Giro D'Italia: Stage 5: Piombino - Orvieto 191 Kms

[Ferminal]

Strade Bianche stage once again proves to be a winner.

Even if there were no real gaps between the favourites, it did sort out a few pretenders and at the same time some others put their hand up to say they are strong. But the racing was exciting, Nibali, Scarponi, Gadret not afraid to put the pressure on. Real classics racing. Hats off to Kohler too. Weening the deserved winner.

I hope they continue to have such a stage in future editions. I can't see any reason not to.

 

[Barrus]

Also I was getting really tired with the Belgian commentators whining about the course. Last year they tought it was awesome, they loved the cobbles and now suddenly we should no longer have it in a race?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the downhil sterrato's are bull**** thouhg, one big lottery about wjho gets a flat or not.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

the downhil sterrato's are bull**** thouhg, one big lottery about wjho gets a flat or not.

or who's chain brakes (Tankink)

 

[El Pistolero]

Favorites were too afraid to do anything, can't wait till the real stages begin.

 

[theyoungest]

Also I was getting really tired with the Belgian commentators whining about the course. Last year they tought it was awesome, they loved the cobbles and now suddenly we should not longer have it in a race?

Yeah, they should really get some fresh blood in their commentary box. Vannieuwkerke and Schotte have obviously had an emotional blow of which they need some time to recover, before being anywhere close to objective again.

I mean, if this is dangerous, the average cobbled classic is lethal.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah, they should really get some fresh blood in their commentary box. Vannieuwkerke and Schotte have obviously had an emotional blow of which they need some time to recover, before being anywhere close to objective again.

I mean, if this is dangerous, the average cobbled classic is lethal.

Michel Wuyts will come in a week or so, but he already criticized the Giro even before it started, so don't get your hopes up high.

I didn't found this Strade Bianche descend all that dangerous because most of them weren't going down there with a speed that can kill someone. Though it does suck because you can get a mechanical there and that can ruin your whole race. Luckily, Contador lost no time here bc of mechanicals, but still, rather have mountain stages and time trials decide the race instead of mechanicals(that aren't caused by your own stupid bike handling skills )

The difference between a cobbled classic and a GT, in a cobbled classic it's only one day and most of the peloton consist out of specialists. Here we have Euskaltel and South Americans riding over a dangerous course and unlike in Paris-Roubaix, Euskaltel will try in this race to not lose much time.

 

[Barrus]

Yeah, they should really get some fresh blood in their commentary box. Vannieuwkerke and Schotte have obviously had an emotional blow of which they need some time to recover, before being anywhere close to objective again.

I mean, if this is dangerous, the average cobbled classic is lethal.

That exactly was my position as well, really if we follow their point of view we should no longer ride anywhere where there is no perfect tarmec and any reasonably tricky descent.

Now I can understand that they are affected by the death, and Michel Wuyts is also not someone I would like commentating this giro (he is constantly moaning about the length of the giro, he keeps going on that it should not be longer than 2 weeks, and the stages, but he is probably one of the persons who would replace them), but if this keeps up, I think I'll just go to British Eurosport, even though there are ad breaks.

 

[thirteen]

Also I was getting really tired with the Belgian commentators whining about the course. Last year they tought it was awesome, they loved the cobbles and now suddenly we should not longer have it in a race?

luckily, i still can't understand more than a few words of dutch so i was saved this.

they are, understandably, a little gun-shy as one of their own went down. it was only two days ago!

in the same way some commentators and those of us watching may have held our breath today when there was a crash and we didn't see instant movement.

some people need more time than others, some needed none at all... but you have to be a little more forgiving -- commentators are humans too... i'm sure they'll get caught up in the lust in the end, just maybe not as quick as you'd like.

 

[Ryaguas]

Why didnt Duarte attack before????

miss-timing again.

He was alone with Menchov so He must protect Menchov at the end He got the green light from Matxin...

Nibali saying that he didn't want to take any risk on that descent

Il Squalo is crazy... Michele almost fall trying to follow him... He was going hard there...

Did Gatto hand his bike over to anyone?
I mean - what the **** would he be doing in 5th place in such a stage?

Gatto can handle the mountains... Freire style...

rujano loses 5 minutes today it was sella in first. well now let's hope he can do as in 2005 attack and the favorites will let him for sure

How in the world Rujano lose 5min today???? must have punctured... fack...

Didn't Popo puncture?

Yep He did... He punctured in the sterratto...

