Astana not ready for Giro

hizark21

Personally I think Astana has planned poorly. Astana has stated that
their goal was to perform well enough to convince the ASO to let them
ride in TDF. Today they are not fully prepared for the Giro. Astana
should have ready for the major tours. One possiblity is that that
they may race into form in the Giro and contend. I think this is
unlikely since the Giro and the TDF have become hypercomepetitive in
recent years. So this makes it much harder to do so. One scenario is
that Contador or Leipheimer do well in the TT's and stay within
striking distance until the latter part of the race.

Colin Campbell wrote:
> hizark21 wrote:
> > Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
> > Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
> > is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
> > getting accepted into the TDF.
>
> As others have said, it is no surprise that Astana is not fully ready
> for a race they were not entered in until a couple of days ago.
>
> Now, if they show up and ride the Giro, and if the ASO (that acronym
> reminds me of a derogatory word in English) caves and accepts them for
> the TdF (right now, they are the only grand tour that isn't allowing
> last year's Tour winner and third place rider to enter - seems kind of
> stupid, not to mention actionable), I would expect the TdF prospects to
> ride as much of the Giro as will aid their TdF preparation, and then
> drop out, citing the always popular food poisoning excuse, or something
> similar.

Kyle Legate

hizark21 wrote:
> Personally I think Astana has planned poorly. Astana has stated that
> their goal was to perform well enough to convince the ASO to let them
> ride in TDF. Today they are not fully prepared for the Giro. Astana
> should have ready for the major tours.
>
Wow, you're almost as thick as Kunich. Astana are not fully prepared for
the Giro because months ago the team selection was made, and THEY
WEREN'T ON IT. Until a couple of days ago, Astana were going to watch
the Giro ON TV.

As a comparison, say your company was planning an important meeting,
with presentations by several people on critical topics. The list of
speakers was announced 2 months in advance. The day before the meeting,
your boss comes up to you and says that there is a free 40 minute slot
first thing tomorrow morning and he wants you to present it. How
prepared would you be?

Keith

On Tue, 6 May 2008 21:55:37 -0700 (PDT), hizark21 <hizark21@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Personally I think Astana has planned poorly. Astana has stated that
>their goal was to perform well enough to convince the ASO to let them
>ride in TDF. Today they are not fully prepared for the Giro. Astana
>should have ready for the major tours. One possiblity is that that
>they may race into form in the Giro and contend. I think this is
>unlikely since the Giro and the TDF have become hypercomepetitive in
>recent years. So this makes it much harder to do so. One scenario is
>that Contador or Leipheimer do well in the TT's and stay within
>striking distance until the latter part of the race.

Please meet Andreas Klöden, one of the most gifted racers of the past
10 years, it's hard to imagine how he could not win the Giro !

hizark21

I have been pleasantly proven wrong by Contador/Astana. Given Giro's
over the past 5-7 years, I did not think it was possible to race into
form. It has been a lont time since a contender has raced into form in
a major tour. If Astana win's then hopefully they can convince the ASO
to let them in.

hizark21 wrote:
> Personally I think Astana has planned poorly. Astana has stated that
> their goal was to perform well enough to convince the ASO to let them
> ride in TDF. Today they are not fully prepared for the Giro. Astana
> should have ready for the major tours. One possiblity is that that
> they may race into form in the Giro and contend. I think this is
> unlikely since the Giro and the TDF have become hypercomepetitive in
> recent years. So this makes it much harder to do so. One scenario is
> that Contador or Leipheimer do well in the TT's and stay within
> striking distance until the latter part of the race.
>
> Colin Campbell wrote:
> > hizark21 wrote:
> > > Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
> > > Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
> > > is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
> > > getting accepted into the TDF.
> >
> > As others have said, it is no surprise that Astana is not fully ready
> > for a race they were not entered in until a couple of days ago.
> >
> > Now, if they show up and ride the Giro, and if the ASO (that acronym
> > reminds me of a derogatory word in English) caves and accepts them for
> > the TdF (right now, they are the only grand tour that isn't allowing
> > last year's Tour winner and third place rider to enter - seems kind of
> > stupid, not to mention actionable), I would expect the TdF prospects to
> > ride as much of the Giro as will aid their TdF preparation, and then
> > drop out, citing the always popular food poisoning excuse, or something
> > similar.

Donald Munro

hizark21 wrote:
> I have been pleasantly proven wrong by Contador/Astana. Given Giro's
> over the past 5-7 years, I did not think it was possible to race into
> form. It has been a lont time since a contender has raced into form in a
> major tour. If Astana win's then hopefully they can convince the ASO to
> let them in.

And you're convinced he didn't make an untraceable withdrawal
from a bank ?

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com

On May 5, 7:36*pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@ChainReaction.com> wrote:
> > Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
> > Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
> > is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
> > getting accepted into the TDF.
>
> This isn't about getting into the TdF. They gave up on that some time ago.
> But if they can "stick it to the man" by doing exceptionally well in the
> Giro and Vuelta, they'd be quite happy, I'm sure.
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

The premier races today are the Giro and the Vuelta, with the
TourdayFrance a distant third.

