Giro d'Italia 2015 stage 19: Gravellona Toce–Cervinia 236km

[ray j willings]

My, there is a lot of Bertie bashing going on. The way I see it. Bertie had a nice easy ride today following Landa. No need whatsoever to chase Aru and waste energy. All this talk about who's the best climber. Bertie has nothing to prove. He has beaten Armstrong, Schleck Chaos theory limbs [Froome] he's done it all. Its pretty desperate to compare Landa to Bertie right now just to score points. Look at the time gap. Bertie is cruising.

So bash away boys and girls but come the tour and if Bertie hits top form you will be shedding tears of inevitable disappointment has he wins it with ease.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

Regarding the mountains jersey, it's Landas fault this time ain't it!?

Making your point for the 30th time, must be annoying.

Never really spoke about Landa and that jersey before this afternoon.

 

[IamIronMan]

Re: Re:

Is this year's race an experiment or something with these MTF stages? They are putting the hard climbs first, then finishing on some lame big ring climb. I don't like it, IMO the stages should finish with a legit MTF, not these false flat climbs.

Weel, you have the Vuelta fot that.. all for you , I prefer Giro, when you can have a batle from far.

Today the second climb was very windym, but the stage was ok... maybe wind help in the flat stage, but today that second climb would have to make more pain.

The stage was ok, for a finish of Giro.

Topmorrow is perfect ok, who want to win, must do it in Finestre and keep in Sestrieres.

Maybe you are nwe in cycling, other way I cant understand your post

Sorry boss, I remember watching Lemond beat Fignon in '89 on the final day TT, that's what got me into cycling, so not new to cycling whatsoever. On the other hand, reading some of your "analysis" over the past few days makes me wonder about your cycling knowledge! Still waiting for Contador to lose his 5' lead in two stages as you said could happen...

You say you like the hard climbs first, but what did that give us today? Nothing. Push in the final 8-10K's of the stage. Mortirolo stage good, but only because Astand and Katowa with unsportsman like tactics and Contador forced to chase. If Contador in the group I bet no attacks happen until final climb again. Tomorrow I expect attacks on Finestre but at this point, there is no drama left since Contador will win barring accidents or bike problems.

I actually don't like watching Vuelta stages like Angrilu it's so slow, even for professionals, and it's just a matter of who is strongest over ridiculous gradients. I prefer nice 8-10% grades for good attacking but not so slow, and not false flats.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Astana trying to make sure that Contador never gets official stage win in Giro?? (Official record and myself don't count wins when caught and suspended for doping)

I don't think Contador gives a ****. He didn't win a stage in 2008 and it won't bother him that he didn't win a stage here. Stages are secondary. Winning a GT is the most important thing.

First: Contador gives a little bit of *** when it comes to winning stages. The interviews from his team talking about where to focus on his stage win, clearly demonstrate that.
Second: I'm not a Contador hater. I praised him yesterday and I've praised him in the past. My previous posts demonstrate that. All I dislike is the blind Contador fanboyism.

Contador has said himself, even just then after the stage that he doesn't care that he doesn't win a stage. His goal was to win the Giro. Stage wins are bonuses. Contador has said on more than one occasion that he doesn't care about winning stages. So you've just made yourself look like a bigger idiot than you already are.

I will not lower myself to the point of offending you. I have so much road to make upwards afterwards.

P.S. I have nothing against the users who posted those comments. Just wanted to make a point

 

[rhubroma]

Some pretty ignorant comments here about Contador's game. He simply marked Landa and second overall, the strongest climber on Astana, having no reason to get into a one-two fight with the two of them, given that Aru was over 6 minutes down on himself. Aru was simply of no concern.

As has been the case in the past, Aru's wins come from seizing the day (in fact the Sardinian's self-proclaimed moto is "carpe diem"). As at the Vuelta last year he was far enough back that Contdor gave him a leash and, like then, he seized the momment. Chapeau, but that's not going to be the case tomorrow, so let's not confuse things. He was dropped significantly over the last couple of mountain stages and since Contador wasn't going to let Landa go away, Fabio had his day.

 

[Jalgratas95]

Re:

Some pretty ignorant comments here about Contador's game. He simply marked Landa, the strongest climber on Astana, having no reason to get into a one-two fight with the two of them, given that Aru was over 6 minutes down on himself.

As has been the case in the past, Aru's wins come from seizing the day (in fact the Sardinian's self-proclaimed moto is "carpe diem"). As at the Vuelta last year he was far enough back that Contdor gave him a leash and, like then, he seized the momment. Chapeau, but that's not going to be the case tomorrow, so let's not confuse things. He was dropped significantly over the last couple of mountain stages and since Contador wasn't going to let Landa go away, Fabio had his day.

