Giro d'Italia 2017 STAGE 20: Pordenone – Asiago 190 km

[Carols]

Movi, Bahrain and FDJ to take it to BM Tom and try to Break him in two before the TT. He is tiring .

Bahrain needs guys up front so Nibali can go on the Grappa downhill, there is 12KM of flat before the final climb starts.

Whatever happens it'll be a nail biter!!!

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't want to predict anything!

My get feeling tells me Dumo was not having a isolated under par day, but is getting tired. I also do think Landa will win, I cant see anyone capable of beating him if he plays it right - maybe Pinot?

Will be an incredible intense day with so many opportunities.

 

[capuldemetal]

the big question is..who still has legs and smth in the tank?

 

[seldon71]

I don't get why everybody if following the time differences in the 1st TT as a "holy book" for Stage 21. Pinot had a bad day then, but he is getting his legs back lately. Expect him to prove on last day that he doesn't wear National TT jersey for nothing...

 

[DFA123]

Is this the last chance for the pro conti teams to do something noteworthy in the race? They've all been very disappointing so far - only five top 10s between the four teams all Giro so far. All of them look a clear level beneath the likes of Caja Rural, Cofidis and Direct Energie.

CCC probably the best of them so far, thanks to Hirt, who has looked strong these last few days. But surely pro conti teams don't get invited to GTs on the assumption that they will use all of their resources to nurse a rider into the top 15.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think thats harsh on CCC, they haven't exactly nursed Hirt. Their selection is 100% justified based on what Hirt has done in the last week. Gazprom, on the other hand, completely gone. Where is Androni?

Schinto can't be happy either and don't get me started on Bardiani, what a travesty.

But yeah, basically one rider from those team have anything to be proud of.

 

[staubsauger]

Gazprom might still win the intergiro classification with Brutt!

Hirt fully justifies CCC's wildcard imho and they should get another one if the Giro really starts in Poland next year.

Wilier Triestina & Bardiani have been pretty useless expect Mareczko. The question is: Would Bernal really have done much better on gc than Hirt!?

 

[Anderis]

Let the overall winner be anyone but Quintana or Nibali, please. If Dumoulin can't do well tomorrow, I hope that Pinot or Zakarin will manage to gain enough time in the following 2 days.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

If Dumoulin has a good day again, I believe he still has this.

I think that today was not a bad day, but fading. He will bleed...

 

[DFA123]

Re:

I think thats harsh on CCC, they haven't exactly nursed Hirt. Their selection is 100% justified based on what Hirt has done in the last week. Gazprom, on the other hand, completely gone. Where is Androni?

Schinto can't be happy either and don't get me started on Bardiani, what a travesty.

But yeah, basically one rider from those team have anything to be proud of.

Fair point about Hirt. It's just you expect pro-conti teams to be entertaining. To be at the sharp end of breaks every day. Hirt is doing a great personal ride, but I'm not sure a rider unspectacularly battling for position with Polanc, Cataldo and Monfort is what the organisers had in mind when inviting the pro conti teams.

Yeah, it's crazy Androni weren't invitied. Probably don't have the same influence behind the scenes as Gazprom and CCC. I reckon Bernal would have had a decent chance of a stage win here, or at least a few top 5s.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Gazprom might still win the intergiro classification with Brutt!

Hirt fully justifies CCC's wildcard imho and they should get another one if the Giro really starts in Poland next year.

Wilier Triestina & Bardiani have been pretty useless expect Mareczko. The question is: Would Bernal really have done much better on gc than Hirt!?

Not at all, Bernal wouldn't have been good at all this Giro I think considering his age and how many races he has in his legs at this point. Might be a blessing in disguise. But who knows...

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

But yeah, basically one rider from those team have anything to be proud of.

I think Schlegel is decent too, given he's 21 years old.

 

[Velolover2]

Zakarin and Pinot are dangerous for Nibali and Quintana now.

They can't just let them go.

And Quintana still needs at least a minute on Dumo.

 

[sucotash]

Re:

With CCC wait until the TT. One guy is riding three weeks for that only one day. Bialoblocki can win it.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

I think thats harsh on CCC, they haven't exactly nursed Hirt. Their selection is 100% justified based on what Hirt has done in the last week. Gazprom, on the other hand, completely gone. Where is Androni?

