Giro 2018 stage 18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

[luckyboy]

Re: Re:

Terrible stage design.

Well you know if Dumoulin was leading the GC now you wouldn't be saying that.

It would be more interesting just to go to Turin and finish with the hills around there like Maddalena and Superga instead of some Vuelta stage. It's 60 years since they used that climb for the only time, when Bahamontes beat Gaul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEr02WsDSfo

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Poels.

 

[search]

Re:

Ciccone and/or Masnana might indeed overtake Yates in the GPM if they wait today and take a lot of points the next two days.

joining a breakaway (and there will be a war to get into it) two days in a row is super tough for riders like them though. I think if Yates wins today, it's over. If not, Ciccone still stands a chance

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

I don't get all this riding defensively BS (which is all he needs to do), if Yates is feeling good he will attack on this climb to totally demoralise his rivals. Then the only attacks we'll get in the final 2 mountain days will be other podium contenders battling amongst themselves for what is left, whilst watching Yates shoot off into the distance laughing his t1ts off.

 

[hammerthaim]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

Huge gaps today, if not, tomorrow for those not on 100% form. Sam Bewley "That was one of the hardest days I've done in my life, next level, next level. Full gas, break didn't go for 90kms, on the limit, dangerous, full gas."

yew

forza bananito

 

[DFA123]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

I don't get all this riding defensively BS (which is all he needs to do), if Yates is feeling good he will attack on this climb to totally demoralise his rivals. Then the only attacks we'll get in the final 2 mountain days will be other podium contenders battling amongst themselves for what is left, whilst watching Yates shoot off into the distance laughing his t1ts off.

I think Yates will just ride like he did in the first week. Follow wheels until the final 2km, then attack and gain 20+ seconds, plus the stage win if it is still on the line.

Not sure if you wold call that riding defensively or not, but it seems such a safe and easy strategy for him, that surely it's better than attacking with something 10km to go. When there is a (small) chance his rivals could co-operate and reel him in, and also it would involve an effort which could weaken him a bit ahead of the next two stages.

 

[Rollthedice]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VrWtOb0NMI&feature=youtu.be

1996, Tonkov vs. Ugrumov. Astonishingly the rider who was then in pink is still riding today, Davide Rebellin.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

It's the first of 3 consecutive mountain stages and it's not too short, in the grand scheme of things it's ok and if there's one thing that this Giro got right it's placing the stages in the right order.

Agreed.

This has been a really hard Giro, today we had a hard stage with an average speed of 46.5 km/h, I have the feeling that 2 or 3 guys in the top 10 will crack on those final stages, probably just those who aren't really proven gc riders, but you never know.

Wouldn't be surprised if Dumoulin cracks. Not today, but on Saturday.

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

Ciccone and/or Masnana might indeed overtake Yates in the GPM if they wait today and take a lot of points the next two days.

joining a breakaway (and there will be a war to get into it) two days in a row is super tough for riders like them though. I think if Yates wins today, it's over. If not, Ciccone still stands a chance

I don't get why he was active yesterday. He got nothing out of it, and even if he did it would only be marginal. Stage 19 should be good for him with Lys early, he just needs a single teammate to help him out in the first 33km, before he can force himself to be in the break of the day. Stage 20 on the other hand... He'll probably need help from the entire team.

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

Ciccone and/or Masnana might indeed overtake Yates in the GPM if they wait today and take a lot of points the next two days.

joining a breakaway (and there will be a war to get into it) two days in a row is super tough for riders like them though. I think if Yates wins today, it's over. If not, Ciccone still stands a chance

I don't get why he was active yesterday. He got nothing out of it, and even if he did it would only be marginal. Stage 19 should be good for him with Lys early, he just needs a single teammate to help him out in the first 33km, before he can force himself to be in the break of the day. Stage 20 on the other hand... He'll probably need help from the entire team.

Yes! I was screaming at my tv in disbelief as he tried to get into the break. I guess he must be feeling good but that was really dumb.

 

[fauniera]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

Why? He is trying to win a stage. Nothing dumb about that.

 

[The Barb]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

Why? He is trying to win a stage. Nothing dumb about that.

Gotta pick your battles. That was a stage he had no chance whatsoever of winning, and very few mountain points either, so better to conserve energy and wait for upcoming stages that suits him well.

 

[Oliwright]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

TD has to attack today.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

I don't get all this riding defensively BS (which is all he needs to do), if Yates is feeling good he will attack on this climb to totally demoralise his rivals. Then the only attacks we'll get in the final 2 mountain days will be other podium contenders battling amongst themselves for what is left, whilst watching Yates shoot off into the distance laughing his t1ts off.

I think Yates will just ride like he did in the first week. Follow wheels until the final 2km, then attack and gain 20+ seconds, plus the stage win if it is still on the line.

Not sure if you wold call that riding defensively or not, but it seems such a safe and easy strategy for him, that surely it's better than attacking with something 10km to go. When there is a (small) chance his rivals could co-operate and reel him in, and also it would involve an effort which could weaken him a bit ahead of the next two stages.

It's the only sensible approach - there's not been much evidence yet that he's actually capable of a much better VAM than the other top guys, but he can match them all at least, and then has a much better punch left to use on top. All his attacks, even at long range, have involved taking 10-15 seconds very quickly but not gaining much more after that until others start messing around.

 

[Eclipse]

It's probably not going to be a hugely exciting stage imo but it'll have implications for the next couple of days

then again yesterday looked like a snoozer and they were full out all day so who knows

 

[gregrowlerson]

This is a good stage design in my opinion. For the reason being that with the two stages following, any extra climbing would be a waste anyway. But some small gaps - and mental edges - can be gained on this MTF.

 

[JosephK]

Re:

Simon Yates stares at his power meter all day long then jumps with 2km to go to gain a few seconds on the main GC contenders.

This, probably. I think this stage is also donated to the break, so bonus seconds will probably not be up for grabs, reducing the incentive of Yates or other GC guys to go too hard. But another scenario has Froome lighting it up, because he'll need to take time each day to get on the podium (or threaten the top 2).

 

[Red Rick]

Lame break

 

[fauniera]

Re:

Lame break

Again.

 

[Squire]

Schachmann for the stage?

 

[Laplaz]

8 minutes already, so Schachmann vs. Cattaneo.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

Schachmann for the stage?

My betting account would be happy about that.

 

[Frankschleck]

Plaza is gonna take this.

 

[fauniera]

Re: Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

Thank god a UAE rider is in the break.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Lame break

Again.

Not suprised today, quite a few will be keeping their powder dry for tomorrow and Saturday.