http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2011/en/

Stage 1 starting in 4 hours. Wasn’t planning on following it, but it sounds much better then revision.

yeah, higher english is next Friday, Giro is today, i know which im doing…

Italian Druggies all the way

Hell yeah!

The 2010 version was awesome and this year they’ve made it even tougher. Apparently, Contador’s been trialing a 34×32 combo for one of the mountain stages!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-scarponi-and-sastre-fear-giro-ditalia-mountain-finishes

Yep, will be following online coverage over the next three weeks. Routing for Cav for a couple (or more?) stage wins until he probably bows out in the latter half of the second week and would like to see Nibali for the GC.

The TTT looks pretty tricky, lots of short straight sections & 90 degree bends would make it hard to get a really good flow going. Still hoping HTC for the win today.

Yes. And entered fantasy Giro here (as well as TdF and Vuelta…).

Apparently, Contador’s been trialing a 34×32 combo for one of the mountain stages!

Yeah, I saw that. It’s nice to know I gear my bike higher then Contador.

Who is meant to win it this year?

Yep, bring it on! Giro is a really good race – not as much hoo-ha as the Tour, often don’t get as many of the big names but they have some great stages, they’re quite innovative (like last years section which was half off road on a horrendously wet day!)

I love TTT as well and to have that for an opening stage is pretty innovative too, should mix things up a bit. Last years Vuelta started with a night time TTT actually, that was fantastic to watch.

Would love to but now we have binned Sky and therefore Eurosport is anyone on freesat covering it? Or BBC or ITV?

Some of the stages and combination of stages in this year’s Giro look awesome. Really hard. I can’t wait 🙂

p.s. tracker – you can get eurosport on the web, either officially for a small fee, or free if you look around.

To start answering my question I am ok if I can learn Italian by the start in a few hours…
http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/#live

is anyone on freesat covering it? Or BBC or ITV?

I don’t think so. I was planning on finding an online feed via cyclingfans hopefully the eurosport video feed will be available. if not I’ll probably end up trying to follow something with crazy dutch commentary.

The eurosport links on there should come live at some point. If worst come to the worst, I watch the Italian video feed with the free eurosport audio.

Who is meant to win it this year?

Contador’s the favourite. Depends on how his off-season doping training has been going… 🙂

Would love to but now we have binned Sky and therefore Eurosport is anyone on freesat covering it? Or BBC or ITV?

If anyone is in London, the Look Mum No Hands cafe/workshop/hangout is showing it live everyday on the big screen.

Is the eurosport audio only feed working for anyone?

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/audioplayer.html

http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml live now

http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/6/20/v-262001.html

Looks like HTC for the TTT win.

Radio Shack going well though.

I’m in! the classics were ace, bring on the tours! this giro looks hard, cav must be grumbling. still he has got the worlds to look forward to, flat as a pancake app.

did that radio crash?

As DS of my team I’m in …

Carlos SASTRE CANDIL
Mark CAVENDISH THR
Jérôme PINEAU QST
Thomas LÖVKVIST SKY
Rinaldo NOCENTINI ALM
Russell DOWNING SKY
Robert HUNTER RSH
Cameron MEYER GRM
Kristof VANDEWALLE

Fingers crossed for a good 3 weeks.

Stage 7 last year was awesome. one of the best stages i have ever watched.

Good to see cuddles win!