Giro stage 13: Lido di Camaiore - Firenze (176 km)

[Parrot23]

Astana at front

Eurosport commentator said favours for Alan Davis, the former Discovery rider, trying to help Quickstep.

 

[Captain Chaos]

"17:00 CEST
Julian Dean leads off but Columbia takes over!

17:00 CEST
Columbia has the lead as they head to 500m"

I think this says it all when it comes to the hyped non rivalry between Garmin and Columbia.

 

[Cobblestones]

Garmin seems very happy to lead out at around 2-3km to go, then they slide back. Weird tactics.

Also, it looked there might have been a split in the peloton. Probably not big enough so they'll all get ST.

 

[Parrot23]

Yes, they seem to lead out early, then fade, then Farrar always seems to have to come from too far back.

 

[issoisso]

Watching the replay, for the third time in the three sprints where they both actually sprinted Petacchi had to sprint from a longer distance than Cavendish yet was clearly faster than Cavendish. Impressive.

"My" team is Columbia, but I've clearly got to hand it to Petacchi.
Makes you wonder what the results would be like if he had a train working for him like Cavendish has.

Still, 3 wins for Cavendish. Gotta be happy

 

[Cobblestones]

A machine translation of "gruppo compatto"

Bunch packed

So, I am the only one reading it as 'fudge packed'? Maybe it is just the effect of watching sweaty men in lycra working out for hours on end?

 

[mr. tibbs]

Watching the replay, for the third time in the three sprints where they both actually sprinted Petacchi had to sprint from a longer distance than Cavendish yet was clearly faster than Cavendish. Impressive.

"My" team is Columbia, but I've clearly got to hand it to Petacchi.
Makes you wonder what the results would be like if he had a train working for him like Cavendish has.

Still, 3 wins for Cavendish. Gotta be happy

I had the same impression about Petacchi! I was gonna mention it, but I was worried it would come off as sounding apologist or whatever.

I think these two are pretty evenly matched, with Cav getting the edge b/c of his great lead out train. Columbia literally muscled into the lead in the final kilometers. Hats off to the team!

And to Cav. He's proven he can win on his own (like McEwen), but now he's also got a big lead out train. Things look good for the Manxman. It's telling when Petacchi has to go from 4 or 5 guys back when Cavendish is still second wheel behind a teammate. With that team and that finishing kick...damn.

 

[Leopejo]

<Spam alert>

My (very limited) take on the stage in my blog

</spam alert>

 

[Animal]

Not spam. That's cool. Thanks for sharing. A good description of trying to capture that final moment of "the kill" in a sprint stage!

 

[craig1985]

Cavendish better win. I have money on him.

Awesome.