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Foglie Morte: Post-Race Thread

Copy_of_pineapple_face_tiny by Chris... on in News

Great race eh? I'm tempted to post the results in the sidebar. And out of respect for those who are planning to watch Versus later, I'll do this as an anagram.

Star-divide

VDS implications: I'm not sure it matters in the overall but one axiom remains true: Cunego scores his points. Every year.

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especially after the year he's had... sick most of it

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Oct 18, 2008 10:44 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Astana

Interesting that the two ‘major" Astanas- Braj and Horner- who had awful luck this year with injuries and illness ad missed out on their team’s stage winning successes, came through for this race as major factors.

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 10:47 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

how so? it's not unusual for riders who weren't that active earlier in the season do well at the end of the season

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Oct 18, 2008 10:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

fresh legs and all

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Oct 18, 2008 10:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Just noting the depth on that team.

A team that’s not noted for one day races. ’Course this is a climby course and suits them just fine. It would be nice if they could compete better in Belgium next year.

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 10:53 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

would be, but as you said, not a belgium-race-centric team

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Oct 18, 2008 11:03 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Great race

I’m off to bed….. Bring on TDU in January… I’ll be looking forward to posting my photos..
Goodnight all

by CycleGirl on Oct 18, 2008 10:47 AM EDT   0 recs

Sleep tight!

I’m off home soon to watch Strictly Come Dancing :-)

by Albertina on Oct 18, 2008 10:55 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Uran

The baby of the peloton is growing up mighty fast.

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 10:52 AM EDT   0 recs

the two talents from 1987

are unbelievably strong. The other one being Edvald Boasson Hagen. Impressive, they are just 21 years old!!!!!!

by King of Doping on Oct 18, 2008 10:55 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Amazing

The sweatshirt I am wearing is about that old…

by Jimbo... on Oct 18, 2008 10:56 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Uran and Hagen

One has to take a loooooong look at them in making one’s VDS team next year.

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 10:58 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Meh

Those kids… every time I get all excited, they disappear. Who knows what their program will be? If they don’t cost much, fine, but otherwise I’m through with loading up on kids.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 18, 2008 11:31 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Top 10

1. Cunego
2. Brajkovic
3. Uran
4.Visconti
5. Kroon
6. Finetto
7. Horner
8. Garzelli
9. Possoni
10. Failli

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 10:57 AM EDT   0 recs

look at the youngsters slotted in 1-4

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Oct 18, 2008 11:04 AM EDT   0 recs

sorry, i meant 2-4

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Oct 18, 2008 11:04 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Even the top ten

1. Cunego- 81
2. Brajkovic- 83
3. Uran- 87
4.Visconti- 83
5. Kroon
6. Finetto- 85
7. Horner
8. Garzelli
9. Possoni- 84
10. Failli- 83

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 11:07 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah nuts. I really mistimed this one. I had hoped I’d get back in time to see the finish.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Oct 18, 2008 11:06 AM EDT   0 recs

darn

arrived home too late

sounds like a great race

by cyclingchallenge on Oct 18, 2008 11:18 AM EDT   0 recs

I got home late

and missed the race, but reading the end of the live thread, someone said Jani would get a lot of ribbing – why? Was he overly excited by finishing 2nd? Or did he do something goofy to mess up at the end (although from the posts it seemed like Cunego won decisively)?

by Katiek on Oct 18, 2008 1:04 PM EDT   0 recs

Kind of

celebrated like he’d won.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 18, 2008 1:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I feel awful for the poor rider when that happens.

How gutted must he have felt when he realised?!

by Albertina on Oct 19, 2008 10:49 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

here's what he said:

Asked if he knew Cunego had taken the victory, Jani replied, “Actually, I did know that Cunego was in the front. Why I was so happy then? A second place in a big classic is a big performance as well. Cunego is a specialist of this kind of races. For me it was like a victory after my difficult season. My season did not start well, but the second part of the year was very good. I am really happy. Honestly, without my teammates and especially Chris Horner I would not haven been able to have this result. Chris was amazingly strong today,” a clearly overjoyed Brajkovic commented after the race.

by Bruce Suomi on Oct 19, 2008 12:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks for the quote, Bruce

I love when a second or third place finisher is deservedly excited over his result instead of disappointed.

by Katiek on Oct 19, 2008 8:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks for the quote.

Watched it earlier and it was exciting to see him so thrilled with is placing!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Oct 20, 2008 1:03 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I figured

Not knowing where Cunego was never seemed plausible. And Jani’s right, this was a huge result for him.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 21, 2008 4:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

looked sorta dorky

celebrating second. glad he’s happy, but…

also, massive violation of the zipper rule. uh, it’s october in northern italy. zip that thing up. sheesh.

by gavia on Oct 20, 2008 1:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

me me me

www.jeredgruber.com

I posted some pics to pez and a few more to my website…so much more to come this week.

following lombardia was probably the coolest thing i’ve ever done.

even better, i might make it home by midnight…maybe.

more later, k bye.

by jered on Oct 18, 2008 1:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Great day dude

enjoy!

