Giro d'Italia - Stage 7 - Maddaloni → Montevergine di Mercogliano - 110km

[jens_attacks]

according to davide cassani:

last 15,8 km---33:20---average speed 28,440 km/h.

not bad i guess.

if you have any infos about last times of montevergine(2001,2004,2007) hit me.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

People keep talking about the final week, but that one isn't really that difficult. You have a quite easy mountain time trial, the difficult Finestre stage, and a short ITT. It's the end of the second week that is by far the most difficult in this Giro, with the Trio of Hell starting next friday. I dont think there is much danger of guys like Scarponi peaking too early, you have to reach your peak in exactly one week.

Pretty much from stage 13 onwards, the race is gonna be tough. What I meant anyway, don take it so literal.
Stage 13, 14 and 15 are all gonna be difficult. 14 and 15 crazy hard.
16 is the MTT, 17 and 18 the guys behind, maybe guys like nibali are really gonna go for it, and take risks. GC men are going to have to be attentive no doubt - Scarponi said these stages are gonna be more difficult or active then some think.. Plus one of them.. i forget which, is crazy long.
And then 19 and 20 were gonna see guys who need time, attacking. These next 2 stages, maybe not also difficult, could be tough based on (1) Some guys must attack (2) bodies will be tired.
And then the final time trial.

Hard week as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway the point of my post was some riders will fail here. This you can be certain. To be good on every day is no simple task.

 

[Angliru]

I completely agree about wanting things to be difficult for Contador. He's quite likely to throttle the life out of the race by just being better than everyone else.

I just don't think a few riders opening a gap of a few meters on him in a sprint really qualifies as hope.

I personally enjoy watching him thrashing his rivals in the mountains. He's an immense talent and I enjoy watching talents like his at their best in their element. Of course I hope others rise to the challenge but I'd prefer it be because they've raised their games as opposed to Contador being at less than his best.

 

[Mellow Velo]

according to davide cassani:

last 15,8 km---33:20---average speed 28,440 km/h.

not bad i guess.

if you have any infos about last times of montevergine(2001,2004,2007) hit me.

Well from what I remember, that certainly looked to be a slightly slower ascent today. However, after the Muy comparison , I think the stats guys hold the definitive answer.
IMO, a very phoney war, today.
Probably confirms many folk's suspicion that this Giro is just too tough.
Bart who?
OPL's leftovers actually looked good, with the peloton staunchly refusing to step on the gas.

 

[Publicus]

+1.

Agreed. I am not sure what the deal is with worrying about Contador loosing the sprints (???). I really don't see much here.

Something to obsess/talk about for the next day or so. C*H*I*N*K in the Armor! Oh noes!

Wake me when they get to Etna.

EDIT: Not sure why that is interpreted as a slur.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hey Team Sky, I thought Kennaugh was going to grab the white jersey today?

Like I said as a reaction to that earlier, this is too soon for him. They tried to motivate him this way but it backfired.

OH well, they still have, uhm. Help?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Right, Löfkvist, totally forget.

Seemed to be struggling in the final meters as well. But ok sprinting isn't his strong point.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Only one real loser, today.
45 Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack 0:00:33
I think he is going to turn out to be a real disappointment for some.
Still, not as bad as his team mate who once managed to get on a Giro podium.
"Perfect Ten" Popovych finished in the Cavendish laughing group.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Wow, this final Km was epic (from Belgian perspective).

I have to say, I really like the way Omega Pharma is riding, this Giro!

 

[hatcher]

Also, nobody said Kennaugh would be in white.

 

[hfer07]

Scarponi is wasting energy on fruitless sprints/short pulls-and he will regret it. hats off to De Clercq in his firs GT stage victory- well deserved & timed to perfection.

as I wrote before-- the big guns won't try anything until sunday...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Wow, this final Km was epic (from Belgian perspective).

