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

[l.Harm]

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

Of course. Just got confused with the pink.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Stelvio descent.

If it's dry he won't lose time.

 

[Roude Leiw]

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

he pushes incredible gears on uphills, like insane….

 

[Ruudz0r]

For the first time this year Duarte looked strong to me. Hopefully he will show something soon!

 

[the asian]

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.

Probably the Astana riders' crash put Nibali off a bit. Scarponi's not the best descender put there, is he?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

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

It's based on Weening's choice of gearing, which usually is either huge, or gigantic.

 

[Carols]

Belkov what a Ride! Chapeau!!!!

Poor Betancur, how embaressing

Astana put out all day, only that Beast Kangert left for the last 20km. But Nibs looked totally in control

Wiggins looking dreadfully vulnerable, can he bounce back???? We shall see!

Ryder had a Bad Day, lots of work just to podium for him now.

Great day of racing.....Giro I Love It!!!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

But won't he? If it's now a mental lacuna, then he might need a couple of descents - even if dry - to rebuild the confidence. He's still not a 'good' descender, when compared to a guy like Nibali, Samu or Evans, so he may still come under some pressure, it's just he's not likely to lose any time that he can't easily make back on those descents. While he did have a good move in Catalunya, that was with a few helpers and if the climbs are raced properly here, the only "helpers" I can see him having are the two Colombians.

 

[Frosty]

Wiggins starting a descent at the back would seem like a bad tactic, but maybe he finds it easier there as people are less likely to be overtaking him into corners, also he can see that everyone else made it through and try to follow the best line etc.

 

[Magnus]

Stelvio descent.

Isn't that pretty regular with lots of hairpins and only a few tricky places?

 

[The Hitch]

Probably the Astana riders' crash put Nibali off a bit. Scarponi's not the best descender put there, is he?

There was a climb Scarponi could have attacked on. 2 Actually. or at least sent niemiec to the front to push a hard pace.

 

[Jelantik]

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.

+1.
when opportunity comes knocking, you took it. Clearly, they let it slip today. Adding 30 seconds isn't bad to start a long mountain instead of status quo. Either they have already at their the limit too, or nibali/evan/scarponi are playing safe or they are confident that they can hang with wiggins in the mountain. The latter one is a more dangerous gamble.

 

[movingtarget]

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.

I wonder if Millar driving at the front put Ryder into difficulties but Vaughters thought Hesjedal's ride yesterday was ok. Wonder what he thinks of today ? Some teams wanted to continue but the others did not seem too interested. Took Wiggins quite a while to get back.

 

[jens_attacks]

coldeportes was very good today
seems like corti might have done his job after all

 

[hrotha]

It's based on Weening's choice of gearing, which usually is either huge, or gigantic.

Ah, of course, should have remembered. Dank je wel.

 

[the asian]

If it's dry he won't lose time.

If Nibs need to put some time to him, I think he can.

yesterday the weather wasn't bad and Wiggins still descended like a Granny.

 

[whittashau]

If it's dry he won't lose time.

Lol, you've seen the Stelvio, right? Nibali could put time into almost anyone there let alone Wiggins.

 

[maxmartin]

If Nibs need to put some time to him, I think he can.

yesterday the weather wasn't bad and Wiggins still descended like a Granny.

exactly, Nibali is in the driving seat, no need to take extra risk, it is up to other big favorites now. How bad you want it? LOL

 

[icefire]

Isn't that pretty regular with lots of hairpins and only a few tricky places?

Yes. Loosing 1 second per hairpin (nothing unusual) he'll get to the bottom 48 seconds late.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

Lol, damn, you're right. I forgot that the days of the Giro riding up erupting volcanoes, freak whirlwinds picking the breakaway up and moving them ten minutes further up the road and stages finishing with 100km across a pontoon bridge and with a mountaintop finish in R'lyeh are over

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I wonder if Millar driving at the front put Ryder into difficulties but Vaughters thought Hesjedal's ride yesterday was ok. Wonder what he thinks of today ? Some teams wanted to continue but the others did not seem too interested. Took Wiggins quite a while to get back.

Garmin obviously want to copy Sky tactics but went for the 2010 TDF variant.

 

[Jelantik]

exactly, Nibali is in the driving seat, no need to take extra risk, it is up to other big favorites now. How bad you want it? LOL

Evan used to be mountain biker ride? so he should be a good descender too. He might be the one that has to take initiative if he wants to unseat nibali and goes for the gold. But if he's happy with the podium, he would just hang there and wait until wiggin or gesink or scarponi attack. After all he achieves his goal. Not only to ride his best, podium will be a bonus

 

[Pricey_sky]

Lol, you've seen the Stelvio, right? Nibali could put time into almost anyone there let alone Wiggins.

Of course, If its dry he may lose 20 seconds or so but he will have his mountain train with him and they are more likely to put Nibali under pressure when it goes seriously uphill.

 

[SafeBet]

Yes. Loosing 1 second per hairpin (nothing unusual) he'll get to the bottom 48 seconds late.

more like 2 minutes and 48 seconds.

 

[jens_attacks]

santambrogio's face is resembling so much berzin's lol.

ok now some cadel eyetalian,always precious