Stage 21, Roma (ITT), 14.4km

[kjetilraknerud]

Looks like Johan has been talking to Levi before the stage as well - "don't you dare try and win this one".

 

[Cobblestones]

My thoughts exactly.
I wonder of Leipheimer has freedom to go all out now, cause him winning the TT would kinda ridiculise Armstrongs message.

No he hasn't.

 

[Anonymous]

LL now riding like a wussy also. They are gonna show those Giro people, they will just get their ball and take it home. I guess if you aren't strong enough to actually win the race, might as well complain a lot to deflect the enormity of your failure.

 

[Cobblestones]

Hey, Cobblestones, your call on the rain and the cobblestones vis the podium has held up so far.

Menchov might have a word to say about that. Conditions improving again.

There he goes...

 

[Parrot23]

Very dicey now:

DDL doing lots of standing to accelerate out of corners (ordinary bike).

But Eurosport guy sees it getting darker, maybe some potential for rain drops, again (vs. Menchov and TT bike).

So they play their cards.

 

[Jasper]

Haha, so Garzelli is now all of a sudden also as good a timetrialist as Bruseghin and Brajkovic.

 

[Jasper]

Di Luca has the best time athe the first intermediate point. Awesome!

 

[Anonymous]

DiLuca rides with balls. He may not win, and I am not a fan, but the guy isn't a wussy like LL and the Whinestrong bunch.

 

[Parrot23]

Constant acceleration/deceleration on corners favours DDL, but fitness favours Menchov. Rain now hurts latter.

 

[Parrot23]

DiLuca rides with balls. He may not win, and I am not a fan, but the guy isn't a wussy like LL and the Whinestrong bunch.

Prize for combativity, whatever, gotta go to him.

 

[issoisso]

After 5kms, Menchov is losing 5 secs on Di Luca

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Menchov four seconds behind at the first check! This is so exciting

 

[ingsve]

Menchov 5 secs behind DDL on first split...

 

[Cobblestones]

DDL 5" better than Menchov Excitement!!!

 

[krebs303]

go Di Luca

 

[ingsve]

And the rain restarts...

 

[Anonymous]

I hope DiLuca wins this. I don't think he will, but what freaking guts!

 

[Parrot23]

Sean Kelly thinks fast start by DDL is to play mind games with Menchov, may force the latter to overcook corners.

 

[Jasper]

Damn this is exciting.

 

[Jasper]

Menchov back ahead again, bummer

 

[kjetilraknerud]

It's all over. Menchov took a lot on the long straights.

 

[dgodave]

Look at how different their position on the bike is...
.

 

[Bala Verde]

It's all over. Menchov took a lot on the long straights.

DDL will lose time for not having chosen a TT bike. Huge difference in Aero (watt output) on the flat straights, where he already was at an extreme disadvantage, since he is no TT specialist.

 

[Parrot23]

Look at how different their position on the bike is...
.

Yeah, noticed that. Menchov flat as a pancake (re Bala's comment on regular vs. TT bike).

 

[Anonymous]

Holy crap!!!