Tirreno-Adriatico 2011 Stage 5: Chieti - Castelraimondo - 240km

[The Hitch]

This in no way makes up for losing the right to big up Samu in the PN Op

 

[Anonymous]

Borefest written all over it. breakaway, chase, sprint.

 

[roundabout]

I hope Lampre will be aggressive as they need the bonus seconds.

 

[The Hitch]

Borefest written all over it. breakaway, chase, sprint.

There seems to be a lump 8k from the end. Ballan didnt do too well today, maybe he will have a go.

If it is a sprint i would love to see The One Jose get over those climbs.

He and that Saxo leadout make things interesting. Sprints are a lot better when you have an underdog taking it to the big boys.

 

[ingsve]

There is no way this will be a sprint in any type of big field. If there is a sprint then the grop will not contain many of the big sprinters. I think the field will be fairly well fragmented but after looking at the riding of todays stage I have a feeling that Hushovd might have a shot at being there in the end for this. The question is who else will be there.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Borefest written all over it. breakaway, chase, sprint.

Wrong race. That's Paris Nice. This looks to be a good stage. Scarponi will look to make some time up on Gesink and Evans. Should be a good hard stage!

 

[ingsve]

Wrong race. That's Paris Nice. This looks to be a good stage. Scarponi will look to make some time up on Gesink and Evans. Should be a good hard stage!

Ya, I think the length itself is enough to ensure that it will be a hard race.

 

[eljimberino]

Breakaway to go. Moviestar to bewilderingly pull them back. God of Thunder to power down, win.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert

 

[auscyclefan94]

This stage seems more suited to Gilbert or an attacking rider.

 

[The Hitch]

This stage seems more suited to Gilbert or an attacking rider.

This looks like another one of those stages where Gilbert attacks on the hill, gets a gap on the downhill, but gets caught on the flat.

One of those stages were Gilbert fails where Cancellara succeeds

Nah, just kidding, there isnt enough flat it doesnt seem to catch Gilbert.

 

[El Pistolero]

This stage seems more suited to Gilbert or an attacking rider.

I'll pick him fo every stage except the TT

 

[dancing on pedals]

after todays long and tough stage i think it will be very select tomorrow with Liquigas and Lampre forcing the pace, So very much Cunego/Scarponi versus Basso/Nibali with the other top GC men hanging on the coat tails.
I think Basso will take it,after a huge amount of support from Nibali.
That said if it does come to a sprint Garzelli might have a swansong.
Thanks

 

[auscyclefan94]

after todays long and tough stage i think it will be very select tomorrow with Liquigas and Lampre forcing the pace, So very much Cunego/Scarponi versus Basso/Nibali with the other top GC men hanging on the coat tails.
I think Basso will take it,after a huge amount of support from Nibali.
That said if it does come to a sprint Garzelli might have a swansong.
Thanks

Basso? He did surprise me today but he is not really explosive enough to get a gap or win in the sprint.

 

[insideout leadout]

He's as explosive as Kloden...which means something bad must happen to someone else for him to win or the others must be exhausted like Evans and Scarponi were last year in the Giro when sprinting for second place.

 

[eljimberino]

Umm the size of the mountains were a bit different in the Giro. Basso will be hanging on to whatever sprint there is for dear life.

 

[The Hitch]

Umm the size of the mountains were a bit different in the Giro. Basso will be hanging on to whatever sprint there is for dear life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bBwwkA8t0

 

[eljimberino]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bBwwkA8t0

And? All I can see is Basso going one on one against some little kid.

 

[insideout leadout]

Hmm....would have expected more from a colombian climber in a sprint.

 

[luckyboy]

Seeing as this is the closest to flat left, it'd be nice if Cav could get something for my CQ.

Gilbert is the man though. Either tomorrow or maybe Monday.

 

[Ferminal]

The major sprinters should fall away on the climb... 14.6km @ 6.42%. The question is can big Thor hang on in the up and down around town technical part to take a sprint from a reasonably small group.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The length of the first climb will probably burn away the pure sprinters; even if they manage to stay they'll have to work very hard over the shorter climbs. And being asked to pull off a bit of a climb this early in the season that goes up to 14% after 233km will be enough for a lot of sprinters. If they're lucky, Hushovd and Ventoso can be there, but I wouldn't bank on it.

 

[Ferminal]

The length of the first climb will probably burn away the pure sprinters; even if they manage to stay they'll have to work very hard over the shorter climbs. And being asked to pull off a bit of a climb this early in the season that goes up to 14% after 233km will be enough for a lot of sprinters. If they're lucky, Hushovd and Ventoso can be there, but I wouldn't bank on it.

Funny we both left out Freire.

Hard to see sprinters dropping off easy here and then being competitive at the final sprint on Saturday.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yea, Freire is the poster child for that kind of thing. I remember last year though, where he was terrible all through Tirreno, being back in the Cavendish group every day, then of course was amazing at Sanremo... so I'm wondering if he'll soft pedal for form again. Óscar has to want something to go for it, but then again he also becomes more of a threat the longer a race is, so yea...

 

[Ferminal]

Speaking of which, Davis has been absolutely nowhere, and more or less in the last group on each stage. Another lazy start to the year or is this some kind of backwards way of coming into peak condition for the classics season.

A bit sad considering how well he finished off last season.