Giro d'Italia Stage 9: Messina - Etna, 169km (let the race begin!)

[auscyclefan94]

Giro d'Italia Stage 9: Messina - Etna, 169km (let the race begin!)

Start time: 12:40
Finish time: 17:00-17:29

Let the fireworks begin!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Small favorite group to the finish, Scarponi wins and takes the jersey

 

[jsem94]

J-Rod for this stage. Expecting a group of 8-10 riders or so.

Also, ACF.. patience. Today's stage hasn't even ended yet.

 

[El Pistolero]

Scarponi, Vincenzo, Anton or Contador.

Or else I'll be surprised

 

[will10]

Solo winner (non-favourite), small favourites group coming in together with few gaps between them. One favourite loses 2+ minutes.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

J-Rod for this stage. Expecting a group of 8-10 riders or so.

Also, ACF.. patience. Today's stage hasn't even ended yet.

jrod asbolutely zero chance. the climb is way too long and not steep enough. this is perfect climb for nibali. but he's not climber enough to win.

 

[auscyclefan94]

J-Rod for this stage. Expecting a group of 8-10 riders or so.

Also, ACF.. patience. Today's stage hasn't even ended yet.

Sorry, I'm just getting a little excited for Etna. I thought we needed some extra time analyse the **** out the stage!

 

[cineteq]

Small favorite group to the finish, Scarponi wins and takes the jersey

Purito for a surprise win. "Training" with Gilbert in the classics is going to pay off big time!

 

[jens_attacks]

have no idea on what will happen.it will be way too exciting.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Contador FTW

 

[El Pistolero]

jrod asbolutely zero chance. the climb is way too long and not steep enough. this is perfect climb for nibali. but he's not climber enough to win.

But knowing Contador if they will be the only 2 left at the top he's soo going to gift it away.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

have no idea on what will happen.it will be way too exciting.

No way. It's going to be as dull as every race with likes of Contador, Rodriguez, Nibali etc.

 

[jens_attacks]

No way. It's going to be as dull as every race with likes of Contador, Rodriguez, Nibali etc.

don't care about them,i have here pozzovivo,anton,rujano,sella,scarponi.they will make the race.

 

[The Hitch]

Scarponi is still on peak but some doubt he can keep it 3 weeks so he needs to take time here I suppose.

I hope I get to see both asscents of the Etna. Descent should be interesting.

Would like to see Nibali win. Really have come to admire him over the last year with his humility and determination and his willingness to crush everyone on descents. Guy has balls. I hope to see the Nibali fans out in force and he deserves a victrory on his home turf.

Having said that, if Contador wants it, he can take this, but i think hes saving himself for 13 and 14.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Yeah, Sella. Now I'm excited, too.

 

[El Pistolero]

No way. It's going to be as dull as every race with likes of Contador, Rodriguez, Nibali etc.

So, you find the Tour 2007 and Giro 2008 boring? Or the Vuelta 2008(given the course, it was a decent edition)?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

But knowing Contador if they will be the only 2 left at the top he's soo going to gift it away.

they will never be the only 2 left on the top. I doubt contador will even attack

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

if yesterday proved anything I expect a strong rujano although climb isn't too steep it is very long which suits him

 

[El Pistolero]

they will never be the only 2 left on the top. I doubt contador will even attack

That's why I said if

Not sure what to expect of Contador, all will be clear after the Etna.

To be honest, I think Rujano won't do much till the final mountain stage. He won there in 2005(I think), might want to win there again. If he has the legs he should forget about GC and go for stage wins and KoM.

 

[icefire]

Scarponi is still on peak but some doubt he can keep it 3 weeks so he needs to take time here I suppose.

I hope I get to see both asscents of the Etna. Descent should be interesting.

Would like to see Nibali win. Really have come to admire him over the last year with his humility and determination and his willingness to crush everyone on descents. Guy has balls. I hope to see the Nibali fans out in force and he deserves a victrory on his home turf.

Having said that, if Contador wants it, he can take this, but i think hes saving himself for 13 and 14.

If we can trust the info in the profile, TV broadcast starts after the descent.

 

[Ryaguas]

No way. It's going to be as dull as every race with likes of Contador, Rodriguez, Nibali etc.

Blah blah blah... Go and play monopoly...

 

[Spare Tyre]

If we can trust the info in the profile, TV broadcast starts after the descent.

TV on the profile means something else.

Looking at the timetable (as per Steephill TV) and based on the usual start time of live feeds, I think we'll get footage before the first climb.

 

[Ryaguas]

mmmm This stage should be for the diesels:
Il Squalo ---> Home turf
Rujano -----> Great diesel and 5min behind in the GC and is time to get time back Hope that He can time very well that attack...

Alberto will follow attacks and maybe fancy some attacks to test his legs, I dont expect a Verbier here, there is the Glossknocker and Zoncolan for that...

Since Scarponi is at peak already and Il Squalo too I can see a group of 4 or riders sprinting FTW...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Long but not all too steep.

 

[The Hitch]

TV on the profile means something else.

Looking at the timetable (as per Steephill TV) and based on the usual start time of live feeds, I think we'll get footage before the first climb.

The first ascent starts 110k from the finish. Considering the course, thats what, between 2.5 and 3 hours before the finish.

It depends which channel or stream you watch but for the one im using- Eurosport Uk, they show the last 90 minutes, so that would mean during the flat in between the 2 ascents.

Long but not all too steep.

The first ascent yes. The second one its an average of 7.2 and thats bearing in mind the last 2 k are flat. From 5 to 14km the average gradient per km is under 7% only once. THe last km before the flat is 13.1%

Id say thats steep enough.