Tirreno-Adriatico stage 5: Chieti - Colmurano, 234 km

[maltiv]

Does anyone know where Löfkvist finished?

 

[powderpuff]

He's good, but not super, he shouldn't be if he wants to be good in april.

Ditto for Evans... this is just training for the big goal like a lot of riders in this race.
Still doesn't mean they would mind winning it either.

 

[Moondance]

Ditto for Evans... this is just training for the big goal like a lot of riders in this race.
Still doesn't mean they would mind winning it either.

I think BMC needs a victory in the worst possible way. Evans certainly didn't look like he was training today.

 

[Cosette]

Does anyone know where Löfkvist finished?

Not a clue, sorry.
I did see a Sky rider finish about half a minute down from Gasparotto, but I couldn't tell who he was, the rider in question was half-hidden behind someone else...

 

[powderpuff]

Evans certainly didn't look like he was training today.

He was in a race wasn't he...part of training is to push yourself to see your level of fitness at a particular phase of your training program. He has spent the last week and a bit reconing the Giro stages.

Sure he was going for the win today; and tomorrow, he will if he is positioned ok, try to win again. Don't tell me Gesink wasn't trying to place himself in a position to challenge for the win today or yesterday; if he could have beaten out Cadel by half wheel again today he would have.

 

[Moondance]

Hmmm... If Gesink rides well tomorrow he might lock up yet another 4th place. Gesink seems to love finishing just beside the podium. If he keeps this up he might become the most famous number 4 since Bobby Orr.

 

[theyoungest]

Hmmm... If Gesink rides well tomorrow he might lock up yet another 4th place. Gesink seems to love finishing just beside the podium. If he keeps this up he might become the most famous number 4 since Bobby Orr.

Tomorrow's profile looks like a mini-Giro dell'Emilia, and the final climb is not as short. Who knows, he might lock up a third place for a change.

 

[Moondance]

He was in a race wasn't he...part of training is to push yourself to see your level of fitness at a particular phase of your training program. He has spent the last week and a bit reconing the Giro stages.

Sure he was going for the win today; and tomorrow, he will if he is positioned ok, try to win again. Don't tell me Gesink wasn't trying to place himself in a position to challenge for the win today or yesterday; if he could have beaten out Cadel by half wheel again today he would have.

You're absolutely right of course, on all counts. If the course hadn't flattened out Cadel would've certainly ridden off Gasparotto; probably Iglinsky as well. Don't know about Garzelli. He was clearly better than Gesink, if you think I was implying he wasn't then I've said something wrong. Gesink doesn't quite have it yet this season, which figures since it's only his 2nd race this year.

All I'm saying is that BMC are still winless this year, and Cadel is the only one who has shown up in any significant race for them. They need a win or two if Cadel wants to solidify his chances to ride the Tour. I don't see any BMCer winning Sanremo; and judging by their past performance it's not likely they're gonna rock the E3 Prijs or Gent-Wevelgem. Cadel has a chance still to win here, and he'd d@mn well try to take it.

 

[Moondance]

Tomorrow's profile looks like a mini-Giro dell'Emilia, and the final climb is not as short. Who knows, he might lock up a third place for a change.

I looked at the profile and thought the exact same thing

But he ain't the man in form right now. It'll probably be Garzelli, Scarponi, Evans or Iglinsky (who is in major form right now)

 

[powderpuff]

Cadel has a chance still to win here, and he'd d@mn well try to take it.

Bl@@dy oath he'll give it a go. BMC season gets going a bit later in the Classics because they don't really have a top sprinter to pick up wins in the smaller early races. I don't think it would be such a bad thing to miss out on the TdF for one year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'm pretty sure Gesink is trying as hard as he can. All the explosive stuff at the foot of a climb is just never his thing. Everytime so far he has recovered at the 2nd part of a climb, same thing today. But on short hills like these, that is too late.
Still his weak point, just like Sastre and Basso who often had the same problem at the foot of a climb

