Giro Stage 9: Benevento – S.Giorgio del Sannio 215 kms

[trevim]

God I love the Giro, what a tremendous profile, nothing like that in the Tour and specially not in the Vuelta!

 

[GuyIncognito]

If there's a stage with potential to be epic, it's this one. If the Astanas start going up the road, Tinkoff and Sky will have a lot of trouble

 

[etymology]

How is this still not up right now, it's the best designed stage of the year???
I already feel pity on those in the peloton who will undergo some vintage Kazahk butchering

Astana to creathe chaos, havoc and annihalation. Groups will finish scattered, broken and riders will be crying for their mommies.

AND: contador will be saying "who's your daddy???"

not really - i just couldn't resist the perfect setup line.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

If there's a stage with potential to be epic, it's this one. If the Astanas start going up the road, Tinkoff and Sky will have a lot of trouble

I'd love Sky to send Konig up the road too, but can't see it happening.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm thinking this is the perfect stage for an early race Porte breakdown

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Astana to create havoc. Landa in pink

 

[SeriousSam]

Yeah, I can see Astana using Hans Landa to great effect tomorrow.

 

[classicomano]

Stef Clement from a breakaway.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

Stef Clement from a breakaway.

How would he win, though? Dropping everyone on the climb? or winning a sprint?

 

[Gigs_98]

I fear that at the end we will all be disappointed about this stage.

 

[Jspear]

Impossible to predict. If it happens to come down to a reduced bunch I hope Gerrans is there.

 

[Bushman]

Alaphillippe.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Alaphillippe.

Ha ha! Yep he'd definitely be a favorite.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Alaphillippe.

He's good but not that good. No way he wins tomorrow's Giro stage.

 

[manafana]

sick showing by the french man on the day.

 

[movingtarget]

I'm thinking this is the perfect stage for an early race Porte breakdown

I think Contador will be more worried about this stage. A good stage for Astana to exploit their strength in numbers. These are the stages that are always hard to control for the leader. Astana also realize they missed a good opportunity yesterday.

 

[Sasquatch]

Big day for whoever wants the KOM jersey. 60 points on offer. If Intxausti gets in the break, it will basically be his. Not sure how much he has to offer though.

 

[Sasquatch]

I think this stage will be raced hard. It's the day before a rest day and the stages following the rest day are pretty easy on the legs.

 

[The Barb]

Interesting and unpredictable stage. Enrico Battaglin has yet to get in a break and this profile suits him nicely. Could be the day for his annual Giro stage win.

 

[Ferminal]

Pity the weather looks comfortable. That and another 50km and we might have L'Aquila potential.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

I'm thinking this is the perfect stage for an early race Porte breakdown

I think Contador will be more worried about this stage. A good stage for Astana to exploit their strength in numbers. These are the stages that are always hard to control for the leader. Astana also realize they missed a good opportunity yesterday.

Astana did NOT miss an oppportunity by not trying, Aru was simply not strong enough to drop Contador. To me Aru does not look super strong at all, none of the top three do. I am not sure that Aru is really much better than Landa.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re: Re:

Stef Clement from a breakaway.

How would he win, though? Dropping everyone on the climb? or winning a sprint?

Clement is climbing well, 28th yesterday, so he could be in with a chance from the break. Pirazzi finished just ahead of him, perhaps a good day for him to be the break as well or Battaglin as has been mentioned or both.

Androni should send Stortoni in the break, not Pellizotti again.

 

[movingtarget]

I'm thinking this is the perfect stage for an early race Porte breakdown

I think Contador will be more worried about this stage. A good stage for Astana to exploit their strength in numbers. These are the stages that are always hard to control for the leader. Astana also realize they missed a good opportunity yesterday.

Astana did NOT miss an oppportunity by not trying, Aru was simply not strong enough to drop Contador. To me Aru does not look super strong at all, none of the top three do. I am not sure that Aru is really much better than Landa.

Yes I think the top three look pretty even at the moment. The first decisive attack could win the race. But the pressure is still on Aru because of the TT.

 

[Sasquatch]

Trek might race this stage to try and set up Felline. So I'll go with a Felline win.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I fear that we might be left disappointed after this stage. We won't get live coverage from the start so by the time we get pictures, the winning break in all likelyhood will already have been formed. From here on, I expect a lot of rather quiet riding until Passo Serra. The last 20 kilometres should be fun, but the rest of the stage probably not so much.

A stage like this should be the penultimate stage of the Giro.