Basso totally out of form, will he be able do something in the tour?

[roundabout]

Today kinda fell flat. Basso needs Szmyd to really launch him.

 

[maxmartin]

pitty Szmyd is off today, otherwise I am wondering what is going to happen

Today kinda fell flat. Basso needs Szmyd to really launch him.

 

[ManInFull]

This is great:

"Cadel Evans playing a better Leipheimer than Leipheimer at Tour de France"

http://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/art...levi-leipheimer-leipheimer-tour-de-france.htm

 

[TimChristy]

Pulling for Basso here but where/how is he gonna make up the approximate 2 minutes he needs on Cadel and 1 minute on Schlecks? I'm worried that there may not even be a tough enough climb for him to ride others off his wheel. Hoping to see Szmyd setting a killer pace at the base of the Galibier for 5-10km only to then have Basso pull a Zonc 2010 on everyone. He looked like an unphased machine out on the front today and definitely looked the least tired of the favorites.

 

[mewmewmew13]

He looked really smooth and comfortable today.

 

[maxmartin]

does Basso still has a realistic chance at this stage? Downhill he might even loose more time. Please put your thoughts here

 

[Liquigas]

He needs to try it far from the finish line, on the Lautaret stage, send a couple of team mates on the breakaway, then on the Agnello put Szmyd to work and set a high pace to eliminate rivals team mates, and then himself set his own rytmn on the last hard 9 km of the Agnello and see what happens, he has got nothing to lose really, podium is far from him atm, and I don't see any difference between finishing 5th or 8th.

If his team mates aren't enough far ahead to meet him on the summit of the Agnello, then wait to attack until the Izoard.

But I don't see it happening, nowadays riders don't have the balls to do this.

 

[maxmartin]

i doubt Bass has guts to do that, and he really need Szmyd, but god knows what form Szmyd is on right now

He needs to try it far from the finish line, on the Lautaret stage, send a couple of team mates on the breakaway, then on the Agnello put Szmyd to work and set a high pace to eliminate rivals team mates, and then himself set his own rytmn on the last hard 9 km of the Agnello and see what happens, he has got nothing to lose really, podium is far from him atm, and I don't see any difference between finishing 5th or 8th.

If his team mates aren't enough far ahead to meet him on the summit of the Agnello, then wait to attack until the Izoard.

But I don't see it happening, nowadays riders don't have the balls to do this.

 

[iZnoGouD]

i doubt Bass has guts to do that, and he really need Szmyd, but god knows what form Szmyd is on right now

if Basso doesn't have then who have?

 

[roundabout]

He needs to try it far from the finish line, on the Lautaret stage, send a couple of team mates on the breakaway, then on the Agnello put Szmyd to work and set a high pace to eliminate rivals team mates, and then himself set his own rytmn on the last hard 9 km of the Agnello and see what happens, he has got nothing to lose really, podium is far from him atm, and I don't see any difference between finishing 5th or 8th.

If his team mates aren't enough far ahead to meet him on the summit of the Agnello, then wait to attack until the Izoard.

But I don't see it happening, nowadays riders don't have the balls to do this.

Szmyd in super form would be nice. Problem is with the Lautaret it might be too far from Agnello for 1 rider to make the difference ala Piepoli in 07 or for any favorite to blow the race apart.

Hopefully Basso can benefit from other teams (Saxo, Leopard) making the race really hard before the final climb.

 

[jobiwan]

Basso would do well to forge a "mini-alliance" on the Agnel and the Izoard.
He's in the same boat as Contador and the Schlecks, he simply needs time on Evans.

If Szmyd, Navarro, CAS, Fuglsang, and maybe even Frank Schleck go hard enough, they can isolate Evans on the Izoard, and he'll crack on the Galibier.

Then they can fight it out between themselves.

 

[TimChristy]

If the Agnel was the final climb instead of the Galibier I'd say Basso has a fair shot in creating some chaos. The Galibier's profile looks kinda lame with 4-5% gradients up until the final 5-8km. Harder side should have been used.

Agree with the previous poster that Liquigas should go all out on the Izoard to shake things up cause Basso is basically in no mans land sitting in 5th position with a questionable time trial. I'd rather see him win stage 18 or 19 than place 4 or 5th overall.

 

[yourwelcome]

Basso would do well to forge a "mini-alliance" on the Agnel and the Izoard.
He's in the same boat as Contador and the Schlecks, he simply needs time on Evans.

If Szmyd, Navarro, CAS, Fuglsang, and maybe even Frank Schleck go hard enough, they can isolate Evans on the Izoard, and he'll crack on the Galibier.

Then they can fight it out between themselves.

Basso might be better off forging an alliance with Evans for the near future than Contador or the Schlecks - times are still close enough and he'd be in a more confident position if he ends up having to fight it out with Evans than if he ends up fighting it out with Schlecks or Contador.

 

[Liquigas]

Lost quite a bit of time, but this type of climb and the downhill don't suit him, if tomorrow he loses another 30 sec it will be ok for him. I still think he will attack on the Agnello or the Izoard.

 

[maxmartin]

at this stage i think Basso's yellow dream is over, I think he might even loose more time tomorrow, he might get some time back at uphill but doubt that will be significant enough. Podium is still possible though

Somehow I feel this year tour suits Nibali better than Basso, wish Basso did the Giro and Nibbles was in the tour

 

[Anonymous]

bummer, bummer. but hey atleast the race was alive with that attack by the great one.

 

[maxmartin]

as predicted he loose more time wish Nibali was riding this tour

Lost quite a bit of time, but this type of climb and the downhill don't suit him, if tomorrow he loses another 30 sec it will be ok for him. I still think he will attack on the Agnello or the Izoard.

 

[Parrulo]

as predicted he loose more time wish Nibali was riding this tour

last 2 stages didn't suit him. there is nothing nibali could have done to help him. the next 2 stages are more important

i wonder tho how much could nibali gain on the last 2 stages during the descents

 

[mewmewmew13]

Basso can have excellent days tomorrow and Friday.
I hope!

 

[TimChristy]

Finally the first stage that benefits him over some of the other top guys. Basso needs to go on the offensive on the Agnel or Izoard and hope for a war of attrition tomorrow. Afraid he'll get dropped with attacks if he waits for the Galibier.

 

[Duartista]

Unfortunately I think the 'motorway' up the Lauteret will neutralise any attempts to attack on the Agnel or Izoard. Anyone who does will get reeled in comfortably - the only hope is if a group of 5-6 riders go clear and work together.

 

[maxmartin]

not help him, nibali to be gc leader to ride this tour, Basso should ride the giro, the overall outcome might be better for Liquidgas, just my two cents

last 2 stages didn't suit him. there is nothing nibali could have done to help him. the next 2 stages are more important

i wonder tho how much could nibali gain on the last 2 stages during the descents

 

[maxmartin]

maybe Bass Sami and Contador and Cunego can work together, all of them need time, but i doubt that will happen, totally different riding style

Unfortunately I think the 'motorway' up the Lauteret will neutralise any attempts to attack on the Agnel or Izoard. Anyone who does will get reeled in comfortably - the only hope is if a group of 5-6 riders go clear and work together.

 

[Anonymous]

He will be good for stage 18 and 19.

 

[Anonymous]

He will attack tomm, he look good today.