Giro d'Italia Stage 15: Mestre - Monte Zoncolan (222km)

[Barrus]

Nibali is more of a time triallist and much more of a winner than Basso. I don't agree about the similarities

If you are searching someone similar to Basso, I'd name Gesink, he could be a clone.

Nah, he falls too much

 

[Frosty]

Edit: Ooops, wrong thread

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nah, he falls too much

That's bs.

He doesn't fall more than any regular cyclist, maye he falls even less. He's just unlucky he falls in the biggest races.

 

[luckyboy]

This only seems to be on Eurosport HD

Gah, feeds it is tomorrow..

 

[taiwan]

Robbie McEwen tweeted that he'll DNS tomorrow.

 

[karlboss]

Uphill I thought Basso, Nibali, and Scarponi were pretty much on a par yesterday. Nibali started the fireworks and after a little tempo riding settled in. Scarponi didn't attack, but seemed to take pulls. Some say Basso had an easy ride to the line, he did, but he did the majority of the work to the top, so i'd say the top 4 will all be tired. Ok everyone will be tired.

I expect to see the same tactics, and the same guys together at the top tomorrow. I expect Sastre to do better. I think like many, I hope Gibo is in form and was saving himself.

PS I don't think Basso and Evans are capable of "attacking" uphill, their change of pace is so slow.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Basso the fav. Arroyo should stay in pink. Besides Arroyo, one or two of the newbie contenders will ride super-well and become a true favorite for the overall along with, probably, Basso. Not sure who, but at least one other besides Wiggins or Sastre. I like Evans, but I am afraid both he and Vino will lose just enough time (or not make up any significant time on the overall) to be effectively be out of it. Both will be lucky to stay with Nibali.

Hmm... I do fear evans may struglle on the zoncolan.
His comments


"I’ll only attack if I have good legs, otherwise I’d take the risk of blowing”, he warned. “But uphill finishes are definitely the places for me to regain the time lost"

“It hasn’t been a great day for me”, he told Cyclingnews, when he crossed the finishing line in Asolo. “I think I’ve suffered a bit. It was the first hot and humid day.”

“The Liquigas team has demonstrated to be the strongest team of this Giro d’Italia,” he then said in Italian. "Nibali rode like a beast. He took a lot of risks. It was his day. I managed to stay with these guys up the climb without feeling at my best, so the outcome is pretty good. I’m happy with my progression on GC.”

 

[DenisMenchov]

What I like about this years Giro is that none is the favourite, they all are. I mean from TOP15 in GC any rider can win it. BUt tomorrow I`ll go for SAstre or Nibali.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Nah, he falls too much

They all do. In this years Giro : Wiggins, Basso, Nibali, Pozzato, Cunego...

 

[BroDeal]

If Evans was on a bad day and still managed to hang with Basso and the others then I'll pick him.

 

[Potomac]

I'm watching the Grappa replay on universal...and looking a little more closely at the ride (instead of reading posts here) and Basso has that trademark mephistophelean grin.

Basso for Zoncolan for me

 

[Kender]

i'd like evans to put time into everyone to make the time gaps at the top smaller

 

[auscyclefan94]

i'd like evans to put time into everyone to make the time gaps at the top smaller

he takes any time at all on the zoncolan he will win the giro. i would be quite happy if he even minimised his losses by 1 minute. Plan de Corones should be evans' forte.

 

[Inner Peace]

If Evans was on a bad day and still managed to hang with Basso and the others then I'll pick him.

Hmmm.. but remember Verbier he was on a bad day and beat Kloden and Armstrong, yet plummeted in stage 16...

I suspect if Evans is sick, then he could have a worse day on Zoncolan...

That said, I don't think he is sick.

My tips:

Basso, Nibali, Evans on same time (but top 3 get time bonuses)

Sastre, Scarponi only just behind, maybe 1-2 minute

Vino, Tondo, Garzelli to drop about 3 mins

Arroyo, Cunego about 4 mins

Porte, Gerdemenn about 5-6 mins

Wiggins and the rest of the pretenders at about 7-8 minutes


Plan de Corones TT:

Evans by about 30-45 seconds over
Nibali and Sastre
Basso about a minute back

I'm thinking Sastre in pink after TT with Evans and Nibali very close, Basso just trailing

My darkhorse is still Porte, but I suspect that the little guy might suffer on Zoncolan - it's been a tough 2 weeks

 

[blaxland]

If Evans was on a bad day and still managed to hang with Basso and the others then I'll pick him.

I agree with you BroDeal,And remember Evans and Scarponi did some recon work on Zoncolon before the giro started...
1st=Scarponi
2nd=Evans
3rd=Basso/Nibali(Depending who is team leader)
I think Vino/Sastre/Arroyo will loose about 2-3 minutes...
Giro forever......................

 

[hfer07]

God-I can barely wait!!
Garzelli is out of contention,so he'll go for stage victory
Basso didn't use his legs yesterday, he'll set high tempo for Nibali.
Scarponi is dangerous since he hasn't really done any attacks lately, perhaps thinking of today's stage.
Evans will hang on to the main contenders,he might attack, but he'll be cautious this time.
Sastre is on top of the other contenders,so he will follow wheels today- unless an opportunity presents. carlos knows that after the rest day he can knock them down in the last two mountain stages.

