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

[taiwan]

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!

So far he's got nil points, so I guess he has ditched that idea. Not impossible with all the climbing in the third week I suppose. The other objective he stated was stage wins, so maybe he's concentrating on those. I wonder who will get the KOM jersey in the end. Maybe Garzelli, having papped the GC race as of yesterday. Actually, he said before the Giro that he wasn't intetrested in the General Classification, but they all say that. Cunego said that as well.

 

[Sophistic]

Basso wrote about a month ago in a blog that he is now at 69kg and that this is pretty close to his perfect racing weight.

 

[Sasquatch]

1. Sastre
2. Scarponi +0:40
3. Basso +0.40
4. Cunego +0.40
5. Nibali +1.20
6. Evans +1.20
7. Garzelli +1.50
8. Simoni +2.00
9. Arroyo +3.00
10. Vino +3.00

 

[Sasquatch]

So far he's got nil points, so I guess he has ditched that idea. Not impossible with all the climbing in the third week I suppose. The other objective he stated was stage wins, so maybe he's concentrating on those. I wonder who will get the KOM jersey in the end. Maybe Garzelli, having papped the GC race as of yesterday. Actually, he said before the Giro that he wasn't intetrested in the General Classification, but they all say that. Cunego said that as well.

I don't think Lloyd will get it. All it takes is someone to get in a breakaway on one of these stages in the last week, gets maximum points on 3 category 1 climbs and they have the competition sealed. So it could be a day effort that gets a job done.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'll add further that it was probably a waste of time and energy to go for it today for him. Even if he won all 3, he wouldn't have overtaken Lloyd.

 

[taiwan]

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

Pinotti's another one who's been impressive in his ability to be in the right places at the right times throughout the tricky early stages. It'll be a shame if he (among others) loses a lot of time in these real mountain stages. I enjoyed the first week of the race, but now some of those players are at best at no advantage.

[edit] no, he wasn't in that freak break in the stage to l'Aguila, but before that...

 

[davidw]

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.

Scarponi had no reason to attack. The best strategy yesterday was to go over the top with a strong group and pull away more on the descent/flats. By himself, he was going nowhere, and knew that Nibali would likely catch him down the hill.

I'm surprised more people haven't picked Scarponi for today's stage: the Italian commentators keep talking him up as the guy a lot of people seem to think is riding the strongest up the hills.

 

[taiwan]

Pre-race coverage on Rai (VLC) now.

A heavy chef presenting a seafood salad, and some cycling pundits sat round a table in some sort of ceremonial costume, having lunch.

 

[Galic Ho]

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

Works for me. I concur. I also have a feeling Basso will be the strongest Liquigas rider. Be nice to see Gibo get a win. Maybe Cunego if he can't.

 

[movingtarget]

Stage 15

Same four riders as yesterday to fight it out. Scarponi may be the one to win. He looked pretty solid yesterday. Evan's won't stop trying and I would like to see him win.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Jackson Rodriguez is in the break of the day, could be a candidate for the stage win perhaps.

 

[theyoungest]

A few tough climbs and then a really, really tough one: this stage has Sastre written all over it.

 

[taiwan]

A few tough climbs and then a really, really tough one: this stage has Sastre written all over it.

i don't think he'll be ready yet, but fair enough.

[edit] Rai live. Caisse and Liquigas driving a lined out peloton.

 

[ErmOkk]

Awesome last climb, but it hasn't Sastre written all over it... Nibali eyes the best imo.

 

[craig1985]

Ludovic Turpin (AG2R), Jackson Rodriguez (Androni), Guillaume Le Floch (Bbox), Nico Sijmens (Cofidis), Jérome Pineau (Quick Step) and Francesco Reda (Quick Step) with a lead of more then 13 minutes.

 

[Zaschrona]

Can break - Rodriguez make it?

 

[Jamsque]

Break should get brought back once the climbs start.

 

[Woody22]

If evans doesn't lose major time today I have a feeling that he will gain on all of his main rivals on the stage 16 TT, especially if it is wet. He showed on stage 7 that the gravel roads are right up his alley, as you would expect being an ex mountain biker. But he has to stay with them today and, in reality, get his deficit down to closer to 5 minutes.

 

[taiwan]

Rodriguez might be there for Scarponi.

 

[karlboss]

If evans doesn't lose major time today I have a feeling that he will gain on all of his main rivals on the stage 16 TT, especially if it is wet. He showed on stage 7 that the gravel roads are right up his alley, as you would expect being an ex mountain biker. But he has to stay with them today and, in reality, get his deficit down to closer to 5 minutes.

He'll be under 3 minutes from the pink jersey, maybe further away from winning

 

[issoisso]

A few tough climbs and then a really, really tough one: this stage has Sastre written all over it.

If he doesn't win today, he's definitely not going to win on the very low percentage final climbs of the other road stages.
Today is when we get to know Nibali's true strength versus Basso and Scarponi (and even Evans, since this stage suits him far more than yesterday).

1h40m till the TV feed starts

 

[tgsgirl]

1h40m till the TV feed starts

7 minutes

 

[taiwan]

Seems like every time I check Rai, they'e showing Jackson Rodriguez.They may be expecting something from him too.

 

[sportzchick]

7 minutes

thank goodness....if i had to wait 1hr40 id be asleep!

[makes coffee]

 

[Mellow Velo]

This "little" ten percenter will warm a few legs up. I'd love to see them kick off here....

.....but they won't.