Stage 17 Chieti → Blockhaus

[mr. tibbs]

Great stage! Menchov is unshakeable, but gotta hand it to Di Luca for trying.

And Armstrong. What? Where did THAT come from?

 

[Jasper]

If Sastre gains no more time in the coming stages, he might even fall out of the top 5 after the final TT. Pellizotti is too far in front, Basso is supposedly better than him in a short, flat TT, and if Levi has a super day, he could even pass him.

 

[Parrot23]

It will take some spectacular racing to break him.

Yes, will take a Contador or A. Schleck who can go from far out.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Was that a slight crack, finally from Menchov? I thought I saw a small sign, with 2-3kms to go. DDL should think about an early classics style attack, before Versuvius.
Pity about those lost 5.5kms.
Bet he gives Garzelli a nice big kiss for that. Especially if he loses the GC for 3 seconds!
Maybe this life in this old race.
Harmon: Armstrong looks like he's been put through a mangle!

 

[Parrot23]

Velonews says: Da Killer gave Garzelli a nice glare there at the line.

Ha, the crowd are booing Garzelli, catcalls etc.!

 

[BroDeal]

The pressure on Menchov must be massive. He should have taken time from Di Luca on Petrano when he looked stronger.

I have been saying Menchov should grab twenty seconds--if possible--to bury everyone else for good. Maybe just twenty seconds would disillusion Di Luca enough to lose faith in his chances of unseating Menchov.

 

[Parrot23]

Was that a slight crack, finally from Menchov? I thought I saw a small sign, with 2-3kms to go. DDL should think about an early classics style attack, before Versuvius.

Menchov looked a little more thoughtful on podium than he usually does. Maybe.

 

[Bala Verde]

Public not so happy with Garzelli stealing second place from Di Luca

 

[Bala Verde]

Menchov looked a little more thoughtful on podium than he usually does. Maybe.

That's what I saw... As if he was thinking, 'can I withstand one more attack like this', because Di Luca sprinted up that hill...

 

[Ibanez]

Meh, Garzelli is a Giro winner too. And has the maglia verde

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I guess Garzelli didn't want Di Luca to get any closer in the mountain classification.

 

[Parrot23]

Makes sense. Sorry, just getting carried away: no slights to Garzelli, here.

They also need a category: best podium gal. I can't fathom all the other categories they have here. Best pasta sauce, best Italian grannie, etc.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Menchov hasn't exactly covered the magia rosa in glory, but it's exactly what you would expect from a big diesel, that's running on the right mix.
Still, he did show the strain, today. A small crack it might be, but if offers the possibility of excitement on Versuvius and even stage 20.

Overall, though, a pretty poor Giro, excitement wise. That 5kms would definitely have made a major difference to today's finishing times, as it had the steepest ramp somehwere on it.

 

[BroDeal]

Makes sense. Sorry, just getting carried away: no slights to Garzelli, here.

They also need a category: best podium gal.

The Giro has about a hundred classifications that are incomprehensible. Finally one I can understand.

 

[53x11 in DC]

Seeldrayers keeps his jersey

Someone has a "man-crush" on Seeldrayers!!

Good on him for fending off Mascia. Gotta do it once more, at least.

 

[franciep10]

What a stage Di Luca fantastic performance and menchov he made it look too easy except at the end. Sastre dumb mistake sitting at the back of the group. Armstrong impressed me today he almost looked good today, Levi lucky to catch up to the sastre group. Got to give my props to diluca though. I can understand the maglia verde for garzelli but staying up there with Menchov too good to be true.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

A crush? I don't think so. I just think he is an exciting prospect, it would be nice with a strong GC rider from Belgium.

 

[BroDeal]

Menchov hasn't exactly covered the magia rosa in glory, but it's exactly what you would expect from a big diesel, that's running on the right mix.
Still, he did show the strain, today. A small crack it might be, but if offers the possibility of excitement on Versuvius and even stage 20.

Overall, though, a pretty poor Giro, excitement wise. That 5kms would definitely have made a major difference to today's finishing times, as it had the steepest ramp somehwere on it.

