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

[Moondance]

19.31 for Anton, just pipping Michael Barry to the line. Breakaway tomorrow?

Very likely.

 

[phanatic]

Spectacular by Bertie, but he sometimes seems to be toying with the competition like a cat with its prey. I think this was what Nibali was saying about the climb to Zoncolan last week, when Contador waited and then attacked again.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

lol. I stand by my comments that Montevergine. is harder.

They just raced it differently. Macugnaga came after 19 days and a far longer stage (which i mentioned btw😉) but that does not mean that the climb itself is more difficult.

Which is exactly what I said and why I expected more differences on this climb than on Montevergne, because it's after 3 weeks

 

[Benotti69]

Contador could volunteer in a leper colony and his haters would accuse him of trying to upgrade body parts.

If that is directed at me, i dont hate Contador merely find his 'gifts' unusual. I wonder is just a master of PR and especially now that he is in front of CAS soon.

 

[Publicus]

I am not questioning his 'class', his character but his performances, which is being discussed in the clinic and CAS. The comparison for me is related to what we saw in the TdF 99-00, he has an amazing 5+ minutes over 2nd.

But let's be clear, neither Scarponi or Nibbles are in AC's league in the mountains. Most if the real talented climbers skipped the Giro so I wouldn't read too much into that time gap.

 

[El Pistolero]

Movistar -- i can see that, also considering he is ultimately planning to go there or just movie guys want him to be there.

But like hell Vino will give his own teammates to do work for Conta this time.

Vino's not going for GC.

 

[markene2]

Vino's not going for GC.

Oh yes he is.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

If that is directed at me, i dont hate Contador merely find his 'gifts' unusual. I wonder is just a master of PR and especially now that he is in front of CAS soon.

Not at all, and I think your point is very valid. Frankly, the only point with which I disagree is the comparison of Contador with Armstrong. Their riding styles and the character of their dominance is dramatically different.

There is no doubt Contador's gifts are unusual. I think the Outside magazine article from 2004 discussing Saiz' surprise at seeing LLS and Contador put out 500 watts on the trainer pointed to their amazing natural abilities.

Whether those are enhanced is a matter for the clinic, but Contador is certainly unusual from a physical standpoint.

 

[Maxiton]

It retired last year after a 2-year comeback that culminated with a magnificent victory in the Nevada City crit. 🙂

Lol. +1.

Contador could volunteer in a leper colony and his haters would accuse him of trying to upgrade body parts.

Yep.

 

[Frosty]

Interesting lanterne rouge competition. Van Emden sits in pole position at the moment but he may well do a good TT on the final day and he only has 2 minutes in hand on Favilli

 

[rzombie1988]

But let's be clear, neither Scarponi or Nibbles are in AC's league in the mountains. Most if the real talented climbers skipped the Giro so I wouldn't read too much into that time gap.

As I said earlier in this race when Contador first started attacking: I would be embarassed if I was looked at as a GC contender in this race. Contador has completely owned them and made everyone look so weak.

 

[*G*K*S*]

I don't get some people if Contador hadn't allowed gifts and had won a few more stages some would complain..boring Giro, Contador is winning too many stages, turning out to be a rubbish race etc etc etc and when he "gifts" stages Contador is then showing no respect to other riders/the race by letting them win. I'm sure if you ask Tira if he was upset angry with Contador the answer would be no.

 

[Benotti69]

But let's be clear, neither Scarponi or Nibbles are in AC's league in the mountains. Most if the real talented climbers skipped the Giro so I wouldn't read too much into that time gap.

Schleck and Sanchez? Maybe Basso?

Let's be clear Italians perform much better in the Giro than the TdF as it means more to the tifosi and their future prospects to be a Giro winner than a TdF winner.

Menchov finished 2 minutes behind Contador at last years TdF? Crap rider Menchov!

 

[Mellow Velo]

lol. I stand by my comments that Montevergine. is harder.

They just raced it differently. Macugnaga came after 19 days and a far longer stage (which i mentioned btw😉) but that does not mean that the climb itself is more difficult.


DT/MV 1, Hitch/Roundabout 2😉

Oy, now steady on, I shared DT and my goal and you want 2 for fast tempo and fatigue? (DT's too)

I want 2 goals for using experience, then.

2003, stage 19: Canelli-Cascata Toce, 239 km (Low Alps)
Similar climb to today. Longish, shallow gradient.
1 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Team Saeco 6.20.05 (37.728 km/h)
2 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 0.03
3 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI
4 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Alessio 0.10
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio 0.13
6 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Lampre 0.21
7 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Lampre 0.27
8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
9 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI 0.36
10 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 0.39

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

being this classy, conti will never approach eddy'd record of winning 1/3 of his races 😉

Haha. Probably so. That plus the fact riders overall are so much more fit in this generation than Eddy's will make it a lot tougher to do nowdays.

I liked what I saw in the last kms. I wish I could climb that fast like those guys, even if just in my dreams.

 

[nvpacchi]

Interesting lanterne rouge competition. Van Emden sits in pole position at the moment but he may well do a good TT on the final day and he only has 2 minutes in hand on Favilli

Nice!

Back in the day, the wearer of the "black jersey" was always a fan favorite on the routes because he was closest in physical ability to the "common man."

Italians always had such sympathy for the "black jersey" that they would make small donations throughout the race, so it was always extremely profitable and strangely coveted to be last. I was reading that in 1949 the last place rider Carollo garnered some 200,000 lire throughout the entire Giro.

 

[lejarreta]

Gift another win to Euskaltel, after two already?

