The only positive to come out of this Giro. 3rd and the white jersey, onwards and upwards and with a bit of luck next time he can go better at the Vuelta. Bien hecho Angelito
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Let's put it this way. There were only 2 riders from the GC that didn't crack and Lopez was one of them. And taking into account that the couple of crashes slowed him down during the first week. This one was not an easy Giro and we saw how easy was for the climbers to crack. So to me that was impressive.phil-i-am said:Miguel Angel Lopez on the GT podium for the first time! Whereas this is a great achivement, it's hard to pick less impressive podium ride in recent years. Barring one 4km attack, always in wheels, never bother to give a single pull over the entire course of 3000+ kms. Bad days of others let him climb up the GC. This shows, however, he's quite constistent, patient and has good recovery.
Hard to see him as a future winner, but he's still young and has a room to improve. Liked him more before the race, hope for more in vuelta.
Other than Prato Nevoso, he never looked up to form. Being aggressive / attacking would not have made sense, nor would cooperating with Dumoulin and Pinot/Reichenbach. He got the maximum out of his Giro.SafeBet said:Congrats on the podium, Superman.
Now please get back to your aggressive self and stop trying to look like a poor man Quintana.
Wasn't close to the last kilometer in Finestre when Pinot had a flat?yaco said:Posted halfway through the Giro there was a chance lopez could get on the podium - He hung on well without ever looking to be in top form, and was lucky in stage 19. because if Dumoulin/Pinot drilled the last km of Finestre, he would have finished in the Pozzovivo group.
Escarabajo said:Wasn't close to the last kilometer in Finestre when Pinot had a flat?yaco said:Posted halfway through the Giro there was a chance lopez could get on the podium - He hung on well without ever looking to be in top form, and was lucky in stage 19. because if Dumoulin/Pinot drilled the last km of Finestre, he would have finished in the Pozzovivo group.
How were they going to drill it?
Even if they had the strength I don't know what stopped them having Froome within a minute. In fact they were drilling it before the puncture just because they needed to catch Froome. I just don't understand the comment.
I agree with what you said here. But is different to what I am saying the answer to your first comment. If Dumo and Pinot had the strength to drill it they should have drilled it because nothing was stopping them. Additionally Pinot had a mechanical that Dumo decided to wait.yaco said:Escarabajo said:Wasn't close to the last kilometer in Finestre when Pinot had a flat?yaco said:Posted halfway through the Giro there was a chance lopez could get on the podium - He hung on well without ever looking to be in top form, and was lucky in stage 19. because if Dumoulin/Pinot drilled the last km of Finestre, he would have finished in the Pozzovivo group.
How were they going to drill it?
Even if they had the strength I don't know what stopped them having Froome within a minute. In fact they were drilling it before the puncture just because they needed to catch Froome. I just don't understand the comment.
Lopez was in trouble from before halfway through the climb - Riding a faster tempo would have dropped Lopez for good - And maybe if Carapaz helped he would have won the white jersey.
No GT really has a lot of ITT nowadays.Vino attacks everyone said:2 crashes first week and apparently ill for a few days during the second week, yet not having a single really bad day. IF he can improve his tt abilities and get a slightly higher level off of his climbing while keeping this recovery ability, I think he can be a very successful Giro rider. Don't think the short, steep hill stages of the Vuelta suit him very much and the tour usually got too much TT for him compared to the difficulties of the mountain stages.
Pantani Attacks said:
The only positive to come out of this Giro. 3rd and the white jersey, onwards and upwards and with a bit of luck next time he can go better at the Vuelta. Bien hecho Angelito
yaco said:Escarabajo said:Wasn't close to the last kilometer in Finestre when Pinot had a flat?yaco said:Posted halfway through the Giro there was a chance lopez could get on the podium - He hung on well without ever looking to be in top form, and was lucky in stage 19. because if Dumoulin/Pinot drilled the last km of Finestre, he would have finished in the Pozzovivo group.
How were they going to drill it?
Even if they had the strength I don't know what stopped them having Froome within a minute. In fact they were drilling it before the puncture just because they needed to catch Froome. I just don't understand the comment.
Lopez was in trouble from before halfway through the climb - Riding a faster tempo would have dropped Lopez for good - And maybe if Carapaz helped he would have won the white jersey.
He nearly was left behind on the Finestre. If that ascend is just ~2 kilometers longer in fact he ends up in the Pozzovivo group after the descent unless he hangs onto Reichenbach. So of course he prefered to rest in the group where his big competitor for the white jersey was present to. Logically that resulted in Carapaz doing nothing as well, since he instantly looked better on the Finestre. So it wouldn't have been wise to spend energy compared to López by working with Dumoulin, Pinot and Reichenbach. I guess that's why Pinot was primarily angry with Lopez, since he was the one changing the groups dynamics in their disfavor!barmaher said:There was no reason from a GC perspective for Lopez to work with Dumoulin. His rival for the white jersey was in the group, and his rivals for a podium were in the group. His priority was defending white, and that is what he did.
That said, he won't be able to expect much of a dig out from Dumoulin in future races where he needs help. It is important to be popular in the peloton. Contador has benefitted from this a few times.