Giro 2017, stage 18: Moena - Ortisei 137 km

[dacooley]

truly i don't get any critics to quintana and nibali. who could predict that dumo would drastically step up his climbing even compared to the vuelta level. it's a sport, you never know for sure and the present never completely copies the past.

 

[ontheroad]

I actually love the bit of spikiness that Dumoulin has, he says what he think and is not always politically correct. Some may call it arrogance but he is an interesting character. There is no fun when all the top riders are nicey nice to each other. I don't agree with Dumoulin in thinking that Quintana and Nibali should have ridden for a podium place. they have been there and wore the t-shirt, where is the glory in a podium place. It's *** or bust.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Re: Re:

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

I doubt he's thinking about their tactics at all. I think he's still smarting about (his perceived) injustice re other teams riding while he stopped the other day

 

[Climbing]

Usually cyclists try to avoid being cocky and/or overconfident, because everybody who did race knows that a bad day/luck is always behind the corner.
Insulting your opponents isn't a smart idea... though there is no doubt TomD has the best legs so far.

 

[huge]

He is talking like he has already won... "they could loose the podium..." like he is already guaranteed a victory.

Big tumble down in my opinion on him.
I really hope the road will teach him a hard lesson.

Besides, speaking like that is pretty stupid. Poking Nibali's pride is not a smart move. As if Nibali needs any extra motivation.

 

[clydesdale]

Re:

I actually love the bit of spikiness that Dumoulin has, he says what he think and is not always politically correct. Some may call it arrogance but he is an interesting character. There is no fun when all the top riders are nicey nice to each other. I don't agree with Dumoulin in thinking that Quintana and Nibali should have ridden for a podium place. they have been there and wore the t-shirt, where is the glory in a podium place. It's **** or bust.

Regarding podiums, Quintana should be careful as well. He needs to defend his position too. He could certainly lose his spot to Nibali and Pinot in the TT (granted Pinot needs a better day than the last one). I am curious as to why they let Pinot go, to be honest.

I don't quite understand Tom's logic, but I love his attitude as well. I really hope he starts last and catches Quintana in the TT. Unlikely, but within the realm of possibility.

 

[Brullnux]

Quintana and Nibali don't care that much about a podium. A bit, but not that much. They still think/hope they can win this.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

I doubt he's thinking about their tactics at all. I think he's still smarting about (his perceived) injustice re other teams riding while he stopped the other day

He was referring to their tactics of not going after Pinot. That said, I agree that the other day is probably on his mind too. How could it not be?

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

Nibali very annoyed with TD.

Sarebbe contento se io e Quintana perdessimo il podio? Me ne frego di quanto possa pensare, è meglio che stia attento perché potrebbe perdere anche lui il podio... Io non sono mai stato così spavaldo, dovrebbe imparare a tenere i piedi per terra e sarebbe meglio parlasse in rosa a Milano, non certo oggi".
La tappa poteva prendere una piega diversa. Tom è sicuramente bravo e bisogna fargli complimenti, ma oggi è stato anche parecchio fortunato perché la tattica nostra e della Movistar era quella perfetta. Ha avuto la possibilità di rientrare grazie al percorso - spiega Nibali - particolarmente favorevole. La decisione mia e di Nairo di non rispondere agli attacchi di Pinot e Pozzovivo nel finale? A Dumoulin questo non deve interessare, non può pretendere che lo portiamo in carrozza fino a Milano e gli stringiamo pure le mani...

Translation

He would be happy if I and Quintana lost the podium... I don't give a damn of what he thinks. He'd better be careful, because he could loose the podium too. I've never been so cocky. He should learn to keep his feet on the ground and he'd better speak after reaching Milan in pink, certainly not today
The stage could have ended in a very different way. Tom is certainly good and we must congratulate him, but today he's also been quite lucky because our and Movistar tactic was perfect. He managed to get back thanks to the pretty favourable course. Mine and Nairo's decision not to answer Pinot and Pozzovivo's attacks? Not Dumoulin's business! He cannot ask us to escort him to Milan and shake his hands...

