Giro stage 15: Forlì - Faenza, 161 km

[davidw]

I love these stages... they're a bit like LBL, and there are a lot of tactics - they can be important or insignificant depending on how they're raced.

BTW, it's *HOT* here in Italy today - it was warm last week, but today it's really the first day with really high temperatures... I saw a thermometer saying 34 on my ride today.

 

[Parrot23]

Rabo guy at the front: they're starting to worry.

 

[Jasper]

Rabo guy at the front: they're starting to worry.

The gap with Basso keeps on getting bigger, so the big guns will have to do it themselves I think.

 

[Escarabajo]

Sastre taking over. I can not believe Serpa was dropped????

 

[Jasper]

And Sastre takes command. He must feel threatened by Basso's move.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Sastre splits the group again. Rogers dropped among others.

 

[Jasper]

Damn, Sastre decimated the chase group. Only riders left are Di Luca, Menchov, Pellizotti, Leipheimer, and Seeldraeyers. What a great performance from Pokémon!

 

[Parrot23]

Basso threatening LL's podium!

LOL, wakey/wakey time for Levi.

 

[Cobblestones]

LA towed by Popo.

 

[Parrot23]

Basso and Sastre, the guys with the diesel engines, can put Rabo in trouble. Smart today.

Gotta go today, before we have another damned procession to the end of the Giro with the leaders wheel-sucking their opponents.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I was too quick, Rogers is still there, Løvkvist too.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

And Løvkvist is sacrificing himself now.

 

[Parrot23]

Eurosport guy says di Luca is looking sunken eyed. Early attacking in Giro may start to be taking a toll.

 

[Cobblestones]

Eurosport guy says di Luca is looking sunken eyed. Early attacking in Giro may start to be taking a toll.

He's barely hanging in there, but soon it will be all downhill.
Eh, scratch that.

I love this Giro!

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Di Luca tries to drop Menchov, but it's hopeless. Menchov is too strong.

 

[BroDeal]

Basso pulls a FLandis. Cool.

 

[53x11 in DC]

GREAT stage. I wonder if DiLuca has spent his matches early again this year, as in years past. Nice attack, but if Basso is coming on form, this is going to be an incredibly fun week to watch.

 

[Jasper]

Basso and Garzelli barely gained time on the 2 leaders in the last 3 or so kilometres, and even lost time to the maglia rosa group. Guess in the end their effort wasn't as powerfull as it first seemed?

 

[Parrot23]

Eurosport guy says di Luca is looking sunken eyed. Early attacking in Giro may start to be taking a toll.

LOL, wrong Parrot23. Got to keep things straight here.

 

[Parrot23]

Getting complicated.

Someone mentioned this the other day:

http://www.nos.nl/nosstudiosport/overigesporten/wielrennen/Giro/etappes2007/infostrada_live.html

 

[Jasper]

God, Menchov looks so strong, he pulled Di Luca back so damn easily while the others were struggling.

 

[Cobblestones]

Apparently the DiLuca/Menchov attacks have dropped Leipheimer.

 

[hairysemi]

Is Levi Leipheimer just an American Cadel Evans, or what?

 

[53x11 in DC]

Apparently the DiLuca/Menchov attacks have dropped Leipheimer.

Groundhog Day

 

[Parrot23]

Menchov looks so strong, he pulled Di Luca back so damn easily while the others were struggling.

Agree completely.