Giro d'Italia Stage 20: Bormio - Passa del Tonale (178km)

[goggalor]

Like Cuddles they hide until he does something and then they post about 10 topics telling us how great he is and how he is soooo misunderstood and isn't an annoying f-ugly, squeaky voiced wheelsucker.

Geez Louise. Did Evans rape your mom or something?

 

[sibex9591]

Where was the gift to Simoni?

I cannot believe that Tschopp couldn't leave Simoni unchallenged for the Cima Coppi. How dis-respectful.

 

[joe_papp]

Gibo' Probably Regretting Breaking Basso Ballz in '06

tschopp what a fuccing ****er.
vino,as always,not such a tactics lover.fucc'em all,just attack!evans was quite impressive,nice attack.great day.

Agreed. I was watching live and thought Tschopp would sprint Gibo' but let him win, giving the fans a show while making Simoni's KOM victory not seem like a total gift. Instead, he sprinted to win, and later delivered this classy quote after winning the stage, too:

“This is a bike race, and no one ever gave me gifts in cycling,” he said afterward. “Why should I let Simoni win? It was a big thing to pass the Cima Coppi first. I knew he is an important cyclist, who has won many races. But I am here to race the Giro.”



Who said he had to make it a gift? He could have sold the KOM to Gibo' who might have been willing to give Tschopp the prize plus more cash on the side.

Of course, Gibo may not have wanted to ask and risk being outed to the media for the same kind of bribery he accused Ivan Basso of during the 2006 Giro, on the stage into Aprica.

Simoni's exact words to a reporter from RAI television were: "At five kilometres from the finish, he came alongside me and asked for money to give me the stage win". "I've never asked for charity, I've never asked to win: that's not my style," Simoni added.

In a press conference at the CSC team hotel in Albavilla on Sunday morning, Basso had spoken confidently of making peace with Simoni. But now he rode into the melee of microphones and said "It's true that I told him we should do the descent together, but everything else is untrue."

Simoni chose this moment to twist the knife: "Shall we say how much it was?" The row continued to flare both before and during what should have been a day of celebration for Basso. Sure enough, Basso accused Simoni of "trying to ruin the most beautiful day of my career." "On an emotional level," Basso told RAI, "I can understand Simoni; maybe i should have let him win, but what he said was over the top and not true. I think that I've proved in this Giro that I was superior to the rest. Perhaps I could have been more generous in yesterday's stage, but I don't deserve to be condemned for what I did."

This cut no ice with Simoni. Basso tried in vain to persuade Bjarne Riis to offer Simoni a contract with CSC last autumn, and as recently as Saturday evening described Simoni as a "friend". It remains to be seen if Basso revises his opinion after Simoni said today "Basso was definitely the strongest rider in this Giro, but I have no feelings for him any more."

I guess this is a classic example of why one should:

Be careful whose toes you step on today, they might be attached to the *** you have to kiss tomorrow.

Looking at this with hindsight, Simoni made his own bed by breaking Basso's balls in '06. That doesn't change the fact that Tschopp could have been the better man and "gifted" Gibo' the win in exchange for some hefty loot, especially if he was thinking that the stage win was a possibility by then...

At least this is another example of bike racing as opera...this sport is so enjoyable and this Giro has been the most thrilling in decades.

 

[goggalor]

Le Badgeur says: "No gifts!"

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Geez Louise. Did Evans rape your mom or something?

I just don't like wheelsuckers.

 

[joe_papp]

Le Badgeur says: "No gifts!"

I'm fine with no gifts, but that shouldn't preclude the buying and selling of stage wins and intermediate sprints/KOM's. Tschopp would have done more for his reputation by letting Simoni beat him for the Cima Coppi (but making it look like they actually contested it), and then going on to win the stage, than he did by beating-up on a 38 year-old retiree.

