STAGE15: Cesana Torinese - Col Du Galibier (Valloire) 149 kms

[Vino attacks everyone]

Aru getting into shape, he will be ready for the last 3 stages. Nibali totally in control!

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Maybe that was all they could do?

Until 5km of the finish, the peloton was still 60 riders big. Of course they can go faster than that. If you have a team like sky, you should at least try something.

 

[hrotha]

Maybe that was all they could do?

Even if that were the case (which I doubt, but ok, for the sake of the argument), that wouldn't keep the stage from having been ****e.

 

[PhiberAwptik]

Thank god tomorrow is a rest day, so the poor riders can make rest after todays non-stop attacking and insane pace.

Armchair DS on the attack.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Take another look.

I'm working on the assumption Cav takes 25 more points. On that basis Betancur needs to take 56 points from the remaining stages, and as I say, I'd be surprised.

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink is definitely over, I've got to finally agree with Ryo Hazuki there. In GTs he's a domestique at best. Props to Visconti, lame stage otherwise.

 

[LaFlorecita]

This was by the way a pathetic stage GC wise, nice win for Visconti though. Happy for him

 

[TANK91]

Seriously cant you just shush Bala verde why the hate every post bla bla blanco fail, it is as if your trying to get people riled. Gesink was the only guy who made this stage worth watching.

 

[argyllflyer]

Spaniard for Quigley.

He looked him up on wikipedia a few minutes ago, he's now Italian again.

 

[Netserk]

I'm working on the assumption Cav takes 25 more points. On that basis Betancur needs to take 56 points from the remaining stages, and as I say, I'd be surprised.

Just three 2nd places more...

 

[Jelantik]

TDF should have invited Vini Fantini team. This team is full of fire crackers. They seems to get bored and can't sit still .. rain, snow ATTACK.. ATTACK..

 

[doperhopper]

Thank god tomorrow is a rest day, so the poor riders can make rest after todays non-stop attacking and insane pace.

looking forward to super-shortened Gavia-Stelvio-Martello stage

 

[Roderick]

What a truly amazing stage. It had all the ingredients of an epic race: Failed attack by Gesink, failed attack by De Greef, an epic performance by Weening, Betancur getting second, Killer on a killing spray, Pirazzi as king of the mountains getting dropped by everybody once the road goes uphill,...

 

[The Hitch]

If Cav misses the time limit, he has a chance, but if not then I'd be surprised if anyone other than Cadel or Mauro catch Cav.

I would have thought 2nd 2nd 3rd 2nd, and with 2 hills and 2 mtfs still to go, Betancur would be right up there.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Just three 2nd places more...

If you think that wouldn't be a surprising result from the 4 remaining stages he has a serious shot at, then you live on another planet.

He needs to average 3rd on those 4 stages. It would be a surprise.

 

[ILovecycling]

Polish fans not gonna be happy with Nimiec. He takes the 8 seconds from Majka giving Betancur the white jersey

Yeah,that was stupid but he probably didnt know what is the time difference between them.

Well that wasn't the most enjoyable stage to watch

It wasnt,but are you surprised with this weather?

I hope all GC conteders will be ok in final week,illness is everywhere

 

[Jelantik]

Until 5km of the finish, the peloton was still 60 riders big. Of course they can go faster than that. If you have a team like sky, you should at least try something.

interestingly.. all sky team (except uran) is MIA.

 

[jens_attacks]

the slow tempo on cenis really deserved to happen so we all could see the ballistic pace on galibier...oh wait

the weather neutralized the race but it's pretty clear that there aren't campionissimi around who can explode a race in such conditions


visconti was awesome though. heroic ride

the bunch sprint up the galibier not so much

 

[hrotha]

TDF should have invited Vini Fantini team. This team is full of fire crackers. They seems to get bored and can't sit still .. rain, snow ATTACK.. ATTACK..

Vini Fantini is the kind of team that couldn't, er, perform abroad.

 

[vcampbell]

Armchair DS on the attack.

You're funny. So, because I'm not a professional cyclist I should just shut my mouth? I will not, because todays stage was a joke. You enjoyed it? Good, hope this will be the best stage you will watch ever.

 

[MatParker117]

I would have thought 2nd 2nd 3rd 2nd, and with 2 hills and 2 mtfs still to go, Betancur would be right up there.

Two more sprint stages though which Cav should take.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I would have thought 2nd 2nd 3rd 2nd, and with 2 hills and 2 mtfs still to go, Betancur would be right up there.

You're assuming no breakaways get away and Betancur consistently being one of the top 5 climbers + having the benefit of not being taken seriously by the really top guys.

It could happen, but you can't seriously pretend it wouldn't be a surprise. The current best price someone is willing to stake on him at betfair is 40s, so it seems people willing to put their money where their mouth is would agree.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If you think that wouldn't be a surprising result from the 4 remaining stages he has a serious shot at, then you live on another planet.

He needs to average 3rd on those 4 stages. It would be a surprise.

Certainly would need some hard work, but throw in the possibility of the autobus coming in OOT on the Tre Cime stage and it's less far-fetched. That's why Farrar quit the race in 2010, because the -25 points meant he had no chance any longer of holding off Evans.

(I consider that a better possibility to consider than a crash in a bunch sprint taking out Cavendish, especially as he's so far seemed better placed by his train than he was last year when we got situations like the Ferrari sideswipe).

 

[whittashau]

The Giro in France...what a stupid idea that was

 

[Christian]

Wow once Betancur learns how to time his attacks better he will be unstopable! Great Giro by him, very exciting rider