2012 Giro d'Italia, May 9th, stage 4: Verona → Verona, 33.2 Kms TTT

[djconnel]

Super-impressive ride by Phinney to even stay with the team @ 52+ kph with his ankle. I'd not even have been able to walk down the stairs with an injury like that, let alone ride 33 km at an average speed at close to my sprinting speed. He even took occasional pulls, something I absolutely didn't expect.

The grass incident had me laughing a bit -- flash back to 1988 when his father's 7-Eleven team got done in by a black cat, but he held it together and they limited their time losses.

 

[maltiv]

Navardauskas in pink, awesome! Wonder how long he can keep it. He's not a terrible climber so I think he could keep it until the first big mountain stage.

 

[Roude Leiw]

This has got to be Rodriguez's best shot.

Ahead of the favourite by almost a minute, with no mountains climbed, and only 30km of ITT to go. In a Grand Tour with time bonuses.

Very true, looks really good for purito. Hesjedal top contender for a podium spot, not for overall, no team to help control in the mountains. Pocket rockets already far behind, let the fireworks begin.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

This has got to be Rodriguez's best shot.

Ahead of the favourite by almost a minute, with no mountains climbed, and only 30km of ITT to go. In a Grand Tour with time bonuses.

More good news for Rodriguez is there are time bonuses for the hill finishes that he'll be favourite for but not for the high mountain stages where he's vulnerable

Ultimately I think he'll crack in the final week though

 

[Richeypen]

More good news for Rodriguez is there are time bonuses for the hill finishes that he'll be favourite for but not for the high mountain stages where he's vulnerable

Ultimately I think he'll crack in the final week though

In GTs he seems to find a MTF or 2 where he loses a lot of time

 

[Bavarianrider]

Pretty much a waisted race day.
So much work and organization for so little effects.
Really a TT should be long, or there shouldn't be one at all.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Alex just said he gave it way too much before hitting the hill. When they eventually hit the hill he was in the red unable to follow.

That's just... That's something you would hear from a first year pro - not a great tt'er and established pro rider. Unbelievably stupid.

 

[meandmygitane]

Pretty much a waisted race day.
So much work and organization for so little effects.
Really a TT should be long, or there shouldn't be one at all.

Yeah, Euskatel only lost 2.22

 

[therhodeo]

Pretty much a waisted race day.
So much work and organization for so little effects.
Really a TT should be long, or there shouldn't be one at all.

Which is great sporting wise for a GT full of tiny climbers and weaker teams.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

I think I remember this guy now. He's the Garmin guy with a champions jersey which looks a bit like the rainbow jersey from a distance isn't he? I've always wondered who he was, now I know!

 

[Zerak-Tul]

Alex just said he gave it way too much before hitting the hill. When they eventually hit the hill he was in the red unable to follow.

That's just... That's something you would hear from a first year pro - not a great tt'er and established pro rider. Unbelievably stupid.

I wouldn't call it *stupid* per se, it seems more of a mental error. Considering he was eyeing a chance to snag a GT leader's jersey - that is a lot of pressure and anticipation to try and cope with and he clearly didn't handle it well.

 

[jens_attacks]

Pretty much a waisted race day.
So much work and organization for so little effects.
Really a TT should be long, or there shouldn't be one at all.

me,i don't like this idea at all,the idea of an ITT or TTT making a loop near a town.where are the days when they were going from the point a to point b?
half of the road a team and from the other way,an another team coming dangerously close,i think that's stupid.
this time trial was technical,the road was narrow from the start to the finish by the way.the average speed in those conditions was superb

 

[thehog]

me,i don't like this idea at all,the idea of an ITT or TTT making a loop near a town.where are the days when they were going from the point a to point b?
half of the road a team and from the other way,an another team coming dangerously close,i think that's stupid.
this time trial was technical,the road was narrow from the start to the finish by the way.the average speed in those conditions was superb

The riders love the loop especially after a rest day. Means the same hotel 3 nights in a row. Which is a rarity for a GT especially for the Giro which is famous for its inhuman transfers.

 

[DominicDecoco]

I wouldn't call it *stupid* per se, it seems more of a mental error. Considering he was eyeing a chance to snag a GT leader's jersey - that is a lot of pressure and anticipation to try and cope with and he clearly didn't handle it well.

No. it's was an awful mistake.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Yeah, Euskatel only lost 2.22

Well you really can't take Euskatel as a refernce. They are just a joke.
The gaps among the fserious teams are really realy small.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Whan an incredible TTT. Drama all the way.

Thats why I love this discipline so much.

And as I wrote earlier in this tread: its all about team cooperation.

 

[LaFlorecita]

...OMFG!!!!!!!

Saxoboys were awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pastronef]

Pretty much a waisted race day.
So much work and organization for so little effects.
Really a TT should be long, or there shouldn't be one at all.

ask the Garmin riders and staff if it was a wasted race day.
once again they called it and they won.
happy for them, a very good group of guys, happy for Robert Hunter, he's back with the team and he's riding strong

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

who would think that JRod would be the best placed gc rider after wearing the tt outfit 2 times, and yet no mountians

 

[patrick767]

Today was exciting. The schedule ahead looks less so unless you love sprints. Do we tune out for a week or more now?

Well you really can't take Euskatel as a refernce. They are just a joke.
The gaps among the fserious teams are really realy small.

Gadret and Rujano would like a word. This TTT seriously hurt their overall chances.

 

[Rocksteady]

Very true, looks really good for purito. Hesjedal top contender for a podium spot, not for overall, no team to help control in the mountains. Pocket rockets already far behind, let the fireworks begin.

VDV and Stetina will do OK for Ryder in the mountains.

 

[meat puppet]

also i feel hesjedal is underrated,you never know what this guy can do with the maglia rosa on his shoulders.

Well, all looks well for now. He was in good form already at the Ardennes and Giro was always the goal this year. The mountains will tell, but based on Tourmalet 2010 I'll take my chances and say he might as well podium. This time though, he has to do as well on several days.

Unless Rujanito pulls something spectacular from the bag. Either way I'm happy.

 

[maltiv]

Hushovd was even dropped by his team today, in a TTT where the team wasn't even riding very fast. TTT's used to be his best discipline, last year he was a monster in the TDF TTT and in 2002 he more or less single-handedly won the TTT in TDF with Credit Agricole.

Certainly something wrong with him this season. Probably Gilbert's fault, because usually Hushovd can ride into great form by just following Gilbert on training, but maybe he tried the same this year which probably lead to a lot of rides on avarage BPM of 60

 

[search]

Today was exciting. The schedule ahead looks less so unless you love sprints. Do we tune out for a week or more now?

or we do have another look at the profile...the route is very well balanced. It should end up in a sprint tomorrow, it's also a possibility for stages 9, 11 and 13 but the route offers a lot of opportunities on every stage

 

[Pippo_San]

THE LAWNMOWER MAN