Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage 13 Spilimbergo to Grossglockner

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Ryaguas is right... like him or not, AC deserves respect for what he's doing, putting everyone of his contenders in a stranglehold. And I have to believe, unless there's some super-undetecable magic wonder pill, that he's doing this clean. He'd have to be nuts to try this unclean, being under the microscope as he is. I think the only ridin dirty he's doing is that signature finish line salute.

Made my day.

 

[ferryman]

Made my day.

Aye, but let's not go there. The Clinic is a dark dark place

 

[GroupDK]

All in all its good to see that Saxo bank Sungard dont also have Sclecks & Fuglsang & Breschel & Voight & Cancellara...

It would have been to much for one team and to much saxo bank sungard show from start to finish.-

Looking forward to see Contador against Andy schleck in the Tour..

 

[Mellow Velo]

Looking forward to see Contador against Andy schleck in the Tour..

The 2 years will pass in a flash.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

All in all its good to see that Saxo bank Sungard dont also have Sclecks & Fuglsang & Breschel & Voight & Cancellara...

It would have been to much for one team and to much saxo bank sungard show from start to finish.-

Looking forward to see Contador against Andy schleck in the Tour..

A bit like Mapei

 

[deValtos]

Interesting to note Menchov is back in with a chance of a podium if he climbs aswell as he did today. Then wait for the 40k TT

 

[The Hitch]

What an epic stage. And to think we have 2 monsters way harder even than this coming up tomorow.

Amazing.

Ryo was right. Rujano is out of this world.

I really hope Vuelta takes not and invites him (though i know its very unlikely)

 

[The Hitch]

Hah, RUjano on the podium was smaller than the podium girls standing off it.

I probably shouldnt take the **** out of him for it seeing as im only about 10cm taller, but im a fan so its ok.

 

[El Pistolero]

What an epic stage. And to think we have 2 monsters way harder even than this coming up tomorow.

Amazing.

Ryo was right. Rujano is out of this world.

I really hope Vuelta takes not and invites him (though i know its very unlikely)

Think Rujano should change teams. Androni is a good team of course, but they don't get automatically invited and would be cool to see him on the same team as Contador(Bjarne Riis could be good for someone like Rujano). Although I would send them to different GTs each year of course and not both in the same squad.

Anyway, Contador did 2 little attacks and everyone still blew. He's way better then the rest. Rujano is growing on me, good cyclist and seems like a friendly guy(he dedicated his stage win to the late VDB)

Didn't found the stage all that epic, but certainly not a bad one. I knew Contador was going to gift it away though which killed some suspense. But it's the kind of guy he is and that will never change.

 

[No_Balls]

what do think Conti did not do strategically well?

He should wait for his team. Let his team control the race. He is very ungrateful by taking time of his rivals and thus not a team-player

 

[blaxland]

Just an epic stage,hats off to Contador and Rujano....Looks like Rujano can make the podium?He is only 2 minutes behind second place with lots of climbing still to come.

 

[The Hitch]

Just an epic stage,hats off to Contador and Rujano....Looks like Rujano can make the podium?He is only 2 minutes behind second place with lots of climbing still to come.

Welll hes 2.50 back on Nibali, but then again, Nibali lost 3.10 last time we had the ZOncolan though tomorow will be a slightly easier stage.

 

[Ryaguas]

I must admit that I've jumped on the hype train and actually I'm quite obsessed with south americans - can't wait till Vuelta a Colombia

I rest my case!
More than ever I will keep spreading the word here and now in others forums!

What are the chances of Contador having a bad recovery day and cracking from here out?

mmmmm What are the chances of HWNDMW admitting that He depoD?

Can one of our Italian friends please verify that this says he did a planned change (to a lighter bike) before Grossglockner, just like he did before Etna?

He changed bikes! Cassani noted inmediatly when They put the camera on Alberto making his way back to the peloton... Confirmed secs later for Andrea Di Luca =D

that contador is such poor strategist.. Can we please get either Brunyel or Phill Leggett for some direction

You missed this ""

Interesting to note Menchov is back in with a chance of a podium if he climbs aswell as he did today. Then wait for the 40k TT

He's getting the form... He really felt good today cuz He took a medium - long pull in the group when Contador and Rujano were flying up the road...

Think Rujano should change teams. Androni is a good team of course, but they don't get automatically invited and would be cool to see him on the same team as Contador(Bjarne Riis could be good for someone like Rujano). Although I would send them to different GTs each year of course and not both in the same squad.

Can't see that happening =/
1st. Rujano is very hard to coach, but Riis really knows how to deal with his riders tho... but I think would be very hard for him to get used to Riis' team discipline...
2nd. Rujano loves to race in Italy... with a WT team He would have another calendary and specially in races with mountains that doesnt suit him... so He would lose the motivation quickly...
3rd. Can't see Rujano working for Alberto... and I think that Rujano prefers to have him as an opponent...
4th. He looks very happy in Androni!

