BREAKING NEWS: ASTANA & HIGH ROAD BANNED FROM GIRO !!!!

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

It may have been mentioned here before, however I can't be bothered reading all 130+ posts again, but the reason speculated by cycling fans anonymous for Astana's exclusion is that hey were going to use Brajkovic as their team leader.

I can see a dogfight developing between the three GT's. I think gone are the days when you can use your best rider as leader of all three races. Some teams notwithstanding.

Originally Posted by TheDarkLord

IMO, that is an even bigger speculation, and one that makes least sense. If someone were to come to the race with a motivation to win, then why exclude him just because he is a Vuelta champion? I can understand them not inviting a team because they are just using the race as a training ground, but not inviting someone because he is a champion somewhere else makes zero sense. Also, if ASO is going to own Vuelta, then there may not be a three-way fight, if such a fight takes place at all.

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

No.. it was because Brajkovic is at least their number four GC rider (arguably). The Giro doesn't want teams using the event as a warm-up for the TdF or leaving out their big guns entirely to rest them for the TdF.

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

No.. it was because Brajkovic is at least their number four GC rider (arguably). The Giro doesn't want teams using the event as a warm-up for the TdF or leaving out their big guns entirely to rest them for the TdF.

Originally Posted by Aquamarinos

What I've read is that Astana would've send a team with Brajkovic as the leader, but also Klöden, Gusev, Rubiera and probably Levi too...

That roster is very good compared to any other team, so that's a very weak argument to blaim it on the team's "B-roster".

High Road being left out is also a big surprise, Pinotti is a poster boy of intelligence and clean cycling. They have also a lot of horse power for the sprints.

Maybe RCS wants only Italians to win? Dope Di Luca being invited is just hilarious...!

Originally Posted by Aquamarinos

I agree.

But it's not good for cycling to have a "major tournament" without all the best teams, IMO.

Originally Posted by Bro Deal

True. But things like McEwen bowing out halfway through the Giro has been pissing me off. For High Road, in light of their public statements, I think a case can be made that a smaller, more motivated team would be better in their place.

Originally Posted by TheDarkLord

Maybe they should have a rule that if a key rider of a team bows out half-way due to reasons other than being injured, then the team forgoes an invitation for the next Giro. Team managers do pull out some of the young talent half-way, so maybe there can be an exception clause for them.

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Then you'll just have guys faking injuries. They could get away from this crap by just starting the frickin race in the mountains.

But one of the reasons they don't is because they want the pure sprinters contesting the early sprints and would rather that than have them not start (or not make it past the hills) because of the mountainous obstacle course at the beginning.

Originally Posted by Aquamarinos

With the climbs this year at the Giro, the sprinters must be happy if they survive the last week... It's a torture even for the climbers...

I also hate Robbie bowing out after the first week, but the Giro organizor, Mr.Z, has apparently no problems with that...