2014 Giro D'Italia, stage 2: Belfast › Belfast 219 km

[Arredondo]

Did Haas and Cardoso start for today's stage? Does anyone know?

They did. ''Only'' Martin and Fernandez are out

 

[Anderis]

They did. ''Only'' Martin and Fernandez are out

Thank you for the information.

Hopefully they're fine enough, otherwise Hesjedal won't even have a half climber in the team to support him in the mountain if he finds himself in good shape.

 

[Netserk]

Errm does anyone have a street view of the final km? Hope Netserk reads this as he is excellent at such things.

Profile of the last kms:

Map of the last kms:

Close up of the last ~700m:

Street view of the final bend (street view makes it look sharper than it is, try moving around to get a better sense of it). The riders come from the left, with the finish to the right. Very broad road for the last 350m

Bend seen from above

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Crikey lots of votes for Swift.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Thanks Netserk! Brilliant as always!

 

[SafeBet]

Crikey lots of votes for Swift.

More than Viviani, Bouhanni, Nizzolo, Petacchi and Matthews combined!

 

[Better Call Saul]

When do they hit the coast?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Should be at the coast now.
115km to go.

 

[Rollthedice]

Everything sems to be painted in pink now in Northern Ireland. Just saw a pink horse.

 

[Arredondo]

Thar crash from Caruso did not looked good. Hopefully he is fine.

 

[darwin553]

I'm just wondering about the need for this poll because obviously the answer is kittel.

 

[melkemugg]

How is Petacchi sprinting these days?

 

[JRanton]

Crikey lots of votes for Swift.

Bizarre. He has nothing like enough speed to beat the fastest guys.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Tourist board will be disappointed in their investment: reinforces impression that it always rains, and TV coverage doesn't start until after they have passed the jewel in the landscape crown (Giant's Causeway).

 

[happytramp]

Tourist board will be disappointed in their investment: reinforces impression that it always rains, and TV coverage doesn't start until after they have passed the jewel in the landscape crown (Giant's Causeway).

Na, the aerial shots look great. The moto stuff is fairly grim though.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I would be fairly sure that the red and white squares were a Tyrone GAA flag, not Croatian support for Kiserlovski.

 

[the sceptic]

they go by placings for the pink right? So Matthews will take it today unless there are time bonuses?

 

[happytramp]

Immense crowds in the towns and villages.

 

[Afrank]

they go by placings for the pink right? So Matthews will take it today unless there are time bonuses?

In the Giro there are time bonuses. So Matthews or Pettacchi to take it depending on where they place and if they get any of the time bonuses.

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

Are those numbers on the back of the seat posts a new innovation? I don't remember seeing them before. It certainly helps identifying the riders in these conditions.

 

[burning]

Looks like there is virtually no wind

 

[the sceptic]

Looks like there is virtually no wind

no one will want to risk anything in this kind of weather either. Cancellara is here in spirit.

 

[Rollthedice]

Chapeau to the Irish people. Fantastic attendance and enthusiasm in awful weather .

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Ireland is stunning. What a beautiful country.

And I like that Yellow Fluo kit. Very visible.

 

[Netserk]

Are those numbers on the back of the seat posts a new innovation? I don't remember seeing them before. It certainly helps identifying the riders in these conditions.

Not new at all, but they certainly do help. Often easier to spot than the numbers on the riders.