Giro D'Italia 2008 : Stage 1 - Saturday, May 10: Palermo (Team Time Trial), 23.6km

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Giro 2008 opener :

Giro 2008 opener :
astana must win else it is disaster preformance for them

outsider csc

astana, slipstream, caisse d'epargne
maybe tinkoff after what we saw from the in the endhoven ttt last year as a outsider. high road and csc also capable

here is one to wishing Astana all the shit luck they can find. Geaux eat a bag of hell Astanarunelastrong.


Slipstream for the win.

here is one to wishing Astana all the shit luck they can find. Geaux eat a bag of hell Astanarunelastrong.


Slipstream for the win.If Slipstream win... forget it... they're doped.

If Slipstream win... forget it... they're doped.
CSC look good, Ogrady and Mcgee, Larsson, Mccartney and Voigt. They will win.

Tinkoff will podium, 2 or 3 world class pursuiters, plus a few espoir and jnr tt world champs.

Slipstream WILL also podium. They have a great ttt squad. They could win, clean crank.

I'll say CSC to win followed by Astana

CSC look good, Ogrady and Mcgee, Larsson, Mccartney and Voigt. They will win.

Tinkoff will podium, 2 or 3 world class pursuiters, plus a few espoir and jnr tt world champs.

Slipstream WILL also podium. They have a great ttt squad. They could win, clean crank.agree.....
+ tinkoff team product to soviet ttt scholl and this is there only chance as team....

pursuit skill+short distance+special taining win over pure horse wattshttp://cyclingforums.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I'll say CSC to win followed by Astana

I agree.

I think CSC is a very shrewd choice for the TTT.

I'll say CSC to win followed by AstanaAgreed with CSC, not sure about Astana. Much of a Team TT performance comes from having trained together (as well as from each rider's condition). It all depends on how well they gel, and remember this Giro invite is a "complete shock" to the Astana riders.

Agreed with CSC, not sure about Astana. Much of a Team TT performance comes from having trained together (as well as from each rider's condition). It all depends on how well they gel, and remember this Giro invite is a "complete shock" to the Astana riders.

Such a 'complete shock' that Bruyneel was lobbying RCS over a month ago with a list of all the great riders he promised he'd bring to the race if they could be let in. But I've no doubt whatsoever that Dirty Bertie's hayfever meds will work wonders and he'll be flying. Such a shame he turned out to be such a little chaudiere.

Agreed with CSC, not sure about Astana. Much of a Team TT performance comes from having trained together (as well as from each rider's condition). It all depends on how well they gel, and remember this Giro invite is a "complete shock" to the Astana riders.
Despite shedding riders left and right, they were well honed for the Georgia TT and almost pinched it. I suspect they were practising for more than just Georgia.

Such a 'complete shock' that Bruyneel was lobbying RCS over a month ago with a list of all the great riders he promised he'd bring to the race if they could be let in. But I've no doubt whatsoever that Dirty Bertie's hayfever meds will work wonders and he'll be flying. Such a shame he turned out to be such a little chaudiere.I don't doubt for a minute that there is very little shock involved for the three kings of Astana. Johan will have told them well in advance that they might be riding. It all depends on how JB manages the situation. Is he going to want suspicions raised by having an Astana podium? Will it wash if all 3 riders say they hadn't trained to peak for the Giro but then end up riding like ETs? Does he really give a toss?

When you've got Leipheimer, Contador, Kloden and Gusev in your squad you should do pretty well in a TTT. If they're well drilled enough they should take it but a good margin. CSC, Slipstream, Tinkoff to challenge for the podium.

Astana
Caisse d'Epargne
CSC
Slipstream

BTW didn't Popovych hit the deck in last year's TTT for Discovery? We'll see if one of the Astana trio do the same thing - if that doesn't happen then that is my top-4 list.
When you begin to think about the power Klöden, Leipheimer and even Contador present we'll be looking at a very fast time I think.

When you've got Leipheimer, Contador, Kloden and Gusev in your squad you should do pretty well in a TTT. If they're well drilled enough they should take it but a good margin. CSC, Slipstream, Tinkoff to challenge for the podium.
it is a short flat TTT.

better to have 9 Maggy B's than 9 LL's.

Slipstream have meant to been training specifically for this stage. They had a one week camp to get good at it, so youd expect them to fare well especially with zabriskie and millar.

I don't doubt for a minute that there is very little shock involved for the three kings of Astana. Johan will have told them well in advance that they might be riding. It all depends on how JB manages the situation. Is he going to want suspicions raised by having an Astana podium? Will it wash if all 3 riders say they hadn't trained to peak for the Giro but then end up riding like ETs? Does he really give a toss?
I don't think they care much about people accusing them of being ET's, nothing they haven't heard before. I think Astana's mission is to smash everyone as much as they can all season long. You never know what'll happen though, there could be a bunch of mad Kcgygrezixafistani fans running aroung punching riders in the kidneys...

Slipstream have meant to been training specifically for this stage. They had a one week camp to get good at it, so youd expect them to fare well especially with zabriskie and millar.After watching Davie Z single-handedly take the TTT in Georgia, I have to think the veteran help he has here will push them over the top. As long as Levi, Contador and Kloden don't drop the rest of their team in the first half of the course, they should figure in the top as well.

CSC or Astana