And last 4 kilometers didn't even look like a climb but more like a slightly uphill flat. Contador probably wants steeper gradient to attack.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Some pretty ignorant comments here about Contador's game. He simply marked Landa and second overall, the strongest climber on Astana, having no reason to get into a one-two fight with the two of them, given that Aru was over 6 minutes down on himself. Aru was simply of no concern.

As has been the case in the past, Aru's wins come from seizing the day (in fact the Sardinian's self-proclaimed moto is "carpe diem"). As at the Vuelta last year he was far enough back that Contdor gave him a leash and, like then, he seized the momment. Chapeau, but that's not going to be the case tomorrow, so let's not confuse things. He was dropped significantly over the last couple of mountain stages and since Contador wasn't going to let Landa go away, Fabio had his day.

Finally, a voice of reason.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Astana trying to make sure that Contador never gets official stage win in Giro?? (Official record and myself don't count wins when caught and suspended for doping)

I don't think Contador gives a ****. He didn't win a stage in 2008 and it won't bother him that he didn't win a stage here. Stages are secondary. Winning a GT is the most important thing.

First: Contador gives a little bit of *** when it comes to winning stages. The interviews from his team talking about where to focus on his stage win, clearly demonstrate that.
Second: I'm not a Contador hater. I praised him yesterday and I've praised him in the past. My previous posts demonstrate that. All I dislike is the blind Contador fanboyism(the second part is not addressed to you. The people who this is addressed to know who they are. And i couldn't care less about responding to them)

Then you would know that he's more focused on tomorrow, where the climb is must steeper. 'Blind fanboyism' is equal to rational thinking then, I guess

Good. At least we're on the page that he gives a **** about a stage win.
He might be more focused tomorrow but he almost always exploits the opportunities of today (That's why I cheer for him sometimes). Plus putting all the focus for a stage win into the last stage is not Contador-ish at all.
Anyway I hope he goes for it tomorrow. Astana may ride defensively so let's hope he lights up the action in that stage.

 

[Stilletto]

Quick question for the more die hard people with love for the stats and history?
What the largest team classifications win in the giro ? Or even tour ????
Astana has won with atleast 30 minutes if not more after tomorrow...
Cheers

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

Some pretty ignorant comments here about Contador's game. He simply marked Landa and second overall, the strongest climber on Astana, having no reason to get into a one-two fight with the two of them, given that Aru was over 6 minutes down on himself. Aru was simply of no concern.

As has been the case in the past, Aru's wins come from seizing the day (in fact the Sardinian's self-proclaimed moto is "carpe diem"). As at the Vuelta last year he was far enough back that Contdor gave him a leash and, like then, he seized the momment. Chapeau, but that's not going to be the case tomorrow, so let's not confuse things. He was dropped significantly over the last couple of mountain stages and since Contador wasn't going to let Landa go away, Fabio had his day.

Finally, a voice of reason.

If Contador wins this, he will have won the whole thing practically on his own (not to bash his team, but they were abscent far too often in the big mountains). Even without a stage win tomorrow, Contador gave the race three demonstrations of his superior class: 1) the TT when he destroyed Aru and, above all, Landa; 2) on the Mortirolo he was a "sacred monster"; 3) yesterday dropping everyone in three pedal strokes.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Quick question for the more die hard people with love for the stats and history?
What the largest team classifications win in the giro ? Or even tour ????
Astana has won with atleast 30 minutes if not more after tomorrow...
Cheers

Giro 2008 the winning margin was 43 minutes.. haven't looked further back
Tour 1997 was 31 minutes... again haven't looked further back

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Could you guys please stop quoting Taxus sockpuppet Ataraxus. I loses braincells every time i see his texts.

You have only spotted one of his sockpuppets?

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

Regarding the mountains jersey, it's Landas fault this time ain't it!?

Making your point for the 30th time, must be annoying.

Never really spoke about Landa and that jersey before this afternoon.

Amazing you did it all in such a short time

 

[ggusta]

The granite heads in these threads are like, wtf .....

Are giant steel anvils falling out of the sky like hail stones on some people's heads? You see one moronic post and, just when you think we've hit rock bottom, someone else pulls out a shovel and begins to dig....

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

Regarding the mountains jersey, it's Landas fault this time ain't it!?

Making your point for the 30th time, must be annoying.

Never really spoke about Landa and that jersey before this afternoon.