Well today was an awesome day... I was really excited and nervous... also more nervous when I saw Contador totally isolated... but He did well tho... He waited until somebody covered Michele's attack and then followed him... was somebody from Sky tho...

Lampre and Astana really strong today... also nice to see Kreuziger fancying some attacks in the sterratto!

 

[Barrus]

I don't know if this was posted before but Slagter was transported to the hospital in Orvieto for further examination

 

[Moncoutie]

I don't know if this was posted before but Slagter was transported to the hospital in Orvieto for further examination

Any idea of his injuries yet?

 

[hfer07]

Also I was getting really tired with the Belgian commentators whining about the course. Last year they tought it was awesome, they loved the cobbles and now suddenly we should no longer have it in a race?

it's strange -isn't it? taking in consideration the Belgian Classics with rough roads and they suddenly get afraid of the mayhem roads? I support 100% this type of stage to become standard for GT's- So the GT riders become more accustomed to those conditions & perhaps start to appreciate & participate in the Classics

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Michel Wuyts will come in a week or so, but he already criticized the Giro even before it started, so don't get your hopes up high.

I didn't found this Strade Bianche descend all that dangerous because most of them weren't going down there with a speed that can kill someone. Though it does suck because you can get a mechanical there and that can ruin your whole race. Luckily, Contador lost no time here bc of mechanicals, but still, rather have mountain stages and time trials decide the race instead of mechanicals(that aren't caused by your own stupid bike handling skills )

The difference between a cobbled classic and a GT, in a cobbled classic it's only one day and most of the peloton consist out of specialists. Here we have Euskaltel and South Americans riding over a dangerous course and unlike in Paris-Roubaix, Euskaltel will try in this race to not lose much time.

wow what a load of crap. how many south americans and euskaltel riders crashed today?? exatcly zero

 

[El Pistolero]

wow what a load of crap. how many south americans and euskaltel riders crashed today?? exatcly zero

Give them a present. They fall constantly with a few exceptions here and there.

Face it, Rujano is the living proof that racing in Europe is quite a few levels above racing in South America.

 

[hrotha]

Give them a present. They fall constantly with a few exceptions here and there.

Face it, Rujano is the living proof that racing in Europe is quite a few levels above racing in South America.

At this point, Euskaltel riders could be the ones who crash the least in the pro peloton, and whenever one of them went down everyone would crack the same jokes anyway. Did you notice how Nieve had a good shot today?

And the blanket statement about South American riders is even more ridiculous when two of them came 2nd and 3rd.

 

[Barrus]

Any idea of his injuries yet?

Nothing has been made public yet, so no idea.

 

[El Pistolero]

At this point, Euskaltel riders could be the ones who crash the least in the pro peloton, and whenever one of them went down everyone would crack the same jokes anyway. Did you notice how Nieve had a good shot today?

And the blanket statement about South American riders is even more ridiculous when two of them came 2nd and 3rd.

Ain't Duarte a track cyclist as well?

So yeah, he got some bike handling skills.

 

[hfer07]

Il Squalo is crazy... Michele almost fall trying to follow him... He was going hard there...

that was hardcore to watch--Scarponi seemed quite aware of things when Vincenzo took off-he had to go too.

To me AFA teams go- Liqui-Lampre & Geox are putting pressure on Saxo big time with those sort of pulls in pace- even Euskaltel have Anton & Nieve there in contention-so more exiting racing is ahead indeed.

 

[theyoungest]

At this point, Euskaltel riders could be the ones who crash the least in the pro peloton, and whenever one of them went down everyone would crack the same jokes anyway. Did you notice how Nieve had a good shot today?

No, this time it's their soigneur who brings down another team's rider. Thank you, Euskaltel.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I thought Machado would be a contender. He finished over 3 minutes down today.

 

[Barrus]

Any idea of his injuries yet?

Rabo has made his injuries public. A broken eyesocket and a concussion. He is held tonight in the hospital for observation

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I thought Machado would be a contender. He finished over 3 minutes down today.

Machado was involved in a crash.

 

[Parrulo]

I thought Machado would be a contender. He finished over 3 minutes down today.

apparently he punctured and had to wait a long time for rovny's wheel. one of the problems of not having a strong team i guess.

3 minutes isn't the end of the world in this giro besides he wasn't going to beat contador anyway so . . . top 10 is certainly still possible

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Ain't Duarte a track cyclist as well?

So yeah, he got some bike handling skills.

no