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

[thirteen]

Not to beat this into the ground but...

I imagine the story going something like this:

"You see this picture children?! That is that Great Alberto Contador behind me! He was the greatest Grand Tour rider of his generation. Your Grandpa was such a trusted and loyal domestique to the Great Alberto when we were teammates that, even though we were riding for different teams waaaaay back in 2011, he personally escorted me to the line for my very first win! He kept looking back to ensure my success that day. Had anyone challenged his supremacy, he would've warned me and the two of us would've attacked even harder!"


What are these guys made of. It never ceases to amaze me what they can withstand. Impressive.

and that picture is already up on his webpage
http://www.paolotiralongo.it/

 

[No_Balls]

Eurosport's David Harmon (watching Tiralongo following Contador to the line) "What could be better than Contador for giving you a wheel to follow?"
Sean Kelly: "A 250 cc motorbike?"

Yeah, good there. Actually i think Kelly said: "Contador 250 cc" but i can be mistaken.

 

[Benotti69]

"Did you race with Contador, dad?"

*BIG EYES*

Hell of a story.

"was he the one who busted for clen dad?"

*Tears in the Eyes*

 

[Benotti69]

Yeah, good there. Actually i think Kelly said: "Contador 250 cc" but i can be mistaken.

"kawasaki 250cc"

 

[Benotti69]

I don't think that Contador should be in this race. However, to be fair to the man, I don't say that because I think he's a personally unpleasant individual. On the contrary, he gives the impression that he's a pretty generous guy. There's nothing wrong with helping an old teammate get his only professional win.

There's also nothing wrong with wanting to be liked in the peloton. Ask Stephen Roche, for instance, how much his undoubted personal popularity in the peloton helped his career. Riders who weren't on his team fairly consistently helped him out at crucial moments, both because they liked him and because they knew he could be relied upon to return the favour on another occasion. Helping an old team mate to have his big day is one of those happy coincidences of generosity and enlightened self-interest.

When Roche raced the English speaking riders had a great rapport, but it wasn't always beneficial. Robert Millar didn't get help from Sean Kelly on the stage he lost the Vuelta. But Millar helped ride with Roche to protect him from the anry Italians in the mountains during his Giro win.

 

[No_Balls]

"kawasaki 250cc"

Ohh, sorry. Me and irish...

 

[thirteen]

"was he the one who busted for clen dad?"

*Tears in the Eyes*

yes, we get it.

we're not that thick. you don't have to spell it out.

i'm really sorry if the current situation ruins your enjoyment, but it is what it is.

 

[Benotti69]

Ohh, sorry. Me and irish...

its allright it's his half irish half belgian accent that can be difficult.

 

[La Vie Claire]

I remember once when Indurain was around the peloton used to say: We all need to pray to Saint Miguel wheter you´ll need to pee or have a rest

He was the last true patron around (thus he rewarded stages from left to right). What we saw today was the emerge of the new one.

All hail, Saint Alberto.

So true of Indurain, but I wonder whether armchair cyclists 20 years from now will consider Contador and Indurain not in the league of the true greats b/c of their relatively few stages wins in the GTs. I think it's great that he's handing out stage wins. He doesn't need to rub it in to the peloton by winning 5+ stages or padding his lead since he's clearly a class above. That said, I hope he goes for the mountain jersey tomorrow rather than gifting it Garzelli.

When the Tour rolls around, I just hope that he learned his lesson from last year about gifting those stages to whiny and ungrateful Schleck.

 

[Benotti69]

yes, we get it.

we're not that thick. you don't have to spell it out.

i'm really sorry if the current situation ruins your enjoyment, but it is what it is.

Dont apologise if its not your fault as the situation has not changed for a while, since 1990. I watch the racing with both eyes open. Less disappointment that way.

 

[El Pistolero]

its allright it's his half irish half belgian accent that can be difficult.

I'm Belgian and I don't have a clue about what he's saying

First time I heard him commentate I though he was from India. Then they told me that was Sean Kelly speaking.

 

[ManInFull]

When the Tour rolls around, I just hope that he learned his lesson from last year about gifting those stages to whiny and ungrateful Schleck.

I'm not sure that he was gifting anything to Baby Schleck last year. For one, AC was not at his best or there is not much difference been Baby Schleck and AC. I really don't think AC wanted to win the TdF without winning a single stage--that's what happened last year.

 

[Granville57]

and that picture is already up on his webpage
http://www.paolotiralongo.it/

That's the one!
In a giant frame, right over the fireplace...and one over his bed...and in the bathroom...one in the garage...