Schinto can't be happy either and don't get me started on Bardiani, what a travesty.

But yeah, basically one rider from those team have anything to be proud of.

Fair point about Hirt. It's just you expect pro-conti teams to be entertaining. To be at the sharp end of breaks every day. Hirt is doing a great personal ride, but I'm not sure a rider unspectacularly battling for position with Polanc, Cataldo and Monfort is what the organisers had in mind when inviting the pro conti teams.

Yeah, it's crazy Androni weren't invitied. Probably don't have the same influence behind the scenes as Gazprom and CCC. I reckon Bernal would have had a decent chance of a stage win here, or at least a few top 5s.

Torres for sure would have won a stage. Maybe Bernal too, but my feeling is he would have targeted a good GC. Gavazzi and Cattaneo also potential stage winners for me.

Really nice to see Hirt riding so well the past days. He already showed amazing potential when he was a u23. If he can keep things together, he will be a force to be reckoned with in GT's, especially because of his great engine and attrition.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The most weird GT-award goes to Giro d Italia 2017, for better or for worse. I can't remember anything close to this spectacle. Well, not so much on the road, but anything around it, the uncertainties, the real close GC..

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Ca' del Poggio GPM4
Just a steep wall. Too isolated to matter much.

Wish we could see this but it looks like TV could be too late. Not saying this will catch out any GC riders but there could be a big battle in the first hour between the GC teams to get their riders in the break and keep other riders out. Maybe it could all come to a head here ?

 

[Squire]

He doesn't really warrant his own thread, so I'll do it here:

Shout out to young Gregor Mühlberger, one of the best u23s a couple of years ago, who's had a quiet start to his pro career. I'm impressed by him this Giro. He's just gotten stronger as the race has gone on, finishing high up on several of the tough stages lately. Maybe he'll come good as a pro afterall.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I actually like the finish. It's nice to see something different than just finishing on the top of a climb. The GC is really exciting now. This should be a good stage even if nothing happens on Grappa.

TJ vs Landa part 2.

 

[RattaKuningas]

Ca' del Poggio GPM4
Just a steep wall. Too isolated to matter much.

Wish we could see this but it looks like TV could be too late. Not saying this will catch out any GC riders but there could be a big battle in the first hour between the GC teams to get their riders in the break and keep other riders out. Maybe it could all come to a head here ?

With some decent pace it could be a good place to test if anyone is having a bad leg day.

 

[Rollthedice]

Giro 2016, at the beginning of stage 20, a Colombian in pink, a Dutch and an Italian on the podium. At the end of the stage, the Italian took the maglia rosa and the Dutch disappeared from the podium.

2017 at the beginning of stage 20, one Colombian in pink, one Dutch and one Italian are on the podium.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Giro 2016, at the beginning of stage 20, a Colombian in pink, a Dutch and an Italian on the podium. At the end of the stage, the Italian took the maglia rosa and the Dutch disappeared from the podium.

2017 at the beginning of stage 20, one Colombian in pink, one Dutch and one Italian are on the podium.

Would be a bit strange if it was two Colombians in pink...
And of course, unlike last year, the GC can't be said to be settled by the end of stage 20.

 

[Climbing]

Re:

Giro 2016, at the beginning of stage 20, a Colombian in pink, a Dutch and an Italian on the podium. At the end of the stage, the Italian took the maglia rosa and the Dutch disappeared from the podium.

2017 at the beginning of stage 20, one Colombian in pink, one Dutch and one Italian are on the podium.

Seems a lot harder this time, and the Italian is going a bit backward... but who knows.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Giro 2016, at the beginning of stage 20, a Colombian in pink, a Dutch and an Italian on the podium. At the end of the stage, the Italian took the maglia rosa and the Dutch disappeared from the podium.

2017 at the beginning of stage 20, one Colombian in pink, one Dutch and one Italian are on the podium.

Seems a lot harder this time, and the Italian is going a bit backward... but who knows.

All three were going backward today, some more, some less and I didn't try to predict the outcome.,

 

[Valv.Piti]

But you have basically predicted the outcome for yourself, haven't you? :lol:

Only this time there is also a resilient french rider in the mix, maybe even a Sputnik!