Giro d'Italia Stage 4: Savigliano - Cuneo (TTT) 32.5km

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I dislike Evans purely based on Evans. His personality could not be any less appealing to me.

I'm rooting for Vino, Karpets (okay, whatever), and Nibali. I'm ambivalent toward Basso, Garzelli and pretty much everyone else.

I think he is a good guy, but I know what you mean, my perception of him in the past has been less then impressed, like I said, his excuses and inability to recognize the men who beat him as the better men in the past really soured me on him for a while. People like ACF bring out the worse of my feelings though -- probably the way to put it really in regards to me.

 

[Walkman]

The funniest thing today, hands down, were when Vino was sitting up waving his arms during the finish, while his teammates were killing themselves to keep up the pace..

 

[Anonymous]

it is an excellent time/speed considering the finish is 200 meters higher than the start. i can't see it improved by more than 30-40 seconds. very impressive bmc !

{jumping up and down with joy!}

sky has gone bye bye!

Garzelli losing more than 1' to Cuddles. Seems BMC rehearsed this one well.

i've been telling you that all week!

hahaha

Lotto faster than BMC

Be More Careful when choosing teams Cadel

was anyone expecting overly much from bmc? NO

yesterday, everyone was saying how bad evans' team was but they did put in a decent performance. get off their backs.

I dont really think i need to say anything...

 

[tgsgirl]

like I said, his excuses and inability to recognize the men who beat him as the better men in the past really soured me on him for a while.

Cuddles' first reaction via twitter:

CadelOfficial

TTT done, going early did not catch the good weather. Mad X-winds for us turned tailwind for last teams. Very happy with the (Bmc) boys!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Been out, so catching up.
Basically ALL the contenders took time out of Cuddles, today, yes?
Both he and Vino were ripping the legs off their respective teams.
I think Vince Nibs might be happy with his 11th hour drafting.

 

[santacruz]

Woah nice doggy Cadel! I didn't know he was a dog fan?? Now I like him a lot more.. Molly looks like my friends dog, wth, what kind of dog is that?? real bike racers should have french bulldogs, but i'll let it slide..

 

[Publicus]

I haven't seen the unraveling of Astana yet, but I'm curious to see how this all plays out tomorrow and over the course of the next couple of weeks. The team has gelled and worked well during a period of considerable success. Based on the descriptions here, Vino may have poisoned the well so to speak.

I was also impressed with Cervelo and BMC's ride, especially BMC. They exceeded expectations.

 

[red_flanders]

Cuddles' first reaction via twitter:

Everyone after him got a tailwind.

Exhibit #47 in the case of "Why I think he's a douche".

 

[Moondance]

Been out, so catching up.
Basically ALL the contenders took time out of Cuddles, today, yes?
Both he and Vino were ripping the legs off their respective teams.
I think Vince Nibs might be happy with his 11th hour drafting.

Scarponi lost a minute, and Garzelli even more to Cadel (and obviously more to the other contenders).

On the other hand those two guys being 2 mins down on the Liqui train means they'll be really aggressive and go for it... Which should make for excellent TV.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Cuddles' first reaction via twitter:

epic timing.

 

[Jamsque]

Everyone after him got a tailwind.

Exhibit #47 in the case of "Why I think he's a douche".

The reporters out on the course were saying the same thing, but don't let that stop you hating.

 

[red_flanders]

The reporters out on the course were saying the same thing, but don't let that stop you hating.

I won't.

STFU and ride. Excuses are for losers. Let the reporters report on the weather conditions. If he thought he was going to win, he'd not be commenting on the weather at this point in the race.

 

[powderpuff]

Been out, so catching up.
Basically ALL the contenders took time out of Cuddles, today, yes?
Both he and Vino were ripping the legs off their respective teams.
I think Vince Nibs might be happy with his 11th hour drafting.

Times over Cadel weren't as large as most people thought they would be.
Vino blew his team to pieces in final push to line and was a tad upset.
LeakyGas biggest winners on day and GC.
Thankfully no crashes just a bit of wind shift at end may have aided last few teams a little.
Usual ACF on a high until Lotto beat BMC

 

[Moondance]

I haven't seen the unraveling of Astana yet, but I'm curious to see how this all plays out tomorrow and over the course of the next couple of weeks. The team has gelled and worked well during a period of considerable success. Based on the descriptions here, Vino may have poisoned the well so to speak.

