2012 Giro d'Italia; May 16th; Stage 11: Assisi - Montecatini Terme (255km)

[Random Direction]

9 riders (each placed 100th or lower) 1 each from: AG2R, Androni, Saxo Bank, NetApp, OmegaPharma, Lotto, FDJ, Euskatel and Colnago to break away 100m past the neutral zone and XTTT to the finish as every other team forces Sky to TTT to catch up, with Uran refusing to spend energy just for Cavendish to get crashed out by Renshaw on the 2nd to last corner. Break to finish 15 minutes ahead, with no changes on the GC as a result. Purito caught sharing a cigar with the Astana boys.

 

[ultimobici]

I think Goss will get over the climb. It will be raced hard but I can see Greenedge get it back together on the run in for him to win the sprint. It will be hard though.

Only if Cav falls off. Goss can't win with Mark in attendance, spoils his concentration due to inadequacy issues!

 

[greenedge]

I think Renshaw has a chance to win this.

Therefore i shall pick him.

 

[greenedge]

Only if Cav falls off. Goss can't win with Mark in attendance, spoils his concentration due to inadequacy issues!

Cav hadn't finished 2nd in a WC at Goss' age ( though of course he has won a WC ).

 

[Mellow Velo]

255kms to ride, just to have a pile up in the last 700 metres?
Please God, breakaway is written all over this one.
Let it stick, for once.

 

[Roude Leiw]

If Ballan finds some of his form, he could very well launch an attack.
Otherwise it's Cav to lose.

i suppose the sprinters will gun for this one, there is not much left for them afterwards, so they may as well go for it and then leave after 13

 

[pastronef]

9 riders (each placed 100th or lower) 1 each from: AG2R, Androni, Saxo Bank, NetApp, OmegaPharma, Lotto, FDJ, Euskatel and Colnago to break away 100m past the neutral zone and XTTT to the finish as every other team forces Sky to TTT to catch up, with Uran refusing to spend energy just for Cavendish to get crashed out by Renshaw on the 2nd to last corner. Break to finish 15 minutes ahead, with no changes on the GC as a result. Purito caught sharing a cigar with the Astana boys.

ahahah! nice one

 

[Caruut]

Cav hadn't finished 2nd in a WC at Goss' age ( though of course he has won a WC ).

Cav would probably have won that WC at the same age if that particular WC had been available.

 

[manafana]

letse see a strong breakaway and some action.

 

[Morbius]

Sky to put someone in the break and force others to chase? Nah, way too tactical

 

[maltiv]

Cav would probably have won that WC at the same age if that particular WC had been available.

Obviously. Cavendish was actually better at 23 than he is now.

 

[Frosty]

Sky to put someone in the break and force others to chase? Nah, way too tactical

Had wondered whether someone like Flecha might try to get in the break if there are a few up there.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Had wondered whether someone like Flecha might try to get in the break if there are a few up there.

Yes, easy enough for Sky to put Flech, G or Stannard in the break, every chance any of those will win as well as the breaks are generally full of non entities. I'd love to see the confusion on Green Edge faces when they realise they actually have to do some work on the front for a change!

 

[jens_attacks]

Fuggitivi
2.
Gruppo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+ 4.25


Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank), Oliver Kaisen (Lotto Belisol), Stephan Denifl (Vacansoleil DCM), Simone Ponzi (Astana), Saez de Aarraegui (Euskalte Euskadi) e Mickel Delage (FDJ Big Mat).

heavy rain now on the course.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Boara or ponzi ftw.

 

[greenedge]

Nice to see Boaro in the escape. There is actually quite a few good riders in that break.

I don't however think this break will survive to the finish ( the stage is considered long fort the sprinters and these dudes will be cooked ).

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Fuggitivi
2.
Gruppo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+ 4.25


Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank), Oliver Kaisen (Lotto Belisol), Stephan Denifl (Vacansoleil DCM), Simone Ponzi (Astana), Saez de Aarraegui (Euskalte Euskadi) e Mickel Delage (FDJ Big Mat).

heavy rain now on the course.

I can't see them staying away to be honest.

 

[vcampbell]

Fuggitivi
2.
Gruppo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+ 4.25


Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank), Oliver Kaisen (Lotto Belisol), Stephan Denifl (Vacansoleil DCM), Simone Ponzi (Astana), Saez de Aarraegui (Euskalte Euskadi) e Mickel Delage (FDJ Big Mat).

heavy rain now on the course.

Good group, if they can stay away, then I hope Boaro will take the stage, but 243 km is a lot.

 

[Connor Pass]

Good group, if they can stay away, then I hope Boaro will take the stage, but 243 km is a lot.

The rain probably plays into their hands a bit. I'm sure it's easier to be motivated when cold and wet in a breakaway than being asked to chase for your sprinter who will probably crash anyway!

 

[taiwan]

Goss ftw or Bak/Ballan/someone else who'll be able to attack after ~ 250km. Bold prediction eh?

 

[Morbius]

lead already coming down to 2:35. Is there a team that want to be in the break?

 

[Lexman]

Boara or ponzi ftw.

Ponzi dropped out of the lead group

 

[Frosty]

Cyclingnews reckon the leaders are busy noshing away but that is quite low for this stage of the race, be interesting to know who are doing the chasing.

Could just be a glitch but Ponzi seems to have gone missing from the break

http://skysports.html.infostradaspo...D=0&LayoutCode=1073741843&Cache=4&Framesize=2

Edit: aah, beaten to it! How could he have been dropped because it is flat? If it is just 5 now then that is a blow for their chances of staying away.

Maybe the sprinters' teams thought they would do some early hard work to allow a longer, lazier lunch?

 

[Christian]

Nice to see Denifl in the break, sadly only very slim advantage

 

[Lexman]

if they keep the lead, Delage FTW he's not slow at all but i hope for Kaisen, did a lot of efforts and was in a lot of attacks already this Giro