Andre

On May 27, 8:39*am, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com"
<pe...@vecchios.com> wrote:
> On May 5, 7:36*pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@ChainReaction.com> wrote:
>
> > > Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
> > > Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
> > > is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
> > > getting accepted into the TDF.
>
> > This isn't about getting into the TdF. They gave up on that some time ago.
> > But if they can "stick it to the man" by doing exceptionally well in the
> > Giro and Vuelta, they'd be quite happy, I'm sure.
>
> > --Mike Jacoubowsky
> > Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
> > Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
>
> The premier races today are the Giro and the Vuelta, with the
> TourdayFrance a distant third.

Tour de France is still and probably always be the best race.

Kyle Legate

hizark21 wrote:
> I have been pleasantly proven wrong by Contador/Astana. Given Giro's
> over the past 5-7 years, I did not think it was possible to race into
> form. It has been a lont time since a contender has raced into form in
> a major tour.
>
It happens every year. Since the first week is usually a sprint bonanza,
the favourites sit quietly in the pack, racing into form for the second
and third week.

Kyle Legate

Andre wrote:
> On May 27, 8:39 am, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com"
> <pe...@vecchios.com> wrote:
>> On May 5, 7:36 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@ChainReaction.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
>>>> Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
>>>> is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
>>>> getting accepted into the TDF.
>>> This isn't about getting into the TdF. They gave up on that some time ago.
>>> But if they can "stick it to the man" by doing exceptionally well in the
>>> Giro and Vuelta, they'd be quite happy, I'm sure.
>>> --Mike Jacoubowsky
>>> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
>>> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
>> The premier races today are the Giro and the Vuelta, with the
>> TourdayFrance a distant third.
>
> Tour de France is still and probably always be the best race.

based on what criteria?

Bob Schwartz

Kyle Legate wrote:
> Andre wrote:
>> On May 27, 8:39 am, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com"
>> <pe...@vecchios.com> wrote:
>>> On May 5, 7:36 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@ChainReaction.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
>>>>> Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
>>>>> is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
>>>>> getting accepted into the TDF.
>>>> This isn't about getting into the TdF. They gave up on that some
>>>> time ago.
>>>> But if they can "stick it to the man" by doing exceptionally well in
>>>> the
>>>> Giro and Vuelta, they'd be quite happy, I'm sure.
>>>> --Mike Jacoubowsky
>>>> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
>>>> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
>>> The premier races today are the Giro and the Vuelta, with the
>>> TourdayFrance a distant third.
>>
>> Tour de France is still and probably always be the best race.
>
> based on what criteria?

Posting volume always peaks in July.

Bob Schwartz

Andre

On May 27, 1:26*pm, Kyle Legate <lega...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Andre wrote:
> > On May 27, 8:39 am, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com"
> > <pe...@vecchios.com> wrote:
> >> On May 5, 7:36 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@ChainReaction.com> wrote:
>
> >>>> Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
> >>>> Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
> >>>> is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
> >>>> getting accepted into the TDF.
> >>> This isn't about getting into the TdF. They gave up on that some time ago.
> >>> But if they can "stick it to the man" by doing exceptionally well in the
> >>> Giro and Vuelta, they'd be quite happy, I'm sure.
> >>> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> >>> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
> >>> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
> >> The premier races today are the Giro and the Vuelta, with the
> >> TourdayFrance a distant third.
>
> > Tour de France is still and probably always be the best race.
>
> based on what criteria?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well for starters, the best cyclists go there...(overall)...Even
without Contador or Kloden the number of elite cyclists outnumber
those in the Giro or La Vuelta by far. It is also the best organized
race. The coverage is ...well there is coverage, put it that way. The
strictest drug enforcement also belongs to The Tour. I mean, why is
DiLuca even allowed in the Giro? It's still the race that everyone
wants to win...except the Italians.

Andre

Donald Munro

Andre wrote:
>>> Tour de France is still and probably always be the best race.

Kyle Legate wrote:
>> based on what criteria?

Bob Schwartz wrote:
> Posting volume always peaks in July.

SchwartzSoft will need to prepare TOM9000 RC1 for July with the
final release in November.

hizark21

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php...un08/jun02news2 )
Bruyneels thinks that Astana should be allowed to enter the TDF. I
agree with this. So given this fact I think that Contador should be
preparing the TDF rather than going on vacation..




On May 5, 1:19 pm, hizark21 <hizar...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Contador and Leiphiemier have said they are not fully ready for the
> Giro. This is a bit of surprise considering how late in the season it
> is. If Astana does not peform well this could dampen any chances of
> getting accepted into the TDF.

John Forrest Tomlinson

On Mon, 2 Jun 2008 15:01:40 -0700 (PDT), hizark21 <hizark21@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php...un08/jun02news2 )
>Bruyneels thinks that Astana should be allowed to enter the TDF. I
>agree with this. So given this fact I think that Contador should be
>preparing the TDF rather than going on vacation..
>

But isn't winnng a grand tour these days pretty much the same as a
positive doping result? So it means Astana is out. If they'd sucked
all year they'd be back in for 09. As it is now, I doubt the'll get
into an ASO races in 2009.