Stage 19: Friday, May 25: Treviso-Alpe di Pampeago. 198km

[Fowsto Cope-E]

What do you mean? Is it only giving it a serious go if you succeed? Do you think that Scarponi or Basso had the ability to put 3 minutes into everybody but chose not to?

Basso tried to do it the only way he can but failed. Scarponi countered and accelerated three times to drop Hesjedal but couldn't.

Right, it was not like Basso is biding his time, he just didn't have the strength today.

 

[Danilot]

This has nothing to do with how they race, but all with what they are capable of. Hesjedal is the only one who gave it a go, because he was the only one strong enough to do so. You can call all the others disgraceful, but I doubt they could have gone any faster than they did. Actually, in my opinion you calling them disgraceful shows a great lack of respect towards athletes riding at the best of their capabilities.

Hear, hear.***

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Vino praising Roman on the RAI Processo all Tappa

Seriously, Vino was on RAI?

 

[manafana]

also i agree with the comments in reply to people making silly remarks for riders not attacking, anyone who has ridden a bike at good level knows that if your on the limit your on the limit you dont try and kill yourself you pace it.

 

[Caruut]

We have no idea what's been going through the rider's heads or legs. 1 road stage to go and still, I think 2 or 3 men could win this. Certainly Hesjedal is looking great, but we have no idea how much he left on the road. Basso looked a bit off being fully sharp, but again, perhaps he just thought that he wasn't going to destroy himself before tomorrow. Scarponi looked to be stronger than Basso today, however, and if Ryder cracks tomorrow, as I think he might, Basso and Scarponi will be mano a mano to see who wins this. Pozzovivo seemed odd, unwilling to respond immediately, yet always riding back and then came past; still hoping for theatrics tomorrow from him. Rodríguez came in to take 3rd at the end, but you have to say it looks over for him. He needs Hesjedal to crack big time, and Basso and Scarponi to be a bit off. Can't see it all pulling together for him, to be honest.

 

[slim charles]

I think Pirazzi also deserves a mention. Never manages to win anything, but is always trying. I really really like him now.

I am impressed by Purito, though more with Hesjedal, obviously. I always kinda expect Purito will blow, but he is still there. Good ride, even though I don't think he'll win.

 

[McLovin]

Is this the cleanest Giro in last decade? Inevitabile question after what we saw.

 

[shalgo]

I calculate the time limit to be 56:43 or thereabouts.

 

[rmacek]

Too bad Barta didn't get his win few stages ago.. We (Czechs) could have 2 stage victories with only 2 czech guys in giro startlist.. But one is still good enough..

 

[cineteq]

Ryder is the man, totally deserving winner.

Sorry to break the news to you, Kreuziger won.

 

[Descender]

Is this the worst Giro in last decade? Inevitabile question after what we saw.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Eshnar]

Is this the cleanest Giro in last decade? Inevitabile question after what we saw.

Must be this the reason why the favourite, apart from being weak, are also immensely stupid.

 

[Ferminal]

Congratulations Hesjedal, certainly deserves the win if he manages to hold on tomorrow.

Seems everyone was waiting two and a half weeks for a Basso which never showed. In the mean time they were happy to sit neutral or leak time to other names. Unless things change overnight, Scarponi is the only one who can influence the outcome now, with Lampre setting him up big time on Mortirolo.

Sorry, forgot Roman, think he makes a few friends today.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

W
Imo though Purito wouldnt want to attack but rather to consolidate his podium position, if he can before the TT.

Jesus I hope he isn't taking advice from you. JRod is in the Pink jersey with a huge climbing stage to go. If he isn't racing for the win he's an idiot.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Seriously, Vino was on RAI?

He confirmed that he plans to race the tdf.

 

[SafeBet]

This was pathetic. Lol Basso. Purito, haha. Urán following wheels for three weeks now. Pozzovivo with no ambition. Gadret, invisible. Scarponi and Basso thought they could take back serious time in the last 3 km? Seriously? "They're all dead". Exactly. All of them. Which includes both those who tried something (Kreuziger, Cataldo, Hesjedal) and those who didn't (everyone else - yes, even Scarponi. Should have gone much earlier, and more importantly, should have set up a fast pace in the previous climbs)

At least now you'll admit they were all approximately on the same level?
Look at their faces. What else could they do?

Scarponi almost fell of the bike a metre after the finish line.

 

[hrotha]

What do you mean? Is it only giving it a serious go if you succeed? Do you think that Scarponi or Basso had the ability to put 3 minutes into everybody but chose not to?

Basso tried to do it the only way he can but failed. Scarponi countered and accelerated three times to drop Hesjedal but couldn't.