Dumoulin is playing the Indurain game with them and Nibali totally fell for it! :lol:

Seriously Nibali sounds laughable. Their tactics totally failed since both he and Nibali were too weak to significantly distance Dumoulin. We've seen stronger climbers crack in the Dolomites (f.e Breukink) actually. Looks like Nibali's fake palmares finally went to his head. Hopefully there ain't no pure luck once again for him in this race.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Nibali: "There is karma, Dumoulin can pay on the road for what he said." (RAI) #Giro100

Lol karma. Big words from somebody who has unsportsmanlike as #1 in his ways to win races. If anything it would be nice if Nibali would be hit by any sort of karma for once. But since the guy is the luckiest rider on the planet he will probably have it his way again.

*edited by King Boonen*

It's not Nibali's fault Kruijswijk can't ride a *** bike or that Dumoulin is dumb enough to take a *** at a crucial moment.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Quintana would have been caught if he went alone. I know the idea is appealing and romantic, but getting caught is the realistic outcome.

You say romantic; I say ludicrous. Rooted in the same physics that lords over comic books and romance novels in bookstores near you. Getting caught and passed would be the inevitable outcome.

Many times in the olden days they were Not Caught. That is where the romance comes in!!

 

[Ricco']

Re:

Does Dupont take the prize for best ninja. I have seen him about twice this year.

He is here?

I was watching some results from last year and noticed him and thought how I didn't heard of him this year. My first thought: He didn't come and is focusing on the Tour and I didn't bother to double check it. Guess I'm wrong. :lol:

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

With this much Reichenbach action I can't even imagine the state of Carlton's commentary booth were he calling this...

Hahaha thinking the same

I had to listen to it........ :sad:

 

[huge]

Re: Re:

Nibali very annoyed with TD.

Sarebbe contento se io e Quintana perdessimo il podio? Me ne frego di quanto possa pensare, è meglio che stia attento perché potrebbe perdere anche lui il podio... Io non sono mai stato così spavaldo, dovrebbe imparare a tenere i piedi per terra e sarebbe meglio parlasse in rosa a Milano, non certo oggi".
La tappa poteva prendere una piega diversa. Tom è sicuramente bravo e bisogna fargli complimenti, ma oggi è stato anche parecchio fortunato perché la tattica nostra e della Movistar era quella perfetta. Ha avuto la possibilità di rientrare grazie al percorso - spiega Nibali - particolarmente favorevole. La decisione mia e di Nairo di non rispondere agli attacchi di Pinot e Pozzovivo nel finale? A Dumoulin questo non deve interessare, non può pretendere che lo portiamo in carrozza fino a Milano e gli stringiamo pure le mani...

Translation

He would be happy if I and Quintana lost the podium... I don't give a damn of what he thinks. He'd better be careful, because he could loose the podium too. I've never been so cocky. He should learn to keep his feet on the ground and he'd better speak after reaching Milan in pink, certainly not today
The stage could have ended in a very different way. Tom is certainly good and we must congratulate him, but today he's also been quite lucky because our and Movistar tactic was perfect. He managed to get back thanks to the pretty favourable course. Mine and Nairo's decision not to answer Pinot and Pozzovivo's attacks? Not Dumoulin's business! He cannot ask us to escort him to Milan and shake his hands...

Dumoulin is playing the Indurain game with them and Nibali totally fell for it! :lol:

Seriously Nibali sounds laughable. Their tactics totally failed since both he and Nibali were too weak to significantly distance Dumoulin. We've seen stronger climbers crack in the Dolomites (f.e Breukink) actually. Looks like Nibali's fake palmares finally went to his head. Hopefully there ain't no pure luck once again for him in this race.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Arked]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

 

[luckyboy]

Re:

truly i don't get any critics to quintana and nibali. who could predict that dumo would drastically step up his climbing even compared to the vuelta level. it's a sport, you never know for sure and the present never completely copies the past.

People seem to love Dumoulin suddenly, even the journalists on twitter are all over him. If things were the other way around we wouldn't hear anything like this.

