Slipstream gets a Giro invite

by BDBrian on Jan 20, 2008 11:35 PM EST

This is great for Slipstream, as they want the big-time experiences and the big-time race invites. With this, I'd expect a Tour invite as well. Milan-San Remo and Tirreno-Adriatico are also included as races they're invited to, shedding some light on some other possible races (one would bet all of the major classics, Paris-Nice, and the Dauphine)

He also mentioned Agritubel and Barloworld were two of the five Pro Conti teams that would be eligible for PT events. Slipstream is likely the 3rd, so who does that leave room for? Serramenti Diguiovanni? Ceramica Panaria? Skil-Shimano? Lamboukredit? Seems like 5 is too low, given the huge variety in ProTour races.

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Sweet!

Milano and Tirreno are put on by the RCS, the Giro people, so it's not too surprising that they'd get the three-fer deal.

Here's hoping they're in for the Tour. That would totally rock and stuff.

by Jen See on Jan 21, 2008 12:13 AM EST reply actions

great news.

Good for Slipstream and good for the Giro, since it has been a somewhat overlooked race by Americans for a while. With a bonafide threat in Danielson, it could be interesting.

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Jan 21, 2008 7:28 AM EST reply actions

And don't forget Dave Z.

He had a great Giro last year riding in support of Andy Schleck. And this year there will be several time trials.

Time to go look at my VDS squadra again!

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. - G. Marx

by flying dog on Jan 21, 2008 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

Excellent but

not unexpected. They got some good strong signals from Zomegnan earlier. I guess he's consistent then.

As for the Tour, it puts them in position but I'd still rate it 50-50. They have their own patronage traditions. If Vaughters doesn't suck up to the right people, it won't happen.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 21, 2008 10:38 AM EST reply actions

Well

Agritubel and Barloworld will get invites, but that makes 20 teams. That still leaves room for 2 more (22 being the usual number of teams).

by BDBrian on Jan 21, 2008 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

But

you're thinking logically. Try thinking arbitrarily, and you'll get the right list of teams. Also, think French.

by Chris Fontecchio on Jan 21, 2008 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

How can this man not get invited to a french race?

If this isn't sucking up, I don't know what is.

by Jens on Jan 21, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

je ne sais pas . . .

is that book Foucault, Derrida, or Bourdieu? Perhaps Roland Barthes sur le tour?

by R Mc on Jan 21, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

He's a Lacan man

you can tell by the sideburns

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Jan 21, 2008 9:51 PM EST up reply actions

Nice one :-)

Vaughters was invited to the presentation thingy, so I think he's doing ok with the a-s kissing so far. I'd be surprised if they didn't get the invite.

by Jen See on Jan 21, 2008 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

Same Riders?

If Slipstream uses basically the same team for the Giro and the Tour, how competitive will they be at either event?

by John.. on Jan 21, 2008 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Giro as a warm-up

It has been known to work in the past. Basso rode the Giro before the Tour several times, and Sastre rode the Giro as a supporter before the Tour in 06. Cunego rode the Giro in 06, too. It does work, it's a question of how well. I mean, I personally don't think it'll significantly weaken them, given that their time trialists likely won't ride as hard in the mountains, and their climbers should be able to put in the effort and then got a few months without racing and still be fine.

by BDBrian on Jan 21, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

multiple grand tours

sastre rode 3 grand tours in 06 and got 2 top fives. Also, Evans and Sastre are also planning to ride the giro and the tour (sastre might also ride vuelta) so its not that uncommon.

by d rod on Jan 21, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

Half and half

Half of the team aim to peak in the Giro and use their leftover form to get through the Tour and the other half use the Giro as preparation. Don't see why this shouldn't work. After all, no one is demanding or expecting them to fight for the overall win in either race.

by Jens on Jan 21, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions