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

[theyoungest]

Rodriguez was 3rd in the Tourmalet.



Not too bad for not being one of the 5 best climbers in the last mountain stage.

That stage is actually a perfect example of what Dekker_T was saying... Rodriguez got away in the final k after Gesink paced that group all the way to the top (well, almost).

 

[insideout leadout]

Imo he's a puncheur who can climb rather than the other way around, he's a lot like Cunego. Recovery and longer climbs will always be a problem.

 

[theyoungest]

Imo he's a puncheur who can climb rather than the other way around, he's a lot like Cunego. Recovery and longer climbs will always be a problem.

Longer climbs are a problem if they are in the 7% range. I think Rodriguez will do very well on some of the crazy steep gradients of this year's Giro.

 

[El Pistolero]

Longer climbs are a problem if they are in the 7% range. I think Rodriguez will do very well on some of the crazy steep gradients of this year's Giro.

Yup, just look at Angliru. Long and hard climb, but he finished second or third(?). It's not like the competition was weak there.

Etna might become a problem, a lot of people have been calling it an "easy climb"(compared to some other cols this Giro). That's were he falters.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Rodriguez was 3rd in the Tourmalet.



Not too bad for not being one of the 5 best climbers in the last mountain stage.

Yes and do you remember how? Or have you forgotten now.
By doing exactly what I said. Hang on to the group the entire climb (Gesink doing 90% of the work), and accelerating in the final km.
Not nearly good enough to follow Contador/A.Schleck

He was dropped on many other climbs though, even by that group he beat on the Tourmalet...

 

[just some guy]

9.20 at km 80

 

[Eshnar]

Etna might become a problem, a lot of people have been calling it an "easy climb"(compared to some other cols this Giro). That's were he falters.

well, Scarponi said that Etna is way harder than it seems on paper

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yup, just look at Angliru. Long and hard climb, but he finished second or third(?). It's not like the competition was weak there.

Etna might become a problem, a lot of people have been calling it an "easy climb"(compared to some other cols this Giro). That's were he falters.

Yes, like on the first real climb of the Tour, Morzine? Couldn't handle the high pace (plus already blew himself with an attack).
He also blew spectacularly in one of the Vuelta mountain finishes (Andorra?)

You don't see that kind of blow ups from tempo climbers

 

[thirteen]

That's the official line, but he's going to suffer from pollen in the Giro as well.

actually, after the unnaturally cold winter here and the heat we've been having, allergies are truly horrendous this year.

i am currently in envy of anybody that can breathe

 

[roundabout]

Considering the GC, Rodriguez could get into troubles not only in the ITT but also stages like nr. 7,9 or 19 if Saxo Bank or anyone else sets a high early pace on these not so steep final climbs. He struggled in Morzine, struggled in Andorra, could struggle here.

Finishing climbs on stages 7 and 19 are relatively easy (easier than Morzine or Pal) for a top level rider. I expect that there'll be 40+ people within 30 seconds on stage 7 and a climb won by Bortolami of all people in 1997 shouldn't also be difficult.

 

[El Pistolero]

actually, after the unnaturally cold winter here and the heat we've been having, allergies are truly horrendous this year.

i am currently in envy of anybody that can breathe

Not me, I got polyps in my nose that are blocking my sinuses.

I'd sooo test positive if I had doping control right now

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, like on the first real climb of the Tour, Morzine? Couldn't handle the high pace (plus already blew himself with an attack).
He also blew spectacularly in one of the Vuelta mountain finishes (Andorra?)

You don't see that kind of blow ups from tempo climbers

Yeah, Andorra. Same climb as in Catalunya this year where Contador took a whopping 23 seconds on Michele Scarponi and close to a minute on Basso and Cuddles

If I didn't know better I'd say Contador would win with 3-5 minutes lead on a climb like Zoncolan, but he usually doesn't win stages with large time gaps

 

[Publicus]

actually, after the unnaturally cold winter here and the heat we've been having, allergies are truly horrendous this year.

i am currently in envy of anybody that can breathe

This more than anything could be the real challenge for AC or any others prone to allergies. The whole breathing thing can be rather important to one's ability to respond to a violent attack.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It is true that the Giro would suit Rodriguez the most of all GT's. But there's also that 1 or 2 tempo climbs where he will face trouble. And there's always that 1 ITT where he loses minutes and minutes

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Imo he's a puncheur who can climb rather than the other way around, he's a lot like Cunego. Recovery and longer climbs will always be a problem.

recovery not so much in 3 weeks but from culmilation of climbs indeed. also very much correct on your other point

 

[El Pistolero]

I have to admit I totally forgot Joaquim Rodriguez was in this Giro by the way. Hadn't heard from him anymore after the TTT.

Definitely a favorite for this stage.

 

[L'arriviste]

actually, after the unnaturally cold winter here and the heat we've been having, allergies are truly horrendous this year.

i am currently in envy of anybody that can breathe

Here in Brussels I was thinking that's pretty unfortunate but there's been nothing like that here this year. Then I go outside for five minutes and now I can't stop sneezing.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yeah, Andorra. Same climb as in Catalunya this year where Contador took a whopping 23 seconds on Michele Scarponi and close to a minute on Basso and Cuddles

If I didn't know better I'd say Contador would win with 3-5 minutes lead on a climb like Zoncolan, but he usually doesn't win stages with large time gaps

He will this year.

SaxoBank will blow the field away on the Crostis, then he'll accelerate away on Zoncolon.

 

[insideout leadout]

Yeah 650m at 12% with 2k to go is enough to drop the hammer. And he's a bit behind in the GC if that's his ambition, so in need of bonus seconds as well.

 

[Publicus]

Rai Sport is live.

 

[insideout leadout]

And my favorite sport on eurosport.

 

[Mellow Velo]

It is true that the Giro would suit Rodriguez the most of all GT's. But there's also that 1 or 2 tempo climbs where he will face trouble. And there's always that 1 ITT where he loses minutes and minutes

Yup.
The irony being that the one climb that could complete blow Purito's chances, is rated just a 3rd cat by this Giro.

And my favorite sport on eurosport.

Eurosport?
HD, covering women's tennis, with about 50 blokes watching in the stands, while thousands follow the momentous events of the Giro, roadside.

Luckily, there's ES 2.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Rai Sport is live.

Direct link?

 

[just some guy]

Gazzetta warming up

 

[zigzag wanderer]

Direct link?

http://www.raisport.rai.it/dl/raisp...a-2049-442c-a45e-18236e0b2821.html?refresh_ce