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

[SafeBet]

De Gendt must be a superman then!

No superman, but I think we'll agree that he's clearly more suited to this kind of actions than Purito, if only for his TT skills.


This is not to say I enjoyed the Giro, because I didn't. I'm only differing on the reasons why it wasn't good. Some say it's because riders are chickens. Some others, like me, say it's because the field was weak and almost even.

It's disappointing, I know, but go blame the Schlecks and Gesinks and Samus of the world for choosing a top5 placement in the Tour instead of a Maglia Rosa.

 

[ferryman]

What makes you think they could?

Do you really think that, if they had had the legs to attack from 10 km out, they would have thought: "Nah, the Giro isn't a race worth winning"?

Nah, lets leave it to the lasr klik and gain seconds. Nobody had the guts today sadly apart from Scarponi (riders ahead obviously excluded).

 

[Orvieto]

Scarponi and Purito are playing chicken. They hope Hesjedal will blow himself up if they keep playing it cool, then they'll take the spoils of war. But it's not working.

Yep, cynical riding by Katusha and Lampre. They were hoping that by making Hesjedal do the chasing, he'd crack. Instead they've put their own podium positions in jeopardy. Understandable and probably the right tactic, given the situation, but fortune should favour the brave. If there's any justice, DeGendt will be standing on the podium ahead of them tomorrow and one of Scarponi and Rodriguez will finish off the podium.

 

[El Pistolero]

Rodriguez wins the points jersey by a single point.

 

[Danilot]

Nah, lets leave it to the lasr klik and gain seconds. Nobody had the guts today sadly apart from Scarponi (riders ahead obviously excluded).

Sometimes I get the impression that certain people believe the Giro d'Italia is a motorcycle race. After 200 km of racing, just twist the throttle and accelerate at will. What the hell, who cares about fatigue, who cares about not blowing oneself up, who cares about having one's legs full of lactic acid already?

While it is true that some riders don't attack from afar because they're cowards or wheel-suckers, many others don't attack simply because they don't have the legs to do so. And to criticise them from the comfort of your armchair is... well, quite cynical to say the least.

Having all the guts in the world won't help you if you haven't got the legs to attack.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Rodriguez wins the points jersey by a single point.

Unless Cavendish does a monster ITT tomorrow

 

[will10]

Unless Cavendish does a monster ITT tomorrow

To be honest it would be pretty epic if Cav pulled off a top 15 to nick it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Sometimes I get the impression that certain people believe the Giro d'Italia is a motorcycle race. After 200 km of racing, just twist the throttle and accelerate at will. What the hell, who cares about fatigue, who cares about not blowing oneself up, who cares about having one's legs full of lactic acid already?

While it is true that some riders don't attack from afar because they're cowards or wheel-suckers, many others don't attack simply because they don't have the legs to do so. And to criticise them from the comfort of your armchair is... well, quite cynical to say the least.

Having all the guts in the world won't help you if you haven't got the legs to attack.

We want to see people attack before the final climb like Thomas did today. I'm not expecting the top 3 in GC to do this, but the guys who are sitting at 10th place or something and have no chance of winning a stage or the GC if they try nothing.

 

[cineteq]

Sometimes I get the impression that certain people believe the Giro d'Italia is a motorcycle race. After 200 km of racing, just twist the throttle and accelerate at will. What the hell, who cares about fatigue, who cares about not blowing oneself up, who cares about having one's legs full of lactic acid already?

While it is true that some riders don't attack from afar because they're cowards or wheel-suckers, many others don't attack simply because they don't have the legs to do so. And to criticise them from the comfort of your armchair is... well, quite cynical to say the least.

Having all the guts in the world won't help you if you haven't got the legs to attack.

+1 you have to forgive the weekend posters who don't really follow or undestand racing, hope Purito finish the job tomorrow. He's the one who deserves it and done the most thus far.

 

[thegrimpeur]

Major props to Cunego for attacking throughout the giro, and it should net him at least a top 6 while really only having the legs for a top 15 position. Just goes to show you that being creative with your cycling can take you a long way.

