The New Generation of Italian Cycling
We've taken our fair share of potshots at Italian cyclists. Fairly or unfairly, the Italians have the reputation as a bunch of coddled, cry-baby prima donnas. My deep loathing of Alessandro Petacchi is due to his well-deserved rap as being a selfish wimp.
The Giro is the one event these guys really care about, and they often put nationalistic pride ahead of their personal hubris. So I don't want to say these guys are all turning over a new leaf. Petacchi is now the guy hanging on by his guts while the other sprinters all dropping out at the first sign of trouble. When did this happen?
However, some of these new Italian cyclists don't fit the stereotype. OK, Petacchi does, but Ivan Basso is just gutting it out. When he took the maglio rosa in convincing fashion, the media almost begged him to gloat at Cunego's troubles, but instead he kept mum and said he doesn't like to see anyone suffer. Disproving karma, he has since been stricken with the flu, and he lost 40 minutes in one day. Most riders would abandon. Hell, almost every team captain would drop out and save themselves for the Tour. But Basso is still lining up with absolutely no hope of finishing within 30 minutes of the winner. That's guts.
Savoldelli makes Miguel Indurain look animated. Hell, you'd hardly know he was Italian given his absence of emotion out there. Armstrong gives off the air of dominance, Savoldelli, his potential heir on the team, gives off nothing.
DiLuca's currently leading the UCI ProTour standings, and he's in second place in the Giro. He's proving himself to be a dynamic rider, who can hang with both the sprinters and the climbers. You don't stand second at this point without the ability to ride like hell.
OK, Simoni and Bettini fit the image, but Bettini is downright humble compared to Petacchi, so I'm gonna let it slide. It's like we're entering a new era of Italian cycling, one in which actually winning means more than running your mouth. I really am looking forward to watching Basso become the dominant world force.
The Giro is the one event these guys really care about, and they often put nationalistic pride ahead of their personal hubris. So I don't want to say these guys are all turning over a new leaf. Petacchi is now the guy hanging on by his guts while the other sprinters all dropping out at the first sign of trouble. When did this happen?
However, some of these new Italian cyclists don't fit the stereotype. OK, Petacchi does, but Ivan Basso is just gutting it out. When he took the maglio rosa in convincing fashion, the media almost begged him to gloat at Cunego's troubles, but instead he kept mum and said he doesn't like to see anyone suffer. Disproving karma, he has since been stricken with the flu, and he lost 40 minutes in one day. Most riders would abandon. Hell, almost every team captain would drop out and save themselves for the Tour. But Basso is still lining up with absolutely no hope of finishing within 30 minutes of the winner. That's guts.
Savoldelli makes Miguel Indurain look animated. Hell, you'd hardly know he was Italian given his absence of emotion out there. Armstrong gives off the air of dominance, Savoldelli, his potential heir on the team, gives off nothing.
DiLuca's currently leading the UCI ProTour standings, and he's in second place in the Giro. He's proving himself to be a dynamic rider, who can hang with both the sprinters and the climbers. You don't stand second at this point without the ability to ride like hell.
OK, Simoni and Bettini fit the image, but Bettini is downright humble compared to Petacchi, so I'm gonna let it slide. It's like we're entering a new era of Italian cycling, one in which actually winning means more than running your mouth. I really am looking forward to watching Basso become the dominant world force.
posted by Poseur at 8:14 PM
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