I think the strong point of Basso and Scarponi is endurance. If they let the stage go by without making it hard, it's no wonder other riders can keep up with them or even beat them. Their only chance to win this Giro was to turn it into an endurance match. They didn't, which is why riders like Purito and Hesjedal, who go better on the hills, were better than them.

There are many ways to try. If you wait for the last 3 km of course it's going to be a straight showdown and the strongest in those 3 km will win. But they had a choice. They didn't need to wait. Would the relative strengths remain the same if it was a contest over 30 km as over 3 km? I seriously doubt it.

At any rate, they needed to put serious time into Hesjedal. Attacking with only 3 km to go, they would only take serious time if Hesjedal collapsed. That's a gamble. For Basso, it's ridiculous to have his team race on the front for 3 weeks and then gamble it all on something he had no control over - Hesjedal collpasing by himself.

 

[dlwssonic]

Sorry to break the news to you, Kreuziger won.

Did you ever have the thought that I was talking about the overall??
He is the favourite for the win now.

 

[Caruut]

also i agree with the comments in reply to people making silly remarks for riders not attacking, anyone who has ridden a bike at good level knows that if your on the limit your on the limit you dont try and kill yourself you pace it.

Equally, if you're on the limit, it's not unreasonable to think that others are too. The stakes are the same, but not the pain.

 

[cineteq]

Very lacklustre Pink Jersey for JRod.

knows he isn't the strongest in the climbs.

I beg to differ, he's been the strongest GC rider thus far. Purito and Ryder have been the highlights of this Giro.

 

[Fowsto Cope-E]

We have no idea what's been going through the rider's heads or legs. 1 road stage to go and still, I think 2 or 3 men could win this. Certainly Hesjedal is looking great, but we have no idea how much he left on the road. Basso looked a bit off being fully sharp, but again, perhaps he just thought that he wasn't going to destroy himself before tomorrow. Scarponi looked to be stronger than Basso today, however, and if Ryder cracks tomorrow, as I think he might, Basso and Scarponi will be mano a mano to see who wins this. Pozzovivo seemed odd, unwilling to respond immediately, yet always riding back and then came past; still hoping for theatrics tomorrow from him. Rodríguez came in to take 3rd at the end, but you have to say it looks over for him. He needs Hesjedal to crack big time, and Basso and Scarponi to be a bit off. Can't see it all pulling together for him, to be honest.

I feel that Basso really needs to make up some time on Rodriguez tomorrow. I think with the buffer Rodriguez has on him right now, he can hold off Basso for just 30km in the TT.

 

[Ruby United]

Basso looked a bit off being fully sharp, but again, perhaps he just thought that he wasn't going to destroy himself before tomorrow.

I'd give you £10 if Basso didn't put any time onto the favourites because he didn't want to destroy himself.

Trust me, he could'nt keep up.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This has nothing to do with how they race, but all with what they are capable of. Hesjedal is the only one who gave it a go, because he was the only one strong enough to do so. You can call all the others disgraceful, but I doubt they could have gone any faster than they did. Actually, in my opinion you calling them disgraceful shows a great lack of respect towards athletes riding at the best of their capabilities.

This. It was clear the stage was fast and they riders had nothing left to attack with. They don't drop by soft-pedalling

 

[jens_attacks]

that was brilliant racing finally

ryder deserves this giro,he looks like alex zulle a lot to me,super engine.i said from the beginning that he looks like a proper contender for the win
today he humiliate them all,tomorrow i think it will be the same.chapeau hesjedal!

for the statistics fans(got to verify the today's one though):

Alpe di Pampeago da Tesero
2012:7,7 km@9,9%---24:56---average speed 18.53 km/h(Ryder Hesjedal)-stage 19 Giro d'Italia-198 km-dislivello 5100 m-a.s.=31.27 km-h
2008:7,7 km@9,9%---26:25---average speed (Emanuelle Sella)-stage 14 Giro d'Italia-195 km-dislivello 4300 m-a.s.=34.69 km/h
25:16---average speed 18.28 km/h(Denis Menchov)
2003:around 24 :16(Gilberto Simoni)-stage 14 Giro d'Italia-162 km-dislivello 3600 m-a.s.=33.90 km/h
1999:7,7 km@9,9%---24:07---average speed 19.16 km/h(Marco Pantani)-stage 19 Giro d'Italia-166 km-dislivello 3700 m-a.s.=31.80 km/h
1998:7,7 km@9,9%---24:13---average speed 19.08 km/h(Pavel Tonkov)-stage 18 Giro d'Italia-115 km-dislivello -a.s.=31.81 km/h


brutal performance,the stage was a killer.and when you think what will wait the riders tomorrow...

 

[DirtyWorks]

Actually, in my opinion you calling them disgraceful shows a great lack of respect towards athletes riding at the best of their capabilities.

Absolutely correct. Anyone giving this a "meh" needs to go do it so we can complain.