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Giro d'Italia Preview and Discussion Thread
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| dave92 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 02:52
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It has been a fun read, great reporting. Kept me very interested in the mountains where Wikipedia were way out of it.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-02-2012 06:17
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Wow, this Giro is thrilling. Fantastic reports Count and cant wait for the conclusion. 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 16:12
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| ember |
Posted on 15-02-2012 11:24
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Superb stage win for Sella, but Ricco's overall win should be secure. He's the better TTist, and got a nice REC aswell. Hopefully he can hold on, showing that "new" teams can win big things early 
And well done to Pozzovivo, taking the last spot on the podium.
And I'll quote myself and many others; the reports have been brilliant through the whole Giro, CountArach!
Edited by ember on 15-02-2012 12:40
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| CountArach |
Posted on 15-02-2012 11:36
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Just writing up the last Giro stage now. It is going to be very long. Any tips on what might happen and who will win it?
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-02-2012 11:46
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I think someone from Jack Wolfskin will take the win and Ricco will win the overall by 5 seonds or something like that
Just post it
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| Heine |
Posted on 15-02-2012 12:04
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Top 19 falls and gets injured, so Ratiy wins the stage AND the GC! Gogo!
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| SotD |
Posted on 15-02-2012 12:28
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Markus Fothen reveals that he wasn't injured and has been riding under the name of Ricco, and wins both the final TT and the race.
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| Kami |
Posted on 15-02-2012 12:34
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I rly rly hope for Ricco ofcourse, but i have an uncertain feeling.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 15-02-2012 13:31
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And thus concludes the first Grand Tour of the season in an absolutely nail-biting result.
That last stage was about 3.5 hours of writing, so I hope you all enjoy the detail of it. Time trials rarely get any sort of excitement attached to them so I hope I achieved it. I know I've said it earlier but I really and truly want to thank you all for the kind words and support over the last 4 weeks of writing. It has made it all worthwhile when I've been running low on energy or enthusiasm. Seeing you all enjoy them makes writing them worthwhile
Edited by CountArach on 15-02-2012 13:32
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-02-2012 13:33
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Your reports were fantastic, the praise is well deserved
Congrats to Ricco and Sella too, he made the race dramatic till the last metres.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 15-02-2012 13:37
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Fantastic reporting, great job. And yes, a good first GT for us with a probably acceptable points haul, even though we missed out on a stage win.
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| ember |
Posted on 15-02-2012 13:40
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Big congratulations to Ricco, Bacardi - Ignis and Kami!
And indeed, a very nice GT, both in terms of racing and reporting, it was entertaining all the way. |
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| roturn |
Posted on 15-02-2012 13:41
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Great reports CountArach. Really enjoyed reading them.
Also seeing such an close battle made it a brilliant race. Hoe the Vuelta will be similar exciting.
Congrats to Bacardi! |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 15-02-2012 14:22
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Well it began last year with the new team Bacardi shocking everyone signing Ricco. Ricco inspired a crew that had Matthew Goss and Kim Kirchen in, they promoted in their first season which was quite an achievement and one in which no-one really expected.
Perhaps the early hilly stages suited Ricco over Sella who maybe would have preferred parcours that went into the mountains a bit earlier. But Ricco took those early oppurtunities well and several times in the mountains dug in to claw back seconds on Sella when he was on the defensive.
I briefly thought Pozzovivo may have ambitions of winning the race, but after winning his stage he slipped back into his usual Giro place the 4th or 5th best rider on the road. Schleck could have podiumed here but started to slip back, still a great effort from a punchaer really.
It's nice to see some fresh faces Machado, Amador, Henao, Denifl look good stage racers who overhaulled some of the old guard such as Menchov and Devolder.
I am not sure I can match the awesome detail of CountArach's reports for the Vuelta, that last TT stage was brilliant as was the whole race. Thanks for the Giro, it was a great race. The course like the Vuelta's is pretty hardcore you have gotta feel for the sprinters!
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 15-02-2012 14:27
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Congrats to Kali, what a race  . CountArach, those reports were exceptional all the way through. Thanks!
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| Kami |
Posted on 15-02-2012 14:42
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Thx for the congratulations everyone. I'm unbelievably happy with this victory. And thanks aswell to Count for these great reports, i enjoyed the Giro double as much. First my teams performance, and second the reports.
I must admit though, Sella was way stronger then anyone else in the mountains, but due to Ricco's consistency (i believe he was only out of the top 20 twice), i got enough of a gap to hang on to the overall. In every mountain stage, Ricco came one place behind Sella, while Sella was always behind on the hilly stages, which gave me the edge in the end.
While i didn't think my team would be strong enough, they proved me wrong, being able to control the peleton quite well with the help of other teams. Also, only Butterfield not making the time limit makes me happy aswell.
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 14:42
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Superb reports, CountArach! No doubt a five star!
And congrats to Kami!
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| SotD |
Posted on 15-02-2012 14:57
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Finally the race is over. Now I have to cross everything possible for another outcome at the Vuelta, otherwise this will be one hell of a fucked up season. Well it already is...
Reporting of another world yet again, and a huge congrats to Kami for winning the race. And very interesting with no Cunego here.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 17:44
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Awesome reports, CountArach!
It looks like those attack cost Posthuma in this final stage. Still two stages and 12th in the general classification is a great Giro for us.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 15-02-2012 17:47
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Bacardi, surely an inspiration to all the rookie Continental teams? Great reporting on a great race, which was great to read. Have I used Great too much, or is it just great? |
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