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

[slim charles]

thank god there wasn't crostis, they wouldn't finish the stage before apocalypse.

anyhoo, great win for anton, i'm very happy for him
why did people boo contador? i doubt it's doping, they would do that on previous stages too, wouldn't they? and he got some pretty loud applauses on these few stages when he was 1st or 2nd

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Sivstov really amazing me

I don't get why so many people are surprised and/or amazed by Sivstvos performance this year. He has been a good climber all the time and he got some very need GC results in Grand Tours riding in support for his team leaders. Now - for the first time- he's the leader himself and therefore is getting better results.

You absolutly cannot compare this to Velits for example who was an HTC rider that turned into a GC conterder out of nothing.

 

[theswordsman]

The organizers taking out the Tualis climb while the race was going was a big surprise. It seemed like maybe the Crostis protestors were going to do more than boo and wave signs. Imagine being in a camper van on Crostis, finding out it was dropped, heading over to Tualis to moan about it, and missing the race completely?

Nice win by Anton to put himself in third. I don't even want to know what Nibali was telling the RAI people.

Seven stages to go, with two of them Time Trials. It's time for other contenders to stop hoping Saxo Bank Sungard is a weak team.

Edit: they made a road block at Tualis
http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=39049&tp=n

 

[Arnout]

Time to get a grip for me. As if he couldn't have stayed on his wheel...

Really glad Anton won though.

No he couldn't. Gap was 30 seconds at 1k, Contador attacked, barely lost Nibali and lost 32 seconds on the line.

Anton attacked first, Contador followed him, Anton attacked again, Contador didn't follow. Maybe that tells you something

It's pathetic to think Contador is conserving energy. As if that 15 seconds, which it was for like 2k, will differ anything.

 

[Ferminal]

I don't get why so many people are surprised and/or amazed by Sivstvos performance this year. He has been a good climber all the time and he got some very need GC results in Grand Tours riding in support for his team leaders. Now - for the first time- he's the leader himself and therefore is getting better results.

You absolutly cannot compare this to Velits for example who was an HTC rider that turned into a GC conterder out of nothing.

I'm surprised, but not in that way.

He's shown a heap of ability in the past, but has never gone into a race as a genuine leader. I'm surprised that he's got himself into his best form, is leading the team, and most of all is holding his consistency throughout the race.

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

How about a gif?

Thanks for that, but a high-res pic would be best
That's great too, though

 

[Bavarianrider]

Coming from a guy who wants to put in multiple 70km ITTs so that Tony Martin can win a GT without ever needing to get out of the saddle?

He would have to go out of the saddle. Boy two of those TT and climbers will be attacking all the time.

 

[RedheadDane]

This stage left me confused.

Gadret was a little confused for a moment as well.

Hmm, you know a climb is tough when commentators start talking about how it "flattens out" to 12 %...

 

[Ferminal]

All that hard work on Etna seems to be paying off for Kristoff, he beat Seeldraeyers home (who has had a shocking couple of days, last place over 4minutes behind AK).

 

[Greenflame]

Contador struggled today, Nibali was very good, interesting that Anton was 5 seconds off Basso, shows Scarponi hasnt improved but Nibali has by 2 minutes,
Going to be a very good battle now Contadors showed hes not invincible

Rujano looked like he didnt have the muscular power to push the gear on such a steep slope, Contador looked over geared as well, he usually spins quicker than that

Kreuziger what a fail

I'm sorry, I'd like to agree with you, but Contador looked absolutely superior today. He rode conservatively, uncharacteristically so, but he was defenitely better than any of the others.

Kreuziger didn't even lose that much time actually, compared to the gaps previous years, but yes he did fail.

 

[boomcie]

No he couldn't. Gap was 30 seconds at 1k, Contador attacked, barely lost Nibali and lost 32 seconds on the line.

Anton attacked first, Contador followed him, Anton attacked again, Contador didn't follow. Maybe that tells you something

It's pathetic to think Contador is conserving energy. As if that 15 seconds, which it was for like 2k, will differ anything.

I think he could have followed him for sure. As to his motives for not doing so, there are a few possible explanations.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I don't get why so many people are surprised and/or amazed by Sivstvos performance this year. He has been a good climber all the time and he got some very need GC results in Grand Tours riding in support for his team leaders. Now - for the first time- he's the leader himself and therefore is getting better results.

You absolutly cannot compare this to Velits for example who was an HTC rider that turned into a GC conterder out of nothing.

Well I know he could climb well, but I wasn't aware of his abilities as a leader.

 

[c&cfan]

I don't know that Contador had much left in him, his attacks looked good as always but they didn't create gaps that lasted. He kept getting reeled in by Nibali. Probably just had enough left to jump now and then.

did you saw contador at the end?

he looked fresh and cool! how's that possible???? was he already thinking of tomorrow's stage, or, as i think, he is already thinking about le tour?

 

[roundabout]

I'm sorry, I'd like to agree with you, but Contador looked absolutely superior today. He rode conservatively, uncharacteristically so, but he was defenitely better than any of the others.

