Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage 14 Lienz to Monte Zoncolan

[hrotha]

Alberto changes bike again...

What's with the bike changes? Aren't their every-day bikes already at the limit of UCI's weight regulations? I understand he could get a bike with special gears for the Zoncolan, but that doesn't explain the other bike changes.

 

[spalco]

Could be a mental thing.

Yeah, maybe superstition of some sort or so. Or maybe a different saddle for the long ride in the valley as opposed to the final climb?

 

[GoAndyGo]

bike change contador... He keeps on changing his bikes... Bad brand?

Awwwww that hurts. I have a Specialized Tarmac and I love it.

Nice to turn on the Giro and see a break with a 9'30" lead.

 

[Andre.J]

They xray all the bikes at the beginning of the race...right? Just wondering...not accusing.

 

[UpTheRoad]

So what? I'm sure its been a pressing concern for awhile. Alberto only raised his concerns AFTER he went to see for himself - how many other riders would have done that? After Zomegan sat down with the riders and showed them the presentation then this is some flippant decision made over night.

A lot of cycling fans really twisted. This is the 'Hardest-Giro-in-Memory' - now its the Hardest-Giro-in-Memory minus one mountain. Get over it. The expectations and demand of some people are unrealistic...then wonder why so many dope...

That one mountain plus the one following absolutely was going to be the number one highlight in the Giro for me. Without the benefit of hindsight, the original last 50km or so of this stage was what I was looking forward to most of all.

I will get over it. In time. Thanks for your concern.

 

[Bala Verde]

My guess is it is a prototype of the new Tarmac SL3.

Or he is riding bikes which can be auctioned off after the giro as "authentic bike ridden by Contador during the 2011 giro"

 

[Publicus]

Or he is riding bikes which can be auctioned off after the giro as "authentic bike ridden by Contador during the 2011 giro"

All proceeds go to the Alberto Contador "Where's the Beef?" Defense Fund.

EDIT: In all seriousness, I wonder if it has a compact crank or different gears for the big climbs.

 

[GoAndyGo]

They xray all the bikes at the beginning of the race...right? Just wondering...not accusing.

Only if your last name is Cancellara

 

[Michielveedeebee]

They xray all the bikes at the beginning of the race...right? Just wondering...not accusing.

they Xrayed his bikes yesterday, also the one of Rujano and 2 other riders (Sporza source)

 

[killswitch]

A lot of cycling fans really twisted. This is the 'Hardest-Giro-in-Memory' - now its the Hardest-Giro-in-Memory minus one mountain. Get over it. The expectations and demand of some people are unrealistic...then wonder why so many dope...

It's not only the toughness of the route, but also the speed.

 

[spalco]

EDIT: In all seriousness, I wonder if it has a compact crank or different gears for the big climbs.

But still, why not just do the whole stage with the bike?

 

[Andre.J]

they Xrayed his bikes yesterday, also the one of Rujano and 2 other riders (Sporza source)

Thank you..

 

[Michielveedeebee]

All proceeds go to the Alberto Contador "Where's the Beef?" Defense Fund.

EDIT: In all seriousness, I wonder if it has a compact crank or different gears for the big climbs.

for a mountain like Zoncolan a Compact wouldn't amaze me, 36 seems big already, and with contador high cadence a 34 wouldn't amaze me

 

[valentius borealis]

There goes another sign regarding the Crotsis.

 

[Cobblestoned]

deadline now for predicting whether the breakaway will make it or not.
Rien ne va plus.

I say the brave 3 will be caught at 5 km to go.

 

[insideout leadout]

they Xrayed his bikes yesterday, also the one of Rujano and 2 other riders (Sporza source)

"Tests are easy to beat" - Lame Armstrong

 

[hrotha]

for a mountain like Zoncolan a Compact wouldn't amaze me, 36 seems big already, and with contador high cadence a 34 wouldn't amaze me

For Zoncolan, yes. But for Etna?

 

[mr. tibbs]

for a mountain like Zoncolan a Compact wouldn't amaze me, 36 seems big already, and with contador high cadence a 34 wouldn't amaze me

I remember Di Luca putting on a compact with a 27 in the back for the big climb of his Giro win. (Can't remember which mountain it was.)

 

[icefire]

It sounds to me like the real problem was that the riders would be 37k 'on their own'. 37k in which stuff can happen that changes a Giro.

[I disagree with some posters that Wouter's death, tragic as it is, on a road that wasn't a noteworthy -by cycling standards- safety hazard by any stretch of the imagination, should be reason to forego roads like the ones they are now deeming a no-go zone from now on. All the more with the additional safety that was put in place. 'Ride to your ability' is a judgement that is part of pro-cycling too. ]

A few days ago it was deemed safe enough, and this 'no cars to support' reason was suddenly pushed in at a time when it no longer could be solved with motor bikes with material, etc.

Your last paragraph is not completely accurate. RCS had motorbikes at the service of teams' mechanics, i.e., one moto with the rider for each team so they can piggyback a mechanic and provide support to riders with their own equipment.

 

[Publicus]

For Zoncolan, yes. But for Etna?

Good point. I'm surprised that no enterprising reporter hasn't put the question directly to him and/or Riis.

 

[GoAndyGo]

I think Universal said his switch was to a 36 32. He is riding a mountain bike up Zoncolan with skinny tires.

 

[craig1985]

I assume that yellow banner held up accused Contador being scared of the Crostis?

 

[Andre.J]

I just hope that whoever wins, wins it outright. No gifts please.

 

[Cobblestoned]

for a mountain like Zoncolan a Compact wouldn't amaze me, 36 seems big already, and with contador high cadence a 34 wouldn't amaze me

I guess today its chat-topic number one in the peloton and many jokes about the biggest cake-plates in todays starting field.

 

[Bala Verde]

According to Zinn:

Speaking of gearing, you know it’s steep when you see some of the world’s best climbers riding huge rear cogs with a tiny front chainring. With few exceptions, the teams will use the same gears on Plan de Corones on Tuesday as they used on Monte Zoncolan. I saw Ivan Basso riding nimbly in a 36 X 29, while Vincenzo Nibali and the rest of the Liquigas team struggled a bit more with the gear. But BMC’s Cadel Evans was just barely behind Basso where he passed by with 3.5km to go, and he was doing fine with a 34 X 27. He has trained on the critical Giro mountain stages for weeks and knows what he wants on his Easton EC90SLX wheels adorning his BMC Team Machine SLR01. Julian Dean and other Garmin riders came by me with the same 34 X 27 gear.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...rd-zinn-rides-the-giros-monte-zoncolon_118438