 

[Pippo_San]

He's the one who deserves it and done the most thus far.

Let me translate this for you: He's the one who made a little acceleration within 2 bar 1 kms to go and gained some seconds here and there.

Thank God this pathetic Giro is over. Kudos to the new Tank Engine and the Little Prince, but this edition was simply unbearable.

To think that come July it will probably be worse (at least the hope in the attacks of the new gen guns is still there)...

 

[roundabout]

Hehe, old man Bruseghin the best Movistar rider on GC. He is crap everywhere else but can still churn out reliable GC performances.

 

[burning]

Hehe, old man Bruseghin the best Movistar rider on GC. He is crap everywhere else but can still churn out reliable GC performances.

Wasn't he 3rd on 2009?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Let me translate this for you: He's the one who made a little acceleration within 2 bar 1 kms to go and gained some seconds here and there.

Thank God this pathetic Giro is over. Kudos to the new Tank Engine and the Little Prince, but this edition was simply unbearable.

To think that come July it will probably be worse (at least the hope in the attacks of the new gen guns is still there)...

In july it will simply be Team Sky flaming up every mountain. I hope they fail though and some people will be able to attack. Even if it's sister Andy I'd still be glad

 

[Delicato]

Wasn't he 3rd on 2009?

He was, but that also was one of the worst recent editions of Il Giro.

 

[roundabout]

wasn't he 3rd on 2009?

2008......

 

[JimPanzen]

I hope Hesjedal crushes JRod in tomorrows ITT. Poor showing by Purito today imo. Hesjedal was the only one who took the responsibility of chasing and really deserves pink. Big show by DeGendt.

 

[burning]

2008......

Yeah, That Giro with crap Alberto vs a bunch of dopers

 

[staubsauger]

He was, but that also was one of the worst recent editions of Il Giro.

ähm it was 2008 and that was actually one of the best giro edition if not THE best in recent years with contador, ricco, sella and pellizotti flying up the mountains!

 

[will10]

ähm it was 2008 and that was actually one of the best giro edition if not THE best in recent years with contador, ricco, sella and pellizotti flying up the mountains!

2010 and 2005 say hello.

 

[staubsauger]

2010 and 2005 say hello.

yes from an entertainment point of view 05 & 10 have been much better but in case of quality of the field 08 was the top. in relation to clinic matters of course

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

why is 2009 seen as bad? That was a brilliant edition of the Giro with all the Menchov vs Di Luca battles

 

[jobiwan]

In july it will simply be Team Sky flaming up every mountain. I hope they fail though and some people will be able to attack. Even if it's sister Andy I'd still be glad

I think it'll be Gesink who does the damage to Team Sky in the Tour. He'll attack early on the mountains and do well enough in the TTs to hold off Wiggins. Evans is a tougher one to get rid of, however, not to mention Sanchez.

As for Andy, I'd like to see him get a couple of stages and go for the KOM jersey and take whatever GC position that gets him. I just can't see him contending this year.

But I think there will be a couple riders in the Tour (Gesink, Sanchez, and maybe Andy) who will attack earlier on climbs, which should open up the racing a bit more than this Giro.

 

[hrotha]

Yep, cynical riding by Katusha and Lampre. They were hoping that by making Hesjedal do the chasing, he'd crack. Instead they've put their own podium positions in jeopardy. Understandable and probably the right tactic, given the situation, but fortune should favour the brave. If there's any justice, DeGendt will be standing on the podium ahead of them tomorrow and one of Scarponi and Rodriguez will finish off the podium.

It was the right tactic for Purito and Scarponi... if they had gone earlier. Usually you let the leader (real or virtual) tire himself doing the work so that you can take advantage of the situation, not to sit on his wheel and have your own chances hurt more severely than the leader's.

 

[burning]

why is 2009 seen as bad? That was a brilliant edition of the Giro with all the Menchov vs Di Luca battles

I think people are talking about 2008 as I remembered the year wrong, and 2008 Giro is bad imo because nearly all of the guys who did fancy and crazy stuff in the Giro, was doped heavily