Basso Wins Criterium International

He came in second on the first flat sprinters stage.
He won the second hilly climbers stage.
He came in second place (by one second) in the ITT.
He just won the so calles "mini Tour de France"

He is on form.
This is one of Basso's biggest wins and a great indicator of form.
It will give CSC huge confidence for Basso himself but for the whole team.
Its great when a team leader can go out and do run throughs like this so that he and his helpers know that they can really do it.
And in contrast...
And where is Jan?? not even racing and its the end of March.

__________________
Driven by whaz inside

Look at previous CI winners. How many won the Tour or Giro?

Watched it live on Eurosport : Erik Dekker was going well in this mornings stage and only for trouble with his sprockets, Basso managed to open an 11 sec lead at the finish of the morning stage.

The TT was a revelation : Basso went really well - ok the field was very small (the morning stage conditions were terrible and many riders abandoned).

Basso though looked well.

Some funny results on the TT : Martinez beating Kashekin for example.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

basso is indeed showing some good early season form.

although i'm not convinced he can pull off the double... but if of everyone in the peloton, i definitely think he will come close. if he wins the Giro, I'm not so sure he'll have enough gas in the tank to win the Tour. Podium maybe... but yellow... I don't know.

In any event,

1. Great to see Basso in such form, winning!
2. Even greater to see potential GT winners riding more than one race in the entire year!

__________________
De Rosa Planet
Campagnolo Per Sempre!
PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!

here, here!
It's a breath of fresh air - and good for the sport.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

I think that is because Basso aims to be in top form in may. Ullrich plans top form in july, so his schedule is comparatively dalyed.

I also watched CI on EuroSport and Basso looked good.... so with Basso in great early form, Landis now skipping the Giro because his form is even better... where's Ullrich ?

Well the list of winners looks like a list of Grand Tour riders to me.


Anqueteil and then...
1978 Bernard Hinault Draguignan 237 km

1979 Joop Zoetemelk Var 242 km

1981 Bernard Hinault Var 284 km

1982 Laurent Fignon Var 280 km

1983 Sean Kelly Beaujolais 292 km

1984 Sean Kelly Antibes 281 km

1985 Stephen Roche Antibes 276 km

1987 Sean Kelly Antibes 276 km

1988 Erik Breukink Antibes 288 km

1989 Miguel Indurain Vaucluse 284 km

1990 Laurent Fignon Vaucluse 308 km

1991 Stephen Roche Vaucluse 310 km

1995 Laurent Jalabert Tarn 288 km

1996 Chris Boardman Tarn 278 km

1997 Marcelino Gargia Tarn 276 km

1998 Bobby Julich Tarn 278 km

1999 Jens Voigt Vaucluse 274 km

2000 Abraham Olano Pyrénées-Atlantiques 284 km

2001 Rick Verbrugghe Charleville-Mézières / Ardennes 303 km

2002 José Martinez Charleville-Mézières / Ardennes 299 km

2003 Laurent Brochard Charleville-Mézières / Ardennes 294 km

2004 Jens Voigt Charleville-Mézières / Ardennes 297 km

__________________
Driven by whaz inside

I was there and Basso looked really great, looked relaxed after finish, talking more than usual (joking with Erik Dekker)...

Here 2 pics, one of the ceremony and one of ITT winner Martinez (Agritubel).

Picture gallery on our website will be online on Wednesday: http://wwww.cyclingheroes.info

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Cycling pictures


www.cyclingheroes-pictures.com