Giro d'Italia, Stage 19: Bergamo - Macugnaga 209km

[luckyboy]

Rujano loses 2.20ish

 

[The Hitch]

Harmonn didnt translate the bit where they asked about Contador.

THat was the bit i wanted to hear. What did he say?

 

[*G*K*S*]

Total class act!

Good on ya Bertie.

 

[Bala Verde]

He might need Tiralongo if he is selected, or Astana in the TdF

 

[Ramira]

He basically attacked to make sure Purito didn't get him at the line. Chapeau AC. If this is Tiralongo's first win, then bravo

It Tiralongo's first every professional win, and I'm almost certain Contador knew.

 

[superconfex]

mmmmm Contador just won me over. What a gent to do that for a former team mate

 

[Merckx index]

Anyone understand this? Bert doesn't need the time, and he doesn't take the stage. If he's serious about riding the TDF, he should not being putting out any extra effort not needed to win the Giro. Why dig deep for a few extra seconds that won't make any difference?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Nibali on 34 secs from Scarponi. He can still finish second.

 

[indurain666]

What a classy champion

 

[Tuarts]

Don't think Nibali and Scarponi think he's a Gent. Was that 5 seconds really worth it or is he just racing as much as he can in case of the you-know-what?

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Alberto made a Vuelta'95 Jaja-Bert Dietz for Tiralongo today. Excellent.

 

[Jamsque]

He was trying to put time on his rivals. Good grief. He told Tiralongo to stay on his wheel.

Eh, he could have just left him out there to win on his own. He doesn't need more time, he already has more than enough.

Whatever. I'm fed up with watching Contador. I was fed up with watching him two years ago. Finding out that he is going to win the Tour this year as well has ruined my day.

 

[Publicus]

Another gift from Bertie. Seems kind of a **** move to pull back Tiralongo just to show he can and then let him win.

I think he was protecting Paolo from being overtaken by Purito or someone else. This was a true gift.

 

[luckyboy]

Another gift from Bertie. Seems kind of a **** move to pull back Tiralongo just to show he can and then let him win.

lol, clearly that is what he was doing

 

[Francois the Postman]

Another gift from Bertie. Seems kind of a **** move to pull back Tiralongo just to show he can and then let him win.

Or, not sure if one of the others might bridge the gap, so riding to cover all bases, just in case, with his preference to let Tira take it.

 

[Fourier]

I still don't get why Bertie attacked

 

[Escarabajo]

Contador the new Chuck Norris. No one has won this year unless Alberto has allowed it:

Rujano, Anton, Nieve and now Tiralongo

Not Nieve!

He could not reach him.

 

[UpTheRoad]

Another gift from Bertie. Seems kind of a **** move to pull back Tiralongo just to show he can and then let him win.

I looked at it as Tiralongo was tiring fast, AC bridged so he could start the leadout train and keep PT from getting caught.

 

[goggalor]

Beautiful win for Tiralongo! One of the moments of the season for me.

 

[riobonito92]

Anyone understand this? Bert doesn't need the time, and he doesn't take the stage. If he's serious about riding the TDF, he should not being putting out any extra effort not needed to win the Giro. Why dig deep for a few extra seconds that won't make any difference?

Psychology - a marker for the future

 

[Big GMaC]

Slo mo was epic, tiralongo grimacing infront, Bertie smiling

 

[Ramira]

Anyone understand this? Bert doesn't need the time, and he doesn't take the stage. If he's serious about riding the TDF, he should not being putting out any extra effort not needed to win the Giro. Why dig deep for a few extra seconds that won't make any difference?

Winning this stage would've cost him nothing, if he didn't want to lose energy he wouldn't even have made the jump not like he needs those seconds. If anything what he's doing this Giro is making friends so he has a lot of help in the TDF, I'm not sure this years Saxo will be as strong as Astana last year and if this Giro took something out of him he'll need all the help he can get to win the TDF.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Anyone understand this? Bert doesn't need the time, and he doesn't take the stage. If he's serious about riding the TDF, he should not being putting out any extra effort not needed to win the Giro. Why dig deep for a few extra seconds that won't make any difference?

I think this was a statement about tomorrow, not today. I think he wanted to send Nibali and Scarponi a message that he can drop them at will and he's feeling good.

 

[Benotti69]

Must be just me who sees a cynical ploy to Contador trying to win as many friends in the peloton with all these stage gifts.

It is hardly a win when the strongest guy gives it to you?

 

[The Hitch]

Nibali takes back 5 +8 seconds. On Scarponi.

Only 34 in it for 2nd/August gc.

Its coming down to the wire.