2012 Giro d'Italia Stage 18, San Vito de Cadore - Vedelago, 24th May, 149km

[Tigerion]

Let me put it this way: If SKY can't figure what most be prioritized in a GT, having in mind the current circumstances in Il Giro- then I foresee Wiggo getting fvcked up in the Tour when Cav demands "help" to win stages.........

Well that depends on what you consider the most important. Winning GC is the most important and then podiums. Once you get out of that you start getting into UCI point territory being what matters.

A stage win is worth the same amount as the difference between 10th overall and 13th overall. So if doing extra work means cav wins and uran drops from 10th to 12th then Sky come out on top as far as points are concerned.

What you think is impotrant might be different, but what Sky think could differ. Also you are going to get more coverage for the sponsor for a stage win than coming 10th.

 

[karlboss]

Uran won't have to work, Henao should only work if it is absolutely necessary. Everyone except Uran, Henao and Cav it's job done after this stage, they can die and pull out. Cav needs to make it to Milan to have a shot at his jersey and The others have GC places to look after. Top 10 is a good goal to keep a guy fresh for and also as a bottle carrier for Uran, but not if you sacrifice a stage and the points jersey (mind you Rodriguez will come close regardless).
Maybe set a limit on Henao's work, can take turns at the front so long as he doesn't go over lactate threshold or something, or if he does only for x minutes.

 

[Random Direction]

What is the record for average speed for a GT stage? Looks like a light tailwind tomorrow (that would be today for most anyone else in the world) (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/45.686604,12.017904) for a short (149 km) downhill course perfectly suited for sprinters.

 

[greenedge]

Cav then Chicchi and Ventoso.

 

[online-rider]

Who the **** is Henao?

 

[Red Rick]

Who the **** is Henao?

You're either trolling, or who the **** are you

 

[SafeBet]

Uran won't have to work, Henao should only work if it is absolutely necessary. Everyone except Uran, Henao and Cav it's job done after this stage, they can die and pull out. Cav needs to make it to Milan to have a shot at his jersey and The others have GC places to look after.

I'm not sure Cav would like to be left alone during stage 19 and 20.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Is it actually a senseless waste of resources? Henao seems fairly good on the flat.

uran can make the podium. that is far more important than winning another stage

 

[karlboss]

I'm not sure Cav would like to be left alone during stage 19 and 20.

No, but surely you take my point.

 

[boomcie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Henao going to podium this Giro?

Now he's behind Thomas De Gendt of all people and that guy lost over a minute with a flat tire...

 

[Arnout]

What's the difference between three and four stage wins anyway, in similar manner?

A lot less than the difference between 0 and 1 in my opinion. Would you guys like Wiggins or Froome to work on the flat in the Tour de France, in between two mountainstages, to get Cavendish another win?

 

[Mellow Velo]

LOL:
Cav spends a week riding over mountains, holding on to the points jersey by a slim margin, gets to a juicy, straightforward sprint, with fewer sprinters left in the mix, then Sky turn around and say:

"Sorry Mark, you may be the world champion, currently leading a classification, looking to win a fourth GT stage, but we can't allow Henao to do a few pulls on the front.
Some Colombiophile on the CN forums called us idiots if we do. So, we've decided to follow his advice and let Sergio go another km on the Pampeago before he blows up. Just might make the difference between Rigoberto finishing 4th or 5th."

 

[The Sheep]

I doubt pulling 10k like that would have adverse effect on Henao if anything it will make him stronger.

 

[taiwan]

I doubt anything will happen tomorrow to damage either colombian's chances. They've been ok so far and this is an easy stage. Wouldn't be surprised if the break is a token effort which just gives up at some point, and there are 4 other riders there for Cav's train. There isn't even any Goss here to make Cav work for the victory.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Seriously, getting off this: We have to talk about Colombians in every thread, routine.
Surely, this more about allowing the right size group to get in the breakaway?
A lot of teams will be fighting to send a man up the road, but if the group can be kept to a modest size, it can be controlled fairly easily.
There will be some help around from teams like OPQ, Farnese Vini and a few others.

