2005 Giro d'Italia

[Artie Fufkin]

Even though this is not as big as "The Tour", it should still be interesting. The flats stages are over and the first big mountain stage was today. Disco's Salvodelli takes the win, it appears CSC's Basso will take the GC. Last year's winner Cunego lost alot of time.

Good US rider news, Zabriskie won the ITT

Bad US rider news, Danielson abandoned with knee problems

I will be pulling for Discovery and Salvodelli. But there is still alot of racing. A Salvodelli win would set the foundation for a Discovery sweep of the GTs, Giro - Salvodelli, TdF - Armstrong and Vuelta - Danielson(probably not).

Edit: For standings

General classification after stage 11

1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 49.05.20
2 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 0.18
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.04
4 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 2.27
5 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) Domina Vacanze 3.45

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005...sults/giro0511

[Egon]

Basso doesn't plan on saving anything for the tour??

[Telephil]

Basso doesn't plan on saving anything for the tour??

I was wondering that myself, it appears with all the mountain stages left he's definitely the favorite, and I kind of hope he takes it. But, there is 5 weeks between the end of the Giro and the start of the Tour. I would imagine that's enough time to recover. The only question in my mind would be his training may suffer in trying to recover. I think he'll be in great shape for the Tour, but could be wrong.

[Artie Fufkin]

I was wondering that myself, it appears with all the mountain stages left he's definitely the favorite, and I kind of hope he takes it. But, there is 5 weeks between the end of the Giro and the start of the Tour. I would imagine that's enough time to recover. The only question in my mind would be his training may suffer in trying to recover. I think he'll be in great shape for the Tour, but could be wrong.

He's said he is doing the tour, but I though I saw him concede that Lance is still the favorite and the chances of winning will be better post-Lance. The Giro effort has also caused Simoni to be lackluster in the tour in the past. I would think Lance, Jan et al would like to see Basso get worn down in the Giro.

[Telephil]

He's said he is doing the tour, but I though I saw him concede that Lance is still the favorite and the chances of winning will be better post-Lance. The Giro effort has also caused Simoni to be lackluster in the tour in the past. I would think Lance, Jan et al would like to see Basso get worn down in the Giro.

yeah, you're probably right. And as much as I would like to see Lance win seven, it would also be pretty cool to see someone win both. Has that ever happened?

[Mr. Altagirl]

yeah, you're probably right. And as much as I would like to see Lance win seven, it would also be pretty cool to see someone win both. Has that ever happened?

Didn't Pantani win both in 98'? I know that was the year he smoked everyone and then we later found out why (drugs). I was still living in Northern Italy then and the Giro went right in front of my house. They then hooked a right and had a mountain finish about 15 miles from my place. Pantani killed the road and all the local Italian racers said there was no way he wasn't doped. They were proved right unfortunately.

[Artie Fufkin]

Didn't Pantani win both in 98'? I know that was the year he smoked everyone and then we later found out why (drugs). I was still living in Northern Italy then and the Giro went right in front of my house. They then hooked a right and had a mountain finish about 15 miles from my place. Pantani killed the road and all the local Italian racers said there was no way he wasn't doped. They were proved right unfortunately.

Pantani(1998) and Fausto Coppi(1949) are the only two riders to win both the TdF and the Giro in the same year(I could be wrong).

It's pretty amazing to see a grand tour in person, I saw the last stage of the Vuelta in 2002.

[PNWbrit]

Pantani(1998) and Fausto Coppi(1949) are the only two riders to win both the TdF and the Giro in the same year(I could be wrong).

It's pretty amazing to see a grand tour in person, I saw the last stage of the Vuelta in 2002.

Aren't you overlooking a certain Belgian? didn't Eddie do the double two or even three times?

[Artie Fufkin]

Aren't you overlooking a certain Belgian? didn't Eddie do the double two or even three times?

I thought the same as well, he has won the Tour, Giro and Vuelta, but I don't think he won the TdF and Giro in same year. I am searching for a definitive answer.

Edit: I was wrong The Cannibal won the Giro and the Tdf in 1970(possibly other years) and Big Mig won the Giro and TdF in 1992. Anquetil also did the double.

Maybe Pantani and Coppi were the only two Italians to do the double.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Pantani(1998) and Fausto Coppi(1949) are the only two riders to win both the TdF and the Giro in the same year(I could be wrong).