 

[TommyGun]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

:lol: who is wearing the pink jersey ?

 

[mavmav]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

:lol: who is wearing the pink jersey ?

The pink jersey has to defend the pink jersey. The pink jersey wasn't in danger. He doesn't have to ride because he has the pink jersey...

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Dumoulin is the real deal and is very likely to win the Giro now. I know its still 3 days to go (and 2 mountain stages among them), but the writing is on the wall, it has been since tuesday night. Neither Quintana nor Nibali have the legs to keep up an attack that would seriously put him in trouble.
He had his moment of weakness when his intestinal system failed him and forced an untimely nature break on him and he responded to it like a champion.

Just saw his post-race interview at Eurosport. He very much sounded like a man who knows the race is in the bag.

Well that's not good attitude, cause race is not in the bag yet. Strange things happens in the last days of GT's, just remember last year, or his own misfortune couple of days ago... He sounds like a GT multi-winner, but he isn't one.

 

[Arked]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

:lol: who is wearing the pink jersey ?

The pink jersey has to defend the pink jersey. The pink jersey wasn't in danger. He doesn't have to ride because he has the pink jersey...

Exactly.

 

[TommyGun]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

:lol: who is wearing the pink jersey ?

The pink jersey has to defend the pink jersey. The pink jersey wasn't in danger. He doesn't have to ride because he has the pink jersey...

It was not in immediate danger, but it is getting close now.. Some many contestants within a couple of minutes now, this could be a tactical nightmare in the next two days. Like it was said, Nibali and Quintana don't really care about getting 2nd or 3rd, they are multiple GT winners. Dumoulin should have ridden, he made a mistake there.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

I actually love the bit of spikiness that Dumoulin has, he says what he think and is not always politically correct. Some may call it arrogance but he is an interesting character. There is no fun when all the top riders are nicey nice to each other. I don't agree with Dumoulin in thinking that Quintana and Nibali should have ridden for a podium place. they have been there and wore the t-shirt, where is the glory in a podium place. It's **** or bust.

Agreed. What he said was probably also fueled by his anger from shiitgate the other day. He just couldn't keep his dissatisfaction back any longer and that is only human. But I really don't agree with his opinion on who should chase who. Afterall he is the leader and he should have foreseen that the others wants to wear him down, even if it takes an alliance. What he said about Nibali and Quintana is ofcourse disrespectful, but it was said in the heat of the moment and he will probably calm down along the way.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

:lol: who is wearing the pink jersey ?

The pink jersey has to defend the pink jersey. The pink jersey wasn't in danger. He doesn't have to ride because he has the pink jersey...

Exactly.

Will he do it again tomorrow if they take off with 10km to go? At some point he will figure out that Nibs and NQ don't care about 2nd and 3rd

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Does anyone really believe that Quintana is going for the double?

I'm trying to figure out if he just doesn't have it this year or if he thought he could win the Giro in sub-optimal form.

Hard to tell. He looked in good form on his preparation races TBH. So cannot blame him for that. And also rode fewer miles just because of the double. So cannot blame him for that either.

Has to be another reason. He just noticed that he was in better form on his second GT last year. I said it and many others said it too that he wanted to put that into practice this year. I am not sure about the under-valuing his opponents because he was in sublime form before the race. Having said that everyone under estimated how TD was going to ride.

I think the TD was the strongest and deserves the win. If it wasn't for his toilet issues on stage 16 this race would have been completely finished barring any crashes.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

I find it strange that he really thinks that Nibali and Quintana should've worked for him.

Agreed. He's not thinking straight there. It doesn't make any sense. It's up to the leader to protect his position, always.

He protected his position very well. He signaled couple of times his wish to ride together which was fair offer. They didn't want to so he stopped riding. He couldn't care less about Pinot, Pozzovivo and Zakarin when he had his main rivals around him.

:lol: who is wearing the pink jersey ?

The pink jersey has to defend the pink jersey. The pink jersey wasn't in danger. He doesn't have to ride because he has the pink jersey...

So why is he complaining then? Nibali and Quintana have the right to ride as they want.