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

[Ferminal]

He's still sore over his beloved piti getting popped, ha ha ha. Don't be too hard on him, he's got a lot of humble pie left to eat

Still only coming here to have a dig at people.

Despite Galic Ho's brinkmanship, he does have some good ideas.

 

[Jamsque]

WALL OF TEXT

Jesus dude you are going to wear out your keyboard. Ease up there.

 

[Galic Ho]

Brilliant logic. Didn't realise sky were only in the giro to fall over.

Did you not see the question marks. I guess when you don't have an answer misdirection is the next best thing. Maybe you English should have told your cricket team that when Warnie and McGrath were annihilating your boys. Maybe that is what Hamilton and Button were deploying in Catalunya on the weekend. Good advice dude! I'll remember that one. Heck, maybe that was what Sky were doing on the ground! They were a visual distraction...great strategy.

When a whole pro tour team cannot stay upright it is a sad day. Tripping over your team...sad, sad, sad. But of course the English will defend their own. My apologies if you're Welsh or Scottish. What is the difference? Hahahaha.

If it's any consolation and if you Brits can add I did say I suspected David Millar would be in Pink in a days time. I don't hate England, but if you sledge and Aussie, well, ask the English cricket team what to expect back. A mouthful and then some more. I am allowed to dislike Team Queue Jumping Sky. Mostly it's just Wigans and the failure of this team to live up to their own hype. It's funny. Hoping for more is more than reasonable given the last two days results.

Galic Ho, just an aside, does showering in Haterade help with your dandruff? I've been trying all sorts of products but I just can't seem to fix my flaky scalp.

I only dislike Wigans. I'll suggest you block it out. People hate Vino. People hate Ricco. But not all people. It's called choice and I am exercising mine. Do you dislike when people exercise their choices to dislike Vino winning when on this forum? Or is the problem now, that there is a British association and you are British? Are you an open book? Really you guys have to try harder. People are so patriotic around here. Over zealous if you ask me.

I don't like double standards and manipulators. I think Wigans deploys both...and Brailsford. Unfortunately Sky cop most of their flack because of the association. But really, do you not think that Garmin won't rub it in Sky's face if Millar gets pink? I mean Wigan get crushed 8 nil by Chelsea and the same day Wigans loses pink? Poetic irony or just darn luck? If you can tell me where to find some Haterade I can give you a full product review. I'd suggest looking at every event an Aussie beat a Brit in over the last two years...should be a good supply in those cases.

 

[0.ravens]

This is the Giro TTT thread, not the UK v Australia thread. Stay on topic.

Yes, by all means, leave the off topic non-sequitur political rants to the moderators!

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=190134#post190134

 

[Galic Ho]

What the hell are you on about?

3 Brits started asking questions about one single comment I made about Sky falling over. Can you connect the dots? They did not like the under tone and context. I responded back and picked on them for being British...which is an Aussie past time and they should have expected it from experience. They would never have piped up if it were not a British team I was talking about, aka, they were being patriotic...which happens all the time around here.

To Bala Verde...I'll drop it. I only respond because someone opens the door.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Then everybody stop it please.

And everybody stop taking offence over every little thing.

Susan

 

[Jamsque]

Galic Ho, you are like a giant button labelled 'PUSH ME'.

BACK TO THE TOPIC: A Trial of Team Times.

I'm interested in what Vino said about the Astana Giro squad having had NO TTT practice. On a more techical course that could be a HUGE disadvantage, but with what Millar and others have been saying about the conditions and the course not demanding immaculate teamwork it might not end up hurting Vino that badly. It's a fairly long course, though, and Astana could lose big chunks of time if they do not manage to work together well.

 

[Galic Ho]

Perhaps the fact that HTC won the TTT at last years Giro, and Possoni and Barry was on the team? Not that those two are great time triallers at all, but that doesn't take away the fact that they was on the team that won last years TTT.

