Giro d'Italia Stage 14: Ferrara - Asolo (205km)

[Ferminal]

Amazing, of the four big (road) stages remaining, we would've said that this one would be fairly lame. If the remaining stages are as damaging as that we can be happy for sure.

dim... I think you ended up wrong about the descent The climb was great, but the early descending made the stage, top stuff by Nibali (pity we didn't get to see him) and Vino, what a machine.

Szmyd and Agnoli set a fierce pace and it seems it was enough to have everyone struggling. Not sure if Evans was struggling at that point or just lurking at the back because he ended up having to chase a lot more than he would've (if he wasn't feeling strong, how did he chase back?).

Vino confirmed expectations, and I can't say I'm was surprised by Sastre... Probably moreso Tondo. Wigans showed that he will be strong in the Tour (he should finish ahead of HWSNBN and anyone backing up from a serious Giro).

I was actually thinking about that before the stage Bro, I think the Giro isn't as superdoped as the Tour always is, but that's for the clinic.

 

[Angliru]

no people purposefully hate riders because they need someone to bash so they can look like experts and it comforts there ego. Evans is an easy target which makes the bashers very cowardly and sad as it just gets old.

I think that Evans' performances from the Vuelta up to now has won him a great deal of respect in this forum that didn't exist in the past. A prime example is on the bike fisticuffs with the Italian a few stages ago. Where before a thread would've likely been started dedicated to ragging on him about it, I could find nary a mention of it. Maybe I missed that thread--so if someone could point it out to me I'd appreciate it. I need a good laugh.

 

[Angliru]

Its me getting angry in this whole 'wheelsucking' notion and why its only Cadel that does it apparantly

Its survial of the fittest our there and really every man for himself in the end.......you cant have joint winners of a stage/tour can you?

No you only notice the wheelsucking reference when Cadel is mentioned. Leipheimer is even more world reknowned for his exceptional wheel sucking abilities. Head all tucked in and down to his stem, constantly in the shadow of his latest victim. Sucking their energy like a velo-vampire as he sits in their draft. There was even a phrase coined in his honor for Cadel a few years back: the Down Under Levi Leipheimer (DULL). All in fun but no longer applicable at least IMO.

 

[Angliru]

i wonder if sastre is coming into form and just had a slightly off day and will respond better tomorrow or if he just doesn't have it this year...im leaning towards the latter but im hoping its the former because sastre in form on the zoncolan would be great to watch

I think that year where he did all 3 grand tours has drained him. The last vestiges of his true abilities haven't been seen since last year's Giro. He appears to me to riding on sheer guts. I hope I'm wrong because I've been rooting for him to win this year's Giro.

 

[Angliru]

true, evans has sad that he s going to be very attacking in the mountains in the next week. libertine you can not deny that evans is a kicking boy. would conti ever get bagged on this forum? NO.

Contador doesn't have the colorful history with the media and most recently a case of entertaining mid-race fisticuffs with one of his opponents for fans to use as ammo. You take all this a bit too seriously when it comes to Evans.
When its going well for him you're quite sunny but when it's not, dude there is fear that you may be in the basement contemplating your own demise. You shown that you've adapted to a certain extent and can laugh at yourself in regards to your admitted man-crush but then you relapse into Captain Cuddles, the punisher of any and all that seek to disparage the purity of your beloved.

By the way you obviously have selective amnesia when it comes to the various negative references to Contador with "Contadoper" being one that I see on a semi regular basis. Evans isn't the only rider that gets ragged on, he's just the only one that you really take the ragging as a personal insult.

 

[Angliru]

he's not THAT young, though. he'll be 26 this year, one year older than andy schleck. if he has it in in him to be a champion, i think this is the year he has to step up and prove it. fingers crossed..

I think its a bit too early in his career to consider writing Nibali off if he fails. Numerous riders have had their greatest successes in their 30's with Evans, Sastre and Leipheimer coming to mind. Nibali has shown a steady improvement and considering his late call up to the Giro, his focus being on the Tour and Vuelta rather than Giro/Tour, we should just be appreciative of what he's done this far at the Giro in what appears to be his dual role of co-leader with Basso and eventual domestique should he falter in the latter stages. I'm personally rooting for him and Sastre so my opinion is biased.

 

[Angliru]

simoni, by the way, was one of the first to be dropped today. still trying to convince myself that he's saving himself for zoncolan..

I'm in the same boat but I know that boat has huge hole in it and is sinking fast. He deserves some type of sending off ceremony regardless. Not as prominent as the one they allowed for Cippo but something honoring his contributions to this great event over his career.

 

[Frosty]

Cyclismag reckon that the leaders did 400W on the Grappa.

http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=5823

 

[karlboss]

Cyclismag reckon that the leaders did 400W on the Grappa.

http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=5823

using ferrari's calculator 5.57W/kg