Giro d'Italia Stage 16, Limone sul Garda - Falzes/Pfalzen, 174km, 22/05/2012

[SafeBet]

Visconti is gonna take this no matter what.

 

[taiwan]

Visconti is gonna take this no matter what.

 

[will10]

Visconti is gonna take this no matter what.

There's a safe bet if ever I saw one.

 

[cycladianpirate]

If there's bonifications on offer, I wouldn't bet against Purito - ridiculously on form.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

I've heard Ricco sent plants to everyone because that's how the favorites behaved in the first 2 weeks

Is that plants or flowers?

Plants : so rooted to the ground - not able to make a move
Flowers: riding presumed dead!

 

[El Pistolero]

Hmm, I'm going for Giovanni.

 

[manafana]

not sure we see too much action tomorrow powder will be kept dry for the slog on wednesday.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Seems tailor made for Visconti imo.

 

[Forunculo]

But Visconti quits two days ago

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Pozzato and Meersman for 2-nd and 3-rd

 

[Froome19]

But Visconti quits two days ago

Still seems taylor made for him

Pozzato and Meersman for 2-nd and 3-rd

Actually in truth I predicted Hushovd for this stage in the fantasy game.


On a less serious note, could also see Farrar and Benatti doing well here, if they can stay with the peloton.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

So are there time bonuses or not? If there are, I don't see why Katusha would ignore the opportunity to put another 20 seconds (plus a few more on the road) into the likes of Basso.

From a Liquigas point of view, they would want a break to stay away.

 

[SafeBet]

ABBUONI
ART. 17
Gli abbuoni di tempo indicati in quest’articolo sono validi ai soli fini della classifica generale
individuale. Agli arrivi di ciascuna tappa in linea al primo arrivato sarà assegnato un abbuono
di 20”, al secondo di 12” e al terzo di 8”. Ai traguardi intermedi, uno per tappa, al primo clas-sificato sarà assegnato un abbuono di 6”, al secondo di 4” e al terzo di 2”, ad eccezione delle
seguenti tappe:
14 a tappa Cherasco - Cervinia
15 a tappa Busto Arsizio - Lecco/Piani dei Resinelli
17 a tappa Falzes/Pfalzen – Cortina d’Ampezzo
19 a tappa Treviso - Alpe di Pampeago/Val di Fiemme
20 a tappa Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio
per le quali non ci saranno abbuoni

So there are time bonuses tomorrow.

 

[Pippo_San]

Expect rain, and quite a lot of...it will make the riders surely tired come the next stages (not sure but there's quite a chance it'll be rainy also on wednesday and those descents...)

 

[Froome19]

So are there time bonuses or not? If there are, I don't see why Katusha would ignore the opportunity to put another 20 seconds (plus a few more on the road) into the likes of Basso.

From a Liquigas point of view, they would want a break to stay away.

There are and yes Katusha would want to get them for Rodriguez. But they generally seem to have been reticent in this Giro so far to put men on the front even when Purito has had the jersey and they also may want to keep their men as fresh as possible for the stages which actually count.

Also I think you are overrating Purito's ability to sprint, he has an amazing uphill sprint, yet I highly doubt his normal sprint amounts to much at all and if I am not mistaken the finish is not uphill so I would be surprised to see him do well in this particular sprint.

Liquigas are a conundrom as they have constantly worked on the front, even when it wasnt necessary and Basso seemed to imply that that may very well continue. This means that though logically they shouldnt work on the front, they seem to see it as their duty to work and they may work, it may seem stupid but considering their actions of the previous 13 stages it may possibly be so.

 

[Wigwan]

There are and yes Katusha would want to get them for Rodriguez. But they generally seem to have been reticent in this Giro so far to put men on the front even when Purito has had the jersey and they also may want to keep their men as fresh as possible for the stages which actually count.

Also I think you are overrating Purito's ability to sprint, he has an amazing uphill sprint, yet I highly doubt his normal sprint amounts to much at all and if I am not mistaken the finish is not uphill so I would be surprised to see him do well in this particular sprint.

