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

[The Reverend]

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.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant the leakies would control the group, preventing breaks etc of significance and protect Nibali and Basso to the key points.

 

[Sophistic]

I think Arroyo and Sastre will lose less time than yesterday, the Zoncolan isnt that long and its huge incline actually helps the two featherweights(60kg) vs the heavier riders like Nibali, Evans, Basso and especially Vinokourov. I wouldnt be shocked if Sastre even takes this one.

 

[Angliru]

Gibo's Last Stand

Simoni is saving everything for one stage. This could be the one.

I would love that too, but unfortunately Simoni doesn't have enough racing in his legs this year to be a factor. To me he has to be one the greatest pure climbers of his generation. I just wish Lampre's status had been resolved much earlier in the year so that Gibo could have joined the team with enough time to get in some miles in major events. The fact that he's still in the race with the lack of races he has is a testament to his grit. The Zoncolan is HIS mountain as far as the Giro goes. I'm sure he will be especially motivated to do well.

C'mon Gibo! One last show of your climbing wizardry!

 

[ericthesportsman6]

I'd say either Simoni, Garzelli, or Mollema wins on the Zonoclan. Out of the contenders, I thought Scarponi looked pretty damn good today.

 

[Sasquatch]

I would love that too, but unfortunately Simoni doesn't have enough racing in his legs this year to be a factor. To me he has to be one the greatest pure climbers of his generation. I just wish Lampre's status had been resolved much earlier in the year so that Gibo could have joined the team with enough time to get in some miles in major events. The fact that he's still in the race with the lack of races he has is a testament to his grit. The Zoncolan is HIS mountain as far as the Giro goes. I'm sure he will be especially motivated to do well.

C'mon Gibo! One last show of your climbing wizardry!

Extract of a recent article.

A third victory there would be “absolutely beautiful, but I don’t want to dream about the impossible,” he told the newspaper. “The Zoncolan, I love it. My fans are already waiting for me there.

“I love the mountains. It’s a challenge against yourself. This is my battle territory. Either I win or I die.”

 

[M Sport]

Stage win to Scarponi.

Basso, Evans and Nibali to make huge leaps up the leader board. Nibali not as much as the other two. And Arroyo to crack like a cheap piece of china.

 

[Angliru]

Extract of a recent article.

A third victory there would be “absolutely beautiful, but I don’t want to dream about the impossible,” he told the newspaper. “The Zoncolan, I love it. My fans are already waiting for me there.

“I love the mountains. It’s a challenge against yourself. This is my battle territory. Either I win or I die.”

I have to say, and without shame: "I love Gibo!" The fans cheering him on, with his name written repeatedly on the road will be enough for me. If he does better than he expects on the climb that will just be icing on the cake.
I'm hoping that the different media covering the race will keep in mind the brief history of this climb in the Giro, and give Gibo's effort a bit of attention.

@Sasquatch: From what media is that article from? Could you provide a link if possible? Thanks!

 

[Sasquatch]

I have to say, and without shame: "I love Gibo!" The fans cheering him on, with his name written repeatedly on the road will be enough for me. If he does better than he expects on the climb that will just be icing on the cake.
I'm hoping that the different media covering the race will keep in mind the brief history of this climb in the Giro, and give Gibo's effort a bit of attention.

@Sasquatch: From what media is that article from? Could you provide a link if possible? Thanks!

I just did a search in google news for him. That was the most recent one to come up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/sports/cycling/21iht-BIKE.html

 

[zapata]

I have to say, and without shame: "I love Gibo!" The fans cheering him on, with his name written repeatedly on the road will be enough for me. If he does better than he expects on the climb that will just be icing on the cake.
I'm hoping that the different media covering the race will keep in mind the brief history of this climb in the Giro, and give Gibo's effort a bit of attention.

@Sasquatch: From what media is that article from? Could you provide a link if possible? Thanks!

fully agree! as for what will happen today, i don't dare make predictions. but scarponi was saying, in procycling magazine, that it's hard to make big gaps in time on the zoncolan "because everyone goes as slowly as each other", afraid he might be right. quite possibly the stage win from a group of climbers that's behind on GC, and the favourites coming in together.

 

[Frosty]

Not sure about the idea that its that steep that everyone will be going the same speed. Surely they go that slowly that drafting etc completely goes out the window and it almost turns into a time trial?

