2015 Giro d'Italia, Stage 3: Rapallo – Sestri Levante 136 km

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Very happy that he is ok and nothing has happened to his brain. He'll be fine for the Vuelta.

Let us hope so, there are other horrible injuries besides brain damage.

Yep. I particularly hope that his eyes went fairly untouched.

 

[carton]

Re: Re:

Betancur made it.

I am intrigued by what is his real fitness level now. I guess we will now later this week.

I'm guessing that, in his heavily GC-oriented Giro squad with no other riders with so much as a shot at a top-15 in Milan, there may be others whose interests have also been ever so slightly piqued.

 

[Jagartrott]

Meersman flatted on the last climb, tried to get back to the peloton in the descent, flatted again and fell heavily because of it.

Not Etixx' giro, so far.

Btw: Borica Greenedge

 

[MotorRouleur]

Relax, Orica always owns the first few stages, when publicity is often highest, especially amongst those who don't continue to follow it through the weeks. Look at last year though, they held rosa for the first week, then finished the tour with only 2 riders (Tuft & Hepburn, who were placed 2nd and 3rd last, over 5 hrs behind the winner), and thus were even excluded from the Team Classification. I think they were last in the Fair Play standings. Doesn't matter, they're opportunistic, know their strengths, and appear to have a damn fun time.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

So Tinkoff all day work is to lead out Contador for their highest 19th place ?
Why not let Orica do it ?

It was not a lead out of course.
I think they are trying to wear out the others as kuch as possible

They were only wearing themselves out.

Just dumb like Sky used to be dumb.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Relax, Orica always owns the first few stages, when publicity is often highest, especially amongst those who don't continue to follow it through the weeks. Look at last year though, they held rosa for the first week, then finished the tour with only 2 riders (Tuft & Hepburn, who were placed 2nd and 3rd last, over 5 hrs behind the winner), and thus were even excluded from the Team Classification. I think they were last in the Fair Play standings. Doesn't matter, they're opportunistic, know their strengths, and appear to have a damn fun time.

Didn't a bad case of badzilla hit them last giro? I think so.

This year with Chaves they might even end up,top 10. I domt expect it, but it could happen.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

Good tactics by Orica, some will say it was negative but they won so they achieved their goal. They were lucky no one attacked though, only Gerrans and Clarke to chase.

Kiriyenka and Henao getting dropped early, saving energy or just not good enough?

Saving energy on a 2nd Cat climb ?

Going easy for the coming stages, but I don't think it was good. I think Sky is weaker than expected. Viviani, Puccio, Eisel and now Kiriyenka and Henao who won't be much help in the mountains.

henao will be very strong in the third. week he's had like what? 10 racing days?

 

[Carols]

I just got home and was watching the DRV recording and Pozzo crashes and is lying on the road while blood pools....I thought I was going to vomit and actually teared up. Luckily it was hours after the crash so I was able to go on line and see he was serious but not life threatening. Phew, now I can watch the rest of the race!!! Holy Crap something like that puts everything into perspective......

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

A dull team? Go and watch all the Backstage passes and music videos on YouTube. They play to their strengths and have a few really good riders without the superstars perhaps of other teams. They also have a great time day in, day out so I can imagine it's a real pleasure riding on that team throughout the year.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

I have to agree. Now that I know Pozzo is okay this is a yawner. I think it is Oleg calling the shots

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

A dull team? Go and watch all the Backstage passes and music videos on YouTube. They play to their strengths and have a few really good riders without the superstars perhaps of other teams. They also have a great time day in, day out so I can imagine it's a real pleasure riding on that team throughout the year.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

agree. we would be listening to the uproar, the finger pointing, "boring train" etc etc
people would be posting TGV or freight trains pics and so on
tinkoff does that and people and twitter almost do not mind

Bjarne's son: https://twitter.com/RiisThomas/status/597761334596530176

 

[No_Balls]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

I saw another kind of collective response, doubt that was any more flattering:

"Omg! What are they doing?"

"Could somebody please explain the tactics of Tinkoff?"

"Why are they driving?"

"They must conserve energies. Cant continue like this!"

"It must be "Olga" forcing them".

But patience, never underestimate what 20+ stages like this can do.

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

A dull team? Go and watch all the Backstage passes and music videos on YouTube. They play to their strengths and have a few really good riders without the superstars perhaps of other teams. They also have a great time day in, day out so I can imagine it's a real pleasure riding on that team throughout the year.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

Dam right it would be...double standards

 

[mariposa]

Re:

I just got home and was watching the DRV recording and Pozzo crashes and is lying on the road while blood pools....I thought I was going to vomit and actually teared up. Luckily it was hours after the crash so I was able to go on line and see he was serious but not life threatening. Phew, now I can watch the rest of the race!!! Holy Crap something like that puts everything into perspective......

