Giro Di Lombardia - 16th October

[insideout leadout]

How homoerotic!

Now that's a bit funny coming from you.

 

[simo1733]

When only 34 riders finish and it is in a monuement. 8th place is a decent result.

it is your use of 'we' that I find amusing ,not the 8th place.

 

[La Pandera]

So after a bit of discussion on this thread, are we to conclude that the reason Samu, Nibali, Nieve etc didnt catch Gilbert and Scarponi is that Gilbert and Scarponi were riding such an insanely high pace that even with slipstream, the 6 chasers didnt have a chance.

...that and/or this being the last important race of the season and with Gilbert and Scarponi no longer even in sight, it wasn't worth taking the risk of crashing and getting injured in the wet conditions deciding they're better served battling for the final podium spot.

 

[ultimobici]

...that and/or this being the last important race of the season and with Gilbert and Scarponi no longer even in sight, it wasn't worth taking the risk of crashing and getting injured in the wet conditions deciding they're better served battling for the final podium spot.

Exactly. Had it not been wet there would have been a chance of pulling Gilbert & Scarponi back.

To those who thought it "boring" - same apply to Hinault in LBL in 80?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Exactly. Had it not been wet there would have been a chance of pulling Gilbert & Scarponi back.

To those who thought it "boring" - same apply to Hinault in LBL in 80?

If we were watching at the time it could well have been. Just because something is an incredible performance doesn't make it any less dull to watch something that's a foregone conclusion. I was bored rigid throughout Cancellara's 2009 TT title. Was it a stunning ride? Yes. Were Gold and Silver pretty much sewn up about 10 minutes into his ride? Yes. Did that make the ride any less amazing? No. Did it make watching the last 50 minutes a bit more boring? Yes.

 

[Polyarmour]

Boring? For me this was an epic race of attrition and one of the great races of the year. 195 started and 34 finished with the weather grinding them all down. The earlier attacks by Alabasini, Visconti, Gusev and TGBM served as the prelude but I don't think anyone was expecting the race to be won by Gilbert on the decsent made treacherous by the "falling leaves". That Gilbert was able to do this shows his versatility and skill as a rider. After dispatching Scarponi with a classic Gilbert big ring manouvre I was pleased to see Scarponi admit that the chain problem was only a minor issue in his inability to follow. The main problem being that he was cooked. In retrospect I don't think anyone could have beaten Gilbert in this race however even with 1km to go I kept wondering whether he was going to fall off his bike going around a tight corner. Not that Gilbert had that worry, I think he was signalling victory from about 1.5kms out.

 

[Kwibus]

If we were watching at the time it could well have been. Just because something is an incredible performance doesn't make it any less dull to watch something that's a foregone conclusion. I was bored rigid throughout Cancellara's 2009 TT title. Was it a stunning ride? Yes. Were Gold and Silver pretty much sewn up about 10 minutes into his ride? Yes. Did that make the ride any less amazing? No. Did it make watching the last 50 minutes a bit more boring? Yes.

It seems that you like bunchsprints the most

 

[Scatto]

bit naughty.. if it were any other rider it would get a thread of its own.

About Gilbert not waiting for Nibali. In this year's TDF too, many riders were NOT pleased with FC (what's in a name) cancelling the race, believing that part of cycling is about staying on your bike. Otherwise you can do a race in a fitness center and you should cancel all cyclocross races. Admittedly, in a stage race you might see gentlemen, but even then it's rather an insurance system: I don't attack you today because tomorrow I may be the one in the gutter. In classics, there is no tomorrow.

 

[Kwibus]

If Nibali fell because a dog crossed the road or an idiot pulled him off his bike then Gilbert should've waited. Not when Nibali makes an stupid error like he said himself. A stupid mistake so it's his own fault he fell.
Anyone that seriously thinks it's lame by Gilbert not to wait should consider watching an other sport

 

[thehog]

About Gilbert not waiting for Nibali. In this year's TDF too, many riders were NOT pleased with FC (what's in a name) cancelling the race, believing that part of cycling is about staying on your bike. Otherwise you can do a race in a fitness center and you should cancel all cyclocross races. Admittedly, in a stage race you might see gentlemen, but even then it's rather an insurance system: I don't attack you today because tomorrow I may be the one in the gutter. In classics, there is no tomorrow.

Like Sastre. For the first time in his life he was there at the front. The first time he was not held up by crashes. What happens? Everyone waits. Poor guy.

 

[Ferminal]

If Nibali got a gap on the leading group through his exceptional descending we would all be admiring the performance.

But this time he failed and hit the deck.

Descending is fair game, in any conditions.

 

[Climbing]

Well, it would have been very interesting if Nibali didn't fall, but I think Gilbert would have win all the same, but in a sprint probably.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

About Gilbert not waiting for Nibali. In this year's TDF too, many riders were NOT pleased with FC (what's in a name) cancelling the race, believing that part of cycling is about staying on your bike. Otherwise you can do a race in a fitness center and you should cancel all cyclocross races. Admittedly, in a stage race you might see gentlemen, but even then it's rather an insurance system: I don't attack you today because tomorrow I may be the one in the gutter. In classics, there is no tomorrow.

yes.

Though I'm not sure I like the waiting even in stage racing. Depends on the situation...

 

[jsem94]

Nibali couldn't catch Gilbert after the crash, so he wasn't stronger. Gilbert was alone and pulled away from a group of 6 riders, including Nibali... he woulda gotten dropped by Gilbert on the climb anyway