Maybe it was a return-the-gift to Anton after almost all EE had worked (was it the previous stage?) for him (or Rujano, as you wish).

I'm not so sure about a possible gift to Nieve. I think he didn't want to go so red to catch him, and of course didn't have to.

 

[Granville57]

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.

That's how I saw it. Great maneuvering by AC.

For as much as I don't care about Contador, I am starting to get excited about the Tour-Giro double!

That's it. Bit by bit I want to win a few more over. 😉
I don't know what would be more interesting or exciting than seeing Contador in this years TdF.

Tiralongo telling RAI that Contador and him are mates. Contador told him at 6kms it would be a good time to attack.

Some great post-race coverage on RAI. Man, Tiralongo just had the greatest day of his professional life. Just gushing with emotion. And Contador was glowing as well during his exchange with Merckx.

My favorite part was when he said...
Oh, wait. I don't speak Italian. 😛

Raw emotion = the universal language.

Great stage, with a win for the ages. Bang bang!

 

[thirteen]

But like hell Vino will give his own teammates to do work for Conta this time.

true. this year's TDF is for Vino and Vino only (as it should be).

Contador helping out Tiralongo was a thank you for all the mighty help Tira gave him in the past.

*******************

and lest people moan that this is against the cycling they know, there is absolutely no way that AC wouldn't have taken the stage if it was clear Tira was doomed. (think of Stage 12 of last year's TDF -- AC would not have attacked Vino if it Purito hadn't gone after him.)

push comes to shove, he rides for himself first and foremost and has the heart and head of a champion.

 

[Benotti69]

Not at all, and I think your point is very valid. Frankly, the only point with which I disagree is the comparison of Contador with Armstrong. Their riding styles and the character of their dominance is dramatically different.

There is no doubt Contador's gifts are unusual. I think the Outside magazine article from 2004 discussing Saiz' surprise at seeing LLS and Contador put out 500 watts on the trainer pointed to their amazing natural abilities.

Whether those are enhanced is a matter for the clinic, but Contador is certainly unusual from a physical standpoint.

Ok MM.

I would like to know was there another cyclist from before the 90's that we could compare Contador's amazing climbing and fantastic ability to TT?

If Contador is playing politics in the peloton and I dont have a problem with that, it his manner of doing it so obviously that bothers me! If i was Tiralongo it would sully the victory for me! Contador could have acted like he was wrecked and made it look like Tiralongo got him on the line, that's real class as it doesnt sully the victory for Tiralongo.

 

[El Pistolero]

Ok MM.

I would like to know was there another cyclist from before the 90's that we could compare Contador's amazing climbing and fantastic ability to TT?

If Contador is playing politics in the peloton and I dont have a problem with that, it his manner of doing it so obviously that bothers me! If i was Tiralongo it would sully the victory for me! Contador could have acted like he was wrecked and made it look like Tiralongo got him on the line, that's real class as it doesnt sully the victory for Tiralongo.

Most breakaway wins are only won because the favorites don't want to race. It's just as much a gift then this is a gift. Just more boring.

 

[luckyboy]

If i was Tiralongo it would sully the victory for me! Contador could have acted like he was wrecked and made it look like Tiralongo got him on the line, that's real class as it doesnt sully the victory for Tiralongo.

Come on, I don't think Tiralongo will care. It's his first pro win and he has done it in his home race after 11 years as a professional.

I would be like Haussler at the Tour 2009 if I managed to get a win in a race as big as this, no matter how it came about.

 

[Publicus]

Schleck and Sanchez? Maybe Basso?

Let's be clear Italians perform much better in the Giro than the TdF as it means more to the tifosi and their future prospects to be a Giro winner than a TdF winner.

Menchov finished 2 minutes behind Contador at last years TdF? Crap rider Menchov!

Those three plus more. Nibbles could become a good GC rider, but he's just not in AC's league. I think Scarponi's best days are behind him (but he definitely has the instincts).

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Ok MM.

I would like to know was there another cyclist from before the 90's that we could compare Contador's amazing climbing and fantastic ability to TT?

If Contador is playing politics in the peloton and I dont have a problem with that, it his manner of doing it so obviously that bothers me! If i was Tiralongo it would sully the victory for me! Contador could have acted like he was wrecked and made it look like Tiralongo got him on the line, that's real class as it doesnt sully the victory for Tiralongo.

I think fans interpret these actions differently from the racers. I don't think it sullied Tiralongo's victory at all. Contador stayed in the pack much longer than Tiralongo, so he would have been fresher anyway.

Tiralongo had a magnificent victory with a well-timed attack, and his emotion after the stage betrayed no sense that his victory was anything but beautiful.

I'd put Lemond in that natural talent category. Hinault as well.

 

[Granville57]

If Contador is playing politics in the peloton and I dont have a problem with that, it his manner of doing it so obviously that bothers me! If i was Tiralongo it would sully the victory for me! Contador could have acted like he was wrecked and made it look like Tiralongo got him on the line, that's real class as it doesnt sully the victory for Tiralongo.

I get what you're saying, but I also appreciate the sincerity of Contador's gesture. I think he was protecting both his AND Tiralongo's interest in the way he rode. Everyone knows that Contador is currently on a different level, so for him for feign defeat would probably look bad and only open him up for more criticism.

Plus, Tiralongo didn't seem to mind one bit. He was ecstatic with his win today, and when all is said and done, his name will be in the history books and he'll forever have a photo of himself crossing the line first with Alberto Contador right behind him. A story that, no doubt, his grand children will know by heart. 🙂