Cunego would target TDF

poulidor

Apparently Cunego will not race Giro, probably he prefers to be at the top of his form on TDF.
With less doping some riders have rediscovered hope, some others have give up hope...

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Rolfrae

He has been saying for a while he would target this year's Tour. I guess he sees less chance riding well at the Giro against the likes of DiLuca and more chance in the Tour against the likes of Evans - and with the help of the French Federation's tougher anti-doping tests.

Powerful Pete

This will be interesting if he really does go to the Tour with serious intentions. I wonder what kind of team he will go with and whether he can stand up to the competition for the distance.

His time trialing has certainly improved, although his climbing has also suffered noticeably. This could be interesting...

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Bro Deal

This year's TdF has less time trialing. So it is good for him there. With no time bonuses, a rider who has a good uphill sprint can gain the time that the bonuses would have given (assuming that he's in the front group.) This year's TdF course is very interesting. I think we will see some surprise high placings.

Cunego was my dark horse pick for this year's TdF when we had the last thread about who would win in 2008. I was worried that he would burn himself out in the Giro. That won't be a problem anymore.

He is still a long shot, but I could see him winning if a few cards fall into place and he is lucky.

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Powerful Pete

Yes Bro Deal (and welcome back - remember, we shall overcome the spammers and doping thread morons!), I think he does have a bit of chance. A lot depends on what kind of team he takes, and who else is riding for the win at the Tour this year...

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earth_dweller

I think it's a good move for Cunego, but I do wonder about the team he could bring. I'll admit it my knowledge of the Lampre boys is lacking... who should be on the team?

thunder

no time bonuses this year bro

limerickman

Hmmmmmmmmm.

Cunego's 2004 Giro win has been a bugbear : in that Cunego was expected to go on to replicate that grand tour win at either the Giro and/or the TDF/Vuelta at some point since 2004.

He's a gifted rider, no doubt.
But winning the Giro as early in his career as he did - has raised the level of expectation since.

If he really is serious about the TDF, he will need a full squad dedicated solely to him.
In recent years he hasn't received fulsome support from his team.
If he is to win - he needs that support.

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morelike hypocrisy.

thunder

everyone knows he was hot hot hot in '04 with juice. heck, even Landis' manager said so

Bro Deal

That's what I said. No time bonuses. But if he can come in with the first group on climbs, he is capable of sprinting away at the end and getting the the type of time that the time bonuses would have given the winner.

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"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

thunder

oh yeah. misread, sorry

Bro Deal

I think that's actually the story of Cunego. He was seriously juiced. The Giro the year he won it had a weak field. Peta won nine stages. The only real GC competition was his own teammate. He has shown flashes of what he is capable of since. He ripped a good second ITT at the 2006 TdF. His placing in the Giro are not bad, but he is certainly not going to beat a juiced Basso, DiLuca, Contadope, etc. Against Evans, maybe. I am down on Evans, though. I think he will find a way to come in second.

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"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

RdBiker

Well he's certainly going to need a few guys who can keep up with him in the mountains. In the flats they're going to have no problems but I only know of a few guys on the Lampre team that could do the job in the mountains:
Marzio Bruseghin, Gianpaolo Caruso, Marco Marzano and Tadej Valjavec are names that I think could fare well in the mountains. Does anyone have anything to say about these guys?

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Crockett

P. Vila is very solid in the mountains, and Tiralongo can be decent there as well. Szmyd can do some pace setting on early slopes. Pretty sure that Caruso won't be there, and isn't Valjavec on AG2R? Can't recall if Loosli can climb at all- I'll say yes because he is Swiss although I really have no idea.