Stage 16: Pinzolo – Aprica 177 kms:Where legends are made

[etymology]

Re: Re:

Landa was strong but let's see what he can do when Contador can focus on him.

Exactly. If it wasn't already clear, Landa is the most dangerous to AC at this point. We'll see how Landa likes it with AC just sitting on HIS wheel now.

i vehemently disagree. no how, no way landa is not the most dangerous to ac at this point.

contador's lack of team support when he needs it most is the biggest danger.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

So sad Kruijswijk did not win. Man of the stage.

Contador just said to the RAI Kruijswijk was the strongest.
Said also that Kruijswijk has a Grande Future.

 

[Metabolol]

Landa hasn't been the strongest overall. Contador has had lots of problems and Landa has been able to use the fact that Astana has been the strongest team in the race plus him and Aru being very high on the GC.

This type of discussions happens every GT. Landa's real test comes the day he rides as a leader.

 

[IamIronMan]

Re: Re:

LOL Landa looks like he just went out for an easy 1 hour spin.

He could have won the Giro today. So sad when the strongest man in a GT doesn't win the GC.

I assume one of the following is true:

1) You are a Sky/Froome fan/AC hater, and are just trying to troll, or

2) You conveniently forgot about the ITT, where Landa lost FOUR MINUTES.

Actually, I think 1) and 2) are true...

Sorry, a guy who attacks in the final few K's after sitting on for an entire climb does not mean he's the strongest in the whole race.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

So sad Kruijswijk did not win. Man of the stage.

True, what a ride! I hope he has enough power to finish it.

With this climbing shape he should "easily" win the mountains jersey on Finestre! Even if he's losing it on the way to Cervina.

The upcoming mountains stages normally favor a climber who could stay with the big guns over an escapee like Intxausti.

Kruijswijk might as well go in the offense on Finestre, tough. Contador won't chase him and Astana may be happy with the current standings as well.

 

[Vino's Mum]

Re: Re:

So what does the top 5 look like?

1. Contador
2. Landa
3. Aru
4. Amador
5. Trofimov

I meant time wise

1 Contador 2 Landa+4.02 3 Aru+4.52 4 Amador+5.48 5 Trofimov+8.27

Thanks. That's far more comfortable than I expected for Contador. Still, he's only one more mechanical away from serious danger.

No problem. Those are provisional times I found, but should be right.

The strange thing for Contador now is that he should be feeling more comfortable as his lead's grown to what you'd think is plenty enough, barring mishap, but he'd probably have preferred Aru to hang on, so Astana would still ride for him.

Different race for him now. Sure, Landa had an easy ride to the finish today, but he's just looking crazy strong.

 

[classicomano]

Re: Re:

So sad Kruijswijk did not win. Man of the stage.

Contador just said to the RAI Kruijswijk was the strongest.
Said also that Kruijswijk has a Grande Future.

Like his a first year pro or something haha. I wonder if Contador remembers that this is the same guy.

 

[richo36]

How much time do you honestly think landa would of taken if Astana let him go?

A guy with an average TT able to hold of contador and kruijswijk on the flat between the flat before the aprica not to mention how he would of gone if he descended alone.

He in my opinion took the most time he physically could. Smart riding

 

[Andreasjs]

Re: Re:

LOL Landa looks like he just went out for an easy 1 hour spin.

He could have won the Giro today. So sad when the strongest man in a GT doesn't win the GC.

jjajajja thats funny. Landa the strongest rider in the Giro. He is 4 minutes behind. Facts do not lie.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Kruijswijk is even more sympathetic after that interview!

 

[arvc40]

Re: Re:

LOL Landa looks like he just went out for an easy 1 hour spin.

He could have won the Giro today. So sad when the strongest man in a GT doesn't win the GC.

What's sad is when a Team is so desperate they attack a GC leader who has punctured.

 

[blackmamba]

Re: Re:

LOL Landa looks like he just went out for an easy 1 hour spin.

He could have won the Giro today. So sad when the strongest man in a GT doesn't win the GC.

Lol. NO. Its easy to wheelsuck and then attack. Its not easy being a leader. Its even less easier being a leader in a GT. Ask Porte. Ask Aru.

