Stage 5: San Martino di Castrozza - Alpe di Siusi

[BroDeal]

I think Horner may be in 2007 TdF mode. He will see how high in the GC he can finish in Rome. It has always bothered him that he never had the success in Europe that he thinks he deserved. If so then he will help Leipheimer and instead of falling completely off the pace when he is through, he will limit his time losses, leaving him more fatigued on subsequent stages than he should be.

Horner to finish 7th - 12th in Rome.

 

[franciep10]

well, if bradley can keep performing like this...

trip to the bookies for a few quid on fridays stage... nice long steady climb, with a downhill perfectly suited for a decent time trialler...

seriously what is wiggins on a no gluten diet too unbelievable so when contador beats wiggins in a flat time trial he has to be on something but vice a versa are you kidding me where's big boat, there is no way cunego should be getting dropped before wiggins. this stinks like a japanese fish market.

 

[Zoncolan]

I think Horner may be in 2007 TdF mode. He will see how high in the GC he can finish in Rome. It has always bothered him that he never had the success in Europe that he thinks he deserved. If so then he will help Leipheimer then fall completely off the pace. He will help then limit his time losses.

Horner to finish 7th - 12th in Rome.

I think you may be right

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

If you leave JB, you lose out on all his little goodies

Whaaa..?

I believe the woman up on the stage with the giant pink Visa card is part of DiLuca's Abruzza help. Commentator didn't say a thing, and my Italian is limited to cycling speak and a few dozen other words. Either way, "Grazie Danilo, grazie!"

 

[Zoncolan]

seriously what is wiggins on a no gluten diet too unbelievable so when contador beats wiggins in a flat time trial he has to be on something but vice a versa are you kidding me where's big boat, there is no way cunego should be getting dropped before wiggins. this stinks like a japanese fish market.

Not a fan of sushi?
How 'bout Mick Rogers?

 

[Bala Verde]

seriously what is wiggins on a no gluten diet too unbelievable so when contador beats wiggins in a flat time trial he has to be on something but vice a versa are you kidding me where's big boat, there is no way cunego should be getting dropped before wiggins. this stinks like a japanese fish market.

nasty smell! Although I have heard eating fish and lots of fish oil (omega 3) is really good for ya

 

[Zoncolan]

Whaaa..?

I believe the woman up on the stage with the giant pink Visa card is part of DiLuca's Abruzza help. Commentator didn't say a thing, and my Italian is limited to cycling speak and a few dozen other words. Either way, "Grazie Danilo, grazie!"

All things aside, he's trying to do something for the people of Abruzzo. Big up to him for that.
He was stronger today than I expected, but he'll get slaughtered in the big TT 4-5 minutes to Leipheimer and a minute less to Basso. Menchov in the middle

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Basso won't be there. Menchov did pretty much the same last year, and Carlos is just warming up

Menchov has said he's going for the Giro win. Basso is as well, and if he's strong, he'll think of the Tour also. But I think Basso is looking at the 2010 Tour. Sastre probably is just warming up, but he did say he'd like to try for the podium in Rome.

Petacchi finally in to get the ciclomino jersey. LPR has three of the four jerseys!

No one has said much, but props to Lovkvist for keeping up and hanging in there. The kid looks like he has a great future.

 

[franciep10]

Not a fan of sushi?
How 'bout Mick Rogers?

it smells fishy that's what I was saying about wiggins

 

[BroDeal]

seriously what is wiggins on a no gluten diet too unbelievable so when contador beats wiggins in a flat time trial he has to be on something but vice a versa are you kidding me where's big boat, there is no way cunego should be getting dropped before wiggins. this stinks like a japanese fish market.

+1

I think there are Garmin riders that are legit. Their performance has dropped like a stone after "going clean." Those are riders such as Tommy D., Millar, and Dave Z. Then there are the other riders who have gotten better. My B.S meter keeps beeping.

I have a lot less trust in Slipstream now than I did at the beginning of last season.

 

[Jamsque]

You're right, it is a surprising result. The reason I'm not suspicious is because Wiggins has never been involved in any doping investigations in his life, and because I trust Vaughters and Garmin. I cannot say the same of Contador, Bruyneel and Astana.

 

[Zoncolan]

Menchov has said he's going for the Giro win. Basso is as well, and if he's strong, he'll think of the Tour also. But I think Basso is looking at the 2010 Tour. Sastre probably is just warming up, but he did say he'd like to try for the podium in Rome.

Petacchi finally in to get the ciclomino jersey. LPR has three of the four jerseys!

No one has said much, but props to Lovkvist for keeping up and hanging in there. The kid looks like he has a great future.

Basso won't be in France this year. ASO don't want him+Nibali and Kreuziger were promised they'd be leaders. Sastre will come in fourth or fifth overall.