I have mixed feelings. At first I could not find any excitement because I thought the long ITT would devalue the climbing that made it into the actual course. Since the ITT did not prove to be as decisive as I expected, I have been enjoying the climbing stages.

It is a real shame the original course was not used.

 

[53x11 in DC]

A crush? I don't think so. I just think he is an exciting prospect, it would be nice with a strong GC rider from Belgium.

Just teasing you, krjrhbndkdkdndskerud! I like the guy - forza!

 

[Bala Verde]

Menchov hasn't exactly covered the magia rosa in glory, but it's exactly what you would expect from a big diesel, that's running on the right mix.
Still, he did show the strain, today. A small crack it might be, but if offers the possibility of excitement on Versuvius and even stage 20.

Overall, though, a pretty poor Giro, excitement wise. That 5kms would definitely have made a major difference to today's finishing times, as it had the steepest ramp somehwere on it.

If Menchov's perceived sign of weakness is anything to go by, then I think Di Luca knows it, and he will try to crack him on the Vesuvius. Unfortunately Menchov seemed to mis shift before they sprint, and lost a valuable 5s exlc the bonus s. This gives Di Luca even more courage to keep on attacking. It might also have something to do with the temperature, because Menchov seems to do a lot better when its piping hot.

However, if Menchov did not show any signs of weakness, I am sure Di Luca will try to win the sprint at the end of Anagni to steal another 20s.

 

[Parrot23]

Still, he did show the strain, today. A small crack it might be, but if offers the possibility of excitement on Versuvius and even stage 20..

His breathing looked okay (whatever breathing I can see, from this human fish ), but his legs look like they exploded. Accumulated fatigue, maybe, a la Sastre today?

Hence, maybe his very cautious look about him on the podium today. Hard to tell: poker face, usually.

Guess, Di Luca's only chance is if Menchov on Vesuvius has a day like Sastre's today, and DDL can gain a minute before the TT.

 

[53x11 in DC]

Menchov hasn't exactly covered the magia rosa in glory, but it's exactly what you would expect from a big diesel, that's running on the right mix.
Still, he did show the strain, today. A small crack it might be, but if offers the possibility of excitement on Versuvius and even stage 20.

Overall, though, a pretty poor Giro, excitement wise. That 5kms would definitely have made a major difference to today's finishing times, as it had the steepest ramp somehwere on it.

Let's see, going through my Mellow post-stage checklist....

1. Comment on how boring the Giro is.... CHECK!
2. Not-so-obvious allusion to the drug-use of a GC contender.... CHECK!
3. Dig at Armstrong.... CHECK!

Inventory present and accounted for - ship it!!

In all seriousness, MV, I agree with BroDeal on this one (he may be surprised given our tete-a-tete on another thread ). ITT was a disappointment, but there has been substantial action for my tastes on the GPM stages. Beats my disappointment at the AdH stage of last year's TdF, where, apart from Sastre, it looked like a group ride with ASchleck controlling things to the top.

 

[luckyboy]

I have mixed feelings. At first I could not find any excitement because I thought the long ITT would devalue the climbing that made it into the actual course. Since the ITT did not prove to be as decisive as I expected, I have been enjoying the climbing stages.

It is a real shame the original course was not used.

Menchov took the lead in the ITT and now he's just following Di Luca, making sure he doesn't lose it

 

[Parrot23]

Beats my disappointment at the AdH stage of last year's TdF, where, apart from Sastre, it looked like a group ride with ASchleck controlling things to the top.

I hated that day. Worst chase I've ever seen. Methinks Armstrong watching that must have played a role in his coming back. It wasn't impressive.

 

[BroDeal]

Menchov took the lead in the ITT and now he's just following Di Luca, making sure he doesn't lose it

Yeah, but his lead was small enough that Di Luca could have ended up the victor in Rome. Maybe he still can if all the planets were to align.

I have found the attacks from Basso, Sastre, Pellizotti, and such entertaining. Plus I like mountain scenery.