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 18, 2008 1:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So jealous!

You have some wonderful pics on your site-I’ll have a closer look when I have more time. Whereabouts do you live? Looks like you have some great scenery nearby! And that press room is something else!

by Albertina on Oct 18, 2008 3:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Who knew?

Brajkovic could win this thing one day. What a performance! If he could be a little more consistent, look out. And what are Uran? He turned some heads during his brief stint with Unibet, but this is a great result. I’ll be looking out for him next year for sure. I would probably celebrate like Jani too if I got second in Lombardia.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Oct 18, 2008 2:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Ya know-

- just my opinion- but this race wasn’t actually very exciting this year.:

- The expected break happened but even though they had numbers they didn’t threaten to hold on till the end. I expected more with Rogers but got complacency. When Gibo went I was thinking this could be big but then he got dropped.

- So okay we get to the next to the last climb with everyone together (not totally unexpected) and Kroon goes but not all out and is soon gobbled up. Then the most exciting time happened with Cunego and Horner but Chris’ descending couldn’t keep up and Uran bridged to Horner but didn’t have the power to catch The Kid. Brajkovic was out to lunch.

- Cunego had about as easy a win as one could have hoped for. Samu? Zip. Garzelli? Zilch. Evans? Was he even in the race? (Yes, I know he was.) Freire? Has he finished yet? Kolobnev? Mailed it in. Ballan? I guess Cunego browbeat him into not challenging. No Killer, no Tin Tin, no Spartacus- and we aren’t even talking about guys like Va;lverde who could eat this course up.

So I’m saying that even though I wouldn’t have missed the race for anything in the world (and I still feel that way even with the outcome known) compared to the other Monuments, this one came in last this year- with several other Classics outshining it.

Okay- have at me.

by ursula on Oct 18, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

loathe to agree

but I do. He basically won it by the time the final startlist went up. Rarely ever in doubt.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 18, 2008 3:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

We saw lots of tired riders

Look at those who did well – guys who have had a light schedule. Horner and Jani for natural reasons. Uran was recovering from injury start of the season and has been used sparingly by Caisse. Garzelli hasn’t been let into too many big races. Only major exception really is the Kid but he has had a three-peak-schedule Ardennes/Tour/Varese-Lombardia and has used all other races a training more or less.

If Tony or Valverde had been ripping it up in this race, after the season they’ve had we’d all be singing the Que Cera song in chorus and for good reason.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 18, 2008 3:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He peaked for the Tour?

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Oct 18, 2008 6:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't he look peaked to you?

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 19, 2008 4:14 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I give up on TD. DFL today.

After his 5th at national TT’s – I commented that he is turning a corner. Some of you were unimpressed that he was that close to DZ and CVV saying both of them were far from top form. I held out because both DZ and CVV were still in good form as was proved by their excellent TT showings shortly afterwards, making TD’s closeness in time all that more impressive.

Hearing again from TD that he was going for a good result today after helping his team all fall his power numbers were up blah, blah, blah, he was finally to be vindicated.

Alas, not today. Well, at least he finished, i guess.

by humbug1 on Oct 18, 2008 3:15 PM EDT   0 recs

from what I saw of TD

at the Tour of Utah, he was a little on the over weight side for a race winner. He lacked that thoroughbred look of say Pate or Frischorn. He’s got domestique written all over himself in my eyes. Strong yes, but seems like he’s lost (some would argue he never really had it..) the killer edge that one needs to win races.

by Fred Marx on Oct 18, 2008 4:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

never ever ever ever

ever ever ever had it.

He’s even more of a puppy dog than Hincapie.

That might make them great people, but not so good as guys you want to count on at the end of a bike race.

by R Mc on Oct 18, 2008 4:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Mentions of him cramping at the end of the race.

I like TD and enjoyed meeting him and love cheering him on but I think he would go further with fans taking on yhe Super Tomestique role. I’ll keep cheering for him at races and wishing him well but I think mentally it’s a different place and he just seems to be missing getting there. Maybe if the mental part was gone, he’d shine a bit more.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Oct 19, 2008 1:56 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Craig Lewis

11th, finishing with the elite group of 20 or so…

Big performance for him. Maybe a young American for the Ardennes?

by Mr 60 Percent on Oct 18, 2008 3:43 PM EDT   0 recs

Hmmm

just hmmm…

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 18, 2008 4:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Barry on Lewis
I spent much of the season racing with my teammate Craig Lewis. Craig has come back from a life threatening crash, and has endured more in his 23 years than most experience in a lifetime. He knows and values his good fortune, and with this understanding has come maturity. He doesn’t take anything for granted, and works hard at each race and at home, never complaining. This season Craig likely spent more time at the front of the peloton than most other riders. He rode for the sprinters to control the race, defended race leader jerseys, and jumped into breakaways. At races where he had never previously competed he gained experience and confidence, pulling the peloton, and making riders with twice his experience suffer. Through the season he became stronger, mentally and physically, as a result of his time on the front. This is how our team grew.

