Giro d'Italia

Just thought I would start a thread for discussion of some little race I heard was starting in Italy this weekend.;)

Who's got the best chance? What teams are hot?

May be someone knows a pub that is showing some of it that one day we could catch a bit of the action?

P.S anyone got any idea of any internet feeds?

It'll be on Eurosport every day I imagine, so any pub with satellite and an obliging landlord should be happy to put it on if you're drinking enough...

rai.it have been streaming it the past few years.

BMMF - you up for watching a couple of the more interesting stages at the Offside Bar on City Road. i remember taking the day off last year to watch the stage up the Zoncolan. awesome days viewing

Sounds tempting, but logistically awkward. Are there any good stages at the weekend you've got in mind? I'll be stuck at work during weekday afternoons :(

I'm going over to see a few stages and do a bit of riding

forli and cesena

I'm going over to see a few stages and do a bit of riding

forli and cesena

Are you acting as a pace setter?

mascot…

Ya Basta! I'm well up for watching some of this on the gogglebox or in a pub.

Yeah, same here. I'm getting very good at disappearing from work and arriving at a pub..

id be happy to coem and watch a stage or two

providing we can talk crap about the riders and the fact there doing it all wrong, and they'll never make that break stick and other such things

I'm glad to see it's got great coverage on Eurosport. I won't pretend to have a clue about who's riding, I'm new to this whole pro cycling thing..

Anyone found an internet stream for this yet?

jonny - when is the stage up to Zoncolan? Have some holiday to burn so might as well use it doing that.

Two possibilities?

http://www.cyclingfans.com/
http://www.tvover.net/TVStation,search,0-0-0-0-0-q=giro+italia.aspx

Who's got the best chance? What teams are hot?

It's an interesting looking race this year as there is no obvious favourite (at least in my opinion).

Di Luca hasn't been in great form and has a weak team, especially when compared to last year. The persistent drug allegations must mean he's being targeted for testing by the UCI too.

Simoni is a year older and has a weaker team than last year so whilst I'd never discount him I can't see him winning.

Ricco is unproven as a GC rider and is deeply unpopular with other riders so I can't see him being allowed the win.

Astana have only just received an invite so whilst they have three strong riders on their roster, in Contador, Kloden and Leipheimer, they've not had the best preparation. The first week is quite tough too so if they are off the pace they could be eliminated from the GC by the other teams.

The course is evenly balanced with four time trials (including the opening team time trial) and some damn tough mountain stages.

I wouldn't like to call it but with the toughest stage in the race on the Saturday before the race finishes (which includes the Mortirolo which even a proven hard man like PJ might struggle on) a climber with stamina may just edge it.

Set the Sky box to record it all.. should be interesting.. no idea about who's even riding. Don't have time to following cyclingnews any more :(

None of you lot mention Cav's win?
No wonder you track team is strong.. you're not even aware of the road :P

Who saw Millar's mishap then?

road racing isn't really on the hipster radar.
sounds like the weather has a bit of a mare in sicily.
cavendish's win was good to hear about (haven't got sky wish i could have seen it)

It's all coming together for Cavendish at the moment, init.

Millar's had his fair share of mechanicals over the years - what gives? (apart from his chain usually)

should have got an arrospok

Derailler (lack of)
Disc destruction
Chain snappage
and that's just the major, televised ones! Cutting edge of technology is a little too SHARP?

god ive not been watching this enough

only just heard 'bout cavendish ... happy days

Yeah we seem to be doing pretty well this year. Poor Millar though, can't imagine much worse with 500m to go - not a good advert for Felt, or Shimano.

Here he is watching the peloton come past with his chain in the middle of the road.

In his own words....

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/05/14/my-chain-reaction/