 

[Ferminal]

Hmm... I do fear evans may struglle on the zoncolan.
His comments


"I’ll only attack if I have good legs, otherwise I’d take the risk of blowing”, he warned. “But uphill finishes are definitely the places for me to regain the time lost"

“It hasn’t been a great day for me”, he told Cyclingnews, when he crossed the finishing line in Asolo. “I think I’ve suffered a bit. It was the first hot and humid day.”

“The Liquigas team has demonstrated to be the strongest team of this Giro d’Italia,” he then said in Italian. "Nibali rode like a beast. He took a lot of risks. It was his day. I managed to stay with these guys up the climb without feeling at my best, so the outcome is pretty good. I’m happy with my progression on GC.”

Evans is fighting Sastre/Tondo/Arroyo first, once he's ahead of them on GC he can turn his attention to the leakies. Limit his losses to the Leakies but make up time on Sastre (who we know gets better as the race goes on).

Liquigas is so strong though, the other contenders will be hoping they have some casualties before the final days... Would love to see someone go for a solo over Gavia.

Today... Cunego, Garzelli, Moncoutie. Or Gerdemann................

Cunego is too close on GC though. If it's the favourites together, Basso.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Can anyone explain why they fancy Basso for this? The couple of times I've seen him ride during the last year, I haven't seen him theaten to win any mountain stage, let alone a huge wall like the Zoncolan. Even in the Giro del Trentino which he won last year (didn't see it) he didn't win a stage. Could understand his abilities gradually improving after his return, but has he shown that much yet? Excuse me if I'm underestimating him because of his riding style.

I thought out of the four on the grappa he looked the most comfortable, and never really looked in trouble. He might just peak at the right time.

 

[Inner Peace]

I thought out of the four on the grappa he looked the most comfortable, and never really looked in trouble. He might just peak at the right time.

He looked good, but Zoncolan stage has 3 peaks to crest first. I think Basso will be up there, but he will be vulnerable if the others start attacking...

That said, I still think Basso, Nibali and Evans will cross the line together as I don't think there will be any huge 'attacks', rather it will be one big war of attrition..

This stage suits Evans the most, because of the multiple climbs, so I can't see him losing time to anyone other than bonus seconds

Evans is fighting Sastre/Tondo/Arroyo first, once he's ahead of them on GC he can turn his attention to the leakies. Limit his losses to the Leakies but make up time on Sastre (who we know gets better as the race goes on).

I don't think he's fighting them, rather they have to fight to hang on to the main players. Sastre/Tondo/Arroyo have all been losing time when the road goes upward. It's inevitable that Evans will outclimb Tondo and Arroyo, and Sastre struggled on Grappa so he's form is in doubt still...

After all the mess of stage 11, I still think the natural order of GC will sort itself out. The breakaways were lucky to gain their time, but mountains produce the real gaps.

Evans should focus on Liquigas first, and only worry about Sastre if he doesn't manage to get dropped (i think Sastre will be dropped halfway up Zoncolan, Tondo and Arroyo early on the Zoncolan)

 

[valentius borealis]

For an idea about live feed times.
Eurosport will be "sketchy" tomorrow, due to things with engines and the qualifying round of a tennis tournament, that the French annoyingly put on, each year, to disrupt the Giro.
Rai have split coverage.
RAITRE: 12-55cet-14-00 (plus chatty, chatty)
RAI SPORT: 14-00-14-30 (thats all, some hickey, hockey match)
RAITRE: 14-30 - 17-45.
So you may have to shop around for feeds.

Tomorrow: There Will Be Blood.

Grrr, we don't get the Giro here until midnight (16:00CET) because of track and bloody field.

 

[Ferminal]

Grrr, we don't get the Giro here until midnight (16:00CET) because of track and bloody field.

Yeh what a load of ********.

The coverage will be Zoncolan only then, even though the earlier climbs could be interesting.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans is very good on the super steep gradients but he will be wanting to be having a better day than yesterday.

 

[The Reverend]

The leakies have the numbers and thus, I think, the power. Evans was clearly struggling to stay with them yesterday and it's hard to see him improving overnight after what that effort would have cost him. I think Vino is gone after the efforts of the first two weeks. Like others though, I think the GC favs will be back where they were before Stage 11 by Verona. I don't think tonight will be the only fascinating stage before then!

BTW, struggling to find a consistent feed in Australia - anybody any good ideas?

 

[auscyclefan94]

The leakies have the numbers and thus, I think, the power. Evans was clearly struggling to stay with them yesterday and it's hard to see him improving overnight after what that effort would have cost him. I think Vino is gone after the efforts of the first two weeks. Like others though, I think the GC favs will be back where they were before Stage 11 by Verona. I don't think tonight will be the only fascinating stage before then!

BTW, struggling to find a consistent feed in Australia - anybody any good ideas?

team tatics do not help at all. on the zonk, if you have it, you will hold the wheels, if you don't then you go backwards. No team tatics. Evans did struggle but to have a bad day and stick with them and bridge up to basso means for a uuy on a bad day that is a good sign. He only lost time because they descended badly. Nibali was good but the others were bad.

 

[karlboss]

The leakies have the numbers and thus, I think, the power. Evans was clearly struggling to stay with them yesterday and it's hard to see him improving overnight after what that effort would have cost him. I think Vino is gone after the efforts of the first two weeks. Like others though, I think the GC favs will be back where they were before Stage 11 by Verona. I don't think tonight will be the only fascinating stage before then!

BTW, struggling to find a consistent feed in Australia - anybody any good ideas?

I sift throught the feeds from P2P, cyclingfans and steephill until i hit something stable. Don't care what language it is in.