16/04 - 20/04: Tour of the Alps (Giro del Trentino)

[wheresmybrakes]

So, are Astana gonna ride the Giro with a leader or just ride every man for themselves, like this race. Would love to know what they expected from this race at the start.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

What happened to Sosa?

from what i read on Sporza he crashed in the descent

Thanks.
What a pity. Hope he is OK.

 

[Laplaz]

So tomorrow again a reduced bunch sprint? Or a solo attack in the descent?

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

So tomorrow again a reduced bunch sprint? Or a solo attack in the descent?

The others will probably have noticed that Pinot is still very much a clown when the road goes downhill. That's their chance.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

So tomorrow again a reduced bunch sprint? Or a solo attack in the descent?

The others will probably have noticed that Pinot is still very much a clown when the road goes downhill. That's their chance.

And the "clown" will have the last laugh ...

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

No comments on Ciccone's amazing abilities?

You linked to the Tour de Alps GC

Yes... quite normal in the Tour of the Alps thread.
So, still no comments on Ciccone?

Lol. I thought I was in the FW thread

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

So tomorrow again a reduced bunch sprint? Or a solo attack in the descent?

Again? What's your definition of "reduced bunch sprint"?

 

[Laplaz]

Re: Re:

So tomorrow again a reduced bunch sprint? Or a solo attack in the descent?

Again? What's your definition of "reduced bunch sprint"?

Sorry, i tought small group sprint like today of course, and that's very likely also tomorrow.

 

[repre]

Tomorrow is a stage for breakaway win.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Tomorrow is a stage for breakaway win.

You would think, but I'm not so sure when the gaps are so small...like they were was last year with similar finishes as today, small group, Pinot in the mix...wouldn't it be nice?

 

[repre]

Re: Re:

Tomorrow is a stage for breakaway win.

You would think, but I'm not so sure when the gaps are so small...like they were was last year with similar finishes as today, small group, Pinot in the mix...wouldn't it be nice?

As for me i would like to see Pinot win this race, cause he is one of my favourite racers. So will see tomorrow

 

[Escarabajo]

I saw one rider from the Androni squad arrived ahead of Sosa, Fausto Masnada. Why didn't he wait for Sosa?
Isn't the Tour of the Alps important for them?

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Ben O'Connor is progressing very well - He's a talented climber and I expect him to win a WT stage race in the next 2 or 3 years - Strange tactics by Astana today, though they seem to have an inform team for the Giro - Expect a different Giro as they will ride a strong tempo on each climb on multi-mountain stages, compared to the Sky tactic of soft pedalling until they arrive at the final climb.

Good win. Looks like he may not be a bad TT rider either ! Considering George Bennett got wiped out by a car while he was training before the start of this race he has also done well.

 

[Robert5091]

Stage 4 Chiusa - Lienz 134.3 km

Last climb to Bannberg then ..

all down hill for 10 km to finish.

Astana to try to make up for yesterday's mistakes - breakaway could well take it.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Ben O’Connor is continuing his Zubeldia like form from Catalunya and Pais Vasco. 8th today and now 15th overall, while barely being seen.

Not bad for someone who recently turned 22.

Now not Zubeldia like anymore.

I'm good with it!

Met him briefly a couple of times when I was living in Perth around 2015. He was scary good for someone who had only been riding around 8 months. I thought he was still a year or two away from a ride like that.

 

[janraaskalt]

Re:

I saw one rider from the Androni squad arrived ahead of Sosa, Fausto Masnada. Why didn't he wait for Sosa?
Isn't the Tour of the Alps important for them?

Even if Masnada was able to reduce the gap by 1 minute, Sosa still wouldn't be anywhere near a decent GC. It happens too often that helpers stay with their leaders beyond any rational thinking.

 

[Robert5091]

After seeing Pinot's "Wiggo like" descending skills, it would n't surprise me to see Froome give it a go over the top of the last climb.

Also, don't expect to see Superman in Astana's sprint train! :lol:

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

So tomorrow again a reduced bunch sprint? Or a solo attack in the descent?

Again? What's your definition of "reduced bunch sprint"?

Sorry, i tought small group sprint like today of course, and that's very likely also tomorrow.

Yeah, Ben O'Connor is a very small group.

 

[Krokro]

Does anyone know what was this weird tactical choice from Astana? MAL lost a few seconds at the end of the stage. Did they bet on Lulu for the stage win?

 

[railxmig]

Stage 4 Chiusa - Lienz 134.3 km

Last climb to Bannberg then ..

all down hill for 10 km to finish.

Astana to try to make up for yesterday's mistakes - breakaway could well take it.

It's worth noting the descent is very steep (10-14%). I've counted sort of 6-7 actuall turns with some maybe too small to be noticed. The roads seems to be quite wide though so i guess it's mostly a (very) power descent. Speed can be quite high on this one. I also guess the group should be quite big at the top of Bannberg so there may be some risk of crashes on the descent.

Apparently Mendola does attract messiness. I thought Palade's false-flat would kill off any longer attempts but that was a fine try by Pinot.

 

[Rollthedice]

80km to go

9 riders are leading the race.

Breakaway composition:
DUPONT (ALM)
HERMANS (ICA)
BIZKARRA (EUS)
MEINTJES (DDD)
DE LA CRUZ (SKY)
DURASEK (UAD)
PADUN (TBM)
GROSSSCHART (BOH)
VILLELLA (AST)

+1’52” Peloton

 

[search]

It's worth noting the descent is very steep (10-14%). I've counted sort of 6-7 actuall turns with some maybe too small to be noticed. The roads seems to be quite wide though so i guess it's mostly a (very) power descent. Speed can be quite high on this one.

yeah, I re-watched parts of the Giro stage from 2007 earlier on and Garzelli reached speeds of over 100 kph on that descent - so I guess we can expect more of the same today

he attacked on the (uncategorized) Anras climb with 2k at 10% average back then by the way, which is also used today (and as a stage finish in 2016, won by Landa)

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

80km to go

9 riders are leading the race.

Breakaway composition:
DUPONT (ALM)
HERMANS (ICA)
BIZKARRA (EUS)
MEINTJES (DDD)
DE LA CRUZ (SKY)
DURASEK (UAD)
PADUN (TBM)
GROSSSCHART (BOH)
VILLELLA (AST)

+1’52” Peloton

Meintjes on the attack, Valverde losing on Mur de Huy, what's up next? Pozzovivo to win on Champs-de-Elysees?

 

[wirral]

I suspect we will see a Froome Berserker descent with Anglo-African characteristics.

 

[Laplaz]

Froome talking to Aru, immediately UAE stops doing the work.