Plus I agree, he is not in top shape. He is good, or normal. I wouldn't say bad. Riding in 5th place in a race like the Tirreno when it's only your second race of the season is not bad. Gesink never has done better than 11th in this race (although due to bad luck last year)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1. 32 ITA19820322 GASPAROTTO Enrico ITA AST ASTANA 5.32'22 0 12
2. 11 ITA19730716 GARZELLI Stefano ITA ASA ACQUA & SAPONE 5.32'22 0'00 6
3. 36 KAZ19810418 IGLINSKIY Maxim KAZ AST ASTANA 5.32'22 0'00 4
4. 41 AUS19770214 EVANS Cadel AUS BMC BMC RACING TEAM 5.32'22 0'00
5. 134 ITA19841114 NIBALI Vincenzo ITA LIQ LIQUIGAS - DOIMO 5.32'30 0'08
6. 162 NED19860531 GESINK Robert G NED RAB RABOBANK 5.32'30 0'08
7. 126 ITA19800809 MORI Manuele ITA LAM LAMPRE - FARNESE VINI 5.32'30 0'08
8. 187 AUS19791220 ROGERS Michael AUS THR TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 5.32'30 0'08
9. 1 ITA19790925 SCARPONI Michele ITA AND ANDRONI GIOC. - DIQUIGIOVANNI 5.32'30 0'08
10. 71 ITA19821130 POZZOVIVO Domenico ITA CSF COLNAGO - CSF INOX 5.32'30 0'08
11. 141 BEL19860214 BAKELANDTS Jan G BEL OLO OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 5.32'34 0'12
12. 87 ESP19800711 OROZ UGALDE Juan Jose ESP EUS EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 5.32'45 0'23 3
13. 171 NOR19870517 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald G NO SKY SKY PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEA 5.32'45 0'23
14. 124 ITA19840801 GAVAZZI Francesco ITA LAM LAMPRE - FARNESE VINI 5.32'45 0'23
15. 55 ESP19850608 ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin G ESP GCE CAISSE D'EPARGNE 5.32'53 0'31
16. 188 SVK19850221 VELITS Peter G SVK THR TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 5.32'53 0'31
17. 148 BEL19850517 VAN AVERMAET Greg G BEL OLO OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 5.32'58 0'36
18. 202 GER19810909 FOTHEN Markus GER MRM TEAM MILRAM 5.32'58 0'36
19. 172 ESP19770917 FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Ant ESP SKY SKY PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEA 5.32'58 0'36
20. 2 ITA19780108 BERTAGNOLLI Leonardo ITA AND ANDRONI GIOC. - DIQUIGIOVANNI 5.32'58 0'36
21. 153 BEL19830722 DEVENYNS Dries BEL QST QUICKSTEP 5.32'58 0'36
22. 31 KAZ19730916 VINOKOUROV Alexandre KAZ AST ASTANA 5.32'58 0'36
23. 182 SUI19801220 ALBASINI Michael SUI THR TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 5.32'58 0'36
24. 16 ITA19860505 MASCIARELLI Francesco G ITA ASA ACQUA & SAPONE 5.32'58 0'36
25. 47 SUI19850119 FREI Thomas G SUI BMC BMC RACING TEAM 5.33'10 0'48
26. 163 NED19850117 LANGEVELD Sebastian G NED RAB RABOBANK 5.33'19 0'57
27. 104 CAN19801209 HESJEDAL Ryder CAN GRM GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 5.33'19 0'57
28. 84 ESP19821110 TXURRUKA Amets ESP EUS EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 5.33'19 0'57
29. 186 ITA19760225 PINOTTI Marco ITA THR TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 5.33'19 0'57 3
30. 128 SLO19860623 SPILAK Simon G SLO LAM LAMPRE - FARNESE VINI 5.33'19 0'57
31. 127 ITA19800711 PIETROPOLLI Daniele ITA LAM LAMPRE - FARNESE VINI 5.33'19 0'57
32. 195 LUX19780703 KIRCHEN Kim LUX KAT TEAM KATUSHA 5.33'19 0'57
33. 53 BLR19810628 KIRYIENKA Vasil BLR GCE CAISSE D'EPARGNE 5.33'19 0'57
34. 164 GER19831026 MARTENS Paul GER RAB RABOBANK 5.33'19 0'57
35. 77 ITA19850707 STORTONI Simone G ITA CSF COLNAGO - CSF INOX 5.33'26 1'04 1
36. 22 FRA19860903 KADRI Blel G FRA ALM AG2R LA MONDIALE 5.33'40 1'18
37. 54 ESP19760120 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo ESP GCE CAISSE D'EPARGNE 5.33'40 1'18
38. 57 COL19870126 URAN URAN Rigoberto G COL GCE CAISSE D'EPARGNE 5.33'40 1'18
39. 146 AUS19830524 LLOYD Matthew AUS OLO OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 5.33'40 1'18
40. 197 ITA19740204 MAZZANTI Luca ITA KAT TEAM KATUSHA 5.33'40 1'18 2
41. 38 KAZ19861214 ZEITS Andrey G KAZ AST ASTANA 5.33'40 1'18
42. 216 DEN19830522 KLOSTERGAARD LARSEN Ka DEN SAX TEAM SAXO BANK 5.33'40 1'18
43. 5 COL19790417 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo COL AND ANDRONI GIOC. - DIQUIGIOVANNI 5.34'15 1'53
44. 86 ESP19820715 PEREZ LEZAUN Alan ESP EUS EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 5.34'19 1'57 1
45. 192 ITA19840612 BANDIERA Marco ITA KAT TEAM KATUSHA 5.34'42 2'20
46. 61 GBR19740130 HAMMOND Roger GBR CTT CERVELO TEST TEAM 5.34'59 2'37
47. 17 CRO19740118 MIHOLJEVIC Vladimir CR ASA ACQUA & SAPONE 5.35'08 2'46
48. 14 ITA19831216 FAILLI Francesco ITA ASA ACQUA & SAPONE 5.35'08 2'46
49. 13 ITA19730227 CODOL Massimo ITA ASA ACQUA & SAPONE 5.35'08 2'46
50. 131 ITA19850106 AGNOLI Valerio G ITA LIQ LIQUIGAS - DOIMO 5.35'08 2'46

