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

[Ryaguas]

Nice intro Hitch... but as The Swordman I too think that the CAS comment was unnecessary...

Mah... Back to the business!

RAI showed today a recon that Casani and Il Falco did to La Finestre... There is still snow there! and the roads are not that good... I see a very difficult stage for Rujano... Today He struggled with the rain and cold and tomorrow will be the same I think...

I can see a big attack from Michele... He needs more time towards the final TT and He needs to take his win in this Giro... The same for Lo Squalo... He needs his stage win and needs to close that gap between him and Michele...
TeamGadret will attack tomorrow, He needs more time cuz He will lose DAYS in the final TT...
Also Alberto could take this stage if He is on the mood
But nah... I think that He will be really careful cuz tomorrow...
Rujano even if the day is not good for him He will try something... today He was devastated with those 2min lost...

Tomorrow will be a fun stage!

 

[The Hitch]

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

So Anton is therefore not a good climber?

 

[El Pistolero]

So Anton is therefore not a good climber?

Anton lost a lot of time for reasons I don't know. Perhaps he's just no GT climber, who knows. Perhaps he's sick, not well prepared or perhaps he crashed.

Point is Garzelli is not good enough to be worthy of a kom in a Giro like this. Won most of his points in a single stage because of the stupid system at this Giro for the jersey. Tour has better rules for the KoM.

 

[The Hitch]

Anton lost a lot of time for reasons I don't know. Perhaps he's just no GT climber, who knows. Perhaps he's sick, not well prepared or perhaps he crashed.

No i asked if he was a "good climber".

Because you said that Garzelli is no longer a good climber. Your reasoning for this is that he has not finished high up in the GC.

But Anton has also not finished high up on gc in a while.

Therefore he can not be a "good climber". Or as you said earlier a "real climber".

 

[Parrulo]

i can't wait for tomorrow afternoon!!!!

i will go with nibali for some reason i have a feeling that he will do great tomorrow

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think Nibali needs a win badly. I don't think Contador would challenge him for it if the two of them came together to the line.

That said, Scarponi knows he has to be on Nibali like fat on Cavendish. I don't think Scarponi is confident enough to attack on the Finestre though, given the descent. I would expect an attack on the Sestriere.

 

[jobiwan]

I'm gonna go with Contador on this one. He knows he's got this pretty much wrapped up. I think he'll follow Nibali or Scarponi (whoever attacks first) then blow them away 2 km from the line for his third awesome stage win.

But if Rujano or Garzelli wants to go berserk and solo to victory, that's fine by me too!

 

[meandmygitane]

Nibali will break away from a select group on the descent after Colle delle Finestre, Contador second +20s, Scarponi +1:00

 

[auscyclefan94]

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

Why would he let Anton go anyway?

 

[Scirea]

Why would he let Anton go anyway?

1. Why would he care about Anton?

2. What's all this talk about Anton? The guy is dead tired, he didn't train for the Giro to be a contender. He wanted to get a stage, he got the Zoncolan. Now he would like to get out of Italy asap and go on a short holiday.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Once again, great intro Hitch! And what a great stage to (almost) finish off the Giro.

Unfortunately a lot of the excitement is lost when we know who's gonna win the stage, but it will be a beautiful scenery none the less.

 

[auscyclefan94]

1. Why would he care about Anton?

2. What's all this talk about Anton? The guy is dead tired, he didn't train for the Giro to be a contender. He wanted to get a stage, he got the Zoncolan. Now he would like to get out of Italy asap and go on a short holiday.

well if he's dead then tschopp may move up to 18th on GC!

There are some interesting battles a little further down the GC

16 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Pro Team Astana 0:29:35
17 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:30:17
18 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:30:41
19 Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:30:43

6 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:10:08
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:10:20
8 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:10:43
9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC 0:10:51
10 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:11:50

and obviously

2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:05:18
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:05:52

 

[Frosty]

There are some interesting battles a little further down the GC



6 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:10:08
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:10:20
8 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:10:43
9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC 0:10:51
10 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:11:50

Yeah its close between that lot with Siutsou also in the mix at 9.58.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

6 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:10:08
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:10:20
8 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:10:43
9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC 0:10:51
10 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:11:50

I think these five will end up in this order:

Kreuziger
Menchov
Rujano
Rodriguez
Nieve

 

[HL2037]

no rain tomorrow
great show tomorrow
i will go there

Thanks for your description of the mountains - now I feel almost like I have seen it myself!
I so wish that I lived close enough that I could be there today, but instead I will follow on TV. Please can you give an extra shoutout to the riders from me

 

[lancaster]

hitch is performing like the contador of this forum.
owning all of the hardest stages of the 2011 giro.

 

[LukeSchmid]

I think these five will end up in this order:

Kreuziger
Menchov
Rujano
Rodriguez
Nieve

I think Menchov will finish ahead of Krueziger. Should be able to take time from TT and I think Kreuziger might struggle up the climbs today.

 

[Sasquatch]

If the break gets away early they will have 12+ minutes up their sleeve at the climb. If there is someone strong enough they will do a solo attack to the end IMO.

 

[Sørensen]

Hitch, you ought to be a live commentator. I wish Eurosport would call you. It's cycling poetry you are giving us, you remind me of a young Jørgen Leth.

Wrt the stage: Does anybody know about the flat part in the beginning - are there any chances of the peloton breaking in crosswind?

That's an overstatement if i ever saw one. He's not even fit to lace Jørgens shoes...

 

[HL2037]

That's an overstatement if i ever saw one. He's not even fit to lace Jørgens shoes...

Neither is Jørgen these days...

And you are not really qualified to decide who the Hitch reminds me of.

 

[Sørensen]

Neither is Jørgen these days...

And you are not really qualified to decide who the Hitch reminds me of.

Wrong two times in this thread already. Not on a roll today are we?

 

[python]

i cant see rujano being able to provide torque to his rear wheel after asphalt ends

epic stage, too bad i will have to watch a replay...

 

[HL2037]

@ Sørensen:

I stated that Hitch reminded me of Leth. You said that that was an overstatement. How do you know? Are you saying that Hitch does not remind me of Leth?

I have only stated my opinion, you might have another opinion, why don't you express your own opinion instead of trying to pick a fight? I don't know why you are being so rude?

 

[Lupetto]

Potential men for the Break:

LeMevel, Garzelli and his team Greagario Sarmiento, Anton, Androni riders insert here, Radio Shack (Machado anyone), Sastre again, ...

Going into a breakaway for about 200km flat, will destroy you for the mountains. But it is the only way for Garzelli to win maglia verde. He needs to enter Finestre minutes ahead of Contador. I hope that Rujano is back on track today and can stay with Contador like two times before. He is looking confident in the stage preview.

Somehow I'm expecting Nibali or Scarponi to crack today and Gadret going for a podium spot, just a feeling.

 

[luckyboy]

I hope Scarponi cracks.