Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage 13 Spilimbergo to Grossglockner

[Descender]

Contador is now the leader of the GC, KOM and Points Classification... ownage.

 

[rzombie1988]

That is a clueless comment, when it was Rujano who initiated the attacking phase. Look at the soft-pedalling second group if you want "wheelsuckers".

I don't even think the second group deserves the name of wheelsuckers. Maybe exhaust suckers are more fitting.

 

[killswitch]

This is Nibali;s absolute top level. He can't do any better than this. I predicted this before the giro. People who think Nibali is anywhere near Contadors level are deluding themselves.

Also such a colourless rider who only follows. I can't understand people being a fan of him

Nibali only follows in GTs. Tactically smart riding. In one-day races he's always one of the most aggressive riders.
No one is saying Nibali is even close to Conta. Not the best climber/tt-er, but knows his limits.

 

[La Vie Claire]

really dissapointing seeing the others look around at each other racing for second.

From the looks of it, they'll be racing for third soon. Very disappointing.

 

[TimChristy]

Crosswinds, no problem.

Just make sure you wear extra tight gear

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Yeah but he cant be called the new Cannibal..sure he refuses to touch the steak

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

niubali's not even good at tt-ing, mostly finishes 15th or something in long itt's

 

[will10]

Checking out the stage rankings I see 35 men in just 4 minutes after the winner, or 33 in about 2:30 after the 3rd man in the stage. It doesn't seem they raced hard today.

did you watch the stage?

 

[DenisMenchov]

Contador is now the leader of the GC, KOM and Points Classification... ownage.

He and Rujano are tied.

 

[Climbing]

This is Nibali;s absolute top level. He can't do any better than this. I predicted this before the giro. People who think Nibali is anywhere near Contadors level are deluding themselves.

Also such a colourless rider who only follows. I can't understand people being a fan of him

God! You never stop bashing Nibali, do you?
No one thinks there is atm someone equal Contador (neither Andy Basso or Menchov - everyone is missing something somewhere).
And still he has 1 Vuelta 3° Giro and 7° TdF... and is just 26.
Give him some merit man.

 

[Havetts]

Last time KoM, Points & GC were in the hands of the same rider was Pantani right?
Breakaways in the first stage not counted

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Contador is now the leader of the GC, KOM and Points Classification... ownage.

or alternatively 'taking the ****'.

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador should really try the Tour/Vuelta double once. Can do that one on 80% it seems lol

 

[van nelle]

So I'm probably the only one here thinking that it was a clever racing from the "second" group. Alberto is clearly above everyone in the mountains and will be above everyone in the TT, so why kill yourself trying to look like a hero folowing him and than blow your chances for good GC completly? Plus the real race barlely started, every bit of energy saved for Sat + Sun will be worth a lot more time than today.

+ cudos to Rujano, he's fantastic, looking forward to see if he can keep it or will fade away

 

[nvpacchi]

This could potentially be the 3rd Giro ever (first since 1995) where there isn't 1 Italian on the podium.

Scarponi and Nibali are risky bets for the podium at this point in time.

 

[lancaster]

Watching someone hammer everyone else is entertaining once, twice, a few times. Watching them do it over and over again is appallingly boring. The Indurain and Armstrong years were a disaster.

how were the Merckx years?

 

[El Pistolero]

So I'm probably the only one here thinking that it was a clever racing from the "second" group. Alberto is clearly above everyone in the mountains and will be above everyone in the TT, so why kill yourself trying to look like a hero folowing him and than blow your chances for good GC completly? Plus the real race barlely started, every bit of energy saved for Sat + Sun will be worth a lot more time than today.

+ cudos to Rujano, he's fantastic, looking forward to see if he can keep it or will fade away

In the mean time Nibali is 3 minutes and 10 seconds back... Before the real race started

 

[DenisMenchov]

Contador should really try the Tour/Vuelta double once. Can do that one on 80% it seems lol

Maybe in 2 or 3 years, when he returns from holiday

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

or alternatively 'taking the ****'.

LOL @ the Sporza reference.

 

[El Pistolero]

Maybe in 2 or 3 years, when he returns from holiday

If he gets a 2 year ban, he already has done half of his time now.

 

[jaylew]

This is Nibali;s absolute top level. He can't do any better than this. I predicted this before the giro. People who think Nibali is anywhere near Contadors level are deluding themselves.

Also such a colourless rider who only follows. I can't understand people being a fan of him

What prediction? That he wouldn't win? Correct me if I'm wrong, but remembering the Vuelta and knowing how you feel about him, I'm guessing your prediction was that Nibs would be off the podium or out of the top 5 or 10. Right now, he's still looking ok for the podium. Did anyone actually think he was a match for AC?

And you're way too hard on Nibali, as usual. Nibali isn't colourless at all and makes himself visible in races all year long.

 

[Havetts]

Dontwant to turn this into a contador sentence thread but, he's racing now so that means he'd get get two years since the last date he raced iirc.

 

[jens_attacks]

great to see riders attacking 10 km to go not like puszies in the last km.so chapeau scarponi,anton,rujano,alberto.

also absolutely great work by the crazy french guys,gadret and dupont.who would have thought?

tomorrow,rujano and alberto again slaughtering the field.4 minutes to the next guys.

 

[Merckx]

It would be backdated to his TDF positive, no? If the ban started after this Giro, it would be like a 3 year suspension. (2 years + all results wiped this year)

 

[icefire]

did you watch the stage?

I did watch as much as the interruptions because of the weather conditions allowed. Leaving aside Contador and Rujano, 30 men in 2:30 says to me that either the racing or the climb was not very selective.