Gardeccia 2011 vs Aprica and Montalcino 2010

[Eshnar]

I know it's a tough decision

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Another stupid poll.

 

[Eshnar]

Another stupid poll.

Thanks for your appreciation

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Thanks for your appreciation

You're welcome.

I'll start a poll on Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikhs best Mongolian National Championship win later today.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Another stupid poll.

No it is not.

Anyway, I voted Montalcino because firstly it was something that was simply out of the ordinary, the conditions were awful, attacking racing, unpredictable and the mud just was awesome. Cadel also won which made it extra special.

 

[Eshnar]

You're welcome.

I'll start a poll on Jamsran Ulzii-Orhikhs best Mongolian National Championship win later today.

Polls are cool

 

[Eshnar]

No it is not.

Anyway, I voted Montalcino because firstly it was something that was simply out of the ordinary, the conditions were awful, attacking racing, unpredictable and the mud just was awesome. Cadel also won which made it extra special.

Thanks acf
Though I was pretty sure of what you'd have chosen

 

[Michielveedeebee]

No it is not.

Anyway, I voted Montalcino because firstly it was something that was simply out of the ordinary, the conditions were awful, attacking racing, unpredictable and the mud just was awesome. Cadel also won which made it extra special.

This, it was awesome to see a world champion actually winning something ! (unlike Ballan and hushovd)

 

[Lanark]

Aprica. They're all epic stages, but Aprica also decided the GC, which makes it even better than the other two.

 

[Ferminal]

I think this year's.

They are all of course amazing stages, and for their own reasons.

But seeing the GC contenders attacking each other on the 3rd of 5 climbs, isolating themselves with a long way to go, was surreal. In this age, it is something we rarely see, and may not see again for a long time if AZ goes.

I guess it depends, tomorrow I could prefer Montalcino, and the next day Aprica. But Gardeccia is fresh in my memory so for now it's my #1.

 

[Eshnar]

In this age, it is something we rarely see, and may not see again for a long time if AZ goes.

Let's hope not
Anyway I haven't heard any rumour on that lately.

 

[El Pistolero]

You're welcome.

I'll start a poll on Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikhs best Mongolian National Championship win later today.

We all know Temüjin will win, so get lost with your stupid poll!

 

[El Pistolero]

I can not tell a lie. Gardeccia was the most epic. + it didn't need bad weather to be cool.

 

[El Pistolero]

This, it was awesome to see a world champion actually winning something ! (unlike Ballan and hushovd)

Just tell your self the WC was 3km shorter. It's what I do, and the WC sure won a lot this season for me

 

[The Hitch]

No it is not.

Anyway, I voted Montalcino because firstly it was something that was simply out of the ordinary, the conditions were awful, attacking racing, unpredictable and the mud just was awesome. Cadel also won which made it extra special.

There wasnt that much attacking racing in Moltacino.

Vino Cadel and Cunego were always at the front and were quite content to go to the finish together.

I dont think it would be rated so highly on here if it didnt have mud.

Just my opinion.

Ive always argued that Mortirolo on top of being an exciting stage, decided an entire gt. Not just the winner, but also decided the podium and it decided the lower places.

 

[nvpacchi]

Montalcino and especially Aprica were great last year,, but the finish in Gardeccia actually made me scream at the top of my lungs. So this year's epic 7.5 hour battle takes the cake.

 

[dlwssonic]

Just tell your self the WC was 3km shorter. It's what I do, and the WC sure won a lot this season for me

if the WC was 200km shorter mark cavendish would be the winner.

 

[Descender]

Montalcino.

It will age better too.

 

[craig1985]

Gardeccia. That and I tend to be bit of a closet Euskaltel fanboy, so it only made it better. I loved Aprica though, one mistake by Arroyo on the descent off the Mortirolo and there would be of been an "RIP David Arroyo" thread.

 

[Cogombre]

Voted for Gardeccia. It was not just that the GC boys started racing with 3 climbs to go, but also the Nieve v Garzelli 50km individual pursuit. Also, the feeling of carnage it left when seeing how the riders where arriving one by one absolutely exhausted was amazing.

 

[phanatic]

Montalcino is legendary. Perhaps the most memorable day of racing I've ever seen. Evans wins it, Vino gets the rosa. Some incontrovertible evidence.

 

[Parrulo]

i thought we were comparing the strade bianche stages cus i saw montalcino and voted there ofc my real vote goes to gardeccia

i guess thats what you get for not reading a thread properly before you vote

 

[Eshnar]

i thought we were comparing the strade bianche stages cus i saw montalcino and voted there ofc my real vote goes to gardeccia

i guess thats what you get for not ready a thread properly before you vote

I facepalm'd

 

[Parrulo]

I facepalm'd

lol i just noticed the typo there

thats what you get when post while being half a sleep

 

[Skip Madness]

Interesting poll, another one where it's easy to choose any of the three.

Montalcino was special (yes, partially because it rained). It was a beautifully planned stage anyway, but the drama of the Liquigas caduta followed by the spectacle of Vino continually wiping dirt from his eyes and spitting gravel from his mouth and a grand finish by the reigning world champion was pretty extraordinary, mainly because it was meant to be something that we didn't get to see in cycling any more. In terms of pure racing there have been better, but it was iconic for much more than that. And the cycling media hasn't buzzed like it did the following day (for the right reasons) in the time I've been following cycling.

Nevertheless I chose Aprica. The race was diced apart over an hour from the finish, the deflated resignation of watching Arroyo slip backwards and conceding that Basso was going to be the winner... and then what the holy hell is going on here. And Arroyo was that close, that damned close from catching the Basso group after that descent. And then we got to experience the deflated resignation all over and over again dragged out kilometre by kilometre.

But quite probably if you asked me tomorrow I would have changed my mind again for the umpteenth time.

I loved the stage to Gardeccia, but that was more for its attrition than anything sporting. The ride of Nieve was incredible, but that aside it never got more heated than "here goes Nibali... oh damn, there goes Nibali... ooh look, here comes Nibali again... aah, there goes Nibali again." It was a great stage but it wasn't as enthralling as the two from last year.