Tirreno-Adriatico - Spoiler

[Keith Oates]

The other good race going on at the moment and that has already run for three days is the Tirreno-Adriatico and there are some of the top riders in this one as well. With Boonen winning on the 2nd day and Bennati yesterday on day three. Cavendish seems to be having a torrid time in the race and is firmly fixed at or near the back each day so far. I hope that what ever problems he was having during the off season have been cleared up so that he can come good later on in the season. At his present showing a repeat of last years Milan - San Remo seems very unlikely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rich p]

The weather was nasty to start but Cav is obviously suffering. His dental problems sounded pretty gruesome so it seems he's going to take a while to get match fit. Milan - San Remo does appear out of reach this year,
The T-A is a competitive race though with enough lumpy bits to make it hard for the sprinters. Tyler Farrar seems to have started the season slower than I expected after last years form.

 

[raindog]

I was wondering why we didn't have a Tirreno thread going. Nice to see Boonen back in shape and winning again. I think Cav is still getting up to strength as he says he's no where near as fit as he was this time last year. Apparently he's ridden the last 100 ks of Milan-San Remo as a recce, and he says he'll try and win it again, but he doesn't really sound too confidant.

I wonder if Sagan is down to ride it?

 

[Keith Oates]

Michele Scarponi won the stage and has gone into the lead on stage 4 but the man who looks like he may do something in stage 5 is Cadel Evans. There are some hard climbs in this stage it will be interesting to see who can take advantage of these hills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rich p]

Scarponi looked very strong on the hills yesterday so today will suit him too.
It does make you wonder why he ever doped if he's that good when he's clean

 

[raindog]

Sounds like that was a good stage. I have no way of watching this race.

 

[rich p]

Sounds like that was a good stage. I have no way of watching this race.

It's on British Eurosport over here but presumably you can't pick that up, RD?

 

[raindog]

I've just got bog standard French tv, which, obviously, is fantastic for all the French races but nowt else. I can sometimes get stuff on live streams on the 'puter though - I watched the whole of last year's Giro like that, but it's a bit knackering on the eyes!

 

[rich p]

Another excellent stage today. Thank heavens for Eurosport and V+.
Garzelli picking uop some bonus seconds to close to 2 seconds on Scarponi with a brutal finish on some sewriously steep urban roads. This is cycle racing at its best. Last stage tomorrow is a sprinter's apparently so Scarponi may have done enough.

 

[Aperitif]

http://www.universalsports.com/vide...26e-54b281ed2cdc.html#tirreno+adriatico+stage

You could perhaps register here raindog - and get the race streamed. I have read a bit about Microsoft silverlight etc but not registered here, so I don't know if it will work for you...

 

[Keith Oates]

It's certainly close at the top with Michele Scarponi, Stefano Garzelli and Cadel Evans only seperated by 12 secs. Todays final stage will certainly be one for the sprinters and Cav could have been considered for this one but his showing to date makes that seem very unlikely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rich p]

Maybe Cav is bluffing!
I noticed that he finished with most of the other sprinters on the lumpy bits.

 

[Keith Oates]

I hope you're right Rich, but I have my doubts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[raindog]

Don't know about bluffing, but he's certainly keeping himself to himself. Building up to MSR next week-end?
Any fearless predictions guys? The Poggio doesn't seem to break the riders up the way it used to so I expect one of the big sprinters will take it, but I'm going to be old-fashioned and go for a three man break which makes it to the finish and one of the riders will be Boasson-Hagen. That's my offer.
oops, should've waited for a thread to get started, sorry......

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Cav is not going to be competitive in the MSR. I expect a completely different podium this year as Haussler is also out of it.

The form guys are Boonen, Scarponi and maybe Cancellara. But don't rule out Boasson-Hagen, Flecha or Gerdemann.