Lovkvist was really strong, but on the very limit. I doubt he'll last the three weeks. Monte Petrano and Vesuvius will be telling.

 

[Zoncolan]

it smells fishy that's what I was saying about wiggins

I agree. I just added a whale in there for good measure

 

[rolfrae]

You're right, it is a surprising result. The reason I'm not suspicious is because Wiggins has never been involved in any doping investigations in his life, and because I trust Vaughters and Garmin. I cannot say the same of Contador, Bruyneel and Astana.

Where did Wiggins finish on the stage? I mean, he was hardly out-sprinting DiLuca. As soon as the climb got really steep he seemed to disappear, which is what you'd expect.

 

[Zoncolan]

You're right, it is a surprising result. The reason I'm not suspicious is because Wiggins has never been involved in any doping investigations in his life, and because I trust Vaughters and Garmin. I cannot say the same of Contador, Bruyneel and Astana.

I wonder what Lucho Herrera would say to Wiggins' sudden increase of climbing ability

 

[jaylew]

they obviously had the legs to pull Lance up the climb for 6 km and if Levi had a couple more teammates they could've come to the front and maybe shred lovquist and maybe di luca

I don't know. Every time they showed them(which was often) it looked like it was Lance who was in front and his teammates behind.

 

[jaylew]

Nice ride from Lovkvist.

Levi knows he's got that TT in his back pocket. Don't expect him to use any excess energy anywhere. The one question I have about him is whether he's going to be able to hold his form until the end. His season started early and he's already won 3 stage races this year.

Menchov and Sastre getting stronger is bad news for a bunch of guys. I almost went on a limb before the race started and predicted no Italians on the podium and I still think there's a decent shot of it, though Basso and DiLuca look very good. I expect Basso will still be there, but as strong as he looks I'm not sure about DiLuca. That TT is awfully long...

 

[Jamsque]

Wiggins came in 1:48 or so down on Menchov. He was hanging on to the back of the lead group until Basso hit the gas on the final grade.

Zoncolan, I don't know who Lucho Herrera is, so I don't get your point.

 

[Bala Verde]

All things aside, he's trying to do something for the people of Abruzzo. Big up to him for that.
He was stronger today than I expected, but he'll get slaughtered in the big TT 4-5 minutes to Leipheimer and a minute less to Basso. Menchov in the middle

I do believe that Menchov, Sastre, Basso (and Di Luca) need to drop leipy somewhere in the mountains. With that long TT coming up and the short 15k one (fairly trechnical with lots of twists and turns) on the last day, they really need to take some time on him to stay competitive. I guess around 20-30s for Menchov to be on the safe side on the last day... and more for the lesser tt-ers

 

[Bala Verde]

I don't know. Every time they showed them(which was often) it looked like it was Lance who was in front and his teammates behind.

They were flanking him to keep pesky fans out of the way He is, after all, a celeb...

 

[Zoncolan]

Wiggins came in 1:48 or so down on Menchov. He was hanging on to the back of the lead group until Basso hit the gas on the final grade.

Zoncolan, I don't know who Lucho Herrera is, so I don't get your point.

A great Colombian rider from the 80's, before the emergence of EPO that is.
I'll paraphrase him: when the fata$$es start climbing like mountain goats, you know there's something wrong.
That answers it for you?

 

[Jamsque]

What would Wiggo's motivation be to dope at this race? Seriously? On the track he is a world record holder and a multiple world and Olympic champion, road racing is just a side project for him. I really can't see him reaching for the EPO just so he can finish 20th-30th on mountain stages in the Giro.

 

[rolfrae]

Wiggins came in 1:48 or so down on Menchov. He was hanging on to the back of the lead group until Basso hit the gas on the final grade.

I'm going to be the Wiggins-defender! I'd be gob-smacked if he was found to be doping given that he's been so outspoken in the past. He probably hit the Giro to be in peak form for day one and the TTT which would explain his form now, whilst others may still be riding into form/waiting on a transfusion. This was no massive mountain stage today, just one long steady pace until it got steeper at the top, by which time he had slipped back. Will be interesting to see how he does in the long ITT next week.

 

[benpounder]

JB's gotta cut his boys loose to go help Levi! Leave chechu with LA

Horner and Popo (I think) were with Levi most of the time. Dont know if Jani, Chechu, or Navarro could have helped Levi anyway.

Interesting though, to have so many close to the final selection.

 

[franciep10]

What would Wiggo's motivation be to dope at this race? Seriously? On the track he is a world record holder and a multiple world and Olympic champion, road racing is just a side project for him. I really can't see him reaching for the EPO just so he can finish 20th-30th on mountain stages in the Giro.

and you don't find it suspicious that he's climbing with a select group of elite stage racers in a grand tour on a 9% gradient, please take the blinders off, last year as soon as the road started to go up wiggins would go back, he's great on the track but not in the mountains. he finished in a group with simoni