Giro Stage 12: ITT

[Animal]

But the good testers always do well in timetrials, and he's not generally known as one.

 

[Leopejo]

It *is* hard. At the moment:

Zabriskie has the fastest time on top of the first climb (18,6 km) with an average of 31,9 km/h.

Ignatiev is holding the fastest time at the bottom of the descent, before the start of the second climb (34,5 km) with an average speed of 36,8 km/h.

 

[Jasper]

Any idea of the weather there at this moment, and the forecasts for the rest of the afternoon?

 

[Leopejo]

Any idea of the weather there at this moment, and the forecasts for the rest of the afternoon?

Sunny weather, 27 C, maybe some clouds at the end of the stage. A weak (5 km/h) wind from SW - SSW.

 

[RhodriM]

Cancellara is out of the race, btw

Seems a bit strange to drop out the day before the TT!

 

[ingsve]

Seems a bit strange to drop out the day before the TT!

Not really. He can't help his team mates today while he could on previous stages so if it's any day to quit it's a TT or a rest day for example...

 

[Leopejo]

The first riders are in and the best time is about 1.42. It means less than 36 km/h...

 

[ingsve]

So we should expect the winning time to be somewhere around 1.35.

 

[Delicato]

I am starting to think now that there won't be major gaps between favs.

 

[Jasper]

Wow, Zabriskie is getting a serious beating. 2nd time with a one second gap at the first intermediate point, but already 2.15 behind at the third intermediate. And that's only up against riders like Andriotto, Ignatiev and Chiarini. Imagine how much the big guns will put him behind.

 

[Bala Verde]

It seems a challenge to not blow your engine on the first 3.5% climb. Since it's so 'shallow' it perhaps feels you can go full throttle, but then you pay the consequences in the second climb.

In case the end time is 1:35, the avg speed will have been 38.274
In case the final time is 1:30, the avg speed will have been 40.4

I don't know about today, because it's long, technical, it's hilly and windy as well as long steep an flat straight. It seems like the most complete cyclist will win, or someone who knows how to minimize his weak points, and split up the stage in multiple mini TT sections, while being alert not to blow up the engine on the sections you favour.

 

[Animal]

Yep. A good, long, sporting course TT. Always brings out the best all-round rider!

 

[ingsve]

It seems a challenge to not blow your engine on the first 3.5% climb. Since it's so 'shallow' it perhaps feels you can go full throttle, but then you pay the consequences in the second climb.

Looks like Zabriskie did that. He lost 2.39 to Andriotto in just the 2nd climb. He might have had a fall as well but since it's mostly uphill that seems less likely. Anyway that's alot to lose in just 10Km.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Interesting to see a terrible time trialer like Possoni have almost the same time as Millar at the first time check.

 

[ingsve]

Looks like there are huge diffrences between how people ride in the climbs compared to other parts of the course. They go from being faster to losing a minute and a half to someone and then going faster than them again.

 

[rolfrae]

Millar's just come through with the best time so far.

 

[Parrot23]

Looks like this is going to require brains as well as brawn, meaning a guy who can really parse out his effort with a very good feel for his changing limitations realtime. Could be some big surprises.

Should be a plus for guys like Sastre, Rogers. Maybe Levi (he's so cautious, he'll be lining up all his marbles very, very carefully with Bruyneel's feedback on the course realtime). Menchov may be too linear, charge ahead, 100% gas kind of guy to get his head around this course.

I just can't see di Luca's punchey style panning out by the end; it's just too long, unless he's a Selle.

 

[karlboss]

i can't get any pictures, but what are they riding? road bikes with clip ons? discs?

 

[Jasper]

Boasson Hagen is underway. I'm curious to see what he can pull off here.

 

[ingsve]

Wiggins just took the lead at point 1...

 

[RhodriM]

i can't get any pictures, but what are they riding? road bikes with clip ons? discs?

I'm interested in what they're riding too...

 

[RhodriM]

Wiggins just took the lead at point 1...

By 24 seconds apparently.

 

[Parrot23]

Going to be intriguing to see what Lance can do. His legs have been doing a lot of talking recently.

 

[jaylew]

i can't get any pictures, but what are they riding? road bikes with clip ons? discs?

The riders I've seen are on road bikes. No clip-ons for Bruse but most guys seem to have them.

 

[RhodriM]

i can't get any pictures, but what are they riding? road bikes with clip ons? discs?

According to the cyclingnews coverage:

'Armstrong is on the road now, and he is not using his special time trial bike. He has normal wheels, and a normal helmet. However he does have clips, aero bars clipped on to his handlebars.'