Stage 20: Saturday May 26th, Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio 219km

[Descender]

Lest we forget:


Stage 20 Result
Rider Team Time
15.0 km 27.5 km 37.5 km Finish
1 Tony Martin (GER) HTC-Highroad 20' 12" 40' 26" 49' 53" 55' 33"
2 Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 21" + 7" + 2" + 7"
3 Alberto Contador (ESP) Saxo Bank-SunGard + 21" + 42" + 53" + 1' 06"
4 Thomas De Gendt (BEL) Vacansoleil-DCM + 25" + 38" + 1' 06" + 1' 29"
5 Richie Porte (AUS) Saxo Bank-SunGard + 1' 02" + 1' 03" + 1' 24" + 1' 30"
6 Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) Ag2r-La Mondiale + 47" + 1' 13" + 1' 26" + 1' 33"
7 Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi + 44" + 1' 08" + 1' 19" + 1' 37"
8 Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Leopard Trek + 30" + 1' 02" + 1' 29" + 1' 42"
9 Peter Velits (SVK) HTC-Highroad + 34" + 1' 29" + 1' 46" + 2' 03"
10 Rein Taaramäe (EST) Cofidis + 43" + 1' 26" + 1' 50" + 2' 03"

 

[hrotha]

GC aside, De Gendt is looking extremely good for the stage right now

Nieve should be the favourite for the stage win.

 

[trevim]

This reminds me a bit of the stage to Galibier when Andy Schleck got 4 minutes almost for free.

 

[will10]

Garmin group making up time now, now down to 4 minutes even

They're holding it at 4 mins to De Gendt, Zaugg was waiting for the De Gendt group

 

[trevim]

Nieve should be the favourite for the stage win.

Let's hope so. This is a typical Nieve stage

 

[Parrot23]

Thanks for the link.

I know Millar used mountain-bike big cogs for the Vuellta last year. Mainly so he could still spin. I'd need the big ones just to mash!

Yeah, remember that. Even did on a prev. Giro, I think. Neat!

 

[Lanark]

This reminds me a bit of the stage to Galibier when Andy Schleck got 4 minutes almost for free.

Yeah, I though the same. Wonder if Hesjedal can pull of an Evans, and take full responsibility on the last climb.

 

[Steel4Ever]

So this is a Garmin team car failure. Asleep in the team car?

Hesj should definitely ask for a raise if he loses because of ^that^!

 

[The Hitch]

Anyone spare 2 mins to tell me what happened on the mortirolo ?

 

[ooh_25mm]

clearly everyone, especially Garmin, forgot how to control the race without Liquigas at the front.

 

[SafeBet]

Problem for De Gendt is that he's by himself right now. No one else is pulling a metre.

Look at the road. Wow amazing.


Edit: now somebody's helping. Izagirre?

 

[issoisso]

Anyone spare 2 mins to tell me what happened on the mortirolo ?

Purito attacked. Slowed. Purito attacked. Slowed.

Group of 30 soft pedalled the rest of the way up. The gradients made selections near the top, then they all regrouped and De Gendt went off the front like a madman

 

[Arnout]

Nieve should be the favourite for the stage win.

If he would win, he would be winner of three Grand Tour queen stages in 4 GT appearances, that's quite impressive.

 

[asdfgh101]

Gadret is the rider that has really missed out on this move.

 

[Parrot23]

Hesj should definitely ask for a raise if he loses because of ^that^!

You bet, LOL.

And VDV gotta earn his pay now.

 

[Random Direction]

most of these guys are completely fried - see how quickly the domestiques are popping - and we are not even on Stelvio yet - it will be a game of who has energy left at the end.

 

[Arnout]

Gap coming down though.

 

[Parrulo]

de ghent group losing time again.

they need to work together

 

[User Guide]

Anyone spare 2 mins to tell me what happened on the mortirolo ?

not too much in terms of rider attacks etc, basso looked weak.But the new asscent is epic, the bas**** child of strade bianchi and flanders on top of a mountain

 

[Rocksteady]

Can't beleive that Purito's team has done nothing to protect the jersey... Its really theirs to control here, not Hesjay.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Anyone spare 2 mins to tell me what happened on the mortirolo ?

Rodriguez started sparring and Ryder was on top of him about 3k? from the top. They pulled out a bike length or two, about two times, but everyone came back together. Basso looked to struggle the most, but probably just pacing his way back from the acceleration. At the very top, De Gent went away, and began the gap he has now.

 

[hatcher]

Uran never stops eating.

 

[SafeBet]

Anyone spare 2 mins to tell me what happened on the mortirolo ?

Purito tried a couple of short attacks. 15 riders together for 3-4 kms.
Then on the steepst section De Gendt attacked. Nobody followed. Basso struggled. On the top Hesjedal, Scarponi, Pozzovivo and Purito together. Then some others bridged during the descent.

De Gendt stayed away, helped by Carrara who was in the break. Then Cunego and others bridged while the big names stumbled (nobody was pulling).

 

[Caruut]

Not that much, really. Rodríguez put in a small attack, Hesjedal followed almost immediately. Then Scarponi lead the rest back up to them. Pozzovivo did another mini attack just before the descent, and then there were about 15 riders. They pretty much stopped riding for a while, while De Gent, Nieve and Tschopp each attacked with a teammate in the valley.

 

[Random Direction]

ticker gap - 3:37 was correct at 30 km to go