Giro d'Italia 2011 Stage 20: Verbania - Sestriere 242km

[icefire]

I'm just wondering who of those within podium shot distance will try to go on the break in the flat and make Liquigas work.

 

[taiwan]

I think he will win stage 20 and 21.

It seems to come down to politics in this race. Bert wins whenever he chooses, possibly even chooses who wins.

 

[Escarabajo]

if it will rain and be cold again tomorrow,i can't see rujano at the front unfortunately.i've heard alberto wants to make the tifosi happy,he will cook the rivals on finestre and win the stage with huge advantage.

AC will probably want to pull a Basso 2006 in Aprica on this final mountain stage.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

if it will rain and be cold again tomorrow,i can't see rujano at the front unfortunately.i've heard alberto wants to make the tifosi happy,he will cook the rivals on finestre and win the stage with huge advantage.

One of the best things he could do to keep the tifosi happy is let the battle for 2nd take centre stage and not take all the mountains points thus giving Garzelli a good farewell.

Then again, Garzelli sprinted for mountains points at the end of one of the mountain stages in 2009 (mind tells me it was Blockhaus, since that's in Abruzzo) in front of di Luca's tifosi who saw di Luca fighting for bonus seconds that would be key in the Giro, and booed the hell out of Garzelli on the podium.

 

[El Pistolero]

One of the best things he could do to keep the tifosi happy is let the battle for 2nd take centre stage and not take all the mountains points thus giving Garzelli a good farewell.

Then again, Garzelli sprinted for mountains points at the end of one of the mountain stages in 2009 (mind tells me it was Blockhaus, since that's in Abruzzo) in front of di Luca's tifosi who saw di Luca fighting for bonus seconds that would be key in the Giro, and booed the hell out of Garzelli on the podium.

Why would he care? He already gave the tifosi something to cheer about today. Tomorrow he should finish Garzelli off. It's about time the KoM is won by real climbers again.

 

[Escarabajo]

Why would he care? He already gave the tifosi something to cheer about today. Tomorrow he should finish Garzelli off. It's about time the KoM is won by real climbers again.

If Garzelli is not in a very looooooong breakaway he is doomed.

 

[iZnoGouD]

can someone tell me how many points a rider gets in the GPM

 

[profff]

great intro hitch

i can just add that i have the privilege of having done finestre 3 times in competition ( the gran fondo KAPPA MARATHON) and at least other 6 times in training
i know this climb very well and it is wonderful.
when climbing the sterrato you start to see the forte on top of the colle and the beautiful scenary, with all the tifosi lined on top of the rocks like the redmen waiting for the usa cavalry,well, it is wonderful.

it is a very very demanding climb, where everybody will be on his own.
there is no rest section, you must keep your mind and eyes really awake, look where you put your front wheel on the sterrato if you want to go fast.
no rest , no relax down from meana up to the top.

at the contrary on the climb to sestriere you need help, and being together in a small group it is a great advantage.
having somebody working for you it is very helpful, staying the wheel of somebody helps you to recover, especially if there is headwind, like often happens in the afternoon.

savoldelli was able to save his 2005 giro win especially thanks to the help of ardila cano and van huffel, both at davitamon lotto at that time.
many discussion in italy about that story took place in italy , with the simoni tifosi blaming ardila and van huffel of taking bribes for that.
but that has always happened in cycling, no wonder.

at the opposite in the simoni group, di luca had cramps and ruyano went away solooing for the stage win...

scarponi was there, ill, struggling to finish the giro : he came in sestriere last, at 39min 25 sec from jose ruyano....

but tomorrow it is another day

tomorrow a champion, a true champion will win

and if the wheater will be good, i will be there, watching and trying to inspire true legendary cycling histories.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

can someone tell me how many points a rider gets in the GPM

You could look it up in the results, but here we go:

Cima Coppi: 21, 15, 9, 5, 3, 2, 1
1st cat: 15, 9, 5, 3, 2, 1
2nd cat: 9, 5, 3, 2, 1
3rd cat: 5, 3, 2, 1
4th cat: 3, 2, 1

Tomorrow, we have a cat.1 and a cat.2 climb.

Garzelli currently has 67 points to Contador's 56.

 

[Scirea]

if it will rain and be cold again tomorrow,i can't see rujano at the front unfortunately.i've heard alberto wants to make the tifosi happy,he will cook the rivals on finestre and win the stage with huge advantage.

Contador hammering the Italian boys would make the tifosi happy?

 

[taiwan]

You could look it up in the results, but here we go:

Cima Coppi: 21, 15, 9, 5, 3, 2, 1
1st cat: 15, 9, 5, 3, 2, 1
2nd cat: 9, 5, 3, 2, 1
3rd cat: 5, 3, 2, 1
4th cat: 3, 2, 1

Tomorrow, we have a cat.1 and a cat.2 climb.

Garzelli currently has 67 points to Contador's 56.

Garzelli will have a hard time keeping Bert out of the jersey. Either he needs to be in the first group over the Finestre, or he needs Contador not to be. Seems unlikely that an early break would stay away all the way up the Finestre.

