If Astana had no prior notice from the organisers of the Giro that they would be given a `last minute` place then I am a Chinaman!

As to winning after doing nothing more than `sitting an a beach`, perhaps it simply shows the effectiveness of Bruyneel’s legendary `rider preparation` techniques. Who needs training when you have motorcycles providing the riders with `800 ml of packed cells` when they need them!

yeah or maybe he is actually a pro cyclist and lives like one. He may have been sitting on a beach but i am sure he wasn't eating candy floss and taking donkey rides.

why do we have to clog up these forums with banter about every pro cyclist doping. I think the problem with a lot of cyclists on these forums is a certain amount of envy, get over it dude. Contador's victory was awesome to watch and the winning margin was so tight, it was the best race I have seen for years.

I don't see that there is anything particularly surprising about this. I'm sure that there are better ways to taper for a big event, but having a few days off the bike is a pretty good way; he goes into the race rested and relaxed, but still on top of his training enough to be in good condition.

Yes he was on the beach, but the big stages were a couple of weeks into the race so he had time to find his legs. By then everyone was tired and his rest prior to the race would have probably been helpful. Having said that, Levi and Kloden (although apparently ill) didn't exactly excel and both are also good enough for a podium in the Tour de France. What works for one might not work for others.

I watched most of the Giro never saw any unmarked motorcycles or men in black, or Elvis......

For me Contadors win was maybe not exciting, but very tactically clever

I think close to the kind of ride Evans will have to do in the Tour unless he's learned the meaning of "Attack"

And Ricco was very entertaining

Contador was not in the same form as he was in the TDF07. I could see a clear difference in the mountains of the Giro. This years mountain stages were the toughest I've seen in a grand tour. Contador did not have the snap in his legs that he had when he was battling Evans and Leipheimer on the climbs of the TDF07. The rider who really impressed me was Emanuele Sella. His insane ascents reminded me of the performance of Mauricio Soler in the TDF07 mountain stages. I enjoy the fact that the best riders in the world are often challenged by a lesser known rider. I think that Sella and CSF Navigare are the heroes of the Giro'08.

Kevin K. - Huntington Beach, CA