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

[Ryo Hazuki]

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

massively overrated rider.

 

[taiwan]

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.

Credit to Rujano then for being the only one able to follow until the last attack.

 

[jaylew]

Hernandez must be feeling really good. He finished way up there. Usually Contador's domestiques soft-peddle once he's flown the coop.

 

[Señor_Contador]

[...]I believe AC will be banned for 2 years in June.[...]

Just wait and see.

 

[ManInFull]

Great response. LiveStrong fans are never going to give AC any credit for anything.

 

[maltiv]

Graeme Brown just made it to the finish

 

[spalco]

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

We'll see. I thought for sure he'd get his 2-year-ban before december already, and I was wrong then. I'm not making any predictions anymore what happens with that kind of thing.

 

[La Pandera]

I wonder if they'll be even more likely to do so knowing that 2nd could possibly turn into 1st down the road.


I'm an AC fan, but I wouldn't mind seeing something happen to make this a race. What would be cool is if Androni was able to do something with their trio. I'd love to see Androni v. AC. Rujano is still 5+ minutes behind so might be given a little leash, even after today. Or maybe Nibali getting away on the Crostis descent.

Androni has the guns to really make it interesting for AC. Rujano, Sella and Serpa can surely make something happen in the upcoming weeks. If what Ryo quotes Rujano as saying is true, that his best form will be in the coming weeks, I don't think that Contador or the other contenders can afford to allow Rujano to escape for too long. Still though, we shouldn't underestimate Contador's support. Jesus Hernandez rode an excellent stage and Navarro is par excellence as Contador's lieutenant in the mountains.

 

[rhubroma]

Credit to Rujano then for being the only one able to follow until the last attack.

Yes but Rujano had already attacked previously and was up the road. Conta bridged up, kept him dangling and then, as soon as the road got steep again, accelerated and droped him just before the finish.

If Rujano had had to follow Conta, like Scarponi, he wouldn't have been able to follow. The gap he had helped him hang on longer.

 

[Climbing]

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.

Ivan Basso ofc.
Btw fantastic demonstration of strenght by Contie, from the big expected just Nibali and Kruzzie saved the face. (imho)
And what a beatifull scenario the Etna!

 

[benpounder]

Interesting what bertie will do with the mgalia rosa. His team ain't overly strong so he may let a break go away and take the jersey.

Given the profiles of the next three stages, Saxo doesnt have to do anything, unless a contender gets into a good break on Wednesday. Tuesday and Thursday are true sprinter stages, and Saxo will likely let those teams control the pack. In fact, on stage 11 they might let a break of non-contenders get away just to lose the GC jersey.

This ought to worry the other GC teams.

 

[hfer07]

I honestly hope he won't go like Pantani of 99 to win lots of stages, destroy the field just to get the title stripped afterwards........... just saying....

 

[No_Balls]

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

The man from Texas promises.

This is why Contador is the champ he is. You just don´t know when he launches an attack but when he does, it is damn sure unbridgeable.

The most talented guy ever on a bike.

 

[La Pandera]

Yes but Rujano had already attacked previously and was up the road. Conta bridged up, kept him dangling and then, as soon as the road got steep again, accelerated and droped him just before the finish.

If Rujano had had to follow Conta, like Scarponi, he wouldn't have been able to follow. The gap he had helped him hang on longer.

I have to give Rujano credit though for being on the attack even before Contador launched his salvo, and then still having the determination to stick with Contador for as long as he did when Scarponi couldn't. Also for still having something left to make Contador sprint to the line. Rujano showed alot of heart today and definitely quieted alot of the skeptics.

 

[taiwan]

I mean, Rujano's was the second best performance on the stage. Who else, Scarponi? Garzelli? He didn't have to follow the first attack, but there was at least one other he came back to, and he took second. Great ride.

Actually maybe Niemiec now that I think about it.

 

[rhubroma]

I have to give Rujano credit though for being on the attack even before Contador launched his salvo, and then still having the determination to stick with Contador for as long as he did when Scarponi couldn't. Also for still having something left to make Contador sprint to the line. Rujano showed alot of heart today and definitely quieted alot of the skeptics.