I wonder what the current state of affairs is in the peloton w/ regards to race fixing? And before you Australians get all worked up and sanctimonious about integrity, just remember that your own Allan Peiper was the biggest race fixer of all! LOL

Peiper told cyclingnews.com:


"Looking back you might say romantic but it was a life struggle in those days you know and I sold races to win races.


"I made deals with two or three riders in the same race that they'd pay me if they won, but I still sprinted for first prize; if I won I took the money for first prize and if they beat me I took the money they paid me and my second prize."

 

[Vanspringel]

Like Cuddles they hide until he does something and then they post about 10 topics telling us how great he is and how he is soooo misunderstood and isn't an annoying f-ugly, squeaky voiced wheelsucker.

I think you must really have a secret crush on Cadel but just don't know how to express your deep and personal feelings for him!

Come on. Be brave and let the love out.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Is that the best you can do? Is the Cuddles fan-club an under 10's group or something?

It sounds like you're projecting, but don't worry, this is a fairly open minded forum, so you'll be free to come on out.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I would have an issue with Tschopp contesting the Cima, if he hadn't clearly been after the stage win.
He set his stall out on the descent, having first had the gall to first drop Simoni, then, demanded that he came straight through to work on the front, when Gibo got back to his wheel.
Simoni daftly obliged and did most of the graft to the summit, only for the Swiss cheese to come off his wheel and pinch his last hurrah.
Tosseur Tschopp.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

I would have an issue with Tschopp contesting the Cima, if he hadn't clearly been after the stage win.
He set his stall out on the descent, having first had the gall to first drop Simoni, then, demanded that he came straight through to work on the front, when Gibo got back to his wheel.
Simoni daftly obliged and did most of the graft to the summit, only for the Swiss cheese to come off his wheel and pinch his last hurrah.
Tosseur Tschopp.

MV - I didn't see the presentations - was there any comeback to Tschopp from the crowd like there was with Vino at LBL?

 

[Joey_J]

Le Badgeur says: "No gifts!"

He did give a pretty nice gift to LeMond; the 86 Tour

 

[goggalor]

Didn't Kreuziger try to buy a stage win from Philip Deignan in the Vuelta last year?

 

[icefire]

He did give a pretty nice gift to LeMond; the 86 Tour

I'd suggest you to watch the stages to Super Bagnères and to Col du Granon of that Tour

 

[luckyboy]

General comments on today..

If I was Tschopp, I would've done what he did on the Gavia tbh. Unless this happened..

He could have sold the KOM to Gibo' who might have been willing to give Tschopp the prize plus more cash on the side.

Sean Kelly really ****ed me off droning on about how Basso needed to gain time on Arroyo for the TT. Seriously? Also, Harmon's smart comments about Vino's past are getting annoying too.

Simoni giving an interview whilst going up a mountain was cool.

Kinda reminded me of the Tour, with attacking coming in the last few km

 

[bobs nob]

Go Cadel.... Get to the Tschopp-a!
.
(sorry.)
.

Did you mean to say, 'Tschapp-eau, Evans!' ??

 

[zapata]

Gilberto Simoni, reflecting on todays stage, mistakes he made and what he might have done different, concludes "never mind. that's bike racing". very true. hats off to a great champion.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sim...the-mountains?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=news_headlines

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Why take the breakaway out?
Individuals, opportunity grabbing is not the same as having a super strong team to hand out a handicap to the rest.
Besides which, Liquigas did nothing to chase that break.

Why take out the TTT also? Crucify a rider for having a strong team? Hypothetical situations do not work anyway, things might not have necessary played out the same way without the TTT... different tactics could be employed etc -- i.e if basso was still 1.10 down on arroyyo today - or there abouts, I expect things might have played out differently on the gavia.
Can't fault a rider for riding for a strong team. But of course his team, and the team tactics employed are the backbone of his victory.

 

[blaxland]

I have to say, 3 Australian jerseys this tour is a truly historic performance.
Hats off.

Hope that numbs the Evans pain a little

Thanks akzaaf it will be a special giro to remember.....stage wins and three jerseys wow..

