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

[Ryo Hazuki]

A shout out to Andy Schleck.
Why the hell didnt you come to italy to make this giro bloody epic and not a bertie bash party.

don't be such a whiner. it's 2 more weeks and many things can happen

 

[La Pandera]

That was lesson learned from the Vuelta from when he followed Mosquera and Anton came back to win the stage.

Exactly. Nibali is a quickstudy. He's using those lessons learned to good effect. With the knowledge of the wind near the top it was wise to not expend too much energy early plus the way Contador shot away from the group I can't imagine anyone thinking that they were going to match that blistering acceleration. Scarponi tried and did but paid for it. The biggest psychological blow was to who was being touted as Contador's biggest competition: Scarponi.

 

[bobs nob]

Andy schleck is a level above the rest too. He showed in the TDF 2010 that he can put 50 seconds into the others excluding bertie too. I believed if he entered this giro it would have been freaking epic! When I meant contador looked like he wasnt even trying. I meant he didnt look like he was putting in a lot of effort but just destroyed the rest.

I disagree on so many fronts but probably best left to a different thread. As far as 2010 tdf goes, Andy had a lot of good fortune to get him to where he ended up - sheesh have we not beaten that mercilessly to death already?, and yes, a bad shift (his own dumb mistake) hurt him. AC was NOT top form last TDF. And AC did look like he was trying as hard as he could to put as much time in the last 6 or 7 km today. Agree to disagree.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Contador was superb today. Absolutely superb.

Suicide watch in the Livestrong camp.

 

[Parrulo]

wow contador

lets hope the other were somewhat caught with their pants down and thats the only reason why no1 cept scarponi tried to counter. rujano looking good. lets see if he can keep it. nibali also looking like the strongest after contador but with his diesel he just can't keep up with contador's kick.

also machado he was dropped very early in the race . . . lets hope he recovery isn't just awful and he can win a stage on the third week

 

[Wigry3]

niemiec... it means german

 

[ManInFull]

Contador was superb today. Absolutely superb.

Suicide watch in the Livestrong camp.

Definitely an exciting end to the stage. Too bad AC will not be competing in the TdF against Andy.

 

[La Pandera]

Don't read my twitter atm...it is for your own good.

Who the hell reads your twitter? Don't worry I don't read anyone's twitter.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

A typo.

It's Niemiec.

Hitch, please don't kill me

He was the Lampre rider pulling the big group until about 1500m to go.

ahhhhhh, okay. Thanks. I remember seeing him, but my Italian isn't so good... err should I say non-existent.

BTW, that's one hot podium gal up there w/Conti... the one holding the big bottle of champagne.

 

[jaylew]

What?! He demonstrated a frightful superiority. On a climb when the Bigs should have finished in a sprint, he gained a minute+.

Agreed. Considering the wind, grade, and when he went that was a beat down.

 

[dlwssonic]

don't be such a whiner. it's 2 more weeks and many things can happen

yea like your boy rujano winning the giro by getting 6 minutes on the rest on the zoncolan.

 

[Granville57]

As Gogulski mentioned on Universal...

If Contador is having allergy problems, those would've most likely been greatly reduced on this volcanic ascent. The race is far from over, and he might've felt some urgency to grab some time when the opportunity presented itself.

Lot's of good racing left for sure.

 

[Tuarts]

Graham Brown didn't finish?

 

[Señor_Contador]

Exactly. Nibali is a quickstudy. He's using those lessons learned to good effect. With the knowledge of the wind near the top it was wise to not expend too much energy early plus the way Contador shot away from the group I can't imagine anyone thinking that they were going to match that blistering acceleration. Scarponi tried and did but paid for it. The biggest psychological blow was to who was being touted as Contador's biggest competition: Scarponi.

Indeed. Scarponi was thoroughly and totally obliterated in trying to follow AC. I don't recall him cracking that bad. I mean, I saw him suffer trying to follow Basso but definitely not crack the way he did.

Michelle gave Weening a run for his money on the I-got-nothing-left look competition.

 

[The Hitch]

A typo.

It's Niemiec.

Hitch, please don't kill me

He was the Polish rider pulling the big group until about 1500m to go.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Publicus]

What's coming on Tuesday?

Flat stage. No need in defending the jersey. The REAL mountains are coming at the end of the week.

 

[Granville57]

BTW, that's one hot podium gal up there w/Conti... the one holding the big bottle of champagne.

Ahhh, the scent of victory.

