Giro Stage 4: Padova to San Martino di Costrazza

[Jamsque]

I've switched to watching the Universal feed because the picture quality is great, but this commentator really doesn't know what he is doing.

 

[53x11 in DC]

I've switched to watching the Universal feed because the picture quality is great, but this commentator really doesn't know what he is doing.

Wow - this guy is REALLY uninformed. I am thankful for the coverage but he just doen't get know the riders, and I'm not sure he knows the sport. He spent all day talking about how Lance might don pink yesterday when there were two Col/HR riders (and Petacchi) in his group.

 

[Bala Verde]

I am waiting for

'ze zijn deraan voor de moeite'

...

 

[53x11 in DC]

Given Armstrongs face, compared to Basso's (who displayed complete serenity by the french commentator), I don't think the boss seemed to like it too much

perhaps they sped up when they heard Di luca had a flat, just 1-2 k before the top.

Nope - LA is definitely suffering... he is slowly fading back thru the group on the final climb.

 

[Jamsque]

There goes Big Jens. The peloton is catching up fast, but if anyone can pull this kind of move off it's Jens Voigt.

 

[jaylew]

It's a shame the Eurosport audio is so far behind the Universal video(~1 minute). That would be the best combo.

 

[53x11 in DC]

The devil has lost some weight!!! Good on him! Anyone met him? I got a picture with him at the 2003 World's in Hamilton - I'm not sure he ever washes his outfit.... nasty smell!!

 

[mwbyrd]

Is anyone having issue with the Universal feed? I can't get any sound or video via IE. Worked perfect yesterday.

 

[Bala Verde]

I am expecting 4th of july like pyrotechnics at around km5 before the finish

Soler on the go!!!

Garzelli seemed to be in good shape, as well as di luca. Lovkvist is good too! Armstrong is losing terrain slowly...

 

[53x11 in DC]

Is that Loqvist??? Man does he look good

 

[53x11 in DC]

Is anyone having issue with the Universal feed? I can't get any sound or video via IE. Worked perfect yesterday.

keep refreshing - took me 3 times

 

[marinoni]

i know, i just thought the other guy was watching rai international where they might make a distinction and use english caps...that is not the case.

no, I was watching rai int last year and they were in italian.

 

[jaylew]

keep refreshing - took me 3 times

Took me several times as well with firefox.

 

[jaylew]

i think Jens is toast

 

[Jamsque]

So, Rogers or Lokvist in pink then?

There goes Soler! He looks good!

 

[Bala Verde]

i think Jens is toast

he blew his engine =(

 

[benpounder]

You'd think the comentator would know that both Michael Rogers, Thomas Lövkvist are in front of Lance in the GC, AND in the group.

 

[Jamsque]

Lokvist came in 7th, so I think he should be in the Maglia Rosa. Great charge from Di Luca, timed it perfectly.

I think Lance may have lost a few seconds to the front group.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Weak showing by the climbers. Weak. If they just coast in the bunch like that, vying for stage wins, they're handing the Giro to Basso, Leipheimer, et al.

 

[Leopejo]

Weak showing by the climbers. Weak. If they just coast in the bunch like that, vying for stage wins, they're handing the Giro to Basso, Leipheimer, et al.

There wasn't much more they could do. Let's see tomorrow on a harder finish.

 

[Bala Verde]

Whoah! What a sprint!!! Soler away and finally in an ultimate sprint, Di luca and garzelli chased him down, less then 50 m before the finish! The whole peloton stretched out...

As I thought I saw before, when the speed goes up, the boss seems to break down. He was suffering on the first climb, what i saw from his face, and now he couldn't stay with the big guns until the end. If you are good, you don't let that happen. On top of that, with his spirit, he would not let that happen... he lost 6s

Great day for COL, Lovkvist takes MR. Good for him!

 

[mr. tibbs]

There wasn't much more they could do. Let's see tomorrow on a harder finish.

*sigh* I guess you're right. Great finish by Di Luca, though.

Also, beautiful scenery on Universal's interwebz coverage. Looks chilly, doesn't it?

 

[jmnikricket]

Weak showing by the climbers. Weak. If they just coast in the bunch like that, vying for stage wins, they're handing the Giro to Basso, Leipheimer, et al.

I agree. Soler's kick was very unimpressive. Sure he got a small gap, but usually when those pure climber types kick they just seem to fly away from the bunch.

And if that universal announcer says one more thing about Armstrong in pink when it's clear he won't be, I think I might have to start muting =X

 

[Bala Verde]

I agree. Soler's kick was very unimpressive. Sure he got a small gap, but usually when those pure climber types kick they just seem to fly away from the bunch.

He tried at 5k but the pace set by LPR and LIQ was too high. There is not much you can do. He tried again 1-2k before the end, but I think it wasn't steep enough to make a difference. On top of that in those last 1-2k you see the 'pure sprinters' developing such speeds, you can barely stay ahead.

 

[Jamsque]

I agree. Soler's kick was very unimpressive. Sure he got a small gap, but usually when those pure climber types kick they just seem to fly away from the bunch.

The climb today only averaged 5.5%, and it eased off towards the finish. If Soler does the same kick tomorrow on the 8.6% average Alpe di Siusi I guarantee you he will fly away from the pack.

Did anyone see where the Garmins were in the finale? Did Danielson or Zabriskie manage to hang on to the group?