 

[JibberJim]

It's possible that Henao doing absolutely nothing in the stage, just maintaining position and doing the minimal amount of work will actually do more to harm his performance over the next couple of days than doing a couple of hard efforts on the front. Downhill, do nothing stage, I'm sure he could get through it with little more effort than sitting on the sofa, almost certainly too little, either way a few efforts certainly wouldn't hurt him.

 

[bassplayer88]

Would you guys like Wiggins or Froome to work on the flat in the Tour de France, in between two mountainstages, to get Cavendish another win?

I imagine Wiggins would do a bit of work in these circumstances or others. As others have said, doing a bit of work on easy stages will actually likely help maintain form. And of course a better position is maintained in the bunch.


So long as henao or wiggins dont do a lengthy stannard style pull, all is well imo.

 

[seldon71]

Stage win today won't be enough to get Cav a Red Jersey in Milan, IMO. Rodriguez will be rather certain to collect more than 26 points in remaining days.

Intermediate sprints on tomorrow/Saturday don't hold much hope either. Tomorrow TVS comes after a formidable Passo di Manghen and on Saturday it is preceded not only by Tonale, but also two other categorised climbs. No way Cavendish hangs to a break upto those sprints.

So, as far as Sky goes, they might have needed to try and hold this together all the way including intermediate sprint. With possible 34 points grabbed today, Cav could have maybe held to a red jersey, if J-Rod has even just one bad day.

But alas, the organizers have drown an additional wrench to Cav's spokes by placing TV sprint to the top of the ONLY meaningful hill today. With 166 climbing meters in less than 5 km towards sprint, there is no way Cav can collect points there either.

So, I applaud Cav for effort to get over the mountains and fight for Maglia Rossa (something very few sprinters have even tried for in recent years). But two points-nullifying crashes and "caving" up when Ferrari sprinted away in Montecatini Terme have cost just too many points. Maybe he should have just gone with a breakaway to Falzes?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's possible that Henao doing absolutely nothing in the stage, just maintaining position and doing the minimal amount of work will actually do more to harm his performance over the next couple of days than doing a couple of hard efforts on the front. Downhill, do nothing stage, I'm sure he could get through it with little more effort than sitting on the sofa, almost certainly too little, either way a few efforts certainly wouldn't hurt him.

lol whatever. this is so ignorant. ever wonder why guys like basso and all other gc guys don't do a single pull in the first 2 weeks? because in modenr cycling it's all about seving up energy. I know it sucks but this is clean cycling.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

What is the record for average speed for a GT stage? Looks like a light tailwind tomorrow (that would be today for most anyone else in the world) (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/45.686604,12.017904) for a short (149 km) downhill course perfectly suited for sprinters.

I recently read that it's 48.5 km/h on a stage i 1997 won by Cipollini.

Edit: to avoid confusion, the 48.5 km/h is the fastest in the Giro not in any GT.

 

[Arnout]

I imagine Wiggins would do a bit of work in these circumstances or others. As others have said, doing a bit of work on easy stages will actually likely help maintain form. And of course a better position is maintained in the bunch.


So long as henao or wiggins dont do a lengthy stannard style pull, all is well imo.

Maintain form? You worry in GT's about maintaining form? Form doesn't leave you during a GT in which you pedal 200k a day. It's all about fatigue.

 

[maltiv]

I imagine Wiggins would do a bit of work in these circumstances or others. As others have said, doing a bit of work on easy stages will actually likely help maintain form. And of course a better position is maintained in the bunch.

That's not how it works at all. In a GT one is already completely and utterly overtrained. More effort doesn't mean you get better form, you'll just have even more accumulated fatigue in the subsequent stages.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Cavendish can take the intermediate sprint today if there isn't a breakaway due to the fact that he is the only rider in the race who is interested in taking it.

 

[Sylvester]

I recently read that it's 48.5 km/h on a stage i 1997 won by Cipollini.

In the 1999 Tour, Cipo did 50,355 km/h in Laval-Blois (the question was about the fastest GT stage, if I'm not mistaken).

 

[Jaunty Monty]

Cavendish can take the intermediate sprint today if there isn't a breakaway due to the fact that he is the only rider in the race who is interested in taking it.

I'm sure Rodriguez wouldn't mind it. With the intermediate sprint where it is I'd have thought Rodriguez is more likely to take it than Cavendish if there is no breakaway.