Giro d'Italia Stage 11: Lucera - L'Aquila (262km)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Bakelandts is not much of a climber on longer climbs. But hey, at least the best young climber lost 12 minutes today.

 

[Polish]

Yeah there are going to be huge protests if the Giro don't get their act together for next year.

The ToC is going to replace the Giro if they're not careful.

The Giro has just become a lottery with no skill to winning. It's now totally random.

I assume you mean protests from the riders - not the fans.

For the fans, this Giro has been massively entertaining.
But for the riders, mechanics, swanyears etc not so much. A Real Pain.

I could see some riders that are riding the Giro this year not wanting to return next year.

And what happens if the riders using the Tour of California for TdF prep end up doing beter than the guys riding the Giro?

If the Tour of California survives and has a 2011 edition, I could see more TdF DangerMen showing up.

 

[craig1985]

Looks like I'm going to have to d/l the stage.

 

[bridgeman]

How did Evans conclude that BMC were a good team to move to?

 

[issoisso]

I did asault a guy that is a very bad rider, he asaulted a guy who won 3 GTs.

Yes, Richie Porte is an awful, awful rider. Only very bad riders finish with the favourites on a mountain stage at the Giro.

 

[craig1985]

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Btw, all the though stages are still to come

lol what a giro

 

[DenisMenchov]

Yes, Richie Porte is an awful, awful rider. Only very bad riders finish with the favourites on a mountain stage at the Giro.

And which stage was that????

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The DNF's

Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team)
Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia)
Adam Blythe (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Thomas Rohregger (Team Milram)
Rene Mandri (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Martin Pedersen (Footon-Servetto)
Mauro Santambrogio (BMC Racing Team)
Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
Valentin Iglinsky (Astana)
Alberto Loddo (Androni Giocattoli)
Alexsandr Dyachenko (Astana

Lol.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I assume you mean protests from the riders - not the fans.
For the fans, this Giro has been massively entertaining.
But for the riders, mechanics, swanyears etc not so much. A Real Pain.
I could see some riders that are riding the Giro this year not wanting to return next year.
And what happens if the riders using the Tour of California for TdF prep end up doing beter than the guys riding the Giro?

If the Tour of California survives and has a 2011 edition, I could see more TdF DangerMen showing up.

Why? So they can swan around the course and eye up the ladies, like Andy Schleck.
I don't think it's in either race's interest.

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

I assume you mean protests from the riders - not the fans.

For the fans, this Giro has been massively entertaining.
But for the riders, mechanics, swanyears etc not so much. A Real Pain.

I could see some riders that are riding the Giro this year not wanting to return next year.

And what happens if the riders using the Tour of California for TdF prep end up doing beter than the guys riding the Giro?

If the Tour of California survives and has a 2011 edition, I could see more TdF DangerMen showing up.

Yep, that's what I mean. It's fast becoming a joke race. They may as well start putting oil down on parts of the course to see who can make it through that. The fans will love it so why not?

It's no longer about the riding. This tour is already down on a few people this year - next year it could be a mass exodus.

 

[santacruz]

I just tuned in, so the breakaway riders must have stolen all the maglia rosa's drugs in the middle of the night, and they all had a party with them?? only explanation i can think of ha ha ha

 

[theyoungest]

And which stage was that????

Porte finished with Bradley Wiggins, who is now a Giro favourite

 

[santacruz]

Soooo uhhh.. why did Cuddles give away his Giro??

 

[theyoungest]

Yep, that's what I mean. It's fast becoming a joke race. They may as well start putting oil down on parts of the course to see who can make it through that. The fans will love it so why not?

It's no longer about the riding. This tour is already down on a few people this year - next year it could be a mass exodus.

The same people who are now boring us on the roads of California? Let them stay there, no one's missed them.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Porte finished with Bradley Wiggins, who is now a Giro favourite

NO: 4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:00:07
13. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:21

 

[thehog]

The same people who are now boring us on the roads of California? Let them stay there, no one's missed them.

I prefer the days when one team would ride on the front in a Grand Tour. Much more exciting.

 

[theyoungest]

NO: 4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:00:07
13. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:21

I meant on the only actual mountain stage we've had so far.

 

[thehog]

I prefer the days when one team would ride on the front in a Grand Tour. Much more exciting.

I agree with you theHog.

 

[trompe le monde]

The DNF's

Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team)
Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia)
Adam Blythe (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Thomas Rohregger (Team Milram)
Rene Mandri (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Martin Pedersen (Footon-Servetto)
Mauro Santambrogio (BMC Racing Team)
Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
Valentin Iglinsky (Astana)
Alberto Loddo (Androni Giocattoli)
Alexsandr Dyachenko (Astana

Lol.

Rohregger DNF? I was hoping to see how he would perform in the mountains since he has placed well in the tour of Austria. Milram's website says that he abandoned at the first feeding station due to a sinus infection. That's really too bad.

 

[issoisso]

WTF Dyachenko?

A pure climber does an amazing prologue, then sucks on the first mountain stage and then retires? Eh?

And which stage was that????

The only mountain stage so far. Serious question: Are you acting thick?

 

[DenisMenchov]

I meant on the only actual mountain stage we've had so far.

Oh yes he did finish with Wiggins, but behind Vino, Evans, Mollema, Scarponi, CUnego, Garzzeli, Kiserlovski....

 

[Polish]

Why? So they can swan around the course and eye up the ladies, like Andy Schleck.
I don't think it's in either race's interest.

Maybe the Giro does NOT WANT to be used as a TdF Prep race.
Nothing wrong with that....Good for them.

Maybe the Tour of California WANTS to be used as a TdF Prep race.
Nothing wrong with that either....Good for them too.

WinWin.

 

[Oldman]

Good question. But a good reason not to have any. What a day.

Like I said earlier; would even that have made a difference?

So much for my thought that a radio ban would be the catalyst to make a race interesting...apparently inattentive stupidity is what it takes. Wouldn't it be bizarre if Sastre came back to win?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I would agree that his has been an amazing Giro, so far. The stages have been very challenging, if not mountainous, and the attacks have been greater and more furious than in any GT I can ever remember, including some Tours of recent years.

Astounding that Sastre was 8 minutes back after two bad crashes and missing key breaks, and now has to be considered a favorite, nearly 3 minutes up on Vino and five on Cadel. I don't know if Brad can climb well enough to podium, but Arroyo can consistently, and could podium as well.