The most spectacular crackings in recent years

[the asian]

This was the moment in 98 when pantani attacked ullrich and he sufferred in the conditions.

Defining moment in that years' race!. I've watched the video on You tube

 

[Eshnar]

If memory serves me right... I kinda remember Ivan not cracking, but suffering from a particularly nasty stomach virus that killed him for two or three stages, not just one.

True, he had lost already a minute on the previous stage before being destroyed on the Stelvio.

 

[will10]

That is correct about Basso in the '05 Giro. He was very unlucky; probably would have 3 Giro's now if it weren't for that bug. I think he lost major time on a couple of stages, but came back a few days later to win another stage (maybe even 2).

Mountain stage + TT. Three in a row was too much though and he just cruised up the Finestre whilst the battle raged up in front.

 

[Marmot]

If memory serves me right... I kinda remember Ivan not cracking, but suffering from a particularly nasty stomach virus that killed him for two or three stages, not just one.

I watched from the roadside that day. Basso looked pale and very ill when he went past escorted by virtually his entire team. They were so far back, I think they might even have been behind the sprinters' bus. I was impressed that he toughed it out. I was just as impressed by Di Luca a week or so later on the Colle delle Finestre stage. The story was that he got cramps, so he couldn't stick with Rujano and Simoni in the last part up to Sestriere, but his face looked like he'd really hit the wall. I've never seen someone look so gray. When he rode past me, he had that strange vacant look in his eyes like he really didn't know where he was. I think he only lost a minute or so in the end. As flawed as he is, I reckon he's got some guts.

 

[will10]

Di Luca cramped at the bottom of the descent and then climbed Sestriere nearly as fast as Simoni didn't he? Or is my memory playing tricks on me..

 

[Marmot]

Wow, that makes his effort seem even more impressive to me. His face really had a deathly pallor when he went past me.

 

[jens_attacks]

Di Luca cramped at the bottom of the descent and then climbed Sestriere nearly as fast as Simoni didn't he? Or is my memory playing tricks on me..

what il killer did on finestre was pure suicide anyway.rujano was the smartest, he even fooled gibo.

 

[Angliru]

Rein Taaramäe, on Xorret del Catí in 2009. This climb is less than 4km long. At the base he and his fellow breakaway companions had over 3 minutes over the péloton. And Rein was feeling good; he quickly cast his breakaway companions aside and made for the line with 6km to go, more than 2 of which were easy, comfortable downhill.

It was looking good for the Estonian champion, but suddenly further up some of the people he'd shelled were catching him fast. And then the heads of state blew past him like he was standing still as Purito, Evans, Gesink and Valverde looked to put time into Sánchez and Mosquera. Then the Sánchez group blew past him like he was standing still. That's because, by this time, he was standing still.

He eventually crossed the line in 111th place, 8'47" behind stage winner Gustavo César Veloso, all of it and more lost inside 4 kilometres.

That was quite painful to watch. I felt so very sorry for the young fellow. I can relate since in my younger days I had a tendency to go on suicide attacks that resulted in me getting reeled in and spit out the back like so many peanut shells.

 

[boomcie]

I know it's not completely on topic with this being about stages and actual climbs and all, but I thought Cancellara on the Muur was pretty spectacular. He did bounce back from that, but it was one of the most dramatic moments of the year, so pretty spectacular to me.

 

[will10]

Not being able to follow isn't the same as cracking. But as it was one of the best Rondes for many years, you are forgiven

 

[jens_attacks]

i think he started to lose time to bmc train way before the muur. how the seconds were going down on the tv screen must have been a little error.but yes,one of the moments of the year,"wtf" moment no doubt

 

[boomcie]

Not being able to follow isn't the same as cracking. But as it was one of the best Rondes for many years, you are forgiven

Meh, he showed distinct signs of cracking, so I guess it's a borderline case

i think he started to lose time to bmc train way before the muur. how the seconds were going down on the tv screen must have been a little error.but yes,one of the moments of the year,"wtf" moment no doubt

Agreed.

 

[Angliru]

Iban Mayo being pushed by teammates on the first mountain of the 2004 Tour. It broke my heart

Not many people know that he had a pneumonia at the time.

Yep, I too was torn up watching Mayo struggle on that stage. The announcers seemed to be taking some type of morbid pleasure in watching him suffer although I know that he was thought of at the time to be the biggest challenge to Armstrong after his strong display at the Dauphine that year.

Thanks for that insight about Mayo's pneumonia. I knew it had to have been something other than what the announcers and media were saying (that he was just another pure climber that crumbled under the high expectations).

 

[Angliru]

This was the moment in 98 when pantani attacked ullrich and he sufferred in the conditions.

Great, great shot!

 

[Señor_Contador]

Talking about Indurain and his cracking... truth is he was just an extremist: He won by a mile and he lost by a mile. When he cracked, he friggin cracked. Now, when he was on... shoooooooooot! It was like when my friends and I used to go to the movies to see Bruce Lee in action: Bruce got you so pumped up you wanted to pick a fight with someone for no apparent reason.

Same with Indurain. I remember that by his 2nd and 3rd TdF his dominance was so in-your-face that every time I'd see him put another 2 minutes on his competition on nothing but sheer horsepower, by the end of the stage, I'd go out and try to race trucks and cars going up a hill 2 miles from my house.

In any case, Miguelón cracked big time at the 94 Giro, at Vallico de Santa Cristina, when a certain Pantani attacked and Indurain ended up biting more than he could chew. I've always said that Miguel lost that Giro because he underestimated Marco, and gave Berzin way too much of his time.

I mean, it's not like he had anything to prove, in fact his doing all the talking on the bike shut everyone up.