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

[cineteq]

Ryder looks absolutely hammered. We'll soon see.

Not also hammered, but stressed out!!!

 

[SafeBet]

Stetina and Vande Velde can't beat Ion. The guy's a beast.

Wow, seriously.
He's really killing it in this third week.

 

[LaFleur]

Why isn't Kreuziger helping?

Why should he?

 

[Fetisoff]

I think they have a little bit too many roulers and few climbers.

Well, Brutt said in an interview after (stage 12-13 or something) that attacks are out of the questions, they are all here for Purito's GC. OK, Kristoff for sprints, Kuchynski/Vicioso for flats. But what's the points of having Brutt/Ignatyev who are attackers then?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Why isn't Kreuziger helping?

Because he already dropped on the Mortirolo in the early lead group

 

[Trofinios]

If De Gendt set his own pace, it could be hard to take 4 minutes on him. This will be very interesting.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Ryder always looks hammered.

Huge group now. Lots of riders have caught back on after the Mortirolo.

 

[Magnus]

Quite a contrast with Coppi's gearing on the same climb in 1953.
He'd have used 53x39 and 11x23 at a guess.
Just astonishing!

Are you saying Coppi used 53/39 and 11/23?

AFAIK they didn't even use a 12 in the back until the 80'ies. And the small front ring would probably not have been smaller than 42.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Why isn't Kreuziger helping?

He was in an early break an needs to recover before the climb.

 

[Parrulo]

Stetina and Vande Velde can't beat Ion. The guy's a beast.

indeed, a stage win and this type of performance on his first GT as an u23 rider, absolute monster

 

[Rocksteady]

Answer: De Gendt is a great TTer

Agreed... all the more reason Purito (terrible time trial) needs to beware.

I understand the tactic, just Purito has a lot to lose, needs to take time on everyone (especially DeGendt) today.

 

[FujiAnton]

Answer: De Gendt is a great TTer

De Gendt is the best TTer of Top10, by far.

 

[ooh_25mm]

I was not expecting VCS and DeGendt to make this race. Interesting stuff. Stelvio is going to be a mess

 

[Trunnions]

Ryder looks absolutely hammered. We'll soon see.

And he's descending Mortirolo on a Cervello bike with Carbon SPOKES!

Talk about an explosive situation?

 

[issoisso]

Well, Brutt said in an interview after (stage 12-13 or something) that attacks are out of the questions, they are all here for Purito's GC. OK, Kristoff for sprints, Kuchynski/Vicioso for flats. But what's the points of having Brutt/Ignatyev who are attackers then?

Ignatiev for the TTT

 

[Fatclimber]

Who's in the Garmin team car 1. Is it Peiper? (ex-HTC, very experienced, LOL).

Car 2 is Wegelius (ridden Giro 9 times). Maybe not him, but is car 1 responsible?
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...the-garmin-car-when-hesjedal-took-pink_220755

And surely Vaughters is on the cellphone to them?

Exactly what I was wondering. With all the squawking he did at the TOC about having no radios, I would think he would know what to do with one when given the opportunity to use it. Unless leaving your team leader isolated with the GC at stake was part of the plan..

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Ryder does look shattered.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Does anyone have a guess at what time they'll finish?

 

[superconfex]

Gadret found 2 allies

 

[Fetisoff]

Ignatiev for the TTT

Goose = as good as Ignatyev in TTT, fairly good controlling the peloton uphill

 

[WinterRider]

Who's in the Garmin team car 1. Is it Peiper? (ex-HTC, very experienced, LOL).

Car 2 is Wegelius (ridden Giro 9 times). Maybe not him, but is car 1 responsible?
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...the-garmin-car-when-hesjedal-took-pink_220755

And surely Vaughters is on the cellphone to them?

Well there's your problem. He probably orderedthem to ride for 2nd place!

 

[will10]

Well, Brutt said in an interview after (stage 12-13 or something) that attacks are out of the questions, they are all here for Purito's GC. OK, Kristoff for sprints, Kuchynski/Vicioso for flats. But what's the points of having Brutt/Ignatyev who are attackers then?

Kuschynski Brutt and Ignatiev are all good engines for the TTT at least, but other than that I agree with you, Purito was shy a climber or two.

 

[issoisso]

Goose = as good as Ignatyev in TTT, fairly good controlling the peloton uphill

Definitely

 

[Magnus]

Does anyone have a guess at what time they'll finish?

I'm guessing 60-75 minutes from now.

 

[Parrulo]

Ryder does look shattered.

to be honest he always seems to look shattered