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

[Sophistic]

what a shame that Rujano is already so much behind in the gc, if he can hang with Conti here i really wonder what hes gonna do at the Zoncolan.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Why does Contador have to be Contador? Why can't someone more likable be that good?

Because most people instinctively dislike people who are good.

To save you time, I've just thought up a list of exceptions.

 

[bobs nob]

Why does Contador have to be Contador? Why can't someone more likable be that good?

because you wouldn't like him either.

 

[spalco]

I'm a bit speechless, what a demonastration.

 

[Publicus]

wow, he blew the competition away. Where are the others going to take time, if they can't even latch their wagon on on a long 6% ascent!

It was a real psychological blow. Especially for Scarponi.

 

[The Sheep]

Dare I say #Rabofail (jks)

Menchov rides for Geox these days

 

[red_flanders]

And here I thought he would just take it easy today and follow wheels. I presume he will give up the pink jersey on Tuesday.

What's coming on Tuesday?

 

[khardung la]

watching that made me want to puke. He shouldn't even be riding. What a sham.

I don´t get it, honestly.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Well, everyone else behind AC in the GC now has a huge hole to dig themselves out of. If it was anyone else other than Conti in the lead, I'd say there's still chances. But against AC, there won't be many chances.

 

[Lanark]

Getting 2006 flashbacks. This could become the most boring Giro since then, let's hope his team is suprisingly weak, although I don't think that will make much of a difference.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dare I say #Rabofail (jks)

You really would make a bad figure with that. They just had 4 days of pink and white and a stagewin.

Go search the first BMC rider

 

[Marcus135]

So Contador by 10 mins?

 

[rzombie1988]

As if we needed any more proof that Contador was miles above anyone in that race. I can't stand Contador but I'd never bet against him in a GT. I knew he was going to attack early(he always does and then just defends for the rest of the days) in the Giro and I think he picked a great day to do it. He's got a guranteed 4-5 days in Pink and I'm sure he's going to take it all the way.

Lots of credit to Rujano for hanging there. No shame in losing to Contador at all. That was a big performance for him.

I never believed in Nibali and others being in Contador's league and today just proved it. The guy is just on another level. Really sucks to be guys like Menchov, Nibali and pretty much anyone else with GT aspirations, as they lost it here today.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

wow, he blew the competition away. Where are the others going to take time, if they can't even latch their wagon on on a long 6% ascent!

To be fair he did most damage in the 8-9 sections.
But yes, He is gonna win by a mile on zoncolan lol.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Great prediction by J Rod:

"There will be more selection on the Etna than yesterday on the Montevergine. We won't be 30 riders together for the stage win. Maybe eight or 10 of us will stay together, but I also don't expect any selection among the favourites."

 

[AussieGoddess]

If I didnt dislike him so much I would love him.

Just a class above the rest

 

[zapata]

A bit dissappointed by Nibali, but realistically I guess he did as well as could be expected. Contador, say what you will about him, but he's just better than the rest, and not afraid to attack in the wind. Great to watch. Impressed by arroyo as well.

 

[The Sheep]

This is going to be like 2006?

 

[Greenflame]

This is hopeless.. Contador was amazing None of the others could even begin to follow him.

.. I actually miss Andy.

 

[CosmicRocker]

Contador has the lead ! ! ! !

Whoo Hooo. Since he will probably keep the leaders jersey the rest of the race, I now have free time on my hands instead of keeping up with the Giro.

I used to be a fan till he won TDF in 2009. I never heard him thanking his team. He won the Tour de France ALL BY HIMSELF.

Not been a fan since ! !

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

So Contador by 10 mins?

Jeez, I wouldn't be surprised after this massacre.

 

[The Hitch]

Rujano will have made a few fans today too, for those that hadn't had him on their radar yet.

And hell slowly lose them all over the next 48 hours as they read Ryo's comments

 

[Mellow Velo]

Well, I think this Giro is in the balance between dominance and explosiveness.

In other words, they guy who is likely to make attacks happen and set the race on fire, also looks to be ET's big brother.

And hell slowly lose them all over the next 48 hours as they read Ryo's comments

+ a few 100

What is Leecheimer in Venezuelan? (only joking if you are German)

 

[mr. tibbs]

I don't think Contador is that much stronger than the others. They could have easily organized to keep him at 20-30 seconds, tops, but they all sat around looking at each other. He gained almost all of his time in the first two kms of the attack. (40 seconds in 2 km, 10 seconds in the last 4 km.)

I think the difference today was that every other team had a playbook that they had drawn up in March: "Attack in the last two kms, but sit in the bunch until then," or somesuch. The only guy who was riding the race (as opposed to the plan) was Contador. He attacked when he thought best, not when he was supposed to, and it paid dividends while the team cars calculated grades and wind and time gaps on their TI-85s.

 

[The Sheep]

Contador has the lead ! ! ! !

Whoo Hooo. Since he will probably keep the leaders jersey the rest of the race, I now have free time on my hands instead of keeping up with the Giro.

I used to be a fan till he won TDF in 2009. I never heard him thanking his team. He won the Tour de France ALL BY HIMSELF.

Not been a fan since ! !

Why would he lie to make some people that hate him happy?