Giro d'Italia: Stage 2: Alba - Parma 244km

[just some guy]

Why only 21?

Actually got me thinking an evil idea for an opening prologue would be a 1km uphill in the middle of a steep hill.. Hell even somewhere like that that hill from (I think) last years tour of Britain would work so should be able to find one somewhere in a city willing to pay!

use a steep flemish hill. That would be fun.

and cobbles

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Mur-de-Huy&MountainID=927[

pshow do you get images to show (different system than I´m used to ) ?

 

[just some guy]

Perfect tiker day today-

keep up with going on, watch the replays tonight

Old skool for me today Robbie and Ale-jet

 

[Raceoftruth]

Sprint finish, likely to be cav. Should be interesting to see if lampre put the hammer down on the climb to try and shell some of the sprinters out the back!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Ventoso for the win today!

 

[dlwssonic]

kristoff for a top 10 cav obviously for the win. farrar second. petacchi third.

 

[Tuarts]

Ventoso for the win today!

My heart says yes but my mind says no, not today

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

My heart says yes but my mind says no, not today

yeah, he will have his chances, but I don't think he can get over the likes of cav on this finish.

 

[rhubroma]

In respective interviews today between Cav and Ali-Jet in la Gazzetta dello Sport, I though this a sweet quote by Petacchi:

GdS: Una volata in percentuale?
A sprint in percentages?
AP: Gambe: 90%. Testa: 50%. 1E siamo già al 140%.
Legs: 90%. Head: 50%. And we're already at 140%.

GdS: Rimane ****io per l'anima? (Don't know why "space" is censored.)
Is their any space left for the soul? (We'd probably say "heart" in english)
AP: L'anima è per la salita. Ai velocisti basta l'adrenalina.
The soul is for a climb. To sprinters, adrenaline is enough.

Let's see, at 37 years old, if Alessandro's got the adrenaline to win today's sprint.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Rai on very early, this morning, for the long day in the saddle.
Great, carnival-like atmosphere, under a glorious Sky.

Rai have been interviewing the riders and getting them to sing songs
to their mamas! Very funny with Fumi Beppu.
Even had a few bars from the Maglia Rosa.
Pavarotti, he ain't.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

use a steep flemish hill. That would be fun.

Why only 21?

Actually got me thinking an evil idea for an opening prologue would be a 1km uphill in the middle of a steep hill.. Hell even somewhere like that that hill from (I think) last years tour of Britain would work so should be able to find one somewhere in a city willing to pay!

This is what I had in mind for the prologue:

 

[palmerq]

I think cavendish to win quite easily, Petacchi I think is the only guy who can beat him him normally but he has been on bad form recently and is 37, Farrar hasn't looked good either.

 

[screaming fist]

My prediction:

Main break of the day getting tired early, so that the peloton is only at about a minute when hitting that speed bumps with 40 to 30k to go. Some punchers jump away and catch the break fast.
HTC working as hard as they can, the race leader pulling at the front. They manage to catch the breakaway with 2k to go and it looks quite good for Cav. Their DS screams into the mic: "Cav, mind the sharp bends in the finale!". But Cav as Cav can does his thing and crashes, taking out Farrar and some. Ale-Jet however cruises to stage win and race lead.

 

[jens_attacks]

what a generous breakaway:

Sebastian Lang

4'20"

peloton

hoogie and visconti will go on that climb mark my words.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

My prediction:

Main break of the day getting tired early, so that the peloton is only at about a minute when hitting that speed bumps with 40 to 30k to go. Some punchers jump away and catch the break fast.
HTC working as hard as they can, the race leader pulling at the front. They manage to catch the breakaway with 2k to go and it looks quite good for Cav. Their DS screams into the mic: "Cav, mind the sharp bends in the finale!". But Cav as Cav can does his thing and crashes, taking out Farrar and some. Ale-Jet however cruises to stage win and race lead.

That was le Tour 2010

 

[hrotha]

what a generous breakaway:

Sebastian Lang

4'20"

peloton

hoogie and visconti will go on that climb mark my words.

I suppose Hoogerland is just dumb enough to give it a try but they should save their efforts for a more fitting stage (like, any stage that isn't this one).

 

[rhubroma]

I think cavendish to win quite easily, Petacchi I think is the only guy who can beat him him normally but he has been on bad form recently and is 37, Farrar hasn't looked good either.

Cav says he's only at 70-80% of form, has only 2 wins to date thus far and has not enjoyed a sensational opening season. He was nowhere, for example, at MSR. Saying he'll win "quite easily", consequently, seems a bit of stretch. And it also negates the desire and talent of his rivals.

If he does win, therefore, it will likely be after much sweat and a "pull it all out" effort.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Besides, for a team a win in a TTT is just as good as a win from an individual stage. Especially if you win the pink jersey while at it with an Italian cyclist. Glad they didn't let Cav sprint for it, at least shows he isn't an ungrateful sob.

Cavendish has his flaws, but being an ingrate to his teammates isn't one of them. I don't think I've ever seen an interview with him where he wasn't giving credit to his team, Renshaw in particular.

 

[palmerq]

Cav says he's only at 70-80% of form, has only 2 wins to date thus far and has not enjoyed a sensational opening season. He was nowhere, for example, at MSR. Saying he'll win "quite easily", consequently, seems a bit of stretch. And it also negates the desire and talent of his rivals.

If he does win, therefore, it will likely be after much sweat and a "pull it all out" effort.

Yes it does a bit, but I think that it's the truth, none of his rivals are close to him, I think he can only lose the stages here with bad luck.. He has the best team and is by far the best sprinter and none of the other guys seem to be on top form either.

 

[Eshnar]

How many crashes there will be today? Considering the peloton has 207 people and there are colombians...

 

[rhubroma]

Yes it does a bit, but I think that it's the truth, none of his rivals are close to him, I think he can only lose the stages here with bad luck.. He has the best team and is by far the best sprinter and none of the other guys seem to be on top form either.

Time will tell. But any athlete at only 70-80% of form (by his own admission) means that his rivals will, quite to the contrary, be rather close to him.

 

[Eshnar]

Lang has 13'26" @ Km 41.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Lang has 13'26" @ Km 41.

Boy, this has all the makings of a old fashioned Giro stage.
Give him 20 minutes and all ride tranquillo for 4 or 5 hours, then blast the last 90 minutes.
Could be a late finish.

 

[Ferminal]

200km to go, Lang FTW, long day riding solo.

 

[Mellow Velo]

At 50kms in, Lang has 18 minutes.
That means the peloton have covered less than 40km.

 

[insideout leadout]

Time will tell. But any athlete at only 70-80% of form (by his own admission) means that his rivals will, quite to the contrary, be rather close to him.

That is just Cav talking....when he's 100% for MSR he's only 50%.