Giro 2008

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With only a week and a few days to the start and (probably) all the participating teams clear I went through the start lists and made this poll. If I forgot some names from the list then please tell me about it.

So who do you think will win the Giro d'Italia 2008 and why?

I'll start the ball rolling: Klöden.

The TTT will knock out a few contenders, I reckon (Soler?). Astana should handle that well enough. I think that Contador won't have prepared for this race, whereas Klöden can't be too far away, given Romandie.

LPR would be a fair bet, given its two strong leaders, but the men in black shade them, I reckon.

I think Jimmy doubted the strength of Astana at the Giro besides the 3.

Fact is, there will be one leader obvious after first stage.

And without Horner, Brajkovic, Paulinho and Noval, they are still damn strong in support.

Iglinsky Colom and Gusev. Plus Contador and LL, as Kloden is the clear GC favourite.

Who will win the GC in the 2008 Giro?........David Millar (Slipstream)
LOLZ

I'll be rooting for Kloden all the way - I feel really sorry for the guy after years of being Jan's domestique (even though he was stronger some years) and the Vino/Astana debarcle. He probably lost out on 2 or 3 chances to win the TdF because of his loyalty and team doping.

He strikes me as an upstanding athlete and human being - not that I have any concrete reasons for saying so other than a few interviews and his conduct on and off the bike.

He deserves something huge.

Go Kloden!!!!!!

I'm going to say Ricco.

Given Astana/Klodi had not really prepared with the Giro in mind, I reckon could fade come the 3rd week, the big climbs could take their toll.
I would like to see Klodi win though, he'll still probably be top 3.

I'm going to say Bettini - proving I have NFI what I'm talking about. :o

I'm going to say Bettini - proving I have NFI what I'm talking about. :oYou could at least have picked one among the choices in the poll. :p

i think astana would have known for alot longer than what is being let on that they had a good chance of being at the giro. im picking kloden, with that much time trialing, and i think the huge amounts of climbing before the final climb of most of the high mountain stages could suit him, should slow the speed of the final climb and suit him to ride tempo to the top rather than have to close gaps all over the place. although if jose rujano turns up in good shape he will cause huge problems, caisse will have a strong ttt, if any one has a chance of topping levi or kloden in on the plan de crones it has to be him or soler.

You could at least have picked one among the choices in the poll. :p
LOL (really)

The TTT will knock out a few contenders, I reckon (Soler?). Astana should handle that well enough. I think that Contador won't have prepared for this race, whereas Klöden can't be too far away, given Romandie.

Don't forget Conti's Basque Tour, he even won the last TT. Put the smackdown on Evans.

Don't forget Conti's Basque Tour, he even won the last TT. Put the smackdown on Evans.
True. And if, as reported elsewhere, Brajkovic was saying in March that Astana were going to the Giro (and was taken away from TdG presumably for that reason), there's no good reason for Contador not to have trained for this.

There is the dental thingo, but who knows? How much of what we're told is true?

I remember (some of) the Paceliners saying with confidence that Astana would make both the Giro and the Tour, despite the announcements to the contrary. Only one more bottle sitting on the wall. I suspect that the level of confidence they have about this will have determined who has prepared for each of the races and the extent of that preparation.

True. And if, as reported elsewhere, Brajkovic was saying in March that Astana were going to the Giro (and was taken away from TdG presumably for that reason), there's no good reason for Contador not to have trained for this.

There is the dental thingo, but who knows? How much of what we're told is true?

I remember (some of) the Paceliners saying with confidence that Astana would make both the Giro and the Tour, despite the announcements to the contrary. Only one more bottle sitting on the wall. I suspect that the level of confidence they have about this will have determined who has prepared for each of the races and the extent of that preparation.
lot of resources in kazak-land, as is, France imports mre than 50% of natural gas needs from norway, lotsa uranium from the great glorious ones, not sure if they have much else for the french. Lotsa brinkmanship to play out.

