Stage 17 Chieti → Blockhaus

[Zoncolan]

What's up with Garzelli last couple of stages?
He hasn't climbed this good for years.

Oh, he pops finally.

 

[Parrot23]

Why is DDL working? Does he think he can break Menchov?

Better to sit on and let Basso go and do the work, and jump Menchov at end?

 

[53x11 in DC]

DiLuca not going to get any help from Basso. He's going to have to do this from the front. Really tough!

 

[Jasper]

Sastre clearly hasn't got the same form as 2 days ago, unless he's saving himself now for a fierce counterattack in the last kilometres?

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Why would Basso work? Pellizotti is alone in front.

 

[Peig Camaro]

he need Sastre to put some pressure on him, Di Luca has dropped the pace..

 

[Parrot23]

Why would Basso work? Pellizotti is alone in front.

Right you are.

 

[jaylew]

Why is DDL working? Does he think he can break Menchov?

Better to sit on and let Basso go and do the work, and jump Menchov at end?

He needs a lot more time than a last minute jump and bonus seconds is going to provide. He has to keep checking to see if he can crack Menchov at some point.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Interesting to watch the different riders going up. Di Luca looks he wants to kill someone, wonder why they call him The Killer... Menchov looks like he is on a Sunday ride. Pellizotti is dancing up the mountain.

 

[jaylew]

And Simoni finds some form all of a sudden?

 

[Parrot23]

Another site says:

Pellizotti is 28sec ahead of Di Luca group; Sastre-Armstrong at 54sec back

 

[Jasper]

What's up with Garzelli last couple of stages?
He hasn't climbed this good for years.

I read an interesting theory on another board, pretty much summed up by 'old enough to take the risk'.

 

[Zoncolan]

I read an interesting theory on another board, pretty much summed up by 'old enough to take the risk'.

You might be right, unfortunately.

 

[BroDeal]

I read an interesting theory on another board, pretty much summed up by 'old enough to take the risk'.

Moreau's age then.

 

[Angliru]

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

I noticed that too ever since his stint in yellow at the Tour. Definitely not the most elegant of climbing styles. Its like he doesn't bend his back when climbing out of the saddle. Very bizarre.

 

[Parrot23]

Menchov looks like he is on a Sunday ride.

May look too easy. Guy looks like he's a red blood cell factory.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Di Luca is finished now. The Sastre group has caught them soon. Pellizotti will win this one and end the day in third place.

And by the way, Armstrong could ride himself into the top 10.

 

[jaylew]

Looking good for Franco now. It was starting to look like both Liquigas and Lampre were going to go without a stage win.

 

[Jasper]

Sastre looking like he's about to crack

 

[jmnikricket]

May look too easy. Guy looks like he's a red blood cell factory.

I was thinking the same thing... Several of the riders are looking too strong going into this third week of racing, even with the rest day.

 

[clydesdale]

Sastre looks rough.

 

[Bala Verde]

Good move by LIQ. Eliminating Sastre, and putting Basso and Pelli on spot 3-4. In the meanwhile they are also killing the killer, who will be pipped at the line by Menchov. Then they'll try to jump up to 2-3 in the Vesuvius stage and the TT...

 

[jaylew]

Di Luca is finished now. The Sastre group has caught them soon. Pellizotti will win this one and end the day in third place.

And by the way, Armstrong could ride himself into the top 10.

sastre group still ~40 secs behind DDL group

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Poor Di Luca, he is really trying very hard! Menchov just won't crack.

 

[Jasper]

Whoa, Di Luca keeps putting down the hammer on Menchov, but he just won't break.