Super human Liquigas

[Eyjafjallajokull]

Liquigas doing pretty well at the Giro with all top three spots, and beating time trial specialist team Sky comfortably in the TTT with more men left at the end.

It's like they don't even need Pellizotti!

 

[santacruz]

Did you see Vino's face at the end of the TTT, compared to the faces of his teamates?? they had the most horrible pained looks on their faces like they just took a couple years off their life to keep up with Vino, and Vino had his mouth closed practically, perfectly tranquil!! wtf!!

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

Did you see Vino's face at the end of the TTT, compared to the faces of his teamates?? they had the most horrible pained looks on their faces like they just took a couple years off their life to keep up with Vino, and Vino had his mouth closed practically, perfectly tranquil!! wtf!!

Yes and he blew his own team to bits at the end.

But at least the whole team isn't on the programme.

 

[Escarabajo]

Liquigas has a good "Health Care" provider.

 

[Lanark]

They probably would have performed worse with Pellizotti instead of Nibali.

 

[King Of Molehill]

Liquigas doing pretty well at the Giro with all top three spots, and beating time trial specialist team Sky comfortably in the TTT with more men left at the end.

It's like they don't even need Pellizotti!

I don't think it's a stretch. Liquigas has always been good at the TTT. Team Sky is new and missing riders from crashes and has riders recovering from crashes I'm impressed with their ride despite that. Liquigas haven't had any bad luck in the first couple of days and I'm not as surprised as you might be about this.

 

[afpm90]

Liquigas doing pretty well at the Giro with all top three spots, and beating time trial specialist team Sky comfortably in the TTT with more men left at the end.

It's like they don't even need Pellizotti!

Because Pelizzoti would be essential in the TTT

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

Because Pelizzoti would be essential in the TTT

I'm talking about their grand tour prospects. It's looking pretty good.

Pelizotti was of course suspended for a dodgy blood profile.

The Eye-Talians are up to their old tricks?

 

[Straßenrennen]

Sky was down to 8 men early on when sutton flatted, think that made the difference between sky and liquigas today.

 

[Winterfold]

Yes, I think this was more a good ride by Sky to be in with a shout than anything dodgy by Liquigas - nearly all the posters here had them in the Top 3 or 4 and they managed to keep together which obviously paid off.

IMO dropping riders only works when you have a stellar best 5 eg Garmin in the TdF last year

 

[Nicoper]

Take in account that Liquigas riders avoided crashes past few days, while most of Sky guys hit the deck one or more times. Roadrash and bruises won't kill you but they going to slow you down.


Just one thing concerning Astana riders.
It was partially Stangelj fault for all the mess in the end. But he had a bad luck to be the one in front of Vino in TTT. Think about it, you give all you have, finish your turn go back and when you need to catch the back of the train strongest TT rider injects more pace.
They should have put Grivko on his place. Its not Vino's fault, he gave all he had, blame the coach.


ps. I am not a Vino fan

 

[Mellow Velo]

I'm talking about their grand tour prospects. It's looking pretty good.
The Eye-Talians are up to their old tricks?

As opposed to July, when we'll have old dogs up to new tricks?
Of course, that'll be down to taking it easy all season.

 

[Straßenrennen]

Just one thing concerning Astana riders.
It was partially Stangelj fault for all the mess in the end. But he had a bad luck to be the one in front of Vino in TTT. Think about it, you give all you have, finish your turn go back and when you need to catch the back of the train strongest TT rider injects more pace.

Yes thats a very good point, you saw on the eurosport coverage the problems after half way that the guys had getting back on when vino started a pull...

 

[red_flanders]

You can't blame it on the coach. If your pulling drops people, you're changing the pace too fast. Basic paceline tactics.

 

[Oldman]

Take in account that Liquigas riders avoided crashes past few days, while most of Sky guys hit the deck one or more times. Roadrash and bruises won't kill you but they going to slow you down.


