Stage 16: Ponte Di Legno-Val Martello/Martelltal (139 km)

[Volderke]

re-reading this topic after having watched the race, I don't get some really strange comments. Quintana was gaining time all the climb, as could be seen from GPS. When the GPS was off (and it wasn't for too much time), it was simply the motorbikes going back and forth a little. But he always gained time.

So my view is that Quintana was absolutely awesome;
Uran should have always been on Quintana's wheel, just in case; Even with neutralization etc., because when the neutralization is over, he should be on the wheel of Quintana.
Hesjedal was brave, but sticking to Q's wheel for most of the last 20K was less brave than Q pulling it off.
Even without the 1:35 time gap at the bottom of the climb, Q simply gained 2 minutes and more on the group of so-called 'favourites'.
Did I say already that Quintana was simply awesome?

 

[JosephD]

Only 3 teams left with the full compliment of 9 riders after today according to PCS:Lampre, Movistar and Trek

 

[christopherrowe]

Great stage. The break is surely a certainty to stay away tomorrow after such a hard day.

Oh, I hope not. I want to see Bouhanni take five stages!

 

[trevim]

DNF COURTEILLE ArnaudFDJ.fr -
DNF PETACCHI AlessandroOmega Pharma - Quick-Step-
DNF FINETTO MauroNeri Sottoli-
DNF THURAU BjornTeam Europcar-
DNF DEKKER ThomasGarmin Sharp-
DNF SCARPONI MicheleAstana Pro Team-
DNF COLLI DanieleNeri Sottoli-
DNS BOASSON HAGEN EdvaldTeam Sky-

 

[Ruby United]

re-reading this topic after having watched the race, I don't get some really strange comments. Quintana was gaining time all the climb, as could be seen from GPS. When the GPS was off (and it wasn't for too much time), it was simply the motorbikes going back and forth a little. But he always gained time.

So my view is that Quintana was absolutely awesome;
Uran should have always been on Quintana's wheel, just in case; Even with neutralization etc., because when the neutralization is over, he should be on the wheel of Quintana.
Hesjedal was brave, but sticking to Q's wheel for most of the last 20K was less brave than Q pulling it off.
Even without the 1:35 time gap at the bottom of the climb, Q simply gained 2 minutes and more on the group of so-called 'favourites'.
Did I say already that Quintana was simply awesome?

In a way I agree, but even so this stage will be less remembered for Quintana amazing attack and more remembered for the controversy. The race officials should take the blame, not uran or nairito. I have supported Quintana the whole Giro and yet I can't help but be slightly disappointed in the way he won today, even though i don't think it's his fault.

 

[murali]

Uran should have always been on Quintana's wheel, just in case; Even with neutralization etc., because when the neutralization is over, he should be on the wheel of Quintana.
Hesjedal was brave, but sticking to Q's wheel for most of the last 20K was less brave than Q pulling it off.

This was the only mistake OPQS has consistently made.
its either inexperience riding for GC, or they messed up big in the descent.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

DNF COURTEILLE ArnaudFDJ.fr -
DNF PETACCHI AlessandroOmega Pharma - Quick-Step-
DNF FINETTO MauroNeri Sottoli-
DNF THURAU BjornTeam Europcar-
DNF DEKKER ThomasGarmin Sharp-
DNF SCARPONI MicheleAstana Pro Team-
DNF COLLI DanieleNeri Sottoli-
DNS BOASSON HAGEN EdvaldTeam Sky-

Damn, Thurau out.

Any with info on why EBH didn't start?

 

[Ruby United]

Damn, Thurau out.

Any with info on why EBH didn't start?

Yep, sky said hes ill. Wait whilst I get the quote pls

 

[christopherrowe]

Only 3 teams left with the full compliment of 9 riders after today according to PCS:Lampre, Movistar and Trek

In addition to the aforementioned Orica Greenedge at three, after today Garmin and Neri Sottoli are each down to four riders.

 

[Poursuivant]

Damn, Thurau out.

Any with info on why EBH didn't start?

He knew what was coming

 

[trevim]

Damn, Thurau out.

Any with info on why EBH didn't start?

Officialy he's sick. Or they don't want him to go too deep in order to be at the Tour

 

[Ruby United]

I’m sad to be leaving the race but I couldn’t risk my injuries getting worse and affecting my longer-term fitness,” said Boasson Hagen. “I’m going to rest up now but I’ll be back in training as soon as possible and am looking forward to competing again already.”

