Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6: Ussita - Macerata - 178km. Last Chance

[theyoungest]

Phille for back to back wins

Haha. No way. Too hard for our friend Gilbert.

Maybe this final climb is long enough for Basso's diesel to start running and to overtake the Scarponi's and Di Luca's of this world in the second kilometer. Basso FTW. Evans not too far back.

 

[luckyboy]

Yeah I thought the final climb would be too long, seeing the final few kms profile confirms it.

Di Luca ftw

 

[taiwan]

Hard to call this. Basso could do with some adventage to take into the ITT, and he's obviously fit, but he's not the explosive type who can use a short climb like that. Cunego's been looking pretty studly during the whole race, but it seems Scarponi has leadership. I'm tempted to say Evans, but I'll go Basso for a surprise.

 

[taiwan]

Off-topic: Luckyboy you had the best avatar of this forum, I really miss her.

Plenty of images of the young lady on the interwebs, I'm sure. She could even be your wallpaper if you like.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert Di Luca Scarponi

 

[goggalor]

Scarponi ftw.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Haha. No way. Too hard for our friend Gilbert.

Maybe this final climb is long enough for Basso's diesel to start running and to overtake the Scarponi's and Di Luca's of this world in the second kilometer. Basso FTW. Evans not too far back.

+1
Going on Saturday's performance.
I think Scarponi is probably the only "turbo" guy who could compete with Basso and Cuddles.
Di Luca will run out of gas somewhere on the final ascent.
Of course, if Bobby G was more his usual self, he'd be threatening them all.

 

[Havetts]

Guess Cunego / Scarponi duo is going to cause some serious pain, personally hoping that Gesink can hold on and secure a podium spot with the TT .

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC will have to save Greg possibly closer to the finish and/or try to find some allies as I imagine Lampre will send Scarponi up the road early on the final climb and let cadel then chase him down and then maybe Cunego can counter.

It is going to be a good stage!

 

[Havetts]

Yep, Lampre is going to sandwich. Either Cunego or Scarponi attack, if one of them gets caught the other one attacks forcing Basso / Evans to do all work . Will be interesting, shame I cant watch it live.

Guess Gesink will lose around 5 to 10 seconds, excluding bonification seconds, and stay in touch for a result after the TT, but I suppose if Cuddles doesnt crack he should win the TA .

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yep, Lampre is going to sandwich. Either Cunego or Scarponi attack, if one of them gets caught the other one attacks forcing Basso / Evans to do all work . Will be interesting, shame I cant watch it live.

Guess Gesink will lose around 5 to 10 seconds, excluding bonification seconds, and stay in touch for a result after the TT, but I suppose if Cuddles doesnt crack he should win the TA .

The best form of defence is attack! Attack cadel, as then they will have to chase you and you won't be dicatated to!!!

 

[Havetts]

Cadel and 'attack'? Oh boy, that would be something .

 

[Moviefan1203]

Cadel won't attack. He doesn't know how to.

 

[El Pistolero]

The best form of defence is attack! Attack cadel, as then they will have to chase you and you won't be dicatated to!!!

Today you could see the difference between a classics specialist and a climber/tter.

Cadel just doesn't have that kick, that final sprint, that explosiveness.

Di Luca, Cunego and Gilbert have all those things.

Cuddles just isn't the type to drop other cyclists by making an explosive acceleration. Let's be honest, Cuddles will never win LBL. He can finish in the front group for sure, but he's still going to get out sprint by someone more explosive.

As for the winner on this stage, my money is on Di Luca or Cunego. I hope the latter.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Today you could see the difference between a classics specialist and a climber/tter.

Cadel just doesn't have that kick, that final sprint, that explosiveness.

Di Luca, Cunego and Gilbert have all those things.

Cuddles just isn't the type to drop other cyclists by making an explosive acceleration. Let's be honest, Cuddles will never win LBL. He can finish in the front group for sure, but he's still going to get out sprint by someone more explosive.

As for the winner on this stage, my money is on Di Luca or Cunego. I hope the latter.

I wouldn't expect any different from someone like you.

