Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 6: Caltanissetta - Etna 164 km

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Moment of truth; if Miguel Angel Lopez does not attack then you can safely discard his chances. He would certainly attack if he could.

I'd be very surprised to see Rohan Dennis stay in pink.

I would find it very weird for any of the climbers at +40 seconds actually. Chaves, Aru, Froome in particular have to do something now.
It's not only Dumoulin or Dennis. But Yates is sitting very pretty as well, and he has shown significant improvement in the TT as well but is also an excellent climber. Froome can't be sure to gain a lot of time in the TT or anywhere on him..

 

[The Hegelian]

Re:

Froome (31) is fading, Pozzovivo (35) is rising. We will be witnessing it.

On a more serious note: This could very well be Simon Yates' to lose.

Yeah, I think Yates will definitely be in pink. Not sure he'll win, but pretty sure he'll be in a little attack ahead of TD and other GC faves.

 

[Tonton]

On CN's main page, Tiralongo, who seems to know this climb as well as anyone, doesn't believe in big gaps tomorrow. But unlike many first MTF duds, this one will see action. As it was posted, some gaps are already significant, and there may be an opportunity to bury Froome before the week is over. It is huge for some who thought that TD-CF would be 1-2 or 2-1 due to better ITT.

On the other hand, some early "losers" will want to get even sooner rather than later. Week 3, there won't be free-passes. Not with that nasty final stretch. And even then, attacking and gaining time may result in losses the following day.

I'm expecting what most of you expect, an attack with 5 km to go, maybe a desperate Aru paying for it like Nibali did on the Blockhaus last year, or rather Pozzo, in the best shape of his life, bidding for a podium. Pink Jersey dropped, maybe Froome losing 20 seconds on the line, and Dumoulin likely to benefit from better climbers watching each other as the stage win become a real possibility.

That's my forecast for tomorrow.

As always, I hope that a Frenchman is in the mix . Rain and a bit colder suits Pinot, definitely, on the minus side, with the exception of the '14 TdF and last year's Giro, he's not at his best week 1. Still, I predict that he will climb in the GC when it's all said and done.

We'll see...in any case, no one will win or lose Il Giro tomorrow. But the scale will be tipped. And everyday that goes by with no time loss is a great day for Dumoulin.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If there are early attacks, I expect Dumoulin to get 'fake' dropped early, then hauling them by one by one and finishing in the top 3 with minimal time loss.
Dennis will try to copy. But fail.

Pinot to win the stage

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

If there are early attacks, I expect Dumoulin to get 'fake' dropped early, then hauling them by one by one and finishing in the top 3 with minimal time loss.
Dennis will try to copy. But fail.

Pinot to win the stage

The first 5 stages were good omens for Dumoulin
Tomorrow he'd like a great Oomen.

 

[YavorD]

What do you think guys is it possible Sky to send Poels/Henao up the road ? I know, Sky are not really into this, but then again Froome is not used to be so far back early in the race, so they may try something different and even Froome alone is attacking rider (when not in Yellow).
I can also see MS sending somebody up the road tomorrow and maybe attack from Chavez (even through I'm not sure Etna suit him well).
However, hope for some fireworks from Astana and MAL as well but this could very well end in 5-10 man final sprint.

 

[ferryman]

Re:

If there are early attacks, I expect Dumoulin to get 'fake' dropped early, then hauling them by one by one and finishing in the top 3 with minimal time loss.
Dennis will try to copy. But fail.

Pinot to win the stage

Isn't cycling just the best chess sport out there You could have put Froome in your post instead of Dumoulin easily and it would work. UAE showed themselves today so maybe Aru is feeling good. Yates strong but is he the pawn to Chavez's Queen? Thibot, the dark Knight watching the board before making his move? Woods, Bennett, Pozzo, MAL and a few others the Bishops in waiting Enjoy, I know I will

 

[Gigs_98]

I really think that if Etna is ridden relatively hard Froome will lose every chance to win the giro tomorrow. This just looks too much like Contador in the 2016 tour. Somehow there seems to be less discussions about Froome's potential injury than about Contador's potential injury back then (not just in this forum, but also by the media which seems to be convinced Froome will be back at his best very soon. I'm definitely not) but todays stage imo was just another display of Froome's weakness. Froome in half decent doesn't slip back in the peloton on the final ramp. There were no splits in the group so he finished same time, but really, that didn't have anything to do with him getting better. He once again looked bad and I just don't see him looking better tomorrow.
Whenever I make predictions about Froome I mostly end up being completely wrong but this time my gut feeling is really strong. I think Froome won't be anywhere near the giro win.