Lets see contador is 4min ahead while HE LOST 40+ sec on a crash, + weaker team, DISLOCATED his shoulder and started 1 min behind on mortirolo etc etc etc all this and the guy is 4min ahead still yes clearly landa is the strongest in this race even your brain must realise how sick that sounds ?

 

[DenisMenchov]

Re:

Kruijswijk is even more sympathetic after that interview!

What did he say?

 

[Sasquatch]

Kruijswijk in blue.

 

[carton]

Re: Stage 16: Pinzolo – Aprica 177 kms:Where legends are mad

That really was a stage like back in the golden days. Or am I just to young to compare?

Sarcasm? (fingers crossed)

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Contador now 4 minutes over his closest competitor.

Astana are winning battles but Contador is winning the war.

 

[ggusta]

Jranton is your stage winner for successfully trolling the entire thread. Take a bow sir! Chapeau. A bouquet and podium girls from the 1940's await you.

 

[del1962]

Re: Re:

LOL Landa looks like he just went out for an easy 1 hour spin.

He could have won the Giro today. So sad when the strongest man in a GT doesn't win the GC.

What's sad is when a Team is so desperate they attack a GC leader who has punctured.

Froome agrees with you https://twitter.com/chrisfroome/status/603188356911075328

 

[gunara]

Just seen the replay of Landa's attack, it looked sick, but I think Alberto was in total control and had the whole race pictured in his head.

Why would he let Landa go? That is wishful thinking. Still that doesn't change the fact that Landa needs to prove himself against Contador when both start on equal terms. If he can win that duel, he is truly the best climber of this Giro.

It didn't look like he could keep up with Landa, but it didn't look like a full effort either.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

Kruijswijk is even more sympathetic after that interview!

What did he say?

He was very modest, all smiles, said he was very surprised to find himself at the front with Bertie and Landa on top of the Mortirolo, that he was going for the highest GC finish, that he felt really good and was enjoying his racing. If his frame of mind is anything to go by, I think we can expect to see him on the attack again, though I think that 5th is his absolute limit.

 

[seldon71]

Being alone at the top of Mortirolo would not have been that great a situation for Landa - not even with a minute+ advantage over Contador+Kruijswijk.

However, he could have maybe put Contador in trouble by :

1) attacking (and abandoning Aru) right when Contador caught up to them in Mortirolo. That was the moment where there was a momentary chance of getting AC to over-extend & crack. Besides there was still a partner up the road in Kruijswijk (whom Landa would have been foolhardy to elave behind so far out)

2) attacking much earlier in Aprica. Yeah, Mikel was wheel-sucking that long false flat, but the others were not seriously pressing either. At that point, he was clearly the strongest and more dedicated, earlier attack had a chance of resulting 1½-2 minute gap.

Now, it is game over for GC. If Landa was to prove stronger in mountains than AC, Contador is old & savvy enough to play defensive and minimise losses (would hurt his pride a bit, but not enough to make him act stupid). Even if Landa goes berserk, there just ain't a chance to more than halve the difference on remaining stages.

 

[sunnyIce]

ay ay ay ... cringe worthy.

“It was a really beautiful day for me, maybe even more than the last one,” Landa said. “We saw that Contador had a problem and Katusha rode the group full gas and we collaborated with them.

 

[TommyGun]

Re:

ay ay ay ... cringe worthy.

“It was a really beautiful day for me, maybe even more than the last one,” Landa said. “We saw that Contador had a problem and Katusha rode the group full gas and we collaborated with them.

Jeez, this guy has no soul!

 

[IamIronMan]

Re:

ay ay ay ... cringe worthy.

“It was a really beautiful day for me, maybe even more than the last one,” Landa said. “We saw that Contador had a problem and Katusha rode the group full gas and we collaborated with them.

I admit, I had no idea who Landa was before this race, but he comes across as kind of naive and a bit air-headed, to be honest. After both of his stage wins, he doesn't even pretend to be tired. He talks about "oh well golly gee, I had no idea I was so strong haha!" and readily admitting they used AC's mech as a reason to attack. Doesn't even try to hide it.

 

[Squirbos_19]

Isn't there an unwritten rule among the peloton to not attack the leader if they suffer misfortune (mechanical or crash)?