 

[Bala Verde]

nice placings from carrara and cataldo

1 CONTADOR Alberto ESP SBS 33:03:51 0:00
2 SIVTSOV Kanstantsin BLR THR 33:04:50 0:59
3 LE MEVEL Christophe FRA GRM 33:05:10 1:19
4 NIBALI Vincenzo ITA LIQ 33:05:12 1:21
5 SCARPONI Michele ITA LAM 33:05:19 1:28
6 ARROYO DURAN David ESP MOV 33:05:28 1:37
7 KREUZIGER Roman CZE AST 33:05:32 1:41
8 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo COL AND 33:05:38 1:47
9 CATALDO Dario ITA QST 33:06:12 2:21
10 CARRARA Matteo ITA VCD 33:06:12 2:21


11
ANTON Igor
ESP
EUS
33:06:12
2:21
12
KIRYIENKA Vasili
BLR
MOV
33:06:21
2:30
13
GARZELLI Stefano
ITA
ASA
33:06:30
2:39
14
MASCIARELLI Francesco
ITA
AST
33:06:40
2:49
15
GADRET John
FRA
ALM
33:06:46
2:55
16
KRUIJSWIJK Steven
NED
RAB
33:06:47
2:56
17
DUPONT Hubert
FRA
ALM
33:06:48
2:57
18
KISERLOVSKI Robert
CRO
AST
33:07:06
3:15
19
SELLA Emanuele
ITA
AND
33:07:08
3:17
20
MENCHOV Denis
RUS
GEO
33:07:09
3:18

[...]

22
RODRIGUEZ Joaquin
ESP
KAT
33:07:25

26
SASTRE Carlos
ESP
GEO
33:08:48
4:57

30
RUJANO GUILLEN Jose'
VEN
AND
33:09:56
6:05

36
MACHADO Tiago
POR
RSH
33:12:25
8:34
3:34

 

[rhubroma]

Agreed. Considering the wind, grade, and when he went that was a beat down.

And this is what the riders said too in the Processo all Tappa.

Savoldelli, who followed the stage on a RAI motercylcle and who is as astute as they get, said that watching Contador do what he did was a real spectacle. A noteworthy demostration of superiority. Nibali said that when Conta attacked it was like seeing an arrow shot. There wasn't anything to do. Scarponi gave it his all, but then paid dearly for his effort.

Honestly, I sometimes think people don't actually understand what they are watching.

 

[BYOP88]

Flat stage. No need in defending the jersey. The REAL mountains are coming at the end of the week.

Stage 11 looks like it could be a tricky one to control given the fact Saxobank have looked poor thus far.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

nice placings from carrara and cataldo

1 CONTADOR Alberto ESP SBS 33:03:51 0:00
2 SIVTSOV Kanstantsin BLR THR 33:04:50 0:59
3 LE MEVEL Christophe FRA GRM 33:05:10 1:19
4 NIBALI Vincenzo ITA LIQ 33:05:12 1:21
5 SCARPONI Michele ITA LAM 33:05:19 1:28
6 ARROYO DURAN David ESP MOV 33:05:28 1:37
7 KREUZIGER Roman CZE AST 33:05:32 1:41
8 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo COL AND 33:05:38 1:47
9 CATALDO Dario ITA QST 33:06:12 2:21
10 CARRARA Matteo ITA VCD 33:06:12 2:21

and serpa. to me he doesn't seem in best shape yet either. didn't ride too well in races before giro except in very beginning when he was in topshape

carrara's training and racing in colombia is paying off

 

[ManInFull]

Im sure andy will be at top form for the tour because his whole season is peaked for that and he dedicates a lot for that. but bertie would have already rode a tiring giro and will be pretty exhausted after riding a 2nd gt in a row. So Im sure if contador gets to ride the tour he wont blow everyone off his wheel like today. It will be more like tdf2010.

I think that this year's TdF will be dominated by Andy because AC is not going to be there. I believe AC will be banned for 2 years in June. I hope that someone stands up and challenges Andy on the climbs, but I doubt it.

 

[maltiv]

Really disappointed by Löfkvist. Perhaps it's time to give up the GT dream soon.

 

[ManInFull]

I think Andy's above the rest but definitely below Contador. Even if Andy would beat Contador on the mountains(without time bonuses mind you in the TdF), he's going to lose to him in the TT. I think Frank may hold back Andy some though.

I think that AC has very little chance of racing the TdF. He will be banned next month.

 

[will10]

Stage 11 looks like it could be a tricky one to control given the fact Saxobank have looked poor thus far.

Saxobank haven't looked like anything other than saving energy for the big days next week. The days they kept Contador up front (like yesterday) they did fine.

Navarro & Hernandez haven't had to do anything yet, they'll be there on the Grossglockner etc.