It's pretty amazing to see a grand tour in person, I saw the last stage of the Vuelta in 2002.

Yeah, it made my hair stand on end when they went by. Those guys are really moving when they step it up; it literally felt like a freight train when they passed. Just Awesome.

I was lucky enough to be living in Italy when Lance started his charge. Some of the days we would sit in a small bar and watch the live coverage with a bunch of old Italian riders. Those guys would be screaming at the screen, really fun times.

[Artie Fufkin]

Discovery's Salvoldelli took the maglia rosa from Basso in Saturday's Stage 13. Full report, photos and standings from Cylingnews.com:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005...sults/giro0513

More climbing today and Basso lost alot of time and it looks like he is out of contention in the Giro, I guess he can try to get ready to ride in support Bobby J in the TdF.

Salvoldelli holds onto the pink jersey after today's stage:

General classification after stage 14

1 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Tea 67.21.28
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 0.25
3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 1.48
4 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.11
5 Jose' Rujano Guillen (Ven) Selle Italia-Colombia 2.18

[tywhy]

More climbing today and Basso lost alot of time and it looks like he is out of contention in the Giro, I guess he can try to get ready to ride in support Bobby J in the TdF.

huh? Seems like Basso would be the captain, or atleast co-captain. should be interesting.

[Artie Fufkin]

huh? Seems like Basso would be the captain, or atleast co-captain. should be interesting.

That was probably wishful thinking on my part that Basso would ride for Bobby J in the TdF, but I am assuming they will both be on the squad, more than likely Basso as the leader.

Bobby J did look very strong early season, winning Paris-Nice. CSC should be strong in the Tour regardless who their main GC rider is. Julich has been on the podium in Paris before, he has the potential to win it all.

I am right now watching Basso's meltdown in the mountains in the Giro, I think he actually lost a 1/2 hour today.

[tywhy]

yeah crazy meltdown by Basso, they attributed his stomach "thing" to drinking cold water after one of the stages a few days ago.

Bjarne Riis is a genius, it's so cool how he's helped Julich come back to such great form, and how he's working with Basso to make him great.

[Artie Fufkin]

yeah crazy meltdown by Basso, they attributed his stomach "thing" to drinking cold water after one of the stages a few days ago.

Bjarne Riis is a genius, it's so cool how he's helped Julich come back to such great form, and how he's working with Basso to make him great.

Apparently Basso has recovered enough to win today's stage. Discovery's Salvoldelli still has a :58 lead in the GC but Simoni is closing in. Big ITT tomorrow, hopefully Discovery can secure their first Grand Tour win.

Report and photos from CyclingNews.com:

Giro d'Italia Stage 17

General classification after stage 17

1 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 81.24.50
2 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 0.58
3 Jose' Rujano Guillen (Ven) Selle Italia-Colombia 1.24
4 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.26
5 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.11

[Cornholio]

Danilo DiLuca is paying 43:1 to win right now... I don't think he's that far of a long shot.

This has been a fun race to watch. I hope disco can come off with a GT win.

[Flake]

I say look out for Basso in the tour. That sick stomach thing was likely just a bad drug reaction. Bjarne will have it all sorted out for him by the tour. The man is a miracle worker.
Seriously I won bets picking Basso to podium last tour. He's one of my fav's.

[Artie Fufkin]

Danilo DiLuca is paying 43:1 to win right now... I don't think he's that far of a long shot.

This has been a fun race to watch. I hope disco can come off with a GT win.

This race is a great example of why OLN should be carrying daily live coverage. With all the crap cable channels, it's a bummer there isn't an all cycling(road, mtb etc) channel.

I say look out for Basso in the tour. That sick stomach thing was likely just a bad drug reaction. Bjarne will have it all sorted out for him by the tour. The man is a miracle worker.
Seriously I won bets picking Basso to podium last tour. He's one of my fav's.

Basso won the ITT today and Savodelli increases his GC lead. But is Basso cooking himself for the tour, would he have been better off bailing and resting for the TdF? We'll find out in a month.

Finish - km 34 - all riders through

1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 45.05
2 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Illes Balears 0.09
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 0.20
4 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 0.23
5 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 0.28

General classification after stage 18

1 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team
2 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 2.09
3 Jose' Rujano Guillen (Ven) Selle Italia-Colombia
4 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi

Edit: Tomorrow's stage looks burly, Savoldelli and Disco have some work to do, 2 minutes could easily be lost: