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

[Dutchsmurf]

The "diesel" Basso still made the 2010 Giro one of the best ever.

Because back then he was actually strong enough to do something. And it wasn't Basso that made the Giro one of the best ever. It was that break that made it a great Giro. Without it we would have seen Nibali and Basso holding hands on every mountain top.

TdF's are boring because there is more to lose. If you race the Tour in Italy using the 2010 or 2011 Giro route, you will still get boring racing.

 

[Eshnar]

Because back then he was actually strong enough to do something. And it wasn't Basso that made the Giro one of the best ever. It was that break that made it a great Giro. Without it we would have seen Nibali and Basso holding hands on every mountain top.

I meant that even a diesel, by just accelerating, can provide huge entertainment.
I do know that race was made epic by other factors.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

If you race the Tour in Italy using the 2010 or 2011 Giro route, you will still get boring racing.

How you know that? Is it written in some tarot cards?

 

[SafeBet]

Because back then he was actually strong enough to do something. And it wasn't Basso that made the Giro one of the best ever. It was that break that made it a great Giro. Without it we would have seen Nibali and Basso holding hands on every mountain top.

It's beyond me how people cannot understand this.
Basso is riding exactly the same race as in 2010. He's just older and weaker.

 

[Pharazon]

listening to Rai is hilarious... i only understand the english words... ni idea on the context but X-Factor, American Idol and Top Gear just showed up

 

[Dutchsmurf]

How you know that? Is it written in some tarot cards?

I know because riders and the media see finishing 9th in the Tour as an achievement. So after the first shuffling, everyone starts defending their position instead of trying to get a higher position. So when the rider on position 15 gets into a break, the teams of the rider on place 12, 13 and 14 start working to bring him back. So attacking is more or less pointless in the Tour, except near the end.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

yes instead at 40 kms to go is epic
That one was the worse Mortirolo ever, but it wasn't due to those 10 kms of distance more (that was just the descent of Aprica, btw). It was just the situation of the race, been straight after the stage to Monte Pora, the best raced of that Giro.

Did you forget that the Mortirolo was in the 2004 edition?

I don't blame you if you did. Here it is:

A 122km stage, where Raffaele Illiano and Fabian Wegmann were the first two over the mythical beast, placed as the first climb of the day. This the day after a 117km "queen stage".

 

[SafeBet]

So it's pretty safe to assume Rabottini is gonna be King of the Mountains.

 

[SafeBet]

Guardini abandons

 

[Pharazon]

Guardini abandons

he must have known he was never going to make it

 

[SafeBet]

According to RAI, he got emotional and was in tears after finishing yesterday's stage (or maybe he was just cooked).

He didn't recovery and was already struggling on Tonale.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Shame after perhaps the most heroic solo efforts of the three weeks, dragging his lonely hide up mountains 5 minutes after the grupetto.

But an impressive stage win for his efforts, and, assuming Rodriguez makes the top 4 today, the honour/infamy of depriving Cav of the points trophy.

 

[GazelleFormula]

Colnago riding a good pace in front of the peleton. Pozzo has plans.

edit: Colnago-Liquigas discussion at the front. Maybe Pozzo wants to pace Basso today

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Hesjedal dseserve this giro if none of the italians goes for it on the Mortirolo...

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

6 minute gap.

Very strong breakaway - is someone going all the way?

 

[DominicDecoco]

6 minute gap.

Very strong breakaway - is someone going all the way?

Could well do. Some of the riders there are almost on the same level as the big guns in the peloton.

 

[cineteq]

Shame after perhaps the most heroic solo efforts of the three weeks, dragging his lonely hide up mountains 5 minutes after the grupetto.

I guess he paid the price for going on the breakaway when he should have saved the most energy by staying in the bus from the beginning

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Could well do. Some of the riders there are almost on the same level as the big guns in the peloton.

If Kreuziger takes this one too i would say his giro has been pretty good

 

[cineteq]

Hesjedal dseserve this giro if none of the italians or Purito goes for it on the Mortirolo...

+1

10 chars

 

[Eshnar]

Did you forget that the Mortirolo was in the 2004 edition?

I don't blame you if you did. Here it is:

A 122km stage, where Raffaele Illiano and Fabian Wegmann were the first two over the mythical beast, placed as the first climb of the day. This the day after a 117km "queen stage".

I didn't forget that. I'm sure I mentioned somewhere that stage, with Simoni and Garzelli attacking there.

 

[Climbing]

Hesjedal dseserve this giro if none of the italians goes for it on the Mortirolo...

Mortirolo will make selection anyway I suppose, but of course I want to see a good riding there.
Anyway Stelvio is 2760 mt., that make difficult to breath even if you're standing still.
That will hurt, I expect surprises.

 

[will10]

True, they could do the last stage of the 2008 Giro, without descending the aprica

a.k.a Giro '10

Guardini abandons

Ah, gutted to hear that. Chapeau for sticking with it this far, hope three weeks of tough racing has done him some good.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Don't think anyone has mentioned it: according to gazzetta, Jack Bobridge abandoned after 15km today.

 

[SafeBet]

Don't think anyone has mentioned it: according to gazzetta, Jack Bobridge abandoned after 15km today.

Yes, RAI mentioned it too.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Don't think anyone has mentioned it: according to gazzetta, Jack Bobridge abandoned after 15km today.

After his prologue performance, I'm surprised he managed to get this far.