 

[Velolover2]

I'd like to see a Michael Woods win.

Too much of a power climb for him? If he comes down to a reduced sprint, he could win it.

 

[Durden93]

If they soft peddle this like last year Viviani will win

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Lopez has to attack, Vino's letter will be received tomorrow morning.

It was already sent after the stage!

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

If there are early attacks, I expect Dumoulin to get 'fake' dropped early, then hauling them by one by one and finishing in the top 3 with minimal time loss.
Dennis will try to copy. But fail.

Pinot to win the stage

Isn't cycling just the best chess sport out there You could have put Froome in your post instead of Dumoulin easily and it would work. UAE showed themselves today so maybe Aru is feeling good. Yates strong but is he the pawn to Chavez's Queen? Thibot, the dark Knight watching the board before making his move? Woods, Bennett, Pozzo, MAL and a few others the Bishops in waiting Enjoy, I know I will

I really like this/your post. Whether we like or hate the course when it's made public, Il Giro has that magic. Imagine stage 6 of the Tour...yawning...here we have intrigues all over the place, and it will go crescendo. Regardless of my own wishes, there will be twists and turns that none of us expected.

 

[movingtarget]

Be interested to see how Dennis goes but of course the most interest will be in Froome and whether he can respond to attacks and not lose any more time. If Froome himself attacks that will be entertaining and a little deflating for some. Lopez also if he isn't injured should try something as well as Michelton with three riders within one minute of the lead.

 

[Salvarani]

I really think that if Etna is ridden relatively hard Froome will lose every chance to win the giro tomorrow. This just looks too much like Contador in the 2016 tour. Somehow there seems to be less discussions about Froome's potential injury than about Contador's potential injury back then (not just in this forum, but also by the media which seems to be convinced Froome will be back at his best very soon. I'm definitely not) but todays stage imo was just another display of Froome's weakness. Froome in half decent doesn't slip back in the peloton on the final ramp. There were no splits in the group so he finished same time, but really, that didn't have anything to do with him getting better. He once again looked bad and I just don't see him looking better tomorrow.
Whenever I make predictions about Froome I mostly end up being completely wrong but this time my gut feeling is really strong. I think Froome won't be anywhere near the giro win.

I agree with this and it is very rarely that you see someone suddenly turn it around like that, when you have started to fade or shown symptoms of it... it just does not happen very often.

 

[alspacka]

Re:

What do you think guys is it possible Sky to send Poels/Henao up the road ? I know, Sky are not really into this, but then again Froome is not used to be so far back early in the race, so they may try something different and even Froome alone is attacking rider (when not in Yellow).
I can also see MS sending somebody up the road tomorrow and maybe attack from Chavez (even through I'm not sure Etna suit him well).
However, hope for some fireworks from Astana and MAL as well but this could very well end in 5-10 man final sprint.

I read a stat, couldn't be bothered to check it but it sounds right, that sky have never won a non TT GT stage with someone other than Froome while the dawg has been in the race. Poels et al will be hoping he jacks it in I'm sure.

 

[wirral]

Re: Re:

What do you think guys is it possible Sky to send Poels/Henao up the road ? I know, Sky are not really into this, but then again Froome is not used to be so far back early in the race, so they may try something different and even Froome alone is attacking rider (when not in Yellow).
I can also see MS sending somebody up the road tomorrow and maybe attack from Chavez (even through I'm not sure Etna suit him well).
However, hope for some fireworks from Astana and MAL as well but this could very well end in 5-10 man final sprint.

I read a stat, couldn't be bothered to check it but it sounds right, that sky have never won a non TT GT stage with someone other than Froome while the dawg has been in the race. Poels et al will be hoping he jacks it in I'm sure.