You could at least have picked one among the choices in the poll. :p
I did, I picked "someone else" :p

Astana are having a giraffe is they think Prudhomme will give in. The Giro exclusion was never really about doping, just about the shit team Bruyneel intended to send - so over a month ago now Bruyneel was lobbying RCS and guaranteeing the 'big 3' would be there. Bruyneel is so practiced a liar he wouldn't know the truth if it bit him on the arse or anywhere else.

RCS need them because otherwise the Giro field is a bit ropy. The Tour doesn't need them because Prudhomme couldn't give a shit about a few Astana fan boy twonks turning off their TVs - the exclusion of Astana on grounds of doping plays well to the heartland audience for the race, besides the fact that most European fans are sick to death of watching some shade of blue train kill the racing stone dead.

True. And if, as reported elsewhere, Brajkovic was saying in March that Astana were going to the Giro (and was taken away from TdG presumably for that reason), there's no good reason for Contador not to have trained for this.

There is the dental thingo, but who knows? How much of what we're told is true?

I remember (some of) the Paceliners saying with confidence that Astana would make both the Giro and the Tour, despite the announcements to the contrary. Only one more bottle sitting on the wall. I suspect that the level of confidence they have about this will have determined who has prepared for each of the races and the extent of that preparation.
But behind-the-scenes contacts between Bruyneel and Giro d’Italia director Angelo Zomegnan changed all that. About a month ago, the pair was quietly working out details to try to bring Astana to the Giro.
By the end of April, however, things weren’t looking promising on a Giro reversal and Contador packed his bags to head to the wide-open beaches near Cadíz on Spain’s southwestern coast.

So they did know the talks were on but it's unclear if they would have trained for the Giro. Also, if this is true then Klöden is clearly going to be the Astana number one man for the Giro:

Contador was quick to point out that he’s not in top shape and did his best to downplay expectations.

“Andreas (Klöden) is the strongest rider on Astana right now, so if he needs my help, I will become like any other rider and assist any way I can,” Contador said.

So they did know the talks were on but it's unclear if they would have trained for the Giro. Also, if this is true then Klöden is clearly going to be the Astana number one man for the Giro:
I just can believe that so many of you are going for Kloden, I just can see him doing it.
I know he is a good strong rider but he just does not have that winning fire to take risks and push on. Podium for sure, but to much of a follower and not a doer

I just can believe that so many of you are going for Kloden, I just can see him doing it.
I know he is a good strong rider but he just does not have that winning fire to take risks and push on. Podium for sure, but to much of a follower and not a doer

Kloeden has had 17 victories in 11 seasons as a pro - and the only win of any note was Paris-Nice. It's amazing that riders with average to poor palmares are being touted as GT favourites. The post Armstrong era must be the weakest ever in terms of quality riders.

Kloeden has had 17 victories in 11 seasons as a pro - and the only win of any note was Paris-Nice. It's amazing that riders with average to poor palmares are being touted as GT favourites. The post Armstrong era must be the weakest ever in terms of quality riders.
He's finished second in the TdF twice, and one of those was behind Armstrong. His other wins aren't exactly ground breaking, but he did spend most of 2001-2003 injured. He's done reasonably well in the short tours as well, he's won Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Addriatico, Romandie, Vuelta Pays Vasco so really I can't see why you don't consider him a contender, especially since the Romandie win was last week.

He's finished second in the TdF twice, and one of those was behind Armstrong. His other wins aren't exactly ground breaking, but he did spend most of 2001-2003 injured. He's done reasonably well in the short tours as well, he's won Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Addriatico, Romandie, Vuelta Pays Vasco so really I can't see why you don't consider him a contender, especially since the Romandie win was last week.

Sorry, guess I started following the sport when the top GC riders had won Classics and GTs as well as a bunch of one week races. That 1 Tour of Romandie win suddenly signifies top contender status just makes me lament the state of the sport.