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

[c&cfan]

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?

maybe if you saw rujano beating contador yesterday and also if he saw that contador was weak because he didn't won a sprint some stages ago.

BTW, did you even saw contador at the finish?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Contador rode well within himself until the top - that is clear. But so did Anton - he only put the hammer down inside the last couple of kms

For my money, even if Contador had tried to stay with him and managed to I don't think he could have won the stage. Anton is a bit punchier in a finish

 

[c&cfan]

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

sorry? some tipos there...

 

[Arnout]

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?

I think the booing was because of the Crostis, but that's me. He didn't get a huge gap on Nibali and couldn't consolidate his attack either. That tells me that he wasn't able to go much faster. It may have been possible for him to follow Anton initially, but then he would have had major troubles later in the race.

 

[No_Balls]

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.

He wouldn´t.

But it must have happened something that we didn´t saw. I think Nibali must have said something or he was just ****ed on the spectators.

 

[No_Balls]

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

The time has nothing to do with it. It is the sign of toying with a rider who most likely drove on his red.

 

[killswitch]

IMO Anton was better than AC today and would have won the stage even if Conta had bridged again.

 

[Ildabaoth]

This should put an end to the Rujane nonsense

The nonsense of having at least one guy managing to stay with Contador in the mountains (Contador wasn't even trying today). And had not he crashed/had a mechanical in an earlier stage, he would be high in the GC even after today's results.

 

[c&cfan]

He wouldn´t.

But it must have happened something that we didn´t saw. I think Nibali must have said something or he was just ****ed on the spectators.

after the last attack, contador ended the stage even without "heavily" breathing, glasses on, cool and fresh look.

i am maybe his biggest fan, but this reminded me about hautacam 96 and Mr armstrong. and that's something "bad", still, he "has" to be doing this clean.

the strongest possibility is, in my opinion, that he is already thinking about le tour. what do you guys think?

the fact is, even with this kind of mentality, the difference between the second guy in the GC is always growing and growing... so it is understandable that he is saving himself to be good to go for le tour.

p.s- 3 jerseys.

 

[Arnout]

after the last attack, contador ended the stage even without "heavily" breathing, glasses on, cool and fresh look.

i am maybe his biggest fan, but this reminded me about hautacam 96 and Mr armstrong. and that's something "bad", still, he "has" to be doing this clean.

the strongest possibility is, in my opinion, that he is already thinking about le tour. what do you guys think?

If that was the case, there would be two options.

A. He doesn't attack because he doesn't care about a few seconds anyway, probably only will attack much later for bonus seconds.

B. He would have attacked and gained a much bigger margin.

These mere four seconds in 1100 meters tell you that he couldn't go any faster. Remember he stopped pedaling before the line, that's usually a sign of a rider who is very tired.

 

[Ildabaoth]

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.

Granted, Induraín was a gentleman. But then again, he would have been already at least 5 minutes ahead in the GC over the guy going with him (and would take over 3 minutes in each +60km TT).

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

The nonsense of having at least one guy managing to stay with Contador in the mountains (Contador wasn't even trying today). And had not he crashed/had a mechanical in an earlier stage, he would be high in the GC even after today's results.

How on earth can you know that? Because he didn't rocket away today? Maybe he just couldn't do that because the climb was so tough? Why would he just let Anton go if he could easily stay with him. Gifting stages can be easily done in the last 50m.

Oh about the way Contador looked at the end:
usually the visual impression you get from a sportsmen doesn't tell you that much. Some guy's always look as if they were doing well. Löfkvist for example.

 

[No_Balls]

after the last attack, contador ended the stage even without "heavily" breathing, glasses on, cool and fresh look.

Agree. One most be very ignorant if you didn´t saw that it is pretty much left in that machine.

i am maybe his biggest fan, but this reminded me about hautacam 96 and Mr armstrong. and that's something "bad", still, he "has" to be doing this clean.

Armstrong abandoned in -96. You surely mean Riis? There is no chance in hell (no one can be that stupid) driving unclean being under scrutiny as Contador.

the strongest possibility is, in my opinion, that he is already thinking about le tour. what do you guys think?

It is always hard to judge what is tactical racing and how much he thinks about upcoming races and stages. Clearly he didn´t gave it all but rather drived in a controlled manner. If he has Le Tour in his mind he can´t go bananas all the way.

 

[spalco]

I think Anton probably was the best today, seeing as Contador at first tried to follow him and then either decided he can't or just that it's not worth it. Maybe he hoped Anton would blow up and he would catch him anyway sometime during the climb. But I'm also confused by how fresh Contador still looked in the end, and he barely stood up on the pedals during the climb. I think he expended not even close to 100% of his energy today.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Why should Contador gift anything to Nibali? They are both in their respective positions because of the prior stages. Contador earned the right to cover Nibali and attack him when needed. Why should he not strike a psychological blow when he can?

I applaud Contador today. He did exactly what he had to do and nothing more.

