2013 Giro d'Italia, stage 18: Mori - La Polsa 20.6k

[Red Rick]

I predict that the winner will average 28-29 km/h. What kind of bikes will they use?

 

[Parrulo]

Thanks, I was a bit lazy

Indeed you were <_<


Anyway there can only be one winner!!!!!

 

[Cookster15]

Probably Nibali but Evans did put time into him in the steeper 2010 Giro MTT. I think it depends if Evans weakness on final of stage 14 was an aberration to his steady improvement this Giro or not.

 

[Red Rick]

If he doesn't win, I'll take a Nibali with Trofeo senza fine avatar

 

[Red Rick]

Probably Nibali but Evans did put time into him in the steeper 2010 Giro MTT. I think it depends if Evans weakness on final of stage 14 was an aberration to his steady improvement this Giro or not.

In 2010 Nibali was way more inconsistent in the mountains. He won over monte Grappa, cracked on Zoncolan, rode great over Mortirolo and he was dropped on the Tonale

 

[veganrob]

I don't think Nibali will win this. He will not lose much time but will prefer to save some for the next two mtn stages. I think he will win stage 19.

 

[Froome19]

I don't think Nibali will win this. He will not lose much time but will prefer to save some for the next two mtn stages. I think he will win stage 19.

Imo he may as well go for it seeing that we don't even know if there will be much of a stage 19 to win..

 

[Parrulo]

In 2010 Nibali was way more inconsistent in the mountains. He won over monte Grappa, cracked on Zoncolan, rode great over Mortirolo and he was dropped on the Tonale

Thats because he lacked recovery back then (was 25 at the time), not because he was inconsistent. Each of those bad days was after each of those great performances.

 

[gruppeto993]

For reference, the only mtt that was similar like this (but harder) in recent memory: Klausenpass TT

Results

1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 1.00.22.82 (24,848 km/h)
2 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Caisse d'Epargne 0.15.73
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.17.25
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 0.53.29
5 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.26.20
6 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.34.96
7 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.48.46
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road 2.08.06
9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.19.53
10 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 2.49.74
11 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 2.59.66
12 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom 3.20.37
13 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 3.21.92
14 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana 3.23.71
15 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team High Road 3.24.90
16 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3.29.12
17 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas 3.34.43
18 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 3.47.88
19 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Scott 3.49.31
20 Jesus Del Nero Montes (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 3.58.25

Bit time gaps

long live andreas kloden.

 

[Froome19]

In 2010 Nibali was way more inconsistent in the mountains. He won over monte Grappa, cracked on Zoncolan, rode great over Mortirolo and he was dropped on the Tonale

We haven't really seen a chance to really test his consistency in the high mountains. He has performed on Stage 10 and 14, both separate and from other MTF stages. I would like to see him test himself on a sequence of mountain stages, but that didn't work out due to what was effectively a neutralisation of the GC race (not in word, but in effect) on Stage 15 and I don't know if he will have further chance on Stage 19 and 20.

He definitely is more of a GT winner now than in 2010 or 2011.

 

[ILovecycling]

Garzelli ftw.
Betancur 2
Nibali 3

 

[jsem94]

Nibali to secure his GC win with a stage win here for sure.

I hate to say it, but it would have been great to see an in-form (and less frightened on downhills) Wiggo, because then Nibali might actually have needed to work.

Unless Cadel does something spectacular here and/or there's a sudden heatwave allowing the dolomite stages to be run fully there's not that much excitement.

 

[Roderick]

The Dolphin will surprise us all by destroying the entire field

 

[Climbing]

Not easy to predict, but should favour the most in form guys.
Nibali, Evans and Scarponi are good in those kind of MTT, could make the podium in that order.

 

[brilleaben]

Di Luca will be given a headstart and some Pinotti pace to ensure his stage win.

 

[rhubroma]

It will either be Nibali or Uran.

 

[taiwan]

Evans
Nibali
...
Kelderman top 5

Word.

 

[Morbius]

How will Dowsett do? He cruised in 9'33" down today

 

[Gloin22]

How will Dowsett do? He cruised in 9'33" down today

The clue is the stage profile

Climber will win this. Really doubt he can come anywhere clossse.

 

[theyoungest]

How will Dowsett do? He cruised in 9'33" down today

Given that he lost 1 minute in 3 km of climbing in the TT he won, I reckon he won't be up there

 

[eljimberino]

I bet my right testicle Evans comes second.

 

[Cookster15]

The clue is the stage profile

Climber will win this. Really doubt he can come anywhere clossse.

It's not steep enough for specialist climbers. Dowsett is a chance but I favor the GC guys Nibali, Evans, Scarponi and maybe Uran.

 

[Red Rick]

I bet my right testicle Evans comes second.

Is that you Lance?

Anyway, how much time is there between start times for the big guns? Maybe somebody will get caught

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is that you Lance?

Anyway, how much time is there between start times for the big guns? Maybe somebody will get caught

3 minutes, I doubt it

 

[TourOfSardinia]

The Dolphin will surprise us all by destroying the entire field

just like here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBRqlc7aCrY

Giro 2008 Kronplatz