Official Giro2008 website up

Yep. It's

http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/

It looks like another great route. I would have preferred the flat TTs a bit longer, though.

__________________
Danger is my life.
-- Flyer's.Finale!

Looking at the pic of the pink jersey on the front page made me think that leader's jerseys used to look better. When the huge team panel is stuck on them, they no longer look as good.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

Any comments on the route?

How much did Ricco get paid to wear those glasses at the presentation? Or is he going blind?

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

Route looks nice. The only thing is that the first real mountain challenge comes on stage 14 only. I would also prefer one long flat ITT to two ITTs of average length. I don't think TT specialists will get a big advantage after first ITT and they'll lose everything in the hardest mountain stages.

Stage 7 with mountaintop finish of 2,5km @ 6% looks childish. Also penultimate climb of this stage doesn't look hard as well. We sometimes criticize organizers of Tour de France that they doesn't put lot action the first part of the race, I think it might be case of this year's Giro - I expected something more from first 10 days of Giro... 35km TT is nice, but I wanted real mountains as well... First part of this year's Tour de France looks a slightly better IMO... However, first group stage has a small uphill finish...

Stage 14 with a few medium mountains, 23km @ 7,1% monster and steep mountaintop finish of almost 10% looks excellent.

Stage 15 looks even better with its five high mountain passes, including hard finish of 13,3km @ 7,9%. It is the real killer because only very select group will arrive together for the final climb.

ITT of Stage 16 with a finish at Corones is the third hard test in a row. I don't think that any comments are necessary about this hard mountain.

Stage 19 is the next real test. The only thing is that the biggest challenge of the day is located quite far from the finish and is followed by a few climbs of average difficulty, including a mountaintop finish of 6,3km @ 6,9%. However, it is not possible to finish at brutal climbs all the time.

The final mountain stage has Gavia and Mortirolo. We all know what are those climbs about. The only thing which might reduce action is that Mortirolo comes some 50km from the finish. They could finish at Aprica as in 2006...

Overall, there are two hard mountaintop finishes, one brutal mountain ITT, a beautiful stage with Gavia and Mortirolo - those four stages should decide Giro, as well as Monte Pora stage, Stage 7 with a small climb in the end, 2 flat ITTs of average length and TTT.

__________________
Why am I still a fan of dopers sport?

Is aiming for the GC in next year's Giro or stage wins? Recent comments about the support his new team will give him imply that he is going for the GC.

The course does not look well suited to Simoni.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

The course isn't bad for Simoni either.... Plan de Corones...ITT... but steep.
Gavia and the Mortirolo very early in the stage. I think the route isn't the problem, the time trials are not very long. Gibo is just a little bit too old and his grandmother died (so no more cookies ). But he could still ride a good GC result and take a mountain stage.

__________________
Cycling pictures


www.cyclingheroes-pictures.com

You gotta love the Giro for it's mountains, and RCS for always including at least one beast. Check this out, 24%!! The tour never comes even close to stuff like this.

I will be there again...

__________________
Cycling pictures


www.cyclingheroes-pictures.com

I hope to be too - we should arrange a cyclingforums party on the mountain. Maybe not, we're a miserable, moaning bunch!

Are you going to be at that exact spot/stage, or just the Giro in general? (Either way, I'm jealous)

Are you going to try riding some of the stages?

I won't ride any stages but I will do some riding during the morning hours. I will take pics at most stages.

__________________
Cycling pictures


www.cyclingheroes-pictures.com