from Barry’s “Season Finale” report at Pedal. IIRC, Hincapie thinks quite highly of Lewis as well.

by guidemd on Oct 18, 2008 5:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i saw lewis at tour of MO

very lean, definitely climber type…after the tt he had changed and came out of tour bus in street clothes and he looked like he could be one of my 17 year old son’s friends.

by Choo Choo on Oct 19, 2008 11:13 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Cheers

I hadn’t noticed that. From what the Slippy’s posted on their site, the race was pretty legit in terms of overall difficulty. I’d agree with you that this could represent a sizable leap for Lewis. It looks like he just turned 23 a few days ago. Amazing!

Never, ever, work with a sprinter.

by Put 'Em in the Gutter on Oct 18, 2008 10:10 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

did you know the story behind Rigoberto Uran?

Apparently his father was shot when he was just 14 or 15 years old (even worse, he was shot in front of him). His family had a lot of economical problems and he had to take his father’s job (selling lottery tickets).

http://coloverio.securesites.net/blogs/antioquiaolimpica/?p=400#more-400
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/campeon/nacido/violencia/elpepidep/20080317elpepidep_27/Tes/

by King of Doping on Oct 18, 2008 5:33 PM EDT   0 recs

good god

that’s too horrible to even think about.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 19, 2008 12:57 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

certainly

one to watch.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 21, 2008 4:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

why does the Kid race the grand tours?

he’s such a great classics rider.

by Mr Van P on Oct 18, 2008 6:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Because - even though he is now the 3 time winner,

he is still a giro champion and a high placing at the Tour and a stage win would eclipse these impressive wins as would a second Giro. Look at DiLuca – all the crap that guy has won – Giro Champ.

Sadly, nobody outside of Italy cares about Lombardy other than the likes of us.

by humbug1 on Oct 18, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Giro

I can see him continuing to focus on the Giro. Why not? He’s got to do something between April and October. Or he can go stage hunting at the Tour. But he should stop placing those grand tour ambitions ahead of the classics. Go to Paris-Nice and battle with Rebellin to get ready for the Ardennes.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 19, 2008 12:58 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Indeed

even if he gives up on the GC the giro usually has plenty of intermediate stages for an in form Cunego to go stage hunting. Does anyone have an accurate weight for him? The weights I’ve seen quotes are around the 65kg mark which would seem to make him quite heavy for his height – would certainly explain why he isn’t doing so well on the long GT climbs . . .
I think he’s had a pretty good year GTs aside – I’ll be interested to see what he thinks about it looking back at the beginning of next season.

On a side note, sweet VDS score – Cunego, Uran and Kroon = 850pts for Team North Road. Can’t wait to see the update!

by Rothko on Oct 19, 2008 6:47 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You'll like it

me – not so much

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 19, 2008 7:22 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Lampre sez:

Cunego’s stats:
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 58 kg
—Lampre official site

Accurate? Who knows? We need a volunteer to get him alone with a scale.

by majope on Oct 19, 2008 7:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

exactly

I could still see him winning anothe Giro, but as you said it shouldn’t be his primary focus. Don Alejandro should follow suit.

by Mr Van P on Oct 19, 2008 7:30 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

+1 on Don Alejandro.

Many more classics in his tank and he’s a fiendishly good stage hunter. No shame in concentrating on those goals.

by Albertina on Oct 19, 2008 10:55 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

VV could still win the Tour

He was dropped only one stage in the mountains this year. Take out that stage in the Pyrenees, and otherwise only Sastre was as good or better in the mountains. Long time trials are his big issue. For some reason he kicks ass in the Alps but struggles in the Pyrenees.

SamSan is in same category as VV…a better time trialer but maybe a bit less high end potential in the mountains.

But with Cunego, the verdict is in. The top-5 in the year he won the Giro: Cunego, Gonchar, Simoni, Cioni, Popovych. Time to admit he is Davide Rebellin.

by Mr 60 Percent on Oct 19, 2008 1:47 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

Cuz he won the giro when he was 23. But agreed, he’s a classics rider.

I’d guess he could win all the major classics except Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Tours, though the way Paris-Tours has gone recently, he might have an outside chance at it. I intentionally include the Ronde – he’s light for it, but has plenty of speed.

by gavia on Oct 20, 2008 1:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

"dropped only one stage in the mountains"

But that’s just it. Plenty of amazing riders have missed out on Tour greatness for this very reason, always having one bad day along the way. Problem for VV is he’s too much of an allrounder. He will never be able to compensate for that bad day by crushing the others in a TT or climb.

Personally I’d love it if he keeps trying though, as long as he doesn’t sacrifice his entire seasons in pursuit of the unlikely Tour-win.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 19, 2008 2:57 PM EDT   0 recs