I have to say, I really like the way Omega Pharma is riding, this Giro!

offensive racing For The Win

'weaker' teams can really surprise by going on the offensive and actually winning stages, QST last year in the tour didn't have a designated leader either, but what a tour they did

 

[Cobblestoned]

Only one real loser, today.
45 Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack 0:00:33
I think he is going to turn out to be a real disappointment for some.
Still, not as bad as his team mate who once managed to get on a Giro podium.
"Perfect Ten" Popovych finished in the Cavendish laughing group.

Most important note is, that you feel better now.
We just want your best and appreciate that.
While I think it is more a wish than a thought, to watch him riding "dissapointing". Perhaps your dream will come true in the end.

I guess if Popo had been at the front today, you would have gone off to the clinic to moan about him beeing at the front today after that big effort yesterday. Next to moaning about his 10, of course.
Also works for Machado, if he had ridden better so far.

Man, you are the real benchmark and the man to ask, when it's about RS.

Goddamn it. This MV guy is godlike, isn't he ?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

goddamnit cobblestoned, leave Mellow Velo alone

LEAVE HIM ALONE I TELL YOU

 

[Angliru]

Something to obsess/talk about for the next day or so. C*H*I*N*K in the Armor! Oh noes!

Wake me when they get to Etna.

EDIT: Not sure why that is interpreted as a slur.

It's quite offensive to the Chinese if I recall correctly.

 

[Escarabajo]

Only one real loser, today.
45 Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack 0:00:33
I think he is going to turn out to be a real disappointment for some.
Still, not as bad as his team mate who once managed to get on a Giro podium.
"Perfect Ten" Popovych finished in the Cavendish laughing group.

I guess he wasn't feeling too good when he read the papers.

 

[Publicus]

It's quite offensive to the Chinese if I recall correctly.

Understood, but it is an actual word that has an actual non-offensive meaning.

 

[Mellow Velo]

goddamnit cobblestoned, leave Mellow Velo alone

LEAVE HIM ALONE I TELL YOU

Hey what, is he still writing about me?

Not able to swallow facts, no doubt.
I probably gave him indigestion again.

He really ought to reciprocate and stick me on ignore, but he clearly hasn't figured out how this wonderful function works.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Hey what, is he still writing about me?

Not able to swallow facts, no doubt.
I probably gave him indigestion again.

He really ought to reciprocate and stick me on ignore, but he clearly hasn't figured out how this wonderful function works.

This is because you can make so much sense, when you actually use head and fingers for thinking and posting, instead of your ****.

Sad, sad story - but like to follow it.

 

[Ryaguas]

I dont think there is much danger of guys like Scarponi peaking too early, you have to reach your peak in exactly one week.

Not peaking too early... He is already on peak and maybe started this Giro on peak! so I'm officially worried for Michele...
Also He's spending energies in stages like this that are not going to be really important to win this Giro... He has the pressure to win an stage and also be at the top of the GC.
I dont care too much for Il Squalo but I'm already waiting for that really bad day that He always has... Hope it doesnt come on Zoncolan or Gavia cuz if that happens He will lose like 10min...

LOL @ Cobblestoned and Mellow...

 

[ferryman]

Yeah on the steep gradients of Zoncolan he'll show them. The others will finish when Contador is already putting on the pink jersey

Not Zoncolan but I like this of AC on the steep of the Angliru:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afFI4alhJQc

 

[Parrulo]

Not Zoncolan but I like this of AC on the steep of the Angliru:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afFI4alhJQc

i love the way he celebrates at the end. clearly gave everything he had and was super happy with his performance.

also

according to his diary he says he had a bad day today and simply didn't have the legs.

 

[greenedge]

nice work by Bart. Also Pirazzi laying down hammer. Astana and Liquigas are looking strong but anyone behind Contador other than Menchov, Roman and JROD in my view seem screwed.

 

[greenedge]

He visited two times the race Doctor in yesterday's stage. Somehow I missed that on the TV. I guess they don't show it unless you are a big name.

He has very little time to recuperate. Let's hope for the best.

Just like poor old Visconti.

 

[dlwssonic]

OMG I love the part when hoogerland joined up with the group and attacked the group. And harmon said Johnny What are you doing, you have gone absolutely bonkers.