Amazing you did it all in such a short time

You were funny there.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

Regarding the mountains jersey, it's Landas fault this time ain't it!?

Making your point for the 30th time, must be annoying.

Never really spoke about Landa and that jersey before this afternoon.

Amazing you did it all in such a short time

You were funny there.

Don't worry, pals. I'm gonna drop it!

 

[huge]

A brief summary of the thread:

Astana wins the stage with Aru... and Contador's fanboy, quoting: "Big fail from Astana today"

ROFL!!!!!

 

[huge]

Anyway... as Contador doesn't give a *** about winning a stage (I suppose always when the winner is someone else LOL ) I'm pretty confident that tomorrow we will see him attacking on Colle delle Finestre. Last chance, all out effort to stamp his mark on this Giro. He won't wait. He'll attack first! No doubts that he wants a stage win.

 

[Jalgratas95]

Landa isn't as strong as people here think. Landa made 200 meter (km left 8.3-8.1) attempt on 7% gradient to get rid of Contador but Contador wasn't even half a meters away from him. Probably Landa thought that others were going to respond to Aru's attack but they never did so I think today didn't went as Landa planned.

Contador will tomorrow take the stage win.

 

[PhiberAwptik]

Re:

A brief summary of the thread:

Astana wins the stage with Aru... and Contador's fanboy, quoting: "Big fail from Astana today"

ROFL!!!!!

A brief summary of these threads over the last 3 weeks. Saxo-Tinkoff is so weak and Landa is a better climber than Contador......Who is winning the race.

 

[Bronstein]

... because there was a long time trial.

 

[infeXio]

Re:

... because there was a long time trial.

Is time-trialling not a part of the race? Oh, I thought so - my bad.

 

[ggusta]

Re:

... because there was a long time trial.

As I said earlier, just when it seems like we have hit rock bottom, someone pulls out a shovel and begins to dig.

I am not sure how many GT's there are with no TT's, since I have been watching I can recall none, but perhaps I am wrong. Maybe if there were no mountains a sprinter would win? If you are there to win, you ought to be prepared for all of the events, not just the ones you like.

Contador lost the maglia rosa for one day prior to the TT due to a crash.

Here are the standings after the TT
General Classification after Stage 14
ESP 1 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF - SAXO) 55:39:00
ITA 2 ARU, Fabio (ASTANA) + 2:28
CRC 3 AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA, Andrey (MOVISTAR) + 3:36
COL 4 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (ETIXX - QUICK STEP) + 4:14
BEL 5 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (LOTTO SOUDAL) + 4:17
ITA 6 CATALDO, Dario (ASTANA) + 4:50
ESP 7 LANDA MEANA, Mikel (ASTANA) + 4:55
ITA 8 CARUSO, Damiano (BMC RACING) + 4:56
CZE 9 KREUZIGER, Roman (TINKOFF - SAXO) + 4:57
CZE 10 KONIG, Leopold (SKY) + 5:35

Here are the standings after today
General Classification after Stage 19
ESP 1 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF - SAXO) 78:48:40
ITA 2 ARU, Fabio (ASTANA) + 4:37
ESP 3 LANDA MEANA, Mikel (ASTANA) + 5:15
CRC 4 AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA, Andrey (MOVISTAR) + 8:10
CZE 5 KONIG, Leopold (SKY) + 10:47
RUS 6 TROFIMOV, Yury (KATUSHA) + 11:11
CAN 7 HESJEDAL, Ryder (CANNONDALE - GARMIN) + 12:05
ITA 8 CARUSO, Damiano (BMC RACING) + 12:14
NED 9 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven (LOTTO NL - JUMBO) + 12:53
FRA 10 GENIEZ, Alexandre (FDJ) + 15:07

Looking at that, it appears that Landa had the 2nd best week of everyone except AC, as he only lost 20 more seconds AFTER THE TT, Aru lost 2m, AFTER THE TT. Keep spinning, it's funny.

The object of the race is to complete it in the least amount of time. You don't throw out the stages you did badly on. This isn't fugure skating or gymnastics. It seems to elude some people. (Actually, it may only be one person with like 10 user names who is trying to appear less ignorant by spreading the manure across various names, whatever the case, the winner gets the trophy. To add to a bunch of others on his mantle.)

 

[Bronstein]

Re: Re:

... because there was a long time trial.

Is time-trialling not a part of the race? Oh, I thought so - my bad.

Did I say otherwise?

 

[damian13ster]

Re: Re:

... because there was a long time trial.

Is time-trialling not a part of the race? Oh, I thought so - my bad.

It is. It is also a reason that paradox from that response does take place