*Tears in the Eyes*

MOM!!! Uncle Benotti is starting trouble again!

C'mon, B! Did you watch that Saxo video? AC looks sharp in a suit!
The guy's got style on and off the bike.

 

[ferryman]

When Roche raced the English speaking riders had a great rapport, but it wasn't always beneficial. Robert Millar didn't get help from Sean Kelly on the stage he lost the Vuelta. But Millar helped ride with Roche to protect him from the anry Italians in the mountains during his Giro win.

Kelly was riding for a Spanish team so no surprise in that. Roche and Millar had a bond from way back as it was Robert who recommended Stephen to the legendary ACBB, as was tradition after he got his first Pro contract.

 

[Granville57]

First time I heard him commentate I though he was from India. Then they told me that was Sean Kelly speaking.

LMAO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFoAuKm-f64

Kelly usual lulls me into a deep sleep.

Todd Gogulski is my main man these days.

 

[Benotti69]

That's the one!
In a giant frame, right over the fireplace...and one over his bed...and in the bathroom...one in the garage...



MOM!!! Uncle Benotti is starting trouble again!

C'mon, B! Did you watch that Saxo video? AC looks sharp in a suit!
The guy's got style on and off the bike.

you dont need to worry about Mad Uncle B, he's always going off on one.

By the time that story has been handed down in an Sicilian family it will look like evil Spaniard *Uncle Albert was trying to rob Grandad Paolo.......

*Sicilly was part of the Spanish Empire for 300 years IIRC.

 

[lancaster]

AC has been the big man. comfortably the strongest guy out there. could've won rujano's stage could've won today, i think he wanted zoncolan just left it too late. generous to the point that it underlines how strong he's been.

i really hope he goes for the mountains jersey. the sweep would be something very special.

 

[thirteen]

lol!

you really have to stop this humour! i am supposed to be watching TV with my boyfriend but instead i am trying to stifle my snickers about Sean Kelly from India, Mad Uncle B, and an irate Sicilian family determine to get revenge

 

[Wergeland]

This is the difference in thinking between a real winner and a non-winner. Contador: "I have pain in my legs, but I think, the others have even more pain".

While a normal rider might think "I have pain in my legs, I'm not good enough".

That's basic cycling tactic. You attack when your legs hurt the most since that's when it's most likely that your opponents hurt as well. If you wait untill your heartrate is lowered your opponents heartrate will be lowered as well.

 

[No_Balls]

So true of Indurain, but I wonder whether armchair cyclists 20 years from now will consider Contador and Indurain not in the league of the true greats b/c of their relatively few stages wins in the GTs.

Well, Contador will at least come out as the more "spectacular" of them two. I urge you to remember that Mig was considered "boring" in his hey-days. I think he had one none-TT victory to his palmarés and that was not even in his winning days, but -89 if i am right.

And as always, the competition, has tightened in the last 15-20 years so it wouldn´t be very wise as a patron ruling with the iron fist. You´ll never know when you need a friend or two.

I think it's great that he's handing out stage wins. He doesn't need to rub it in to the peloton by winning 5+ stages or padding his lead since he's clearly a class above. That said, I hope he goes for the mountain jersey tomorrow rather than gifting it to Garzelli.

That is why i think the gift to Tiralongo was good in two aspects: 1) he pleased the crowd as much as a friend of him. 2) He now has the prejudice of chasing Garzelli since he was so generous to the other Italian the day before.

When the Tour rolls around, I just hope that he learned his lesson from last year about gifting those stages to whiny and ungrateful Schleck.

I think he have. Speaking of Andy, boy do that man need friends now? Come June we will have Patron Alberto the good vs Andy the whiner.

 

[Big GMaC]

http://www.paolotiralongo.it/

Epic Euro Website Music And Flash

 

[WindLessBreeze]

maglia nera boys

I'm glad for Paolo; It goes to show what a gentleman AC is. Second (third) stage he allows to slip out of his hand, glad as he is of the fact that Euskatel, Astana, Androni, etc. have helped a truly weak Saxo Bank after the split.

 

[Arnout]

Anton came in 19 minutes down, hit the tarmac it seems and is very tired. That Zoncolan has cost him more than I expected.

 

[RedZone]

The main talking point should be Porte not finishing in the Grupetto. pretty sure Liggetts TDF podium prediction is a lock.

 

[maltiv]

Anton came in 19 minutes down, hit the tarmac it seems and is very tired. That Zoncolan has cost him more than I expected.

Surely, he must have caught some sort of illness? It doesn't make sense to improve every day, until winning on the hardest mountain of them all, and then suddenly suck the rest of the race.