GranPiemonte: Warm Up the Legs
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 14, 2009 8:43 PM EDT
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Hey, it may not be the most interesting race, but at least the logo is 50% less creepy than Lombardia's.
The Giro del Piemonte, a/k/a GranPiemonte, is actually a fairly uninteresting circuit from the Campionissimo's hometown of Novi Ligure to Fossano, across the plains of Piedmont. The race tops out at just under 500 meters, toward the middle portion where it traverses a section of the Appenines. It is no doubt an achingly lovely circuit across yet another region of Italy that resembles a cycling dream landscape. But it's not a big deal as races go:
- It's not on the VDS calendar
- It usually goes to a sprinter
- Sprinters have nothing to do with Lombardia
Still, there's a fun block of unusual sprinters in attendance, like Oscar Gatto, Francesco Gavazzi, Fischer, Chicchi, and so forth, mixed in with plenty of big names tuning up their form for Saturday. One name jumps out: Gilbert! Is Phil-Gil up for another big effort? In all likelihood not, it'd be fool-hardy w/r/t Saturday, but the guy has never been known for caution. Anyway, we probably won't actually see it, but keep an eye out just in case.
[Update] Unbelievable...
1. Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) 4:32:54
2. Dani Moreno (Caisse d’Epargne) m.t.
3. Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) m.t.
4. Luca Paolini (Acqua e Sapone) m.t.
5. Reinier Honig (Vacansoleil) a 2
6. Paul Martens (Rabobank) m.t.
7. Alexandre Usov (Cofidis) a 4
8. Gerben Lowik (Vacansoleil) m.t.
9. Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) m.t.
10. Pablo Lastras (Caisse d’Epargne) m.t.
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Last (serious) race of Steven de Jongh (NED/QST)
He will spend more time with his children after a divorce this year.
How is his form?
It would be nice to finish in style.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 14, 2009 9:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Course looks like it is a bit different this year than last
Phil Gil is saving himself for Lombardy....I told him he needed to do this for the good of my VDS team ;-)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Cruel really... good start list in Italy
but no live feed. Sigh…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I know. Just what am I supposed to do this afternoon?!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
I'm thinking work... but as a woman I'm sure you can multi-task ;)
pity there’ll be no need for it.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Quite.
Frankly, “non executive directors in the NHS” is not a topic which thrills me :-(
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Well well well, nice one Phil!
Bah to there not being points for this!!!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Wow!
I couldn’t even find anything about the race and i did look. Gilbert is on fire…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
He'd better deliver on Saturday...I'm determined to finish in the top 20 of VDS!
Mind you, if Sammy won I’d be the last to complain ;-)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
I need to look at a start list before I declare my heart
but either of your choices would be popular :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Thanks!
My heart is going with Gerrans, but my head suggests that while he has an outside chance, Cunego and Gilbert will be hard to beat. Wouldn’t mind seeing Cuddles double up either, but that may be a bridge too far.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Ah, Gerrans is racing?
Huh, too bad I didn’t have a decent start list when I wrote my preview thingy. Gerrans is a nice pick for this race, if he still has the form he did at Worlds.
Music to my ears :)
Writing too many good things him might jinx him anyway…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Steephill.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Well maybe that will make them lucky too.
But if I was Gavia I’d suggest you wrote a post called ‘Longshots for Lombardia’. ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
If you're highlighting guys who might have some chance of winning the race
even if they’re longshots, then it’s about cycling. Or am I missing something?
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I did talk about Visconti
But no Velits or Cataldo. I actually didn’t really have a start list when I wrote it, so I was sorta guessing off recent race results and team announcements. Makes it harder to get everyone.
Gerrans was racing today, too
and clearly he’s on speaking terms with Cadel
if Puppy wins this one, we'll have to rename it after him...
…like the Tom Boonen invitational.
. Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) 4:32:54
2. Dani Moreno (Caisse d’Epargne) m.t.
3. Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) m.t.
4. Luca Paolini (Acqua e Sapone) m.t.
5. Reinier Honig (Vacansoleil) a 2
6. Paul Martens (Rabobank) m.t.
7. Alexandre Usov (Cofidis) a 4
8. Gerben Lowik (Vacansoleil) m.t.
9. Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) m.t.
10. Pablo Lastras (Caisse d’Epargne) m.t.
Mmmm Chianti
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Gilbert was really strong today
from 3k out until the red triangle was uphill, the last 500m or so of that at 8%. Gilbert took off on that stretch and pulled the bunch apart, even though he never got more than 100m of lead, if that.
On the flat final k, Moreno caught up with him, then Gavazzi. They both sat on his wheel as if waiting to jump, and even though he slowed down somewhat to encourage them to go ahead, they stayed behind. Neither seemed to have the energy to come past him at the end, though, so he led out the last k and a half to take the sprint by half a wheel or so.
His reward - probably the cheapest looking trophy you'll ever see
Do you think that De Jongh will swap one of his donkeys for that?
Wow
considering how full of hardware his suitcase must be, I doubt he even keeps that one.
ABRUZZIAM...uh oh
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 15, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it made of plastic?
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
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