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85th Giro d'Italia (GT)
Italy, May 11-June 2, 2002
Rider previews
Who's your pick for the 85th Giro d'Italia? Cyclingnews' Jeff Jones and Tim Maloney have compiled a list of favourites - from GC riders, to sprinters to other potential stage winners. Without further ado...
General classification candidates
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Gilberto Simoni (Saeco-Longoni Sport)
Gibo is one tough cookie; the hard headed climber from Trentino has had his Giro preparation compromised by a crash in Catalunya in March, but the tough ascents in Giro del Trentino in late April have shown that Simoni is probably on track to defend his Giro laurels. Pity the Giro 2002 parcours isn't hard enough to enable Simoni to shine in his favourite climbing territory, but look for the determined Palu di Giovo resident to battle to the very end trying for a repeat victory.
Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo)
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'Cecco' Casagrande has always had the potential to win the Giro d'Italia, with his best chance coming in 2000 when he was overtaken by Stefano Garzelli in the final time trial. After crashing out of the Giro last year and then trying and failing to finish the Tour de France, many thought that he was too fragile for a three week race. But if things go his way, he's at least a top 3 finisher.
Stefano Garzelli (Mapei-Quick Step)
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Mapei are again putting their collective efforts behind Garzelli this year, who will try and repeat his 2000 victory. Last year he rode well, but cracked in the high mountains. This year he looks to be in slightly better condition leading into the race, and has a very strong behind him to help him to victory.
Dario Frigo (Tacconi Sport)
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Some say he shouldn't be riding the Giro this year after being disqualified in sensational style in the 2001 race. Frigo, who was lying in second overall at the time, was found to be in possession of banned drugs when Italian police raided all the rider hotels in San Remo shortly before the finish. He was sacked by his team, thrown off the race, and given a six month suspension. However, he served his suspension and came back this year to take a stage in Paris-Nice and more recently a win in the Tour de Romandie.
Frigo is undeniably a very talented rider, and should perform well in this year's Giro. He may even win it, given his skills against the clock, provided he can overcome his occasional weaknesses in the mountains.
Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali)
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The talented American climber/time trialist from CSC-Tiscali has not had an ideal start to the season, suffering from allergies that have hampered his preparation. However, he has seemingly overcome them in time for his first big challenge of the year: leading the team in the Giro d'Italia. If he rides himself into some form, watch out for him in the time trials, as he could make up some time on the pure climbers.
Sprinters
Mario Cipollini (Acqua e Sapone)
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It's a sure bet (barring an early mishap) that Mario Cipollini will win one or more stages in the Giro d'Italia. The Tuscan sprinter is far and away the most successful Giro stage winner in the current peloton, with 34 wins - second only to Alfredo Binda who won 41. Cipollini has a strong enough team, and is in good enough condition to take a few more this year.
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
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The speed merchant from La Spezia will come into the 2002 Giro with good wins so far this season, but one big problem to overcome. The 28 year old Fassa Bortolo man has to beat Mario Cipollini - perhaps in the flatter, easier stages, this might be too much of a challenge for him, but Petacchi has matured this season and if the Giro stage finish is too tough for Super Mario, Petacchi will be there.
Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Adecco)
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The Australian sprinter is enjoying his best ever form this year, with five wins at home followed by another five on Euro soil. He's not had much success in the Giro to date, but this year looks like his best chance yet. He has a good team with Stefan van Dijk another handy fast man, and should perform well.
Ivan Quaranta (Index-Alexia)
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For the last three years, Ivan Quaranta has won two stages in the Giro each year. He is very fast, but needs a perfect run in to the finish to get over the likes of Cipollini. Quaranta has not had much success this year, but will be motivated to do well in the Giro as usual.
Massimo Strazzer (Phonak)
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The Phonak team will be counting on Massimo Strazzer to at least win a stage for them. Last year he won both the Points and Intergiro classifications, two of the most important sub classifications after the overall and mountains. This year he has the support of Sven Teutenberg and Alexandre Moos, who are both handy in the bunch kicks.
