10 things we learned from the Giro d'Italia

The 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia is over and there are 10 things that we have learned from it:

1. Dennis Menchov, of team RABOBANK, who won the Giro this year is obviously in fine form. The Russian can climb with the best, but can’t drop the best just like Miguel Indurain did in his time. His advantage is that he can time-trial better than the good climbers.

2. Giro runner-up Danilo di Luca, of team LPR BRAKES, is an explosive rider in the mountains but doesn’t have the endurance to drop the likes of Menchov and Stefanno Garzelli. His time trialling is obviously his Achilles Heel and considering his age, I don’t think he can improve it to match the power of the likes of Menchov.

3. Lance Armstrong had a new baby and had great from going into the final week of the Giro but he still doesn’t have the form it takes to mount a challenge for the Tour this July. Not bad when you are paid 200k as appearance money by the organizers. But, as I have been saying a lot of times already, if there is anyone who can come out from a 3-year retirement and win the Tour, it’s the Texan.

4. The climbs of the Giro are steeper, narrower and longer compared to the Tour. Therefore, it is dangerous but for fans, it’s a recipe for great racing! For the riders, though, whose livelihood comes from being healthy to race, racing under such condition brings dread.

5. Current TdF champion Carlos Sastre is one of the best climbers of his generation but he will never repeat as champion. Sure, he won two stages but the top 2 places in the Giro but the race was already sewn up when he did. His time-trialling is still average.

6. Two new faces showed up that showed promise: Edvard Boasson Hagen and Thomas Lovkvist. The former could be the next great sprinter/classics rider while the latter is now showing the results expected of him 2-3 years ago. But it’s still the same people who are dominating the Grand Tours- Menchov, Sastre, di Luca, etc.

7. Former champion (04) Damiano Cunego should realize by now that he was just a one-Giro wonder. Time to focus his energy on short stage races and the classics.

8. 01 and 03 Giro champion Gilberto Simoni, now 38, should retire. What’s the point of continuing when you finish the race out of the top 5?

9. American Levi Leipheimmer, Tour contender and Armstrong teammate, had a bad Giro. Already a winner early in the year, he may have burned out his matches.

10. The tifosis, aka the Italian fans, are probably the best fans in the world. They are most knowledgeable and the most passionate fans in the world.

Race Results June 6 2009 Mandaue Rekla

1. RICKY ERMITANIO, 2- CELING VILLAROSA, 3- BOY PAGNANAWON, 4- ORLAN TORING, 5- MIGUEL FLORES

Finally, French cycling legend and multiple grand tour winner Bernard Hinault, who is known for being outspoken in the peloton and out of it, was asked if he shared the opinion of the current riders that the Tour is too hard, “Cycling is not too hard. It is necessary to stop complaining. Cycling is a hard profession but it’s better than going to the factory. A racer who wins is never paid too much. If you really want to win, you fight to the last breath”. – THE FREEMAN