 

[The Hitch]

Which other forums Rubin Dario?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

These are the people he is in the same league with imo. You can compare him to Brajkovic and Dekker if you want as well, the outcome is the same. Though Lanark does have a point with the remove 18 months thing, my point still is that Nibali has done pretty great in races for a guy without any climbing or time trialling skills.

Anyway, I know I'm biased in favour of Nibali here, but even compared to others he's defenitely not worse or duller in my opinion. Since you're biased against him, we'll never agree on this.

By the time Dekker had won Tirreno and Romandie, Nibali had won nothing. Same comparison you are using with Nibali vs Gesink/Kreuziger

it makes no sense. Because they are on a different level of experience.
Besides, Gesink was Valverde's biggest challenger in the Vuelte he finished as 6th, because he lost 4 minutes due to a hole in his knee after a bad fall (thanks to mosquera). Before that fall he was 2nd in a field with Valverde, Basso, Evans and Sammy Sanchez in the top 5, and the only one able to really attack Valverde. Basso and Evans were dropped...
Don't see Nibali doing that in such a field. He needed a Vuelta where the strongest climber fell out (anton) and mosquera and p.velits finished on the podium for crying out loud

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Based upon his descending today, if it is wet tomorrow Rujano will need a few minutes at the top of Monte Crostis to have a shot at starting the Zoncolan climb with Nibali tomorrow.

Nibali and others have a chance, depending on what Rujano can do on the descent.

luckily the Crostis is no longer there and Rujano can go on and gain 3 minutes on the Zoncolan

 

[auscyclefan94]

luckily the Crostis is no longer there and Rujano can go on and gain 3 minutes on the Zoncolan

Good ride By Kruiskwijk, D_T!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Think Rujano should change teams. Androni is a good team of course, but they don't get automatically invited and would be cool to see him on the same team as Contador(Bjarne Riis could be good for someone like Rujano). Although I would send them to different GTs each year of course and not both in the same squad.

Anyway, Contador did 2 little attacks and everyone still blew. He's way better then the rest. Rujano is growing on me, good cyclist and seems like a friendly guy(he dedicated his stage win to the late VDB)

Didn't found the stage all that epic, but certainly not a bad one. I knew Contador was going to gift it away though which killed some suspense. But it's the kind of guy he is and that will never change.

Oh yes, he is such a noble character. Just like Armstrong gifting the stage to pantani...noble.

 

[Ryaguas]

Which other forums Rubin Dario?

Ruben like D_T
But My name is better cuz is Ruben Dario! Ruben alone is not that good!
As.com
Marca.com ---> Here they always said that Rujano is colombian = / is really annoying...

Good ride By Kruiskwijk, D_T!

+1

Oh yes, he is such a noble character. Just like Armstrong gifting the stage to pantani...noble.

I think that was a nice gesture... Rujano did awesome in the climb and was the only one able to follow him, He didnt take too much pulls in the front but even after that Alberto conceded him the victory like telling him "Respect!"... two really humble guys...

 

[JohnNordin]

Oh yes, he is such a noble character. Just like Armstrong gifting the stage to pantani...noble.

Sarcasm? Because you know if he doesn't gift the stage and takes it then everyone says he is an arrogant rider. If he backs off earlier then everyone says he was gassed and the other guy just pulled him up the hill. There is nothing he can do, apparently, that will be taken as a good gesture.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Isn't it obvious, it is completely insane to try and take time on your opponents

LOL - okay, now I see.

I think it was sarcasm

I can be slow on the uptake.

 

[dlwssonic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVr481vCIk

I dont know why but I prefer his attacks in the tour de france. His attacks in this years giro seemed too easy. His attack on verbier is my fav

 

[metaCYCLE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVr481vCIk

I dont know why but I prefer his attacks in the tour de france. His attacks in this years giro seemed too easy. His attack on verbier is my fav

haha! AC attack and Pearl Jam! Perfect combo!

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh yes, he is such a noble character. Just like Armstrong gifting the stage to pantani...noble.

Unlike Armstrong he hasn't called Rujano a hobbit after his gift. And unlike Armstrong, he does this all the time.

 

[Lanark]

Sarcasm? Because you know if he doesn't gift the stage and takes it then everyone says he is an arrogant rider. If he backs off earlier then everyone says he was gassed and the other guy just pulled him up the hill. There is nothing he can do, apparently, that will be taken as a good gesture.

Arrogant? Not really, Merckx or Hinault would never have given away this stage. I don't like those gifts, although I can understand the tactical necessity of it.