 

[Kwibus]

I think the booing was because of the Crostis, but that's me. He didn't get a huge gap on Nibali and couldn't consolidate his attack either. That tells me that he wasn't able to go much faster. It may have been possible for him to follow Anton initially, but then he would have had major troubles later in the race.

I agree with you. AC wasn't far above the others today.
I do think he let Anton go and forced Scarponi to close the gap, but he wasn't that strong today. His face was turned 15-25% to the left a few times with a face that showed he was suffering imo.

Once Nibali reached Contador he seemed to get better again imo. (Contador that is), but when Contador went with a little more then 1k to go he dropped Nibali and still Nibali managed to return so AC most certainly didn't have that much left else he would've opened a huge gap with ease.

Anton is the deserved winner of today.

 

[saganftw]

AC couldnt follow anton,because if u can go with someone u just go,u dont follow the next best guy if u can stay with the best guy

AC could just follow anton to the top just like he did yesterday,maybe share some work and give victory to anton or even win himself...he didnt,i dont see reason to stay with scarponi/nibali if u can stay with anton,why would u want to loose 30 seconds if u can stay with anton with same amount of work (sitting on the wheel) ? doesnt make sense to me

anyway even on bad day contador is still top5 climber in the world

 

[roundabout]

Way to go Contador. Race like it's a random hill somwhere in Italy instead of a mythical mountain that he was supposed to conquer according to the fanboys.

 

[KassyC]

I am pleasantly surprised by Matteo Carrara... seems to have gone unmentioned, but would he be expected to be going this well normally... not really heard anything about him

 

[rhubroma]

Granted, Induraín was a gentleman. But then again, he would have been already at least 5 minutes ahead in the GC over the guy going with him (and would take over 3 minutes in each +60km TT).

That still doesn't justify sitting on the guy's wheel for 3k to let a friend win and then attacking him in the last K.

He should have pulled a bit (even a fake couple of pulls would have done), to then be free to not seem like a classless rider who benifits off the work of a direct rival. It doesn't show much respect for a colleague who worked his a$$ off and was "thanked" for it in this way.

There are dignified ways of doing business and undignifed ways. Contador erred on the latter today.

 

[c&cfan]

If that was the case, there would be two options.

A. He doesn't attack because he doesn't care about a few seconds anyway, probably only will attack much later for bonus seconds.

B. He would have attacked and gained a much bigger margin.

These mere four seconds in 1100 meters tell you that he couldn't go any faster. Remember he stopped pedaling before the line, that's usually a sign of a rider who is very tired.

you could be right. but, when he suffers, he can't hide it on his face (see tourmalet) and the difference between him and everyone else was just huge in the last days (not big, huge!).

to me, what I saw, is that he understood that it was too late for catching anton when he attacked, so he stopped, but when he saw nibali on the red zone, he went again, without any sign of trouble. before attacking, probably he told nibali that gaining time on scarponi and catch anton was not his (contador's) problem, so he let nibali with zero left for the final meters and maybe, tomorrow's stage, and, before that, he said the same to scarponi. still gaining time on him, scarponi and the others. now anton is "the" problem, so he better enjoy this win.

the way he ended, in the "zoncolan", that was "i'm the boss no matter what happens and, i will be there andy. just wait."

 

[meandmygitane]

Contador looked a bit uneasy in the middle of the climb, lopsided head and occasionaly a grin of pain.

That said, he has obviously tremendous power of recovery and looked much better at the finish.

Really, disappointed that Crostis got taken out... who knows what would have happened if Igor Anton had a opened that 30s gap before Monte Zoncolan?
Maybe Contador would have won? Or maybe a new man in the pink jersey.

We'll never know. Zomegnan for UCI-president!

 

[rhubroma]

Why should Contador gift anything to Nibali? They are both in their respective positions because of the prior stages. Contador earned the right to cover Nibali and attack him when needed. Why should he not strike a psychological blow when he can?

I applaud Contador today. He did exactly what he had to do and nothing more.

He didn't need to give anything to Nibali, however, he didn't need to take anything either in this situation, given everything Nibali gave out without even one pull in return. Classless.

Especially because he, at the same time, gave something to Anton, who is now as a result within seconds of Nibali.

 

[c&cfan]

Agree. One most be very ignorant if you didn´t saw that it is pretty much left in that machine.



Armstrong abandoned in -96. You surely mean Riis? There is no chance in hell (no one can be that stupid) driving unclean being under scrutiny as Contador.



It is always hard to judge what is tactical racing and how much he thinks about upcoming races and stages. Clearly he didn´t gave it all but rather drived in a controlled manner. If he has Le Tour in his mind he can´t go bananas all the way.

sorry, i was talking about riis in 96 and armstrong when he was the "boss". this looked like those moments.. and yes i believe that he is clean, but after that climb, right after the attack, he looked like if he was hanging in the peloton!!!!! how's that possible? conti, if you ride the tour, please make history!!!! and, if you win it, don't be stupid and give vuelta a go!!! if you lose the tour, it's understandable and please go and rest to the grand slam next year

 

[Sophistic]

andy schleck 07 39:12 conti 11 41:20