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why take out the TTT also? Crucify a rider for having a strong team? Hypothetical situations do not work anyway, things might not have necessary played out the same way without the TTT... different tactics could be employed etc -- i.e if basso was still 1.10 down on arroyyo today - or there abouts, I expect things might have played out differently on the gavia.
Can't fault a rider for riding for a strong team. But of course his team, and the team tactics employed are the backbone of his victory.

Because it doesn't nessercarily help strong riders on weak teams. If it wasn't the giro it would ofclosed the gc right up.

Cadel hears that ACF isn't watching. Look at him go!
(Rabo busing it again)

good show, evans. acf will kick himself for not watching this. scarponi attack nibali!

Sorry, I was visiting someone at hospital. Good enough excuse?

I have to say I'm really impressed with Cuddles' response here. He looked basically dead yesterday and then he basically TT's the last 3KM's up hill. Amazing.

Vino you are probably going to have to wait until the Vuelta to win a stage.

Can't contador gift a stage for Vino at le tour?

Porte got 12 minutes bonus in L'Aquila and 3 minutes bonus in the Netherlands by not losing time there.
He has been behind Mollema in 4 mountain stages, only finishing ahead on Kronplatz (when Mollema was at his worst due to the illness), and finishing in the same group twice.
So clearly, Mollema was better.

Of Course...- bull****

 

[ferryman]

"Cadel suffered a bit on the Mortirolo because he perhaps didn’t choose the right gears," Sassi pointed out.

Bravo Cadel for the attack today but the above is true again. He did look very overgeared. It looked like he was on the big ring for at least part of the attack. This is fine if you are a pure climber and can dance away but I just think he should gear down.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I like the TTT. I just think it needs to be short. Or something different, such over a technical course or short but steep climb/decent, with all riders needing to finish with the same time. What they had in last year's Tour for example was pointless.

Tschopp would have done more for his reputation by letting Simoni beat him for the Cima Coppi (but making it look like they actually contested it),

Anyone old enough to remember the 1990 Worlds? Where friends, teammates, countrymen Dirk DeWolf and the late Rudy Dhaenens "sprinted" to the finish? No one seemed to mind the way Dirk soft pedaled in the last 100m, and was just as happy to finish second.

How about the 1996 Paris-Roubaix, and the uproar it caused?

Hinault did give a pretty nice gift to LeMond; the 86 Tour

LOL!

Seriously, these two need to bury the hatchet for good. Bernard needs to admit he went for it, and Greg needs to accept having to earn it by beating Bernard made him a better champion.

 

[luckyboy]

How about the 1996 Paris-Roubaix, and the uproar it caused?

Lol, those commentators going crazy. Did they really think Bortolami was going to sprint?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Lol, those commentators going crazy.

That's David Duffield, and I believe Bert Russel. When they also had Jean Paul Van Poppel(?) they made a great trio to listen to. Best commentators ever. Duffers was the king.

Here they are in the 1998 Worlds.

 

[MarkGreen0]

That's David Duffield, and I believe Bert Russel. When they also had Jean Paul Van Poppel(?) they made a great trio to listen to. Best commentators ever. Duffers was the king.

Here they are in the 1998 Worlds.

Duffield doesn't seem to be around this year. I think Eurosport were getting too many complaints about him. He would talk so much he would miss attacks and make mistakes. Great character though.

 

[luckyboy]

That's David Duffield, and I believe Bert Russel. When they also had Jean Paul Van Poppel(?) they made a great trio to listen to. Best commentators ever. Duffers was the king.

Here they are in the 1998 Worlds.

Yeah I know Duffers, wasn't sure about the other guy. Never heard Duffield in his 'heyday', but over the last few years he seemed to stuff things up quite a lot. He rambled and got annoying at times, but he was ok. Harmon has been the best for me, but seems to stumble about when talking about doping.

That reminded me I need to get some dvds/videos/whatever of 90s one day races. Also, Vueltas (really haven't seen many of them apart from 2005 onwards).