I was also impressed with Cervelo and BMC's ride, especially BMC. They exceeded expectations.

BMC exceeded expectations indeed. But I don't know why people didn't expect this from Cervelo (I myself had them as my #4). Sastre, Tondo, Konovalovas are all good TTers, and a guy like Wyss had a good prologue. They're a well trained, well oiled team, with the best bikes in the biz.

 

[The Sheep]

Holy mackerel that hurt.did 1 last big turn @3k to go then swung off. We finished 4th in the TTT. A good result considering the hail storm

Ouch hailstones that's gotta hurt

 

[Moondance]

Ouch hailstones that's gotta hurt

McEwen is so small that a raindrop must feel like a hailstone.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

McEwen is so small that a raindrop must feel like a hailstone.

However being so small has the advantage you'll miss most raindrops

 

[kjetilraknerud]

6th for Saxo - no pink for Richie.......but white still suits him

Agnoli will be in white.

Sorry if it has been mentioned already, I still have a lot of pages to read

 

[powderpuff]

However being so small has the advantage you'll miss most raindrops

That must be one of those cycling Math things that I don't quite understand.

 

[Oncearunner8]

you did not mention 2 other strong engines - gasparotto and dyachenko. these 2 plus vino and gryvko can deliver. also don't forget astana will be starting last having an advantage of knowing who they may need to burn early in order to arrive with 5 strong guys for an official count. I am not putting astana on the podium (katusha though is a good bet not mentioned by others) but top five is certainly possible and cadel will likely lose another 30 seconds to vino.

You got much love for those eastern teams.

 

[trompe le monde]

From sporza be:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) in 10u44'00"
2. Ivan Basso (Ita) 13"
3. Valerio Agnoli (Ita) 20"
4. André Greipel (Dui) 26"
5. Matthew Goss (Aus) 26"
6. Alexandr Vinokoerov (Kaz) 33"
7. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) 39"
8. Richie Porte (Aus) 45"
9. David Millar (GBr) 45"
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) 59"
13. Linus Gerdemann (Dui) 1'04"
27. Cadel Evans (Aus) 1'59"
32. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 2'13"
38. Michele Scarponi (Ita) 2'35"
41. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 2'49"

14 seconds separate Sastre and Evans. Sunday's stage up the Terminillo should be the day when the fireworks commence.

 

[red_flanders]

From sporza be:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) in 10u44'00"
2. Ivan Basso (Ita) 13"
3. Valerio Agnoli (Ita) 20"
4. André Greipel (Dui) 26"
5. Matthew Goss (Aus) 26"
6. Alexandr Vinokoerov (Kaz) 33"
7. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) 39"
8. Richie Porte (Aus) 45"
9. David Millar (GBr) 45"
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) 59"
13. Linus Gerdemann (Dui) 1'04"
27. Cadel Evans (Aus) 1'59"
32. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 2'13"
38. Michele Scarponi (Ita) 2'35"
41. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 2'49"

Watch out for Garzelli in these upcoming intermediate stages.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If Evans is whinging about crosswinds and tailwinds on stage 4, he'll be doing his version of Eyjafjallajokul, by next weekend.
Blaming phantom phenomenon, is deflecting his real frustration from you know where.
Obviously worried at being 2 minutes being the Leaky boys and having Carlos Sastre on his tail.

 

[jaylew]

You're joking, right?

Barring a break getting a bunch of time we could possibly see Nibali in Pink for a long stretch. I wonder if Liquigas will relish this time in the jersey or feel stressed at having to defend it so early? Probably a little of both.


Not sure why youngest's quote is up there.

 

[Publicus]

BMC exceeded expectations indeed. But I don't know why people didn't expect this from Cervelo (I myself had them as my #4). Sastre, Tondo, Konovalovas are all good TTers, and a guy like Wyss had a good prologue. They're a well trained, well oiled team, with the best bikes in the biz.

I can only speak for myself and admit that I hadn't paid as much attention to the composition of the teams at this year's Giro. So it was my ignorance more so than anything else.