Agreed but I was only pointing out that because the Team HTC did well in one event does not automatically mean you get credit for other team mates work when you yourself were absent. I can remember last years TTT well. Cav really rubbed it into Garmin. Now Garmin and Sky are in a slinging match? Who will win...in case you missed my initial point I was siding with Garmin for these reasons.

1. Motivation...going for Pink and to win for CVV
2. They did not fall badly the last two days...Sky did and who knows how hurt or sore those guys will be. I was joking about the crash in case you guys missed the humour...I was highlighting the inherent irony in the situation and that form suggest that another crash would fit the guide so far.
3. Wiggins has a good chrono but he alone cannot account for Millar, Farrar, Bobridge and Meyer. Those four are all better than Wiggins support, yet people on this thread have Sky as favourites for tomorrows stage. Fair enough...I'll believe it when I see it.

Maybe Sky will win. I'll phrase this differently. It would be a nice change to see Sky stay on there bikes. If any team fails to do that tomorrow we could see a repeat of last years Tour stage. Riders fell everywhere. It wasn't pretty but it sure was an interesting stage. Plus, people getting hurt isn't good. Failing to stay on your bike in a TTT hurts only one person. Yourself foremost and then your team. As I hinted in my first comment (which I think some people missed), that if teams must persist with falling over, let it end in the TTT, where they only hurt themselves and not the rest of the peloton.

I forgot to mention that HTC should do well. Good team and Greipel could do with a confidence boost. He should have won stage 2 and he wasn't happy when he didn't. Sound like anyone you know? Oh and Jamsque...I type a lot, that isn't going to change anytime soon. As you can tell I get carried away at times.

 

[Jamsque]

Does anyone here even read Ho's posts? I mean seriously. I have **** to do. I can't be ploughing through a PHd dissertation just to find out that you hate rider A and have a hard-on for rider B.

Brevity is the soul of wit, etc.

 

[Galic Ho]

Galic Ho, you are like a giant button labelled 'PUSH ME'.

BACK TO THE TOPIC: A Trial of Team Times.

I'm interested in what Vino said about the Astana Giro squad having had NO TTT practice. On a more techical course that could be a HUGE disadvantage, but with what Millar and others have been saying about the conditions and the course not demanding immaculate teamwork it might not end up hurting Vino that badly. It's a fairly long course, though, and Astana could lose big chunks of time if they do not manage to work together well.

Good call.

I think Astana are being under estimated yet again this season. They are delivering in every event they enter. Sure they won't win but they will still put Vino is a good position on GC.

For race sakes I hope Cervelo and BMC hold their ground. I expect they will. BMC have done extensive recon and Cadel is in fantastic form. Cervelo have a good squad.

Just reading a quote from Pinotti in Ride magazine. He says the competition for HTC will be Garmin, Saxo and Sky. I agree with the first two but will have to see Sky perform. Never seen their squad do a TTT before. Honestly have no reason to assume they can win...but they might.

Pinotti also points out Roger, Boasson Hagen and Lovkvist were on the team when HTC won last year. My earlier point about last year versus this year was hinting on this. I don't think HTC have sent as strong a squad to the Giro. I think they sent the stronger squad to the ToC. That and they lost a lot of quality guys in the transfer season. Another reason for me to back Garmin.

 

[L'arriviste]

It would be a nice change to see Sky stay on there bikes. If any team fails to do that tomorrow we could see a repeat of last years Tour stage ... Failing to stay on your bike in a TTT hurts only one person.

This [TTT] is a lot different to others. It's a lot easier, you don't need much technique because there aren't any corners.

Should be a good clean fight, then.

 

[Jan the Man]

Can't see past HTC Columbia for this one.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Does anyone here even read Ho's posts? I mean seriously. I have **** to do. I can't be ploughing through a PHd dissertation... Brevity is the soul of wit, etc.

We could make him a mod. I used to make many posts, some of them long too, but they made me a mod and now I just clean diapers in the Clinic (are you reading BPC?!).

