo Piepoli, (ITA) 177. Marco Pinotti, (ITA) 178. Riccardo Ricco', (ITA) 179. Guido Trentin, (ITA)

LAMPRE - FONDITAL 111. Damiano Cunego
, (ITA) 112. Marzio Bruseghin, (ITA) 113. Paolo Fornaciari, (ITA) 114. Evgeni Petrov, (RUS) 115. Gorazd Stangelj, (SLO) 116. Sylvester Szmyd, (POL) 117. Paolo Tiralongo, (ITA) 118. Tadej Valjavec, (SLO) 119. Francisco J. Vila Errandonea, (SP)

1 comment:

53rd Tooth said...

A Basso and Cunego duke out is in store.