Giro d'Italia Stage 16: San Vigilio di Marebbe - Kronplatz (ITT) 12.9km

[python]

to be in a range of plausibility we need to compare wind and temperature between 2008 and today. what's the word on that ?

 

[issoisso]

I'm not sure it's tenable to imagine everyone was doped in 2008, and no one is doped in 2010.

No one even so much as hinted at something like that. Cleaner, yes. Especially with the new EPO test and the blood passport. Clean? No chance in hell.

 

[Zoncolan]

I think the wide base of the time changes - almost everyone who can be compared is going significantly slower - suggests there are other factors than the favoured doping issue going on here. I'm not sure it's tenable to imagine everyone was doped in 2008, and no one is doped in 2010.

Exactly. It has more to do with the course this year and the fact that each stage saw really hard racing. They are all hurting. The rest day might have helped but not too much.
Winning time should be around 41:30 IMO.

 

[taiwan]

Wow, Pat McQuaid being interviewed on Rai. Asking him about Lance's donation.

[edit] Beaten like a German sprinter.

Ouch.

Says donation used for sysmex (sp.) machine, keeps saying there was no conflict of interest between acceptance of the donation and being governor of Lance's sport.

Asking him about the surplus. Says 10 odd thousand is in the UCI's accounts for developing the sport.

Didn't get that, but asking about the image Basso's success is projecting of the sport, but he isn't being drawn. (I'm missing a lot. Jamsque?)

Asked about Valverde, but didn't catch the whole answer, somthing about aiting for a descision from court. Said he should be sanctioned, no specific time.

 

[Jamsque]

[edit] Beaten like a German sprinter.

Rai is broadcasting already. They have Pat McQuaid in the studio, but I can't tell if they are being nice to him or not.

 

[Walkman]

Wow, Pat McQuaid being interviewed on Rai. Asking him about Lance's donation.

What does he say? (I can't get Rai to work now..)

 

[Zen Master]

If it's not rocket science, then Evans will know how to ride on gravel, particularly seeing as he raced XC. He targetted stage 7 because he thought it would suit his abilities. They've all reconned the course. I don't expect the surface to cause problems for him more than guys who ride in the saddle.

[edit] Although stage 7 didn't go to 20%

Believe me when you ride on 20+% gravel road ( with slick tires ) you must stay in the saddle, period. Even the small amount of dirt on asphalt in that 20+% case is a problem

 

[taiwan]

Believe me when you ride on 20+% gravel road ( with slick tires ) you must stay in the saddle, period. Even the small amount of dirt on asphalt in that 20+% case is a problem

And Evans is unlikely to know about the difficulties of this course?

 

[Anonymous]

Apart from the fact that Nibali hasn't done much work for Basso, so far.

Apart from pacing basso for about 30k on stage 7 after the crash. If nibali had gone it on his own that day and ditched basso he would be much closer to pink, and basso would be out of contention.

 

[Sydney Sider]

And Evans is unlikely to know about the difficulties of this course?

I think Evans did a recon of the course yesterday , not 100% sure though

 

[Zoncolan]

Apart from pacing basso for about 30k on stage 7 after the crash. If nibali had gone it on his own that day and ditched basso he would be much closer to pink, and basso would be out of contention.

He was pacing him mostly downhill, while Basso was doing most of the work going uphill.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Where ees de monies, Pat?
Now saying it's still the UCI bank account.
Coming across as very defensive.
Apparently, Lance and the Hog had a VIP tour of HQ.
Probably planning how their furniture would look.

Valverde will be gone, just as soon as CAS confirm.......

 

[Frosty]

I think Evans did a recon of the course yesterday , not 100% sure though

Pinotti did, i imagine pretty much everyone would have done, especially those who didnt do it in 2008.

http://twitter.com/marcopinotti

 

[Zoncolan]

And Evans is unlikely to know about the difficulties of this course?

You are missing the point.
It is about the difference in their respective styles of climbing. Cuddles a lot more out of the saddle.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I think Evans did a recon of the course yesterday , not 100% sure though

Here's Evans, Pellizotti, Scarponi having a look at the course a few weeks ago

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/evans-simoni-pellizotti-scout-plan-de-corones-course

 

[Sydney Sider]

Here's Evans, Pellizotti, Scarponi having a look at the course a few weeks ago

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/evans-simoni-pellizotti-scout-plan-de-corones-course

http://tweetphoto.com/23760354 he did do a recon yesterday aswell

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

About racing times. Not sure it will be that slower than in '08. Szmyd was only 37 seconds slower than two years ago, he was in the top20 back then and was (my guess) riding with extra motivation.

 

[Jamsque]

Final group of riders has started. Dan Martin is out on the course, I hope he can do as well as he did yesterday.

 

[search]

I think Evans did a recon of the course yesterday , not 100% sure though

yes, he did a recon yesterday. But even Charles Wegelius did, so I think every contender for the overall classification will have done it

 

[Teddler]

Cadel did a recon pre giro and yesterday according to his twitter, he know's the course, also as a former mountain biker he knows all about riding on dirt and gravel in very steep sections. His bike handling will be fine despite the differences in style

 

[gabdexa]

What does he say? (I can't get Rai to work now..)

Very interesting interview to PatMcQuaid:

Q: Do u think is correct to accept money from active cyclists?
A: We're a no profit organization, we accept money from associations, sponsors, why not from cyclist? Moreover (in agree with an italian journalist there), it's good for a clean rider to help anti-doping organization.

Q: did u receive 100k $, the antidoping machien u bought cost 89k, what about teh other 11k?
A: they are still available with all the other money we have

Q: What do u think about Basso and Evans image in this Giro?
A: I have a very very good idea of Basso, he did wrong, he had been aware of it, he paid and decided to help cycling coming back in a complete transparent way. He's absolutely transparent now, I talk to him many times and the last durin romandie, He know he has responsibilities to himself, his family, cycling and he's right now a very good example of clean cycling. Evans, too, is known among many people within cycling world being a clean rider, therefore their battle here is a true sporting battle and a very good image for Giro

Q: why the ToC has been moved in parallel to Giro? Can this choice generate a conflict?
A: There are teams with 25+ riders, no problem in having two competitive teams at the same time, for example liquigas right now. Moreover, ToC is a lower level and half od participants are from continental american teams.

Q: Valverde tops the UCI classification, what do u think about it?
A: Personally, I think Varverde should have been out of cycling for 2 years since octuber 2006. For legal problems this has not been possible, but we're waiting for CAS decision and after that he'll be suspended. From that moment on, he'll be deleted from the UCI classification.

 

[taiwan]

You are missing the point.
It is about the difference in their respective styles of climbing. Cuddles a lot more out of the saddle.

I just don't buy that his climbing style is going to cause him inevitable problems when he's a particularly experienced rider, and has prepared seriously for the race. I think I understand the point. I'm prepared to be wrong about that, but I don't see it.

[edit] Gazzetta up, BTW.

 

[powderpuff]

 

[luckyboy]

Sporza feed - http://www.vshare.tv/live/258477/Dave1/1

Gazzetta Feed is up too - http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Looking at the times that have come in so far I reckon they are about 20 seconds faster than 2008