2017 Giro d'Italia, Stage 2: Olbia > Tortolì 221 km

[Climbing]

13:05 should be "Prima Diretta".

 

[Climbing]

Apparently strong 40/50 km/h lateral/against wind, not sure if it's going to matter though.
It could if the climbs are raced hard and the peloton splits.

 

[Brullnux]

Julian Dean has made this stage sound much harder than I thought it was. Now I'm looking forward to it. If there is wind, is it possible we have another scenario like the stage into La Spezia two years ago, just with reduced difficulty of climbs?

 

[SafeBet]

I think the wind could play a role in the final climb, which is very exposed.
But I'd bet on a sprint regardless. The break isn't particularly strong either (Tekle, Oswian, Koshevoy, Andreetta, Shalunov).

 

[Anderis]

Some people mentioning Cannondale but I don't think this stage suits them. It's way too easy for Carthy, Dombrowski and Rolland and having a real shot at winning this stage requires either some rolling skills (to go for a long solo, since the final climb is far away from the finish) or good finish which Howes, Slagter, Villella and Woods don't have, I'm afraid.
Maybe Koren could try something but he would be very outside bet and there is not much the rest of the team can do for him to increase his chances, the only way he can win is if others hesitate.

 

[sir fly]

Really modest pace.

 

[Laplaz]

Astana working. LLS must feeling well.

 

[Flamin]

They're already gone. Climbing Nuoro now.

 

[tobydawq]

In the ORICA backstage pass, Matt White categorically stated that the sprinters have no chance today and that it was for the mountain guys.

I don't know who he's trying to fool...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Debated with myself whether I should go for a long ride. Just got home know, thank god I did. With 100 to go they must have gone really, really slow or am I bad at math?

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Debated with myself whether I should go for a long ride. Just got home know, thank god I did. With 100 to go they must have gone really, really slow or am I bad at math?

Yeah, they're riding into a headwind for most of the day.

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Debated with myself whether I should go for a long ride. Just got home know, thank god I did. With 100 to go they must have gone really, really slow or am I bad at math?

They were, about, as fast as you were.
Low thirties.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Did they also have a little coffee?

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Did they also have a little coffee?

Kelly's just having it.
... Flecha's brew.

 

[sir fly]

There's going to be some action.
No way they're going to ride bunched till the finish.

 

[BullsFan22]

Hard to see the break survive to the end, so I am betting on a bunch finish, well, not the entire bunch, but I think most of the top sprinters will be there, unless there are are some major fireworks on the the cat 2, but the summit is over 30km to the finish, so those that choose to attack and make something happen, better make sure it's decisive.

 

[tobydawq]

If neither Ewan nor Greipel wins and Pöstlberger does not end in the top 3, Teklehaimanot will get the points jersey. In a grand tour, hat is very rare for a break-away man. I don't remember that happening before, actually.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Bennett is just cursed in GTs. Three GTs, taken down by the man in front of him in the first sprint once, sick twice.

 

[sir fly]

The breakaway riders should pull the hardest they can, peloton is very slow.

 

[silvergrenade]

Re:

Bennett is just cursed in GTs. Three GTs, taken down by the man in front of him in the first sprint once, sick twice.

Sam Bennett has made it back to the bunch as the pace drops once more. The bunch had the break at 1'20 but the gap has gone back out to 1'37. 64km to go as we see Greipel help set the pace but it's Movistar who dominate the front of the peloton.

He can survive.

 

[Valv.Piti]

2 long stages and 2 very boring ones. People don't really seem to want to race

Does the length have anything to do with it? Are the ones that often get mocked for wanting short stages right?

 

[wirral]

Why did Boaro not just take the new bike? Or did it not come with a front wheel?

 

[sir fly]

I'd say the riders are concerned about the transfers and don't want to tire themselves too much.
Thus the leisure pace.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The stages on Corsica were twice as entertaining...

 

[sir fly]

That's the difference between the two GTs.