Giro Rest Day: Ricco Hot Topic on Giro Rest Day

Riccardo Ricco is one of the hot topics at the Giro, according to Podium Cafe. Ricco, already having earned the nickname "The Ego" from the Podium Cafe fanbase, is being called out by his fellow countrymen as well, including defending Giro champion Danilo Di Luca. "The Killer" seems to feel that Ricco will lose significant time in the uphill time trial to Astana's Andreas Kloden, who has been quiet thus far in the Giro. However, Di Luca too has a good chance on the course, and should contend, as well as several others.

"Il Falco" Paolo Salvodelli will be one of the favorites in the Giro's first time trial

Even Ricco himself isn't conviced of his chances in the time trial, saying "If I lose two minutes, that would be good. I’ve worked a lot on the time trial over the winter, so I am anxious to see how I will do . . . riders such as Savoldelli, Contador, Menchov and Leipheimer will take time on the climbers; there will be other stages to recuperate the lost time."

Don't be so sure, Ricky.

Simoni will find the going tough in the individual time trial

Of the four names mentioned, Contador, Menchov, and Leipheimer are legitimate climbers capable of defending in the high mountains. Contador will be battling through a small fracture on his arm, which could hamper hisability to maintain an aerodynamic position, but Menchov and Leipheimer are at 100%, and will be ready to ride. Ricco should be careful what he claims, as the brash Italian's statements may one day soon fall on deaf ears.

Kloden knows how to suffer in the time trial discipline

In all liklihood, the upcoming time trial will eliminate several GC riders, leaving them too far from the lead to come back. Expect Simoni, Ricco, Karpets, and Nibali to take significant losses on the time trial, while Salvodelli, Di Luca, Leipheimer, Pellizotti, and Vande Velde should have decent rides. Even if Kloden or someone else wins by a significant margin, there is still plenty of racing---and climbing---left in the 2008 Giro d'Italia.

Astana Giro Bound After Late Invite Comes Through

Trek bikes will once again be at a grand tour, as will Levi, Alberto, and Andreas

RCS Sport, organizers of the Giro d'Italia, have reportedly extended a last minute invite to the Astana team for the upcoming Giro d'Italia. Astana, although not ideally prepared, will still be a great addition to the race. Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, and recent Tour of Romandy winner Andreas Kloden will all be in Italy for the start, to contest the three week grand tour.

Of the three big guns on Astana that will be racing in Italy, Kloden is probably on the best form currently. But expect Johan Bruyneel's team to keep all of their options open, until one of thier star riders definitively shows they are the best for the overall. Kloden will be motivated and confident after his Romandy win, while Leipheimer and Contador will no doubt ride into form during the race.

The introduction of the Kazakstani team creates an entirely new dynamic for the Giro, as race tactics will change drastically with their inclusion. The peloton will have to mark each Astana rider closely, as all three of their team leaders are capable of changing a race on one stage. When the road tilts upward, it will be a real chore for the other teams to control the race, as Contador, Leipheimer and Kloden are all explosive talents. Each will be able to play their own hands on the high mountains, to the peril of the other teams.

So the only remaining question is why did RCS change their minds and suddenly invite Astana? Could this have to do with the UCI's recent announcement that a 'top rider' failed the biological passport program? Could the rider in question be one of the protagonists for the Giro? And if so, will one of the teams invited to the Giro be suddenly uninvited? The next few days should answer most of these questions, as the year's first grand tour prepares to commence this coming weekend.

Rollin Gets His Roll On in Queen Stage of 2008 TOC

Race leader Levi Leiphemier (white rain jacket) and the pack head out of Seaside under rainy skies

The Tour of California’s queen stage took the peloton from Seaside to San Luis Obisbo in blustery, rainy weather. Early in the morning, skies were cloudy, but the rain hadn’t begun to fall. However, by start time, fat droplets of water were pelting riders and fans alike as they waited for the race to begin.

Rollin was beside himself with joy after his solo stage win

Once under way, the pack rolled glumly along, and most camera views of the riders showed them frowning as they tried in vain to protect themselves from the biting cold. Abandons began almost immediately, as many riders decided that they had had enough. Among them were German national champ Fabian Wegmann, Slipstream climber Tom Danielson, TOC sprint jersey leader Heinrich Haussler, and BMC rider Jackson Stewart. Stewart was the worse off of the early abandons, as he suffered hypothermia and was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

The stage four jerseys: Rollin (Agressive and Sprint), Nydam (KOM), Leipheimer (Leader), Gesink (Young)

As the field wound down the coast on highway 1, the pace remained molasses-slow at only about 15 miles an hour. An eight man break went off the front, headlined by High Road’s George Hincapie, Toyota United’s Dominique Rollin, Saunier Duval’s Iker Camano, Rabobank’s Bauka Mollema, and Jonathan Hivert of Credit Agricole. Their lead stretched to as much as three and a half minutes before the peloton finally began the chase with just over 20 kilometers left to race.

Another day of kisses for Levi, as he stays in yellow

Sensing the break away group weakening, Rollin (pronounced Roll-On) went clear from the group on his own, seemingly on a suicide attack. Moments later, he had a two minute gap. George Hincapie, realizing that the decisive move may have been made, attacked with Iker Camano and went out in search of the young Toyota United Canadian. Meanwhile, back in the pack, CSC took up the chase, but quickly realized that their efforts were in vain and gave up.

