stage 18 v stage 19

[hoolaparara]

I noticed earlier in the week that SBS in Australia were covering stage 18 on the Thursday. I had assumed it was an added stage but today noticed they aren't doing stage 19 on Friday. There I was thinking the reason they showed neither stages 10 or 11 was because they were only doing Friday-Sunday. But there you go.

So why Stage 18 instead of 19? From where I sit there is very little difference in likely outcome. They are similar stages. Sure 17 has a cat 1 (does it get classified as a proper mountain stage? They get to sell it as such to management?) but its middle of the stage and it ends with a cat 3 climb that seems about twice as far from the finish as stage 19's last climb a cat 2.

Paint me Confused.

 

[The Hitch]

When I saw the title I thought this thread was about which stage of the grandady of them all was the best. stage 18 had Schleck become a man, but he was on his own so it always seemed likely his gains would be seriously limited.

Stage 19 on the other hand had The Great One bring The Great Racing, not once but twice, and smashing the best layed plans of mice and men so its a big 19 from me.

As to your question sorry, I dont know why SBS have made that decision.

I agree with you though that it is the wrong one.

Stage 19 will be one of the most important Grand Tour stages in history.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It is SBS, don't put logic to it. I don't get why they aren't televising the stage to Pena Carbarga which will be the last chance for gc favourites to do something

 

[LukeSchmid]

Stage 18 could still be interesting if it is still very close on GC. Could be a sprint for bonus seconds between GC contenders. Stage 20 could be that as well.
Stage 19 though has more likelihood to be interesting with late attacks and mad descents if GC still close and maybe anyway for the stage win.

However stage 17 to Pena Cabraga is probably the last chance to make big differences on GC, but maybe it will be all decided on Angliru and it will become a Rodriguez benifit stage with none of the GC contenders doing anything.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stage 19 will be one of the most important Grand Tour stages in history.

Agreed, only I'm thinking of the 2010 Giro.

 

[craig1985]

Agreed, only I'm thinking of the 2010 Giro.

I think if I tried to descend as quickly as Arroyo did, I would crash and be in a lot of pain.

 

[LukeSchmid]

I think if I tried to descend as quickly as Arroyo did, I would crash and be in a lot of pain.

I think if I tried to descend as quickly as Arroyo I would crash. If I survived I think they would put me in a straght jacket in a padded room for being obviously insane.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Given the conditions that day, I think if you set Arroyo the task of descending as quickly as he did that day he may well struggle. He's a great rider downhill anyway, but that day he wasn't thinking about danger, he was thinking about victory. Cadel Evans is a good descender, and Arroyo made him look like a chump. Likewise Vinokourov.

The more you think about your descending, the more circumspect you're likely to be.

 

[Descender]

Arroyo was a ****ing hero that day.

If he'd caught Nibali, Basso and Scarponi I swear I'd have travelled all the way to Italy and bloody kissed the guy.

 

[The Hitch]

Ah a discussion about Mortirolo 10. Im in.

that was one of the best stages ive ever seen. So what if they werent covered in mud. this was action packed and whats more, an entire grand tour decided in 1 day.

Sometimes riders dont need to win to make a career. Sometimes a performance like what Arroyo did that day, is enough.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But what's more, it was a GT decided in one day AFTER 18 days, most of which had action. It wasn't a GT decided in one day because the organisers made damn sure that that stage would be decisive.

Better stage than Montalcino, for sure. Montalcino was great, and the photos are epic, but Mortirolo meant more. So many intertwining stories, all underpinned by one fearless lunatic Spaniard trying to keep the dream alive in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by channelling Paolo Savoldelli.

It was like Sestrières '05 again, but this time without the happy ending, as the leading trio managed to work together, and Arroyo couldn't find anybody to play Van Huffel for him.