Team Sky’s medical officer, Steve Bayne, said: “Edvald has been experiencing rib and back pain over the last couple of days, and with the cuts and bruises he’s already sustained, the medical team felt the best decision was for him to withdraw from the race at this point.”


Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/raci...iro-ditalia-injury-124358#qTEohG677J5LPCHj.99

 

[Volderke]

In a way I agree, but even so this stage will be less remembered for Quintana amazing attack and more remembered for the controversy. The race officials should take the blame, not uran or nairito. I have supported Quintana the whole Giro and yet I can't help but be slightly disappointed in the way he won today, even though i don't think it's his fault.

We'll see tonight / tomorrow what the teams will say in the interviews. I agree it overcasts the way Quintana got the jersey today, but I reckon he would gain it anyway in one of the coming days. Still I wonder what happened in the descend (e.g. did they let Quintana go or were some guys not daring to follow...?).

 

[Der Effe]

135. NED POELS Wout OPQ 44'07" 0

Whelp.

And still only dropped from 10th to 23rd in the GC

 

[Ruby United]

We'll see tonight / tomorrow what the teams will say in the interviews. I agree it overcasts the way Quintana got the jersey today, but I reckon he would gain it anyway in one of the coming days. Still I wonder what happened in the descend (e.g. did they let Quintana go or were some guys not daring to follow...?).

Agreed, he wood definitely have gotten it anyways, but even so.

P.s. congrats on becoming a senior member

 

[Arnout]

And still only dropped from 10th to 23rd in the GC

Well usually after the top 15 big gaps appear as people behind that don't really care about the GC anymore.

 

[trevim]

Rabottini lost 12min and still climbed from 18th to 15th. It was carnage today

 

[Volderke]

Agreed, he wood definitely have gotten it anyways, but even so.

P.s. congrats on becoming a senior member

ha, thanks

This is what RCS got to say in the Gazzetta:
Mi dispiace che ci sia stato un equivoco. Ma nessuno ha mai parlato di neutralizzazione. Per proteggere i corridori, in condizioni di scarsa visibilità abbiamo pensato di piazzare delle moto che potessero segnalare la traiettoria". Poi aggiunge: "Certo che se avessi un corridore in maglia rosa prima di prendere qualsiasi decisione ci penso due volte".

Or with google translate:
I'm sorry that there has been a misunderstanding. But no one has ever spoken of neutralization. To protect the riders, in conditions of poor visibility we decided to put the bikes that could signal the trajectory. "Then he adds:" Of course if I had a runner in the pink jersey before taking any decision think twice. "

 

[Ruby United]

What's going on with ullisi. He wins one stage than loses tons of time the next. Comes second in an itt, and a few days later second last on a mountain stage...

Is he just cleverly conserving energy (in which case he risked getting outside the time limit) or is something else .... going on with him ???

 

[murali]

in GC

22(jumped from 31) HENAO GOMEZ Sebastian Team Sky 44:55


who would have thought!!!

the kids got talent. i just hope Sky doesnt ruin him with their tempo drill.

 

[del1962]

in GC

22(jumped from 31) HENAO GOMEZ Sebastian Team Sky 44:55


who would have thought!!!

the kids got talent. i just hope Sky doesnt ruin him with their tempo drill.

Good performance, he was Uran's final domestique today

 

[murali]

Rabottini lost 12min and still climbed from 18th to 15th. It was carnage today

To get the sense of real carnage:
before today's stage, 46 riders were within 1h from GC leader.
after this stage, only 29 within 1h from GC leader.

before today's stage, 27 riders were within 30min from GC leader.
after this stage, only 17 within 30min from GC leader.
drop of 37%

before today's stage, 20 riders were within 15min from GC leader.
after this stage, only 11 within 15min from GC leader.
drop of 45%

calling this stage a carnage is an understatement. in terms of EU elections, this is EARTHQUAKE.

 

[jens_attacks]

a stage to remember

i expected nairo to do a surgical strike in this giro. but i never thought it will be that hard. he climbed on his own for an hour and still put very big gaps on everyone. fabulous ride
reading and reading and listening to processo,it was definitely for me, omega's fault. nothing to do with movistar and europcar. they raced. rigo also should have been more careful when you see nairo disappearing
hesjdeal was great too, third week is indeed for him at his peak
rolland...jeez i hope he gets a stage win, panarotta maybe ...

happy that we had images also. chapeau to the people who worked on it

 

[trevim]

in terms of EU elections, this is EARTHQUAKE.

At least we don't have the extremists taking the maglia rosa

 

[Der Effe]

Well usually after the top 15 big gaps appear as people behind that don't really care about the GC anymore.

Yeah, that must be it!