The stage four podium: Hincapie, Rollin, Camano

And so it was left to three riders to fight for the queen stage victory. Rollin, powering steadily toward the finish, never wavered in his commitment, and continued to hold Hincapie and Camano at arm’s length. For their part, the Saunier Duval and High Road riders worked together to bridge the gap to Rollin, but it was not meant to be.

Rollin scores victory for Toyota United in the queen stage of the 2008 TOC

Rolling carefully around the final corner ahead of the finish line, Rollin knew he had the stage won, and took a moment to straighten his jersey before approaching the line. Holding his arms out, and with pure glee painted on his face, Rollin rolled over the line, letting out an emotional scream.

Reached for comment after the award ceremony, Rollin said about his win, “This is a great day for Toyota United. Being able to bring a stage win for the third year in a row to the team, and being the first US-based team to get a win this year is just amazing. This is the biggest win of my career, it’s just unbelievable! Now, I’ll take a hot shower, and after, maybe a sip of champaign!” Roll on Dominique, you deserve it!

PRO Tour Points Leader---What It Means And Who Will Win 2008 Crown

UCI Pro Tour Champion. A highly coveted title by many pro riders, but one that is misunderstood by most of the cycling public. The white jersey that the leader gets to wear is one perk of having the title, as well as being able to lay claim to being the most consistent, best all-around Pro Tour Rider. To most riders this is a title far out of their reach, but a select few are able to target the title each year.

How It Works

The Pro Tour is a collection of races contested by 20 pre-selected teams. Points are awarded to riders based on their placement in each race. At the end of the season, the rider with the most total accumulated points takes the title. This year, the Pro Tour loses much of its lustre as all Amaury Sports Organisation, RCS (Giro) and Unipublic (Vuelta) races are not a part of the calendar. This is due to the long-running fued the three copanies have with Pat McQuaid and the UCI.

While you do not have to be on a Pro Tour team to compete in most of the races on the Pro Tour calendar, you do have to be associated with one of these 20 teams to be eligible to win the overall Pro Tour title. So for instance, Stefano Garzelli, racing for Aqua & Sapone, is not eligible to win the Pro Tour title as he is not a member of a Pro Tour team.

Currently, the 20 Pro Tour Teams are: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana Team, Bouygues Télécom, Caisse d'Epargne, Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone, Crédit Agricole, Team CSC, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Française des Jeux, Gerolsteiner, High Road (formerly T-Mobile Team (TMO)), Lampre-Fondital, Liquigas, Team Milram, Quick Step (formerly Quick Step-Innergetic (QSI)), Rabobank, Saunier Duval-Scott (formerly Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Silence-Lotto (formerly Predictor-Lotto (PRL).

The Pro Tour has been held three years now, and the past winners have been Danilo Di Luca (2005), Alejandro Valverde (2006) and Cadel Evans (2007). All of these riders have in common the fact that they are Grand Tour contenders, decent time trialists, and excellent climbers. So one can deduce that Robbie McEwin, while an excellent cyclist, will never contend for the Pro Tour crown.

So who has a good chance of becoming the 2008 Pro Tour champ? It would have to be a rider that places high in all races that he enters. Additionally, it would have to be someone who can contend in all types of races: One day races, Grand Tours and short stage races. With that in mind, here are four names that could be wearing the coveted white Pro Tour leader's jersey by the end of the year.

1. Alejandro Valverde---"The Green Bullet" had a quiet 2007. After dominating the scene in 2006, Valverde was MIA in 2007. Rumors have circulated that he may be involved in Operacion Puerto, so one must wonder if he'll make it through the year without being sanctioned. If he does, he's as dangerous as anyone on any given day. The Pro Tour classification was meant for a rider of his calibre. If he can net the title again, he'll be the first ever two-time champ.

2. Damiano Cunego---"il piccolo principe" has and continues to be a rider capable of dominating any race he enters. Although relatively quiet in recent years, Cunego has all of the tools required to put together a magical season. If he can show well in the early season classics, he should be primed to make a run at the overall Pro Tour title in the fall. If he can find the form that took him to the Giro title and saw him ranked #1 in the world at the end of the year, the rest of the peloton could be in big trouble.

3. Riccardo Ricco---"The Cobra" is a hot choice amongst many cycling pundits to jump to the next level in 2008. He has publicly stated that he plans on attempting to contend for the Giro d'Italia overall in May, so whats to day, with good form and a bit of luck, that he can't build up an early season points lead and sustain it through the end of the year? He was with the leaders last year in the Wallonnian classics and seems poised to join the elite stage race contenders this year. If he contines to progress as he has over the last few years, Ricco could make a big splash in 2008.

4. Cadel Evans---Quiet Cadel never seems to get the respect he deserves. An excellent time trialist and fierce battler in the mountains, Evan makes up for in effort what he lacks in panache. He doesn't possess the finishing kick of any of the other riders on this list, but his consistent time trialing keeps him in any stage race, Grand Tour or not, that he enters. The only factor that could keep Cadel from contending for the overall title deep into fall would be his preparations for the Olympic time trial in Beijing. If he's not the Pro Tour leader coming out of the Vuelta Espana, expect him to dissappear and train in anonymity ahead of the showdown in China.

Some other riders to watch as possible darkhorses in 2008 for the Pro Tour title: George Hincapie (why not, "Big George" doesn't have much time left after all), Levi Leipheimer (also an oldster. He's capable of contending for the overall, but will domineering boss Bruyneel let him play his hand?), Davide Rebellin ("Tin-Tin" won't contend in the Grand Tours, but a good early and late classic season could get him to the title).