Giro d'Italia 2011 Stage 21: Milano ITT

[Moondance]

Current times at the first check:

1 THR - RASMUSSEN Alex (DEN) 10'26"
2 RAB - VAN EMDEN Jos (NED) 16"
3 RAB - FLENS Rick (NED) 21"
4 SBS - MORKOV Michael (DEN) 27"
5 AST - GOUROV Maxim (KAZ) 46"
6 FAR - FAVILLI Elia (ITA) 50"
7 BMC - BEYER Chad (USA) 1'18"
8 SBS - KLOSTERGAARD Kasper (DEN) 1'18"

 

[Moondance]

Jos van Emden clocks 31'15"at finish.

My rough, un-calculated estimate puts that at 47 km/h av. Which is pretty high for a technical course and the first time..

EDIT: Rasmussen obliterates with 30'20". That could very easily be a Top-5 time. I can't imagine that one can ride a whole lot faster than that.

 

[Magnus]

Current times at the first check:

1 THR - RASMUSSEN Alex (DEN) 10'26"
2 RAB - VAN EMDEN Jos (NED) 16"
3 RAB - FLENS Rick (NED) 21"
4 SBS - MORKOV Michael (DEN) 27"
5 AST - GOUROV Maxim (KAZ) 46"
6 FAR - FAVILLI Elia (ITA) 50"
7 BMC - BEYER Chad (USA) 1'18"
8 SBS - KLOSTERGAARD Kasper (DEN) 1'18"

Go Alex!!!

 

[cineteq]

I think Contador will do what he has to to stay in Pink and nothing more. He needs to start his recovery for the Td'F in the event he gets to ride. This has been a brutal Giro even though you wouldn't know it looking at Contador. Still it has to have taken a toll.

Agree 100%. No need to try to win the stage...just try to match Nibali's time will be fine. And besides, now that he's sure to compete in TdF, the team, he would want recovery time.

 

[Granville57]

Contador's not gonna take any risks, and I quote:

Contador revealed he was not interested in winning the final time trial stage to Milan, preferring caution and celebration with his girlfriend Macarena and friends to another stage victory.

"I'll ride the time trial without taking any risks so that I can enjoy my success," he said. “I’m not going to be taking any risks on the corners or go flat out. We're going to start celebrating tonight with my family and friends."
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-ready-to-celebrate-giro-victory-in-milan

If I hadn't read this I would've figured Contador for the win because:
1) He's the ultimate competitor.
2) He's probably the most recovered/rested of the likely contenders.
3) I thought he would want to end this race as definitively as possible given his uncertain future.

But for him to make those statements, and then still go for the win, would be looked poorly upon. Going last, he'll obviously be able to temper his ride based on all the previous time splits.

Millar is motivated and has stated it as his goal. I expect to see him in the top three at least. As for specific predictions: I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the final day. Just like AC.

 

[Moondance]

http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/6/20/v-262001.html

Italian stream is live, with the race.

 

[Kodiak]

since there won't be any fireworks save Scarponi and Nibali doing something insane there really isn't any point in the GC coverage. Going to spend the day with some local pros on the coast of Maine. Have fun all.

 

[cineteq]

just hoping that Scarponi holds Nibali off for second.

Actually hoping for the opposite. Nibali will get 2nd place.

 

[Ferminal]

Last time to watch the 30s loop of 2010 highlights...

 

[Granville57]

http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/6/20/v-262001.html

Italian stream is live, with the race.

Is this a delayed feed?

 

[Moondance]

Cam Meyer should be finishing soon. Another barometer of just exactly how good Rasmussen's time was.

Meyer was only 6' down at first check.

 

[Ferminal]

Gretsch 1'01" down

 

[Moondance]

Is this a delayed feed?

Showing the first few minutes which weren't shown live right now.

Its the only thing that's up at the moment though, so I guess we have to make our peace with it.

 

[luckyboy]

Yeay Eurosport Player live pictures

I thought the last 150 metres were going to be on red, white and green carpet?

 

[Ferminal]

Great, show Millar then cut away to Vincenzo just as Meyer was due to cross.

57" down.

 

[Moondance]

Meyer 3rd, 57' down.

Rasmussen's time is indeed very, very, good.

 

[Granville57]

Early start for Millar!

 

[Moondance]

Early start for Millar!

You mean he left before the previously posted time?

Its probably because a few guys low in the GC DNSed.

 

[luckyboy]

You know they're going in reverse GC order right?

Cmon Konovalovas

edit: Why would somebody DNS on the final day?

 

[Moondance]

You know they're going in reverse GC order right?

Cmon Konovalovas

edit: Why would somebody DNS on the final day?

I think I misunderstood his comment. I thought he meant Millar left before his announced time, and that could only be because guys dropped out.

 

[Moondance]

Stef Clement 28' down at first check... So much for his chances.

 

[Granville57]

You know they're going in reverse GC order right?

Of course!

I must've misread something earlier...or miscalculated the time-zone difference.

 

[luckyboy]

Ah right. I thought he expected Millar to be higher on GC.

Would be pretty depressing for someone to give up today

 

[Moondance]

Millar approaching the 1st check.

 

[Ferminal]

Millar 5" ahead, all the others lost big time to Rasmussen in the 2nd half though, so maybe Millar can't beat it (although we would expect him to do so...).