That's not how it works, though, in cycling. The guy up the road isn't going full out. The guy chasing, however, is. While the guy who bridges up is merely continuing a progression that's on the downside, until he is rested enough to launch another attack.

When a guy who's already up the road is caught by a chaser, if he can do no more than hang on to the other's progression, then this means that he wouldn't have been able to match, stroke per stroke, the burst of his companion had they gone together initially.

Thus had Rujano needed to match a full out effort by Alberto, when he attacked, he would have been dropped and only was able to hang on for a while because of this dynamic above.

He did show much heart though, but the heart is helped when you're in the right situation, which he was, and not the wrong one like Scarponi.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Brown and McEwen outside the time limit

Also re: Löfkvist, yeah, but he was only 20 seconds behind Tour winner Sastre and Giro/Vuelta winner Menchov

 

[killswitch]

Impressive rides by Dupont and Bakelandts. Bakelandts even finished together with Menchov and Kiserlovski.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

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

We'll see. I think he will.

 

[jonjungel]

Surprise of the day for me was definately Menchov. I had him up for 2. in Milan.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yes but Rujano had already attacked previously and was up the road. Conta bridged up, kept him dangling and then, as soon as the road got steep again, accelerated and droped him just before the finish.

If Rujano had had to follow Conta, like Scarponi, he wouldn't have been able to follow. The gap he had helped him hang on longer.

Even then, Rujano was clearly the second strongest rider today.

 

[rhubroma]

Even then, Rujano was clearly the second strongest rider today.

Indeed, and the most savvy (+ courageous), which at times can be as important as actual strength.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes but Rujano had already attacked previously and was up the road. Conta bridged up, kept him dangling and then, as soon as the road got steep again, accelerated and droped him just before the finish.

If Rujano had had to follow Conta, like Scarponi, he wouldn't have been able to follow. The gap he had helped him hang on longer.

Uh no.

Contador first waited for Scarponi. Then they rode a bit together to Rujano
Then Contador accelerated again. And Rujano answered the acceleration, Scarponi parked

Then Contador rode with Rujano, and accelerated again. Rujano bridged a second time!

The part were Contador accelerated away was 3/4% at the end of the climb.

So get your facts straight. And accept that Rujano was definately far and away the 2nd strongest rider today.

 

[La Pandera]

That's not how it works, though, in cycling. The guy up the road isn't going full out. The guy chasing, however, is. While the guy who bridges up is merely continuing a progression that's on the downside, until he is rested enough to launch another attack.

When a guy who's already up the road is caught by a chaser, if he can do no more than hang on to the other's progression, then this means that he wouldn't have been able to match, stroke per stroke, the burst of his companion had they gone together initially.

Thus had Rujano needed to match a full out effort by Alberto, when he attacked, he would have been dropped and only was able to hang on for a while because of this dynamic above.

He did show much heart though, but the heart is helped when you're in the right situation, which he was, and not the wrong one like Scarponi.

If I'm not mistaken, Rujano was in fact chasing the earlier escapees. I'm sure the fact that he was likely alerted to the fact that Contador was coming on his own move, likely eventually altered Rujano's riding so as to not go as hard so as to have something left in the tank to be able to jump on to the Contador train when it arrived.

 

[rhubroma]

Uh no.

Contador first waited for Scarponi. Then they rode a bit together to Rujano
Then Contador accelerated again. And Rujano answered the acceleration, Scarponi parked

Then Contador rode with Rujano, and accelerated again. Rujano bridged a second time!

The part were Contador accelerated away was 3/4% at the end of the climb.

So get your facts straight. And accept that Rujano was definately far and away the 2nd strongest rider today.

Bawh!! I never said otherwise.

But the climb wasn't steep enough for Conta do do more. The "waiting" for Scarponi was insignificant and only held him up, as he immediately demonstrated.

Rujano was able to follow the first two accelerations because he was riding on sheer determination and desperation, though the easy grade worked in his favor.

In a head to head match, especially on a steeper climb, Rujano would have been decidely a notch below. His initial advantage saved him for as long as it did.

I may not have my "facts" straight, but you don't know squat about bike racing.