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

[Sydney Sider]

I just cant see Cadel holding his form the whole week , he is been in such good form for so long surely it has to end at some stage , he didnt look at his best the first mountain stage but luckily it was a stale mate. I would love too see him win it but Basso looks really really strong and i can see Sastre doing what he did in 2008c Tour

 

[Mellow Velo]

Pozzato takes of with "Smoke on the Water" hammering out over race speakers.
Psychological warfare!

 

[ttrider]

how long till the important gc guys go i guess cunego or scarponi is the first?

 

[taiwan]

It'll be confusing seeing all the national RR champs in regular team kit, and all the TT champs on road bikes.

[edit] but not that confusing.

 

[sportzchick]

I just cant see Cadel holding his form the whole week , he is been in such good form for so long surely it has to end at some stage , he didnt look at his best the first mountain stage but luckily it was a stale mate. I would love too see him win it but Basso looks really really strong and i can see Sastre doing what he did in 2008c Tour

I think Basso has it - he hasnt have to do half the work due having his team mate in most of the stages leading up and wont have to for the rest of the stages.

Its going to take a minor miracle for Cadel to get up

Still you cant say he hasnt done us Aussies and the Rainbow gurnsey proud.

 

[taiwan]

... i can see Sastre doing what he did in 2008c Tour

One reason he can't do that is that in this case is he's the only GC threat on his team, so he'll get marked immediately if anyone's capable.

 

[dgodave]

Not a good day to glimpse a basilica.
.

 

[dresch]

Current Betfair odds for the TT:

Basso $2.74
Evans $3.00
Scarponi $6.80

Only a very small market though, so the favourites are shorter than they deserve to be.

 

[Sydney Sider]

I think Basso has it - he hasnt have to do half the work due having his team mate in most of the stages leading up and wont have to for the rest of the stages.

Its going to take a minor miracle for Cadel to get up

Still you cant say he hasnt done us Aussies and the Rainbow gurnsey proud.

He has found a new lease of life this year and has been riding brilliantly , would have been good for him to have hincapie here with him for support

 

[Jamsque]

Fernando Alonso spotted!

Everyone take a shot.

 

[davis_123]

I love the Evans trolls in this thread, rarara he will struggle because of his "style". I don't even think these people believe this themselves, Evans showed his intent for this ITT when he rode it before the Giro started.

Evans will attack this stage, talk of his style effecting him is laughable.

 

[taiwan]

I wonder how Wiggins will get on, being an excellent time triallist and good climber.

I think Pinotti might be the (minor) surprise here.

[edit] Dan Martin second at intermediate checkpoint, +1 on Szmyd.

 

[Zen Master]

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.

Main problem in sunday on the Zoncolan stage was his out of the saddle mashing a big gear style because he lost to much energy and gain practically nothing. Just look what's happened to Contador on the 2008 Plan de Corones ITT, because Berto also prefer out of the saddle style of climbing

 

[Ferminal]

Martin only 1s down on Szmyd!

 

[Jamsque]

Dan Martin just one second down on Szmyd (my that's a lot of consonants) at the time check.

 

[issoisso]

A poll of team directors before the stage shows most bet on Scarponi for the stage

 

[sportzchick]

I love the Evans trolls in this thread, rarara he will struggle because of his "style". I don't even think these people believe this themselves, Evans showed his intent for this ITT when he rode it before the Giro started.

Evans will attack this stage, talk of his style effecting him is laughable.

oh I agree

Im just worried he once again has had to do too much hard work against his main competitior

Somthings gotta give - hes not superman

 

[taiwan]

Main problem in sunday on the Zoncolan stage was his out of the saddle mashing a big gear style because he lost to much energy and gain practically nothing. Just look what's happened to Contador on the 2008 Plan de Corones ITT, because Berto also prefer out of the saddle style of climbing

Well that's a different problem from rear wheel traction. Yes the smoother styles would be more efficient, you would think.

 

[Jamsque]

The road surface at the top part definitely looks better than it did two years ago.

 

[Moondance]

oh I agree

Im just worried he once again has had to do too much hard work against his main competitior

Somthings gotta give - hes not superman

Don't let ACF hear this.

 

[Moondance]

Martin is looking strong.

 

[davidw]

And we're back with the chat:

http://www.bikechatter.com/chat

I also have live tweets piped in, so you can follow the action and discuss it from the chat itself.

 

[Zen Master]

I love the Evans trolls in this thread, rarara he will struggle because of his "style". I don't even think these people believe this themselves, Evans showed his intent for this ITT when he rode it before the Giro started.

Evans will attack this stage, talk of his style effecting him is laughable.

You and your knowledge about climbing by bike are laughable...
Like I said... What's happened to him on Zoncolan ?!

 

[Ferminal]

Kiryienka's intermediate was faster than his 2008 one.

 

[Jamsque]

Wiggo is going to blind some spectators in this sunlight with his pearly white skinsuit.