Stage 17 Chieti → Blockhaus

[53x11 in DC]

Yep. New. All I can say is that pro cycling amply rewards the cynic, it seems.
.
But its hard to quit watching...
.
Anyway, why did they cut 4k of the top of the Blockhaus climb?
.

http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=14832

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Anyway, why did they cut 4k of the top of the Blockhaus climb?
.

They said something about the roads being to bad, to small for the TV stuff...

 

[Parrot23]

I see these comments this morning on Velonews:

From Johan Bruyneel's Twitter account:
"Today is going to be a special day. I can feel it!"

... and from Levi Leipheimer's:
"Good morning. Team Astana is hoping to bounce back after some rest and Rock the Block today. Interesting short stage with very long climb"

Guess, hope springs eternal here. How many GT's has Bruyneel lost? Must be "sore"/new territory perhaps.

 

[dgodave]

OK. Thanks folks. Makes sense.
.

 

[Parrot23]

So this is Abruzzo, Di Luca's home territory.

 

[wenieboy]

i am a novice mtb racer and i am not familiar with the tactics that play out in these races. I enjoy watching and admire the ability but never have known the strategy.

 

[Snake8]

DdL sure can look ugly on the bike, shoulders and knees all over the place, head bobbing all over the place, how this guy manages to ride like that baffles me.

 

[53x11 in DC]

i am a novice mtb racer and i am not familiar with the tactics that play out in these races. I enjoy watching and admire the ability but never have known the strategy.

Keep watching, WB - you'll enjoy Voigt's exploits over time.

 

[dgodave]

i am a novice mtb racer and i am not familiar with the tactics that play out in these races. I enjoy watching and admire the ability but never have known the strategy.

I was about 80% MTB and 20% road racer. I think road racing is about 20x more interesting to watch and discuss as a spectator.
.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Some very nice bottle carrying from Chris Froome

 

[Parrot23]

DDL's style, that's for sure. Not exactly a Pozzato.

Then again, smoothness may be overrated: re all those ridiculous claims about pedaling efficiency as the reason for Lance's huge progression from 90s to winning the TDF.

Studies don't seem to show pedaling style, at least, has any impact (re Anquetil toes down, Lemond heels down, whatever). Not sure about bobbing heads, though, etc.

 

[Animal]

I'm too scared to run RAI's streaming coverage at work today, so keep up the updates!

 

[Parrot23]

Another site says peloton now 62km/hr. Gap should close

 

[flyor64]

I'm too scared to run RAI's streaming coverage at work today, so keep up the updates!

All else fails, you can get CN's live text update going in pretty small window obscured by everything else on your desktop! It's what I have to do

Although the guys updating here do seem to be a few KMs faster at updating than the "live" update...hmm

 

[BroDeal]

How many breaks has Voeckler been in during this Giro?

 

[Bala Verde]

I'm too scared to run RAI's streaming coverage at work today, so keep up the updates!

This one is quite precise and up to date

http://www.nos.nl/nosstudiosport/overigesporten/wielrennen/Giro/etappes2007/infostrada_live.html

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Sastre seems to have a plan today - this must be the first time we see the entire Cervelo team at the front.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Indeed.
That's going to be intresting!

 

[Parrot23]

LPR also have one guy in the break: if DDL can bridge.

Riccardo Chiarini it is.

 

[Merckx]

Is it just me or does Voeckler look weird when he stands on his bars?

 

[Parrot23]

How many breaks has Voeckler been in during this Giro?

Lots! I wonder, too, about Di Luca, on consecutive days. So many (back of my mind thinks of Selle last year, though DDL's have been shorter). Ah, well, who knows.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Is it just me or does Voeckler look weird when he stands on his bars?

Voekler looks weird on the bike all the time.
Actually he's looking much less weird as he has looked some years ago.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Ouch, that looked painful for Deignan.

 

[Parrot23]

Cervelo's train looks like U.S. Postal in past Tours. Scorching pre-climb pace.

1) So looks like Cervelo wants to run Sastre up from the bottom of the climb

versus:

2) LPR may want DDL to attack early to bridge up to Chianti up the road.

 

[53x11 in DC]

Menchov seems to be going the best of the three contenders, though DiLuca always looks like he is about to blow.