So after the last 3 weeks they decide to top it off with this stage just for kicks and giggles. Crazy.
I think what we are starting to see is just how hard it is for everyone to keep it together for a full 3 weeks anno 2010. Which means that this ain't over yet, as they all looked spent yesterday, towards the end.
Penultimate stage and everyone in the top still has their work cut out to secure their placing or improve upon it.
Though it might be nice to revisit my pre-giro predictions and to see how they had survived:
1. Sastre
2. Evans
3. Garzelli
4. Pozzovivo
5. Vino
Only Evans and Vino are riding the Giro as I had pictured it. Sastre not there, Garzelli was my dark horse entry, he needed to ride exceptionally well to be there, and he hasn't - miles off the pace. I figured a good early breakaway might let him cling onto this spot - seems Arroyo is filling those boots now. Pozzovivo did 10 stages with a fracture and dropped out. **** happens.
Both Basso and Nibali are riding well above where I had them. Vino had shown he still had it to be almost there. Maybe I should have figured out that Basso too would then have what it takes. I thought Nibali would do very well, but would be too young for 3 weeks even if he had prepared to be here in peak form, which he hadn't. The kid has grown up it seems if this is what he can do as a call-up.
From a personal interest pov, not sure who has impressed me more, Kruijswijk or Mollema. Rabo has a lot to look forward to if this is the Dutch generation coming through (if they remain on their team). As a unit, for a young leaderless team (with 2 riders that were not supposed to be here), they have done good. Just 19 minutes off the pace from Liquigas in the team rankings, that is impressive, all the more if you see where the rest ranks. Shame the team here was indeed too weak to make one single attempt count, but I'd still be pretty chuffed with how the riders came through these 3 weeks, if I was Rabo.
How are people's predictions holding up?