Giro di Lombardia

[mondobongo]

Sheesh were has the year gone one second its mud and cobblestones in Flanders and in a blink of an eye we are at the race of falling leaves.

This is it kiddiwinks till the New Year and the Tour Down Under.

Predictions please??

As ever I was going to put Rebellin in the frame but thanks to those doping muppets Gerolsteiner have been pulled. Although reading at Cycling News am not sure that Davide realises its an Automatic 8 day team suspension for 2 positives in a 12 month period.

Map of the course here and a few other bits. Still trying to find a start list.

 

[TimDanaher]

Cheers, Mondo --

Hmm... 'Gara delle Foglie Morte' in Italian... 'Race of the Dead Leaves' doesn't have quite the same poetic ring to it.

Nice course, looking forward to it on Eurosport. If the weather holds it should be spectacular. Winner? Pick a number...

Is Bettini riding? Or was the World's his last race?

 

[mondobongo]

Worlds was his last.

 

[DanRVV2006]

My top tip is Damiano Cunego, hes had an up and down season he won the Amstel Gold early on then sorta disappeared and didnt realy turn up at the Tour. So i think he will go well in Lombardia.
My outsider is Giovanni Visconti, been up there in all the recent little Italian end of season races attacking and what not, hes leaving Quickstep so might want to give them a fairwell gift. Also he will be leader of the Quickstep team beacause as Mondobongo pointed out Bettini last race was the worlds so hes not racing leaving the door open for Visconti to take charge.

 

[mondobongo]

Cycling News have got a really good piece on La Madonna del Ghisallo including some great pictures of the artefacts held in the Chapel.

 

[arranandy]

Ballan or Cunego to win with maybe Andy Schlek as an outside bet. Just been looking at the preview on cyclingnews.com and its a really strong field

 

[arranandy]

I thank you

Good race, pity about the cr@p coverage on Eurosport

 

[Keith Oates]

Good win by Cunego, he was really going well but also the second place by Janez Brajkovic shows that Astana have some good talent on the books besides Contador!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mondobongo]

Well called Andy and Dan, was a good move by Cunego.
Agree the coverage was a bit dire just watched a shoddy highlights show.

 

[Skip Madness]

Poor old Janez Brajkovic looked as though he thought he had won - I would have hated to be the one to break the bad news to him...