2013 Giro d'Italia Stage 9: Sansepolcro - Firenze 170 km

[Pricey_sky]

Too bad Wiggins didn't lose any time today.

Hope it continues to rain in italy.

But if it doesn't then the others may regret this stage. Wiggo will be delighted he didn't lose more time today. This will give him confidence going into a rest day knowing from Tuesday we start going much more uphill.

 

[ILovecycling]

Great ride by Belkov,deserved win,and awesome Katusha at Giro.
Hesjedal very bad.Poor Betancur,but he attacked and gained seconds,good.Astana guys were empty cos of early pushing I believe.Lo Squalo in control

 

[Stetoe]

Evans in red now, correct?

 

[Jelantik]

HAHA Betancur. Fail.

Nice ride Belkov, Hesjedal loses over a minute!

Well, I think you can take two things from this.

- If the weather doesn't improve then Wiggins is completely done. There's no way he can win with such hopeless descending.

- If it does improve then the others might regret not kicking him when he was down, if (big if) he is not bluffing about how he is even stronger than last year. It looks like slippery descents are by far the easiest way of putting time into him (probably for his "buddy" the Dawg too, btw).

+1
he said his number is better than last year TDF. they might regret that they missed the chance to put a nail in the coffin today on wiggins. He is clearly in difficulty. When they realize wiggins train start demolishing everyone in the mountain, it's probably too late.

 

[The Sheep]

Weening deliberately losing time?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But if it doesn't then the others may regret this stage. Wiggo will be delighted he didn't lose more time today. This will give him confidence going into a rest day knowing from Tuesday we start going much more uphill.

On the other hand, however, there are some mighty long mountain descents in there, from which there may be very few teammates left for him to do the job they did today. I wouldn't want to have to work back a minute from the Stelvio descent before the start of Martell, that's for sure.

 

[whittashau]

Just a word about Kangert - What an absolute beast. Astana needs to hurry up and resign him before Sky gets him and turns him into a unstoppable GT winner

 

[Ferminal]

Dutch hope lost 8 mins

 

[l.Harm]

Evans in red now, correct?

No. No bonus seconds for him.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Just a word about Kangert - What an absolute beast. Astana needs to hurry up and resign him before Sky gets him and turns him into a unstoppable GT winner

A resignation would not be reasonable solution then

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dutch hope lost 8 mins

the mechanics fault. He gave Weening a 52 as biggest front chainring instead of 56. Nothing Weening can do on such a puny gear

 

[Jelantik]

But if it doesn't then the others may regret this stage. Wiggo will be delighted he didn't lose more time today. This will give him confidence going into a rest day knowing from Tuesday we start going much more uphill.

the higher the uphill, the longer and the more trencherous the descent. And wait... add rain to that...

 

[whittashau]

+1
he said his number is better than last year TDF. they might regret that they missed the chance to put a nail in the coffin today on wiggins. He is clearly in difficulty. When they realize wiggins train start demolishing everyone in the mountain, it's probably too late.

Nibali and maybe even Evans will be able to put put a few minutes into Wiggo on certain giro descents even if it's dry and they will be more willing to do so because it'll be less risky for them

 

[movingtarget]

No. No bonus seconds for him.

He gets points for running fifth. He is now in the red Jersey.

 

[martinvickers]

Well, I think you can take two things from this.

- If the weather doesn't improve then Wiggins is completely done. There's no way he can win with such hopeless descending.

I remember Catalunya. Wiggins can descend perfectly well in the dry. Quite good descender in the dry even. But in the wet, it's now a mental block. He can't break through it, so yes - more rain, he's cooked.

- If it does improve then the others might regret not kicking him when he was down, if (big if) he is not bluffing about how he is even stronger than last year. It looks like slippery descents are by far the easiest way of putting time into him (probably for his "buddy" the Dawg too, btw).

I'm half tempted to think his 'numbers' are good, but nothing like he's claiming. But let's be clear. Sky have three good riders in top 10, all in theoretical striking distance, and Astana are no Sky. If it were to dry up, that's a lot of MountainBorg for Nibs to handle. And Cadel is more or less back, byt he looks of it.

Cracking Giro, actually, isn't it.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

No. No bonus seconds for him.

red as in points jersey

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

No. No bonus seconds for him.

He was talking red (points) , not pink.

 

[jens_attacks]

bravo betancur! such a ballsy rider

seems like his radio didn't work that's why he thought he won
we'll see him in the mountains for sure

splendid attack by belkov

 

[Panda Claws]

No. No bonus seconds for him.

He only needed 10 points to get the red though? Doesn't 5th place give you 12 points.

 

[the asian]

Will they have a better opportunity than this

Stelvio descent.

 

[Pricey_sky]

On the other hand, however, there are some mighty long mountain descents in there, from which there may be very few teammates left for him to do the job they did today. I wouldn't want to have to work back a minute from the Stelvio descent before the start of Martell, that's for sure.

Very true, however if its dry he wont lose any time to his rivals on descents. I guess it all comes down to the weather if Wiggo could win this Giro.

 

[hrotha]

the mechanics fault. He gave Weening a 52 as biggest front chainring instead of 56. Nothing Weening can do on such a puny gear

Is this some sort of running gag I'm unaware of?

 

[The Hitch]

On the other hand, however, there are some mighty long mountain descents in there, from which there may be very few teammates left for him to do the job they did today. I wouldn't want to have to work back a minute from the Stelvio descent before the start of Martell, that's for sure.

If they didnt want to take advantage today why would they take advantage in the mountains?

One can talk all one wants about theoretical descents in the future but at the end of the day this is was good a chance as any and wiggins is still 4th 1 second behind 3rd with some very tough stages to come.

 

[the asian]

Dutch hope lost 8 mins

Weening? (10 chars)

 

[The Hitch]

Stelvio descent.

How many riders were together after the Mortirolo descent last year?

And who says its gonna rain.

Hell if there was percipitation on stelvio, aquarone might cancel the stage.