Cyclismag has the best time up the Zoncolan being 39:04 in 2007, set by Simoni and Piepoli. Not sure if there is an obvious start point but maybe something to watch out for.

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

 

[jonjungel]

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

If you don't mind watching the race on your computer, have a look at:
http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=77066&part=sports
or
http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml

 

[ttrider]

to be honest i think the range of time gaps will be similar to Grappa with different names,
Heres something interesting

Rider wieghts off wikipedia

Basso: 70kg
Vino: 68kg
Nibali: 64kg
Evans: 64kg
Cunego: 59kg
Sastre: 60kg
Scarponi: 62kg

Surely Basso at 70 is wrong?! looks way to much i would have said 66 ish
but on such a steep climb wieght is very important and i did say Basso for the win but Sastre wasnt to bad on the climb yesterday and very good on the steep stuff so im going to go for him, and Evans is also very good on steep stuff see muur de huy although obviously its short!

i can see the following:

Sastre
Nibali @ 30
Scarponi @ 30
Evans @ 40
Basso @ 1min
the res over 2 and a half except Cunego

 

[search]

Cyclismag has the best time up the Zoncolan being 39:04 in 2007, set by Simoni and Piepoli. Not sure if there is an obvious start point but maybe something to watch out for.

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

I think they ride it from the other (harder) side this year. It should take about one hour

 

[taiwan]

Tyler Farrar DNS, as well as McEwen.

 

[craig1985]

I think Nibali will suffer form his big ride yesterday.

 

[macnir]

I've followed the posts stage by stage,and now I'm too excited to keep silent
so my predict
Sastre ftw
Nibali Basso Evans +40~1.00
Scarponi Vino +1:30~2:00
Cunego +2:30-3:00
Karpets Mollema Tondo etc... +4.00 or more
Arroyo 5min+

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'd rate Mollema higher than Karpets, yesterday Mollema was 8th on the climb with Cunego and Samoilau, a group ahead of Wiggins, Karpets, Arroyo and Tondo.

Basso wins
then
Scarponi/Evans/Nibali +30
Sastre +50
Vino +1'30
Cunego/Mollema +2'30
Arroyo/Tondo +3'30

 

[taiwan]

TURPIN (29),RODRIGUEZ (37),LE FLOCH (57),SIJMENS (88),PINEAU (154),REDA (155) That'll be the break, then. Advantage 1'22".

 

[Sasquatch]

Has Moncoutie decided to ditch going for the KOM jersey? You would think he would go for it today with 3 passes before the big one.

Odd!

 

[Nastyy]

John Gadret for a surprise win.

 

[Angliru]

I just did a search in google news for him. That was the most recent one to come up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/sports/cycling/21iht-BIKE.html

Thanks again!

 

[Hotbrakes]

After thinking about this for hours, anything is possible in this years Giro. But if I was going to bet my last dollar, Basso will win the stage. As for GC, I think 1 minute will cover the top five guys. Nibali, Basso, Evans, Vinokourov and Sastre. But if it rains again who knows.

Sh!t, I think I made the same prediction as a dozen other posters.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Has Moncoutie decided to ditch going for the KOM jersey? You would think he would go for it today with 3 passes before the big one.

Odd!

Don't think he has the legs in this race. He's out the back every stage and even though he got in the break on the first mountain stage he was no match for Sorensen, Stortoni or Petrov

 

[Zoncolan]

Since we're all making predictions:

1. Basso
2. Scarponi + 0:45
3. Nibali + 1:20
4. Sastre + 1:20
5. Evans + 2:00
6. Garzelli + 2:00
7. Tondo + 2:30
8. Arroyo + 3:00
9. Cunego + 3:00
10. Vino + 3:00

Wiggins, Gerdemann, Pinotti, Porte, Karpets all to struggle and lose 4-5 minutes, Arroyo stays in pink for another day.

 

[Sasquatch]

Don't think he has the legs in this race. He's out the back every stage and even though he got in the break on the first mountain stage he was no match for Sorensen, Stortoni or Petrov

That's true. He'll probably wait for a stage win later this week. His legs would come to him at some stage. He would be disappointed if he didn't get close to a stage win considering he ditched this year's TDF to do the Giro.