I was watching live and had exactly the same feelings. Just hope he is as good as they say. The part of cycle racing I really do not like. Consoled myself with the thought that he must be alive as when WW died even the Italians restricted the TV coverage.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

I have to agree. Now that I know Pozzo is okay this is a yawner. I think it is Oleg calling the shots

How about we call them the Olga-Bots from now on?

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

Bole is still there

Yes .... I also think Orica are rather an odd team, but I can't even say why. They just strike me as a dull team for some reason. ... Perhaps it's due to them only being there for TTTs and the early sprints? .... Impossible to say exactly. .... Still .... cycling needs the full range of teams to make life more interesting, so let them have their fun for a few days.

A dull team? Go and watch all the Backstage passes and music videos on YouTube. They play to their strengths and have a few really good riders without the superstars perhaps of other teams. They also have a great time day in, day out so I can imagine it's a real pleasure riding on that team throughout the year.

May I also add that if Sky did what Tinkoff had done today then the forum would be in uproar about the "boring" or "bot" style of racing.

I'm a Contador fan, but I agree. I hope this isn't what we've got to look forward to.
Have to admit though that Sky have rather more form in this approach than TS

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

I just got home and was watching the DRV recording and Pozzo crashes and is lying on the road while blood pools....I thought I was going to vomit and actually teared up. Luckily it was hours after the crash so I was able to go on line and see he was serious but not life threatening. Phew, now I can watch the rest of the race!!! Holy Crap something like that puts everything into perspective......

Apart from Pozzo being one of the nicest guys in the peleton and most well spoken, the RAI coverage had also aired a brief remembrance piece about WW just minutes before, remarking about the similarities between the two stages, both in the same Ligurian region and both on its typical serpentine roads.

In addition last year Pozzo on his recovery after crashing did the Terminillo granfondo in August, a race I have ridden several times. When Silvio Martinello thus said it was him on the ground with real anguish and concern - the gush of blood and inert body with it - well, lets just say in that moment I shared your sentiments, vomit aside.

 

[Mnbvcxzlkj]

Thinkoff trying to stop any big players attacking while Bertie finds his legs I think if anyone attacks in the next few mountain days Alberto won't be able to follow that's why Thinkoff on the front.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re:

Thinkoff trying to stop any big players attacking while Bertie finds his legs I think if anyone attacks in the next few mountain days Alberto won't be able to follow that's why Thinkoff on the front.

it's very clear to me but appearantly not to others that contador is incredibly scared after last years tour crash and won't take ANY risks. he wants to be on the front every day

 

[MotorRouleur]

Domenico cadute

That's a nasty-surfaced intersection where SP56 turns right onto SP23 at Passo della Scoglina.
Ominously, there's a shrine there already.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@44.472596,9.249946,3a,75y,157.72h,79.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sb5bCm4nxfc5N7AF0FStG8g!2e0

 

[Kokoso]

How much do you think was Basso pulling today?

 

[Vino's Mum]

Re: 2015 Giro d'Italia, Stage 3: Rapallo – Sestri Levante 13

Pozzo's called his fiancee and his dad from his hospital bed, so hopefully he's already on the road to a full and speedy recovery.

I tuned in immediately before his accident, and even after the first reports came through that he was conscious, I kind of felt bad for half-watching the rest of the stage.

Such a tough sport.

 

[Carols]

Re: 2015 Giro d'Italia, Stage 3: Rapallo – Sestri Levante 13

Pozzo's called his fiancee and his dad from his hospital bed, so hopefully he's already on the road to a full and speedy recovery.

I tuned in immediately before his accident, and even after the first reports came through that he was conscious, I kind of felt bad for half-watching the rest of the stage.

Such a tough sport.

Good to know he is speaking with family, hopefully they release more news soon.

Meanwhile it was a tough watch for many I'm sure!!! No one ever wants to see a rider like that lying on the road.....

 

[Sasquatch]

Re: Re:

Thinkoff trying to stop any big players attacking while Bertie finds his legs I think if anyone attacks in the next few mountain days Alberto won't be able to follow that's why Thinkoff on the front.

it's very clear to me but appearantly not to others that contador is incredibly scared after last years tour crash and won't take ANY risks. he wants to be on the front every day

That's exactly what I was thinking. They would have trained for this.

 

[tokenron]

Re:

Meersman flatted on the last climb, tried to get back to the peloton in the descent, flatted again and fell heavily because of it.

Not Etixx' giro, so far.

Btw: Borica Greenedge

Don't really understand all the Orica hate - they laid down a TTT beating on day 1 to win pink, they are in a position to call whatever shots they see fit. They covered all their bases today, they had the best sprinter in a reduced bunch and they put two strong guys in the break. Once the DS or whoever decided that their best chance of a stage win was the pink jersey, they put a guy on the front of the peloton and told Clarke and Chaves to sit up.

Today it was up to Astana or Sky or one of the other teams with bloated rosters and paychecks to go on the attack and disrupt them. Astana putting together an 8 rider sprint train for Tiralongo? Give me a break. No-one took the initiative, so Orica bossed another early GT stage. Well played.