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

[hatcher]

Just after Stannard. Not bad. Not bad at all.

 

[will10]

I wonder if he will beat Cav.

edit: there he is! I guess he beat the grupetto.

Nah, he's in the grupetto, the first one at least anyway.

 

[Frosty]

Thomas and Stannard in the 34.05 group meaning it looks like only Eisel has stayed with Cavendish. Still 40-50 riders to come in.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Meanwhile Basso actually HAS to attack if he wants to win this Giro.

He doesn't really. He just has to use his team and then set a constant pace that the others can't live with.

I would much, much, much prefer JRod or Hesjedal to take it, but Basso is still the favourite.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Lol, that's quite strange reasoning you have there. Of course it depends on what the other cyclists do, that's always going to be the case in every single race. Meanwhile Basso actually HAS to attack if he wants to win this Giro.

Basso is a tempo rider, just because your to thick to understand the way he rides doesnt mean he isn't trying to win the giro.

My point was basso was the most entertaining thing about today, I disagree that Evans was more entertaining. The situation was entertaining, but hey that all really came down to the last two days of racing... What's that the giro's 2 main days if racing have yet to come...? Hmmm

 

[Parrulo]

He doesn't really. He just has to use his team and then set a constant pace that the others can't live with.

I would much, much, much prefer JRod or Hesjedal to take it, but Basso is still the favourite.

basso's high pace style isn't an attack for you?

 

[Carl0880]

Lol, that's quite strange reasoning you have there. Of course it depends on what the other cyclists do, that's always going to be the case in every single race. Meanwhile Basso actually HAS to attack if he wants to win this Giro.

I think in Basso's mind is thinking he has to drop Ryder. Bassos plan is the same grind it out and have the favorites falter on a bad day. IN his mind he probably believes he has a chance to put a minute and a half on JRod in the TT, and he can finish ahead of Scarponi in the TT. Would he like to drop those 2 yes, but to him, that is not the essential need at this moment.

What his Plan A is to have his team set the pace and if they catch Ryder in a bad day on one of the remaining 2 Dolomites stages, then use his team to up the pace to distance Ryder or really put him defensive and let his diesel ride him off.

 

[Gloin22]

Cav comes at 38 mins !

 

[hatcher]

And Guardini safely at 41 mins.

 

[SafeBet]

Purito saying everybody struggled (himself too) to keep up with Liquigas tempo. He's convinced if Liqui is this strong on Friday and Saturday it's gonna be hard not to be dropped.

 

[will10]

Cavendish, Chicchi and Guardini have all survived

 

[roundabout]

I guess that's it, 169 left, doubt anyone was beaten by Chicchi and Guardini

 

[SafeBet]

I guess that's it, 169 left, doubt anyone was beaten by Chicchi and Guardini

It's still hard to bealieve someone was beaten by Rujano actually.

 

[Frosty]

And Guardini safely at 41 mins.

Yep, 174 finished yesterday, 2DNS and 3 abandons today so with 169 classified today that's everyone.

 

[wirral]

The mighty CAV survives to smash the peloton to bits tomorrow.

 

[will10]

It's still hard to bealieve someone was beaten by Rujano actually.

I am really surprised he didn't abandon today. He must be hoping for a miraculous recovery tomorrow.

 

[patrick767]

Miguel Minguez Ayala made it and holds on to last place!

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Will be hard for Cav tomorrow, only 4 teammates left as Henao and Uran won't be able to help him. Every chance a breakaway could stay away.

 

[roundabout]

It's still hard to bealieve someone was beaten by Rujano actually.

I didn't see that part of the stage, but you make it seem like he was the first one to get dropped.

 

[will10]

I didn't see that part of the stage, but you make it seem like he was the first one to get dropped.

What do you expect, he's trolling.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

So is downhilling far less important than many would have us believe, or is it simply that today's descent was not as difficult as many were expecting?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

basso's high pace style isn't an attack for you?

It's the key weapon in his arsenal and it's very effective, but it's not an "attack", which pretty much by definition involves a sudden change of pace. Riding at your own consistent tempo isn't an attack, even if your tempo is so damn high that eventually nobody can stay with you.

This would be a much better race if the entire Liquigas support squad came down with a mild dose of dysentery.

 

[Carl0880]

Will be hard for Cav tomorrow, only 4 teammates left as Henao and Uran won't be able to help him. Every chance a breakaway could stay away.

Henao will be there to help him, they used Henao during his last stage win.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Evans was much more entertaining in last year's Tour than Basso in this year's Giro.

But did exactly the same, taking up the pace on front of the peloton and shedding the rest one-by-one on the Galibier. No accelerations. In the end, one of the guys left there was.....? Tell me who? Exactly. Basso.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

So is downhilling far less important than many would have us believe, or is it simply that today's descent was not as difficult as many were expecting?

The downhill wasn't very technical and, crucially, nobody in the front four actually descended notably well.