To at least try to stay on track, I too am curious to see if Sky can bounce back. This TTT was obviously a stage they looked at on the calendar when the year started, but it's hard to tell how bruised they are and if they can bounce back. BMC lost Kohler, and that has to hurt a little. HTC has three riders near the top, and they have to be really looking to take this, even putting them 1-2-3 on GC if possible.

 

[offbyone]

So there's greater variance in the performances of B teams than the A teams?

The Giro last year was two thirds the distance, the top 15 were within 1 minute.

Yes, that is my opinion. When there is such dichotomy between the riders on a team it is tough to keep a smooth pace. However, the fact that the course has no corners gives more credence to the tight gaps you are suggesting.

 

[staubsauger]

don't underestimate aqua & sapone. i think they gonna be pretty competitive tomorrow

 

[dgodave]

After the last two days, I'm glad this TTT is straight ahead power course and not something like the 09 TdF stage.
.

 

[theyoungest]

don't underestimate aqua & sapone. i think they gonna be pretty competitive tomorrow

You're joking, right?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Galic Ho, you are like a giant button labelled 'PUSH ME'.

BACK TO THE TOPIC: A Trial of Team Times.

I'm interested in what Vino said about the Astana Giro squad having had NO TTT practice. On a more techical course that could be a HUGE disadvantage, but with what Millar and others have been saying about the conditions and the course not demanding immaculate teamwork it might not end up hurting Vino that badly. It's a fairly long course, though, and Astana could lose big chunks of time if they do not manage to work together well.

BMC have done extensive practise on it. That should help them.

Don't know... Garmin?

Yes that was going to work with vandevelde and farrar on their team.

To state the obvious, this is a crunch stage for Evans. His comments about Sky were valid. It would be nice to see them stay upright for at least half a stage. You can't blame him for being frustrated. Cunego has had a shocker and you have to feel sorry for Van De Velde.

I hope that it's not Tour de France 09 all over again for Evan's re the team time trial. I think BMC will respond. They may surprise. The team knows they let Evan's down yesterday. They left him isolated on a flat stage and they knew the dangers of the stage beforehand. If they cannot hack it now what will happen in the third week which is incredibly hard. Evan's has time on Sastre but cannot afford to lose much more against Vino, Basso and Nibali, this early in the race. But I still believe that Sastre and Evans will make up time in the third week.

I think you maybe right. BMC will want to prove the press wrong.

 

[auscyclefan94]

On evans complaining

@cadelofficial
@silly_billy_boy Ok, I'll try to complain less (who shouldn't?), but I WILL continue to honest.....sorry.... #whoneedssugarcoatednews(?)

 

[spanky wanderlust]

BMC should be alright

they won't lose a lot tomorrow. they will limit their losses to around 1:10-1:20. a very manageable number. they still suck. and if cadel still wants to win the gc, he will have to be the first to do it on his own.

i honestly can't see that any team has brought a really good selection for the ttt. except for garmin who lost their best motor.

astana, as weakly prepped as they are will still be in the mix for this reason.

i pick htc. but could be any of the 5 teams already named. sky could win if they stay on their bikes.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

am i the only one who thinks the ttt is boring and lame? where is the "i'm falling asleep" smiley?

 

[search]

they won't lose a lot tomorrow. they will limit their losses to around 1:10-1:20. a very manageable number. they still suck. and if cadel still wants to win the gc, he will have to be the first to do it on his own.

Santambrogio is in doubt for tomorrow after his crash yesterday. he has been xrayed earlier today but I couldn't find information about the result. losing him surely wouldn' help them...but if he still suffers from his fall he is not going to be a big help anyway

 

[dgodave]

am i the only one who thinks the ttt is boring and lame? where is the "i'm falling asleep" smiley?

I wouldnt want five of them,
.

 

[peloton]

Santambrogio is in doubt for tomorrow after his crash yesterday. he has been xrayed earlier today but I couldn't find information about the result. losing him surely wouldn' help them...but if he still suffers from his fall he is not going to be a big help anyway

Santambrogio can't TT at all, mountains is where he can help Evans.

 

[Kender]

Sky have Wiggins and that is it.

Greg Henderson is no slouch.