Just one thing concerning Astana riders.
It was partially Stangelj fault for all the mess in the end. But he had a bad luck to be the one in front of Vino in TTT. Think about it, you give all you have, finish your turn go back and when you need to catch the back of the train strongest TT rider injects more pace.
They should have put Grivko on his place. Its not Vino's fault, he gave all he had, blame the coach.


ps. I am not a Vino fan

I'm kind of a Vino fan (of his racing style) but that kind of TTT stroke is all ego. You ride to the average of the best 5. If he's that f*cking strong his teammate should have sat on and finished instead of dropping off. Very poor communication in an event that relies on it.

 

[python]

I'm kind of a Vino fan (of his racing style) but that kind of TTT stroke is all ego. You ride to the average of the best 5. If he's that f*cking strong his teammate should have sat on and finished instead of dropping off. Very poor communication in an event that relies on it.

look, it's a farking race (not disagreeing or criticizing you). it's no ones fault that vino is so strong and stangelj could not hang on. it's just the dynamic of the race at the highest level - vino put his 100% pulling (visibly !) stronger that any team mate and stangelj put his 100% but coming slightly short at the end when the team leader was pumped up. no biggy ! vino and the guys and their coach (martinelli) predicted it and there is no team split or anything like a tragedy.

very different from the dynamic in the 2009 tour ttt when armstrong was visibly ****ed off for not taking the yellow as it would allow him to backstab his team mate who happened to be the strongest rider atm.

 

[barn yard]

the same thing happened with BMC almost, evans soft pedalling so he didnt drop the whole team, just better communication probably.

 

[karlboss]

liqui had the strongest team, many other teams didn't bring their A squad so i don't think its any more clinic territory than normal. Vino dropping a guy? Dropped him late when the line was almost insight lost a few seconds, just got excited for the line is all. There were 3 other guys there who could have dropped back to help out, none did.

 

[Kender]

liqui had the strongest team, many other teams didn't bring their A squad so i don't think its any more clinic territory than normal. Vino dropping a guy? Dropped him late when the line was almost insight lost a few seconds, just got excited for the line is all. There were 3 other guys there who could have dropped back to help out, none did.

one tried, he was soft pedalling but the poor fella still couldn't get on. he'd been blown to smitherines

 

[Angliru]

look, it's a farking race (not disagreeing or criticizing you). it's no ones fault that vino is so strong and stangelj could not hang on. it's just the dynamic of the race at the highest level - vino put his 100% pulling (visibly !) stronger that any team mate and stangelj put his 100% but coming slightly short at the end when the team leader was pumped up. no biggy ! vino and the guys and their coach (martinelli) predicted it and there is no team split or anything like a tragedy.

very different from the dynamic in the 2009 tour ttt when armstrong was visibly ****ed off for not taking the yellow as it would allow him to backstab his team mate who happened to be the strongest rider atm.

Let's just chalk up Vino's reaction at the finish to adrenaline and leave it at that. He likely regrets it the same as other pro's who've had their moments of drama (Wiggins, Millar, Rassmussen throwing their bikes/Evans tearing into Gesink for cutting him off-among a multitude of other moments for him/Cavendish flipping the British version of the bird). All adrenaline influenced.

 

[karlboss]

one tried, he was soft pedalling but the poor fella still couldn't get on. he'd been blown to smitherines

should have stopped pedalling...and then accept vino's wrath.

 

[Kender]

should have stopped pedalling...and then accept vino's wrath.

he'd have been fired if he done that (Stangelj i'm a assuming you meant by stop pedalling)

 

[Ferminal]

Best team on the day.

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

So we're all agreed then. Team Sky were the real winners of the TTT and Liquigas are as bent as a banana.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

So we're all agreed then. Team Sky were the real winners of the TTT and Liquigas are as bent as a banana.

Would you have been as quick to open up a thread in 'The Clinic' if Sky had won?

Sky lost CJ right at the beginning and were beaten by just 13 seconds - by a team that are 'as bent as a banana'......