Some good classic riders today. Hagen was good, Van Avermaet, Flecha, Langeveld as well..good to know for Flemish classics

 

[theyoungest]

Wow, Hagen, I'm actually impressed. That's not too shabby.

 

[Sasquatch]

Lovkvist and Kirchen are the biggest losers in TA this week. Showed absolutely nothing. Obviously have other goals in mind, but still, the form isn't there when there were indications it would have been.

 

[maltiv]

As I said earlier, EBH is much stronger when the stage is not so long. Only 23 seconds behind, pretty impressive.

 

[stefrees]

As I said earlier, EBH is much stronger when the stage is not so long. Only 23 seconds behind, pretty impressive.

id have him down as a favourite for msr even though its the longest race of the year

 

[Angliru]

Evans has a decent sprint but it seems he has a tendency to go too soon. He gave his three competitors the perfect lead out. I just can't figure out what he was thinking going from so far out, especially with someone like Garzelli, who is known to also have a decent kick. I just knew Garzelli was going to take because I figured Gasparroto would've been cooked after getting caught. Great effort by Enrico!

Edit: I know I'm tardy but I just had a chance to view the final 5k on steephill.

 

[DAOTEC]

Bad day for Colombian Jose Serpa, who suffered a heavy crash in the fifth stage of Tirreno - Adriatico. Jose Serpa could merely contribute to maintain the overall lead of his teammate Michelle Scarponi.

 

[Grzdylu]

Scarponi is injured?

Don't speak Dutch...

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/8380/tirreno-leider-scarponi-voor-onderzoek-naar-ziekenhuis.html

 

[Bala Verde]

Scarponi is injured?

Don't speak Dutch...

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/8380/tirreno-leider-scarponi-voor-onderzoek-naar-ziekenhuis.html

Scarponi's wrist hurts. (How that would have occurred isn't clear). They will take him to the hospital tonight to see if it is broken.

 

[Angliru]

Scarponi's wrist hurts. (How that would have occurred isn't clear). They will take him to the hospital tonight to see if it is broken.

Scarponi crashed when his teammates Jose Serpa and Leonardo Bartagnoli
went down in front of him, bringing him down with him. This occurred on the ascent of the penultimate climb.

He did well to finish within 8 seconds of the lead 4 riders who battled for the stage win.

This partially explains Evans seemingly leading out the final sprint between himself, Iglinski, Garzelli and eventual stage winner Gasparotto. He saw that Scarponi was struggling and isolated on the final climb and was attempting to take as much time as possible from the race leader.

 

[Bala Verde]

Scarponi crashed when his teammates Jose Serpa and Leonardo Bartagnoli
went down in front of him, bringing him down with him. This occurred on the ascent of the penultimate climb.

He did well to finish within 8 seconds of the lead 4 riders who battled for the stage win.

This partially explains Evans seemingly leading out the final sprint between himself, Iglinski, Garzelli and eventual stage winner Gasparotto. He saw that Scarponi was struggling and isolated on the final climb and was attempting to take as much time as possible from the race leader.

Great, thanks for the update. I am actually now watching the race again on Universal, so I'll take a closer look.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Garzelli was the strongest, wonder if he can bring this form into the giro. He must have felt good today, cause his team did a lot of work to set him up.

Evans did well.
Gesink didn't seem to great on the final steep climb, he didn't look great yesterday either.

also.. Iglinsky impresses me.

Well Done Evans. Great ride!!!! He's in good shape and a strong ride from him. Hoping he can go all out for tommororw's stage!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

But if he takes Garzelli with him again, he'll still end up 2nd...

 

[stefrees]

Well Done Evans. Great ride!!!! He's in good shape and a strong ride from him. Hoping he can go all out for tommororw's stage!

it was a decent ride, no more. all that effort for very little.