Liquigas are a conundrom as they have constantly worked on the front, even when it wasnt necessary and Basso seemed to imply that that may very well continue. This means that though logically they shouldnt work on the front, they seem to see it as their duty to work and they may work, it may seem stupid but considering their actions of the previous 13 stages it may possibly be so.

This. If Katusha wants the bonus seconds, thay will have to chase alone. No team is stupid enough to let Purito have another 20 seconds. He already has 28..

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Also I think you are overrating Purito's ability to sprint, he has an amazing uphill sprint, yet I highly doubt his normal sprint amounts to much at all and if I am not mistaken the finish is not uphill so I would be surprised to see him do well in this particular sprint.

Rodriguez has a good sprint for a climber but I don't expect him to win a bunch sprint or even a reduced bunch sprint here. I'd expect him to attack like a madman on the final climb and stay clear.

As for keeping their powder dry, Katusha have nine men in their squad and there's only so many of them who are likely to play an important role on real climbing stages. The ninth to fifth best climbers should certainly be expected to be able to do a bit of work on a stage like tomorrow.

 

[Froome19]

Rodriguez has a good sprint for a climber but I don't expect him to win a bunch sprint or even a reduced bunch sprint here. I'd expect him to attack like a madman on the final climb and stay clear.

As for keeping their powder dry, Katusha have nine men in their squad and there's only so many of them who are likely to play an important role on real climbing stages. The ninth to fifth best climbers should certainly be expected to be able to do a bit of work on a stage like tomorrow.

Indeed but they also need to control the first 3/4 of the stages which do require those riders. Especially considering they will need a lot of power to chase back themselves as it seems will occur.

I cant see him staying him away when all the other teams will know what he is on to and will be certain to try and keep things together, as much as possible.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Indeed but they also need to control the first 3/4 of the stages which do require those riders.

Sure, although so far they've been given a bit of an armchair ride by Liquigas, for reasons best known to the Liquigas DS.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I hope katusha man up and control the peloton. @ fetioff

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Cav would be well hacked off if Purito took another 25 pts here

So that's another good reason for Katusha to chase

 

[Frosty]

Katusha came 2nd in the TTT so they should be capable of riding very strongly on the front on the flat. Then again how much effort will they be willing to expend to get Rodriguez an extra 20 seconds bonus? If the group really breaks up on the climb and Scarponi or Hesjedal was to come second then it wouldnt be a 20 second bonus over the other contenders but Purito may well see Basso as his main challenger and Basso is unlikely to win even a very reduced bunch sprint.

J-rod gained 25 seconds in a few kilometres the other day so you could argue he will do the same again tomorrow. However, the lower amount of climbing beforehand should mean that someone like Szmyd will be able to hammer along on the front on the climb and so he shouldnt gain the same gap. Then in the final flat few kilometres he could be closed down although 15-20 seconds would probably be enough to stay clear.

I think it will depend on how many people go clear. If its a large break then Katusha will just roll along; if its just Kaisen and Keizer off the front then Katusha will chase. I think quite a lot of the punchier riders will fancy tomorrow's stage so i can see a big break trying to form. Probably be a fast early pace and then the break forming on the bump at 40km.

Like the idea of Slagter doing well tomorrow. He could even try to infiltrate a break as he has lost time and the leaders wouldnt be worried unless he looked like taking the jersey. If it is a big break then any people around that place in the GC might not have to use too much energy in the break.

To the person who was wondering if Geraint Thomas might go in the break. I had been wondering that too - he has been doing ok on the climbing stages, not in the autobus so maybe will feel he has the legs to go for it, if not then maybe Flecha. Interesting point about the points competition tomorrow, maybe that could be extra encouragement for Sky to get a man or two in the break (no talk of TTTs though please)

 

[wirral]

Rodriguez will definitely go for the win here and the 20-second bonus and the 25 points. This is one of 2 Purito-especifico stages on this Giro. This is where he knows he must grab what he can.

 

[The Hitch]

Rodriguez imo needs some others to have a go and follow them. On his own 2k + on the flat is risky and he doesn't want to tire himself out before 17

 

[Ferminal]

Good practice for Limburg.