2012 Giro d'Italia, May 23rd, stage 17: Falzes → Cortina D'Ampezzo, 186 Kms

[Eshnar]

Show me better ones, we might have an interesting discussion.

Imho stage 19 is better.
Regardless of what airstream says, i like descents. The main issue of this stage is that the hardest climb is the very last one. The chance of someone attacking before it is very thin sadly.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yes, but only when he counters specialists descenders or other contenders are ready to take an additional risk. I don't expect it to happen.

Then Basso literally led his bike perpendicular. To him, it didn't matter how much he put into Simoni and others. There was the only goal - to avoid of falling.

piepoli was definitely not an expert downhiller

 

[roundabout]

For a guy who weighed 50kg or so Piepoli went downhill very well.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

yes compared to basso. piepoli was a very good downhiller but not one of the best either. scarponi will eat him in any downhil. that's for sure

 

[hrotha]

that's true.he's a bad descender but the only guy probably who really can put him in danger in this giro in that aspect is kreuziger.and he will be long gone at the top of the climb

Even if he isn't gone, he won't attack.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

if he is still there after giau he will surely attack in downhil. kreuziger is a great downhiller and it's his only chance. but no worries. he sucks as much as every year and he won't be a factor for podium and possibly even top 5

 

[airstream]

piepoli was definitely not an expert downhiller

That wasn't a competition of 2 downhillers. That was the competition of the guy who took a certain risk on turns and the other who almost fully stopped on them.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

yes. that's what basso does in downhils when he's alone and even in a group he usually drops. I think he was also dropped sunday

 

[hrotha]

if he is still there after giau he will surely attack in downhil. kreuziger is a great downhiller and it's his only chance. but no worries. he sucks as much as every year and he won't be a factor for podium and possibly even top 5

Yeah, I wasn't questioning his descending abilities, but rather his attitude. I don't think he really has winning the Giro in mind. He could win it if everyone above him crashed out or blew up, I suppose.

 

[FellOff]

Surely the Tifosi will be dressing up as characters from the movie Barbarella, to celebrate Uran Uran climbing the Duran? He'll be Hungry like the Wolf, and I wanna see those Girls on Film.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

basso's level is troubling though.i've also read a il diablo chiappucci interview where he said basso wants to hide his bad form with this defensive approach.
man he couldn't keep up at 21 km/h on piani de resinelli with god damn joaquim rodriguez.
i think he is even below the 2010 giro form...

Scarponi is crap also.

Gadret actually put in one of the more "impressive" performances that day, considering he had a mechanical on the descent of the previous climb...

 

[Frosty]

Surely the Tifosi will be dressing up as characters from the movie Barbarella, to celebrate Uran Uran climbing the Duran? He'll be Hungry like the Wolf, and I wanna see those Girls on Film.

err, what on planet earth are you talking about? Is there something i should know?

Anyway whose challenge will come undone tomorrow? After the sleepy stage today maybe the climb of the duran will encourage the wild boys to shake the race up? Im sure that some people's reflex on the ride will be to want to get off.

 

[maxmartin]

RK for the win and using the descend to put some time into Basso maybe Jrod

 

[DominicDecoco]

Astana to do something on the descent.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

RK for the win and using the descend to put some time into Basso maybe Jrod

If he's even there at the top, bcause more likely Kreuziger will be dropped and have to use the descend to come back...
And even if he wins time he'll lose 3 times as much on the Stelvio and Pampeago

 

[maxmartin]

Let's see the real Giro starts tomorrow, Jrod exposed himself too early, I think RK is a true contender this year

If he's even there at the top, bcause more likely Kreuziger will be dropped and have to use the descend to come back...
And even if he wins time he'll lose 3 times as much on the Stelvio and Pampeago

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

err, what on planet earth are you talking about? Is there something i should know?

Anyway whose challenge will come undone tomorrow? After the sleepy stage today maybe the climb of the duran will encourage the wild boys to shake the race up? Im sure that some people's reflex on the ride will be to want to get off.

The Duran is actually a pretty notorious climb. I'll certainly save a prayer for the man from the same continent as Rio on the descent. It's a serious descent and he could be burning the ground there. Hopefully he can attack on the next climb with a view to (a) kill off his main rivals. Either it could be a perfect day or he could be a drowning man on the final climb.

 

[SafeBet]

Weather forecast for tomorrow: sunny with mild temperatures.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Think JROd will loose big time here. Basso will destroy the peloton 06 style

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Weather forecast for tomorrow: sunny with mild temperatures.

good news!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Weather forecast for tomorrow: sunny with mild temperatures.

It is?
Wed May 23
71°-50°
Showers
Chance of rain:-40%
Wind:
N at 10 mph

And that's in Cortina, not on Giau.

 

[Parrulo]

that's true.he's a bad descender but the only guy probably who really can put him in danger in this giro in that aspect is kreuziger.and he will be long gone at the top of the climb

basso's level is troubling though.i've also read a il diablo chiappucci interview where he said basso wants to hide his bad form with this defensive approach.
man he couldn't keep up at 21 km/h on piani de resinelli with god damn joaquim rodriguez.
i think he is even below the 2010 giro form...
don't even dare to compare with that robobasso slaughtering everyone on duran....oh good days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuTrtyF-rAw


tomorrow it will be the day of truth

how can that be a sign of bad form? since when did any1 expect to see basso being able to respond to one of purito's trademark attacks?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes, but only when he counters specialists descenders or other contenders are ready to take an additional risk. I don't expect it to happen.

LOL: Trolling again?
Forgotten Basso descending the Mortirolo in the wet, during the 2010 Giro?
Any idea how much time Arroyo took out of him that day?
Piepoli in 2006 was almost embarrasing.

As folk contenders not taking any chances, how on earth do you expect them to win the race: By throwing a dice, perhaps?

 

[jens_attacks]

how can that be a sign of bad form? since when did any1 expect to see basso being able to respond to one of purito's trademark attacks?

well maybe it was just me hoping to see robobasso back

purito would never drop ivan of 2005-2006,it's still pretty awkward for me when that happens.and really he was suffering keeping the wheel of henao for christ's sake...i hope i will be proved wrong tomorrow,i don't like to see ivan weak

 

[SafeBet]

It is?
Wed May 23
71°-50°
Showers
Chance of rain:-40%
Wind:
N at 10 mph

And that's in Cortina, not on Giau.

This is Cortina:

They might get some rain on Giau, but the stage should be mostly dry.
Things can change pretty quick up there though.