 

[Scirea]

Garzelli will have a hard time keeping Bert out of the jersey. Either he needs to be in the first group over the Finestre, or he needs Contador not to be. Seems unlikely that an early break would stay away all the way up the Finestre.

I'm not sure it's really that unlikely. If the breakaway has means no danger to anybody, who would chase them?

 

[jobiwan]

I'm not sure it's really that unlikely. If the breakaway has means no danger to anybody, who would chase them?

They may not even have to chase them to catch them. With the effort already spent in the break, coupled with the pure monstrosity that is the Finestre, the top climbers could catch a break without even trying!

 

[taiwan]

I'm not sure it's really that unlikely. If the breakaway has means no danger to anybody, who would chase them?

Fair point. I think someone will want the stage win though, Rodriguez is still under pressure for one (he's the only one though, I think).

 

[Frosty]

Surely someone will fancy their chances of moving up the GC tomorrow (both time and bonus seconds) and send their domestiques to the front to set a high pace before the climb, therefore meaning the break doesnt get that far ahead?

 

[zigzag wanderer]

They may not even have to chase them to catch them. With the effort already spent in the break, coupled with the pure monstrosity that is the Finestre, the top climbers could catch a break without even trying!

Looks like Anton lost time on purpose so that he can go in the break. He should be able to stay away til the top - are there any other top climbers who will be allowed to go?

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope Contador doesn't let Anton go. Crush them

 

[Lanark]

I'm sure a couple of guys will think 'a, it's the last day anyway, no reason to spare my team, let them work'. And I hope that will happen as well, we need the favorites to ride for the win tomorrow, the Finestre deserves nothing less.

 

[maxmartin]

i think nibali will give all he has to try to win this stage

go nibali

 

[profff]

no rain tomorrow
great show tomorrow
i will go there

 

[The Hitch]

i can just add that i have the privilege of having done finestre 3 times in competition ( the gran fondo KAPPA MARATHON) and at least other 6 times in training
i know this climb very well and it is wonderful.
when climbing the sterrato you start to see the forte on top of the colle and the beautiful scenary, with all the tifosi lined on top of the rocks like the redmen waiting for the usa cavalry,well, it is wonderful.

it is a very very demanding climb, where everybody will be on his own.
there is no rest section, you must keep your mind and eyes really awake, look where you put your front wheel on the sterrato if you want to go fast.
no rest , no relax down from meana up to the top.

at the contrary on the climb to sestriere you need help, and being together in a small group it is a great advantage.
having somebody working for you it is very helpful, staying the wheel of somebody helps you to recover, especially if there is headwind, like often happens in the afternoon.

savoldelli was able to save his 2005 giro win especially thanks to the help of ardila cano and van huffel, both at davitamon lotto at that time.
many discussion in italy about that story took place in italy , with the simoni tifosi blaming ardila and van huffel of taking bribes for that.
but that has always happened in cycling, no wonder.

at the opposite in the simoni group, di luca had cramps and ruyano went away solooing for the stage win...

scarponi was there, ill, struggling to finish the giro : he came in sestriere last, at 39min 25 sec from jose ruyano....

but tomorrow it is another day

tomorrow a champion, a true champion will win

and if the wheater will be good, i will be there, watching and trying to inspire true legendary cycling histories.

Great story and insight there. I do wish the weather will be good but i dont have high hopes.

Why would he care? He already gave the tifosi something to cheer about today. Tomorrow he should finish Garzelli off. It's about time the KoM is won by real climbers again.

Garzelli came 3rd on mount Etna. He beat Igor Anton, Vincenzo Nibali, Michelle Scarponi, Joaquim Rodriguez etc etc.

I guess none of them are real climbers

 

[Scirea]

Looks like Anton lost time on purpose so that he can go in the break. He should be able to stay away til the top - are there any other top climbers who will be allowed to go?

To me Anton seems like somebody who is dead tired and already accomplished what he came for and now just want this to end.

 

[El Pistolero]

Great story and insight there. I do wish the weather will be good but i dont have high hopes.



Garzelli came 3rd on mount Etna. He beat Igor Anton, Vincenzo Nibali, Michelle Scarponi, Joaquim Rodriguez etc etc.

I guess none of them are real climbers

GTs last 3 weeks Hitch. Garzelli was a good climber. Was.

 

[Scirea]

They may not even have to chase them to catch them. With the effort already spent in the break, coupled with the pure monstrosity that is the Finestre, the top climbers could catch a break without even trying!

We will see. Here is what i want to see: Garzelli not getting into the break, Contador getting points at the top of both climbs and Garzelli fighting for the points that might be enough for him.

I want Contador to get the jersey but if Garzelli shows up and finishes second on both climbs after Contador, i can live with that. I just don't want him to win the jersey with a break.

 

[Scirea]

GTs last 3 weeks Hitch. Garzelli was a good climber. Was.

I'm not a fan of Garzelli by any means but he can still give it a go. No everyday to be a GT contender but if he can rest before a stage he can do pretty well.

Rested on Zoncolan, finish second in that carnage we call stage 15. Then rested on the off-day and finished 5th in the ITT.