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Jan Svorada (Lampre-Daikin)
Cagy old Jan The Man is still winning at 33. After 11 years as a pro, the crafty Czech is never one to discount in a sprint. He didn't ride the Giro last year, but never mind; Svorada simply knows how to follow the wheels so well and if he sees an opening and has the legs, like at last year's final stage of the Tour De France in Paris, just say goodbye and hand him the bouquet.
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Moreno Di Biase (Mobilvetta-Formaggio Trentini)
This rapid Tuscan sprinter is in his 4th year in the pro ranks. Di Biase has the pure speed to win more, but his DS Stefano Giuliani say he needs to get meaner and hungrier in the sprints. The powerful, compact Di Biase will be looking to improve on his one top 3 stage finish at last year's Giro d'Italia.
Robert Hunter (Mapei-Quick Step)
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Not only can he sprint but he is also a handy time trialist as well. Hunter's main role will be to help Garzelli on the flatter stages, depending on how things turn out. But Hunter is also a great candidate for a stage win and could give Mapei some extra results on a day to day basis.
Stage winners (non-GC/sprinter)
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Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo)
Although Fassa Bortolo will be focused on getting Casagrande to the top spot, there will be occasions where their top one day rider Michele Bartoli will have his chance to win a stage. Bartoli, winner of the Tour of the Med and the Amstel Gold Race, does not excel in the high mountains, but is very useful on an undulating stage. If it comes down to a small group sprint, then he is one of the best.
Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto-Adecco)
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Lotto's TT specialist Rik Verbrugghe set a record average speed of 58.895 km/h in last year's prologue to win it. No rider has gone faster in any stage of a Grand Tour, and Verbrugghe excels over the shorter distances. He could easily do so again in the prologue in Groningen, after recently winning the prologue of the Tour de Romandie.
Julio Perez Cuapio (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo)
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Ahh the magic Mexican; Julio Perez is just an incredible natural talent. Evidently the 24 year old from Tlaxcala has never met a mountain he doesn't like. As soon as the road goes up, he just goes! Last year, his victory in Giro d'Italia Stage 11 on Passo Pordoi ahead of eventual Giro champ Gilberto Simoni demonstrated that Perez had arrived. But the Mexican still has a lot to learn, especially to improve the timing of his attacks and his descending skills. Look for the magical Mexican to make his mark in the last week of the 2002 Giro going for stage wins on key climbing stages 16 & 17.
Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia)
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The winner of the toughest stage in the Tour de Langkawi this year, Hernan Dario Munoz, is a Colombian climbing specialist riding for the Selle-Italia team. Munoz isn't the only guy in his team who can climb though: Fredy Gonzalez Martinez, Carlos Contreras, Joaquim Castelblanco and Fortunato Baliani can all perform well in the mountains. It just depends on who is feeling fit on the day.
Expect the Colombians to go on the attack as they always do in the Giro, providing a little more excitement for the fans and the other riders.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
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What's up with Dave? Rebellin and his Gerolsteiner team are looking to make their mark a the Giro, but so far this season, the fizz seems to have gone out of the pocket puncher from Veneto. Rebellin is a solid all-round rider and he could have an impact on the Giro if he goes for stage wins early, but perhaps stymied by the on-going doping investigation in Padova, Rebellin remains a big question mark for the 2002 Giro.
Paolo Bettini (Mapei)
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The pint sized powerhouse from Mapei-Quick Step will be a very useful ally for Stefano Garzelli in the Giro. After winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Paolo Bettini said that in return for Garzelli's [who finished second] help during that race, he would be at Garzelli's side in the Giro. But if the opportunity presents itself, you can be sure that Paolo Bettini will be there for a stage win. He is the most successful rider (in terms of UCI points) this season, can sprint very well and is not too bad on the climbs. Look out for 'il Grillo'.