Kreuziger didn't even lose that much time actually, compared to the gaps previous years, but yes he did fail.

According to my MkII eyeball Contador riding conservatively left a worse visual impression than Contador going for the win.

Hmm, wonder how that is possible?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

did you saw contador at the end?

he looked fresh and cool! how's that possible???? was he already thinking of tomorrow's stage, or, as i think, he is already thinking about le tour?

if he fresh
is no longer thinking about the giro
yet still doing such great rides
I have but one conclusion, use your imagination

 

[No_Balls]

Quite loud the contempt for COntador, however I doubt it has much to do with doping, as you could see from the signs along the road it appeared as though the people used Contador as someone to blame for the lack of the Crostis, this perhaps due to the fact that he was so outspoken about the Crostis.

Quite amazed by Kruijswijk, he is doing at least as well as last year, perhaps even better, while it appears as though the competition is stronger this year

Really? I saw it as the public didn´t like his second attack against Nibali. Seemed too much as he humiliated him.

Anyhow were the crowd a disaster today.

 

[Publicus]

No he couldn't. Gap was 30 seconds at 1k, Contador attacked, barely lost Nibali and lost 32 seconds on the line.

Anton attacked first, Contador followed him, Anton attacked again, Contador didn't follow. Maybe that tells you something

It's pathetic to think Contador is conserving energy. As if that 15 seconds, which it was for like 2k, will differ anything.

I think it tells me you were seeing what you wanted to see.

 

[c&cfan]

1Contador struggled today,2Nibali was very good, interesting that Anton was 5 seconds off Basso, 3shows Scarponi hasnt improved but Nibali has by 2 minutes,
4Going to be a very good battle now Contadors showed hes not invincible

5Rujano looked like he didnt have the muscular power to push the gear on such a steep slope,6 Contador looked over geared as well, he usually spins quicker than that

Kreuziger what a fail

1-no.
2-yes
3-yes
4-yes. because he can fall or have 7flats tomorrow.
5- rujano was tired because of the last 2stages me thinks.
6-when he wanted he spined very quickly.

 

[Arnout]

I think it tells me you were seeing what you wanted to see.

I saw Anton winning on possibly the toughest cycling mountain in the world by a significant margin. Was I dreaming? Is this the beginning of the end of the world?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Contador's face crossing the line was not one of a man who's been suffering. He looked as though he had worked, but had plenty in store. Maybe I'm wrong, but he didn't look as though he went into the red today.

 

[rhubroma]

The tifosi took out their frustrations on Contador today, seeing his outspoken negative judgment of the Crotis descent as a contributing factor to the climb being cancelled from the stage. This was not really the case though.

It had to do with trying to eliminate what cold have created more controversy in a Giro already compromised by WW tragic death.

However, this should have been stated outright. Because, otherwise, the UCI's rational is merely pathetic. Not guaranteeing the team support necessary in modern cycling for the 37 k of the climb and descent? Well then Paris-Roubaix should have been eliminated 40 years ago, when they added the pavé.

On another note, Contador really disappointed me today in acting in a way indecorous of the nobleman’s status he has in the peleton. Aristocrats don't demonstrate their class by their racing feats alone (like on Mt. Etna), but also in managing the course in delicate moments like the finish of today's stage. In this Contador acted like a real peasant, or, if you like, as table wine is to a fine Brunello di Montalcino. Classless in the utmost. What a shame.

Had he decided to give Anton the stage, as he certainly did, and not give Nibali a pull now and then, then what was the point in attacking the Italian in the end being already 3 minutes ahead?

Indurain would have never comported himself this way.

 

[No_Balls]

I saw Anton winning on possibly the toughest cycling mountain in the world by a significant margin. Was I dreaming? Is this the beginning of the end of the world?

So what you say is that he finished second, had totally control of his closest rivals (and even dropped them thus expending his lead), he even dropped down to Nibali and attacked him again (which is why the booing) and that is a sure sign of having trouble?

 

[XlandaluzeX]

Really? I saw it as the public didn´t like his second attack against Nibali. Seemed too much as he humiliated him.

Anyhow were the crowd a disaster today.

well, 5 seconds gap its not like a humilliation to me

Contador probably was the strongest rider today, ok, but he was at a human level

 

[Climbing]

Yeah, maybe Contador was a bit tired by yesterday wind and cold, as he himself said yestarday.
But still in good control, not in difficulties.
And Nibali ride should really stop his detractors now (if he has any left).
Menchov too getting in shape... but of course it's too late.

 

[Publicus]

I saw Anton winning on possibly the toughest cycling mountain in the world by a significant margin. Was I dreaming? Is this the beginning of the end of the world?

I mean about AC. Anton was great. Anton also was a greater threat to Scarponi and Nibali's GC hopes. No need to burn up his matches chasing down Anton for their benefit. So I guess you can read that AC just wasn't Anton's equal today. I think that Anton wasn't a threat to AC and he didn't need to waste the energy.