Chris Sutton won stage 1 of the 2011 Vuelta.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

What do you think guys is it possible Sky to send Poels/Henao up the road ? I know, Sky are not really into this, but then again Froome is not used to be so far back early in the race, so they may try something different and even Froome alone is attacking rider (when not in Yellow).
I can also see MS sending somebody up the road tomorrow and maybe attack from Chavez (even through I'm not sure Etna suit him well).
However, hope for some fireworks from Astana and MAL as well but this could very well end in 5-10 man final sprint.

I read a stat, couldn't be bothered to check it but it sounds right, that sky have never won a non TT GT stage with someone other than Froome while the dawg has been in the race. Poels et al will be hoping he jacks it in I'm sure.

Chris Sutton won stage 1 of the 2011 Vuelta.

I think it says it all that the last time it happened was the opening day of Froome’s breakout GT.

And a tualy it was stage 2, but the first road stage of the race.

 

[Hayabusa]

Re: Re:

What do you think guys is it possible Sky to send Poels/Henao up the road ? I know, Sky are not really into this, but then again Froome is not used to be so far back early in the race, so they may try something different and even Froome alone is attacking rider (when not in Yellow).
I can also see MS sending somebody up the road tomorrow and maybe attack from Chavez (even through I'm not sure Etna suit him well).
However, hope for some fireworks from Astana and MAL as well but this could very well end in 5-10 man final sprint.

I read a stat, couldn't be bothered to check it but it sounds right, that sky have never won a non TT GT stage with someone other than Froome while the dawg has been in the race. Poels et al will be hoping he jacks it in I'm sure.

Cavendish won multiple stages in the 2012 Tour with Froome on the team.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think this will be a huge letdown. I wonder if Schachmann actually has a chance here.

 

[Climbing]

Froome attacks?
If he attacks it will be backward.
If the other GC riders aren't idiots they will bury him on Etna.

So... yeah good chance that everybody looks at each other! :lol:

Pozzo will try something with his excellent form for sure.

 

[Robert5091]

Last 5 km are where the action starts - we'll see how well Dawg is. Come on Pozzo!

http://www.velonews.com/2018/05/giro-ditalia/whats-wrong-chris-froome_465574
Nicolas Portal said

We don’t want to have Chris Froome at 100 percent yet.

Sky betting on everyone looking at each other until the last km.

 

[silvergrenade]

Re:

Last 5 km are where the action starts - we'll see how well Dawg is. Come on Pozzo!

http://www.velonews.com/2018/05/giro-ditalia/whats-wrong-chris-froome_465574
Nicolas Portal said

We don’t want to have Chris Froome at 100 percent yet.

Sky betting on everyone looking at each other until the last km.

If not now, then when?

Froome to lose 20 secs today I feel.
Pozzo FTW!

 

[Robert5091]

Portal's comments suggest that Sky are focusing more on TdF then the Giro.

Edit - then again if Tommy D was not here, Froome would still be the favorite to win.

Tomorrow's stage (7) is 159 km and flat as a pancake - no excuses!

 

[Alexandre B.]

Louis Meintjes will show his superb back once again.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I really think that if Etna is ridden relatively hard Froome will lose every chance to win the giro tomorrow. This just looks too much like Contador in the 2016 tour. Somehow there seems to be less discussions about Froome's potential injury than about Contador's potential injury back then (not just in this forum, but also by the media which seems to be convinced Froome will be back at his best very soon. I'm definitely not) but todays stage imo was just another display of Froome's weakness. Froome in half decent doesn't slip back in the peloton on the final ramp. There were no splits in the group so he finished same time, but really, that didn't have anything to do with him getting better. He once again looked bad and I just don't see him looking better tomorrow.
Whenever I make predictions about Froome I mostly end up being completely wrong but this time my gut feeling is really strong. I think Froome won't be anywhere near the giro win.

I think that might be because Contador had shown weakness before but so far Froome has mainly been imperial in GTs. Maybe like the 2011 TDF for Contador - it's hard to believe he could actually finish way off.
But I agree that Froome looks out of sorts.