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

[al_pacino]

Lol, Sky Fanboys complaining.

Where's the complaining?

 

[the sceptic]

My dream for this stage is that Di Luca goes in the break and gets 10 minutes, or that Wiggins attacks on the cat 1 climb. make it happen...

 

[William H]

Pretty sure Sky will want this stage to be as boring as possible. It doesn't play to Wiggins strengths at all, and it's not time for desperation tactics yet.

Maybe Hesjedal will try something?

 

[Stetoe]

Battaglin 9.0 and after that Evans 12.0 are highly favoured by the bookies..

 

[thehog]

Pretty sure Sky will want this stage to be as boring as possible. It doesn't play to Wiggins strengths at all, and it's not time for desperation tactics yet.

Maybe Hesjedal will try something?

Hesjedal will. I can see Nibs not chasing then smashing it on the decent isolating Wiggins.

 

[whittashau]

Hesjedal will. I can see Nibs not chasing then smashing it on the decent isolating Wiggins.

Yeah, I can see Nibali allowing attacks from contenders on non finishing climbs to succeed and then using his descending to bridge. I feel he should use this tactic as often as possible.

 

[hrotha]

i think the two colombians performing an awesome TT today was the best outcome for Sky....all they have to do is send Uran or Henao up front, forcing Astana and others to chase...Wiggins/Other Colombian sitting on Astana's wheels. If the Colombian sent up front succeeds great...if Astana chases and catches, then Wiggins could start thinking about attacking or sending the other Colombian up the road....would def be a sound strategy (unless Wiggins has another "bad" day and just drags the Colombians out of the top 10 again)

Problem with that is that Wigans doesn't attack. He could attack, but it wouldn't suit him. A scenario where everyone's isolated and Astana or Sky don't have riders to reel the attackers in would be bad for Wigans.

 

[Steve H.]

Uran could be in the break and gain enough time to be ahead of Wiggins in GC.

 

[maxmartin]

Uran could be in the break and gain enough time to be ahead of Wiggins in GC.

I don't think Astana will let Uran be in the break.

 

[movingtarget]

Problem with that is that Wigans doesn't attack. He could attack, but it wouldn't suit him. A scenario where everyone's isolated and Astana or Sky don't have riders to reel the attackers in would be bad for Wigans.

I think Sky will wait until the next stage and do the Sky thing. Drill it on the front and shed riders continuously. They will try and and break riders like Gesink and Evans and anyone else near Wiggins on GC. They will try but will it work this time ? Which will also make it hard for riders like Hesjedal to make up time on GC unless Sky and Wiggins are off their game and the front group breaks up on the last climb.

 

[Fatclimber]

Lol, Sky Fanboys complaining.

Breakaway win for sure. Can Killer come back after his horrible ITT ? or will Vini Fantini have Rabbotini in the breakaway? Pirazzi is guaranteed to have a go.
Betancur could be allowed to as well.

His horrible TT was intentional I would guess, now he has some leeway to get in a break or some late attacking without response.

I think everyone is still too excited to let a break take it. Hesjedahl, Scarponi & maybe even Evans will keep it spicy. Somebody with some Nerts will take it. Scarponi for me.

 

[Pippo_San]

Wiggo to go full nuts.

Wait he already went nuts.

 

[rainman]

A late regrouping and Evans to win from the reduced bunch.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Vetta Le Croci is simply too good (read: steep) to be ignored if we have anybody with the balls in the race who wants to gain seconds. Stage followed by rest day? It screams full gas in the finale imo. Who will start the show?

Garmin, ag2r or Shack (drop the placement game please) are candidates.

A break however will take the stage win, tons of riders are now hopelessly behind in the race. Step forward Mr Darwin.

 

[jens_attacks]

delfino should have a go too. betancur also

 

[blaxland]

Definantly a stage for the breakaway group,hopefully someone like Weening orica/greenedge for the stage win.Main bunch down to only 35 riders with all the main hitters being their,should be an interesting final 50 kms.

 

[saneguy]

Sky has to use Henao or Uran to get ahead. Will put tremendous pressure on all the other GC guys. Cadel would also now start believing that he would have a much better Giro than what most people and probably he himself would have expected.

Sad to see the way Ryder cracked yesterday. Would be very difficult for him to get back in the GC race now.

 

[maltiv]

Sky won't send out Henao or Uran. Because if they do, then the pace in the peloton will be high on the descends in order to catch them...and in that case, Wiggins will lose 15 minutes

 

[manafana]

This is Sky, they are a brand, Wiggins is a big part of that brand, no way they ever let Wiggins down for benefit of Uran or Henao

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I hope Di Luca win just to see the reaction...i know he is ridiculous but he gets extra heat.

 

[taiwan]

Battaglin 9.0 and after that Evans 12.0 are highly favoured by the bookies..

They do have the finish from a small group, but they won't be in the break so unlikely to win IMO.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I hope Di Luca win just to see the reaction...i know he is ridiculous but he gets extra heat.

he should tank the stage today. Learn from Garzelli, otherwise it will be very difficult to get a result. The clock is ticking (stage wise).

If he still wants GC opportunity, drop to the +10-12 minute range.

 

[greenedge]

Vini Fantini to chase if not in the break, bringing it back in time for Evans- who will have the best sprint out of GC contenders. Hope that works

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Sky has to use Henao or Uran to get ahead. Will put tremendous pressure on all the other GC guys.

No, it won't put any pressure on the rest. Henao or Uran attacking will just mean all other teams work together and bring them back. The course isn't selective enough to drop all helpers, so the other teams will have more than enough people left to bring back any attacks, no matter who makes them. If anything happens today, it will once again be in a downhill section.

 

[theyoungest]

It's too bad they didn't include that Mur de Huy-like hill from the worlds course, a few k's from the finish. As it is, still a good stage.