 

[Moviefan1203]

I'd love to see someone like Machado put in a big attack. Make the GC guys react.

 

[The Hitch]

Today you could see the difference between a classics specialist and a climber/tter.

Cadel just doesn't have that kick, that final sprint, that explosiveness.

Di Luca, Cunego and Gilbert have all those things.

Cuddles just isn't the type to drop other cyclists by making an explosive acceleration. Let's be honest, Cuddles will never win LBL. He can finish in the front group for sure, but he's still going to get out sprint by someone more explosive.

As for the winner on this stage, my money is on Di Luca or Cunego. I hope the latter.

Dude, you just picked Gilbert a second ago, then presumably read the posts about how its too steep for him so now choose Di Luca.

Also, this isnt the first time youve ignored Mendrisio 2009.

Also you say that Evans doesnt have that final sprint which Cunego does.

As i recall Cuddles showed he had that against Cunego in stage 7 of the Giro.

The other person there was Alexander Vinokourov, a 2 time winner of LBL. The explosion of Cuddles proved too much even for him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Is the finish harder or easier than last year?

EDIT: Thanks, Hitch. It's hard to talk logic with someone who isn't logical.

 

[taiwan]

...Cuddles just isn't the type to drop other cyclists by making an explosive acceleration. Let's be honest, Cuddles will never win LBL. He can finish in the front group for sure, but he's still going to get out sprint by someone more explosive...

Fleche Wallone? TBH he's one of the GC riders who fares better in the Ardennes and the minor Italian races. I'll give you Gilbert, Cunego and Di Luca, but in terms of GC riders he has more punch than many (Bert, A. Schleck, Menchov, Basso...).

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

The best form of defence is attack! Attack cadel, as then they will have to chase you and you won't be dicatated to!!!

yes!
& more rpms Cadel.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Still hoping for a miracolous good day for Gesink, but he probably doesn't have 'it' this race...

 

[El Pistolero]

Dude, you just picked Gilbert a second ago, then presumably read the posts about how its too steep for him so now choose Di Luca.

Also, this isnt the first time youve ignored Mendrisio 2009.

Also you say that Evans doesnt have that final sprint which Cunego does.

As i recall Cuddles showed he had that against Cunego in stage 7 of the Giro.

The other person there was Alexander Vinokourov, a 2 time winner of LBL. The explosion of Cuddles proved too much even for him.

Me picking Gilbert was a joke.

What's to be ignored at Mendrisio? The big boys looking at each other and Cuddles leaving of. That stage in the Giro doesn't say anything. He was a mountain biker, he should be good on stages like that. Cuddles is a diesel and everything except explosive. The proof is his entire career. If he really was explosive and had a finishing kick he would've won more GT stages. Now he only has one... In any small sprinting group at the finish of LBL I've seen this guy in he was always dead last.

If you want to use those two wins as example, I can just as easily use everything else as an example of how he lacks a finishing kick, a finishing sprint or an attack that can actually drop others in the mountains.

 

[El Pistolero]

Fleche Wallone? TBH he's one of the GC riders who fares better in the Ardennes and the minor Italian races. I'll give you Gilbert, Cunego and Di Luca, but in terms of GC riders he has more punch than many (Bert, A. Schleck, Menchov, Basso...).

You seriously believe Cuddles has more punch than Bertie? Or even A. Schleck?(when he peaks, which isn't a lot)

Was he really that explosive at FW? Just paced him self well on the climb and made his move on the right time. Igor Anton went from way too far, although he did hang on for quite a long time(relatively speaking)

 

[The Hitch]

Me picking Gilbert was a joke.

What's to be ignored at Mendrisio? The big boys looking at each other and Cuddles leaving of. That stage in the Giro doesn't say anything. He was a mountain biker, he should be good on stages like that. Cuddles is a diesel and everything except explosive.

Forget the mud. THe mud was long gone. They were on proper roads. It was Vino vs Cunego vs Evans. Triple threat, level playing field, every man for himself on a false flat. Evans powered away from Il Principe- who you say is far better than Evans at this.

It wasnt even close, he made it look like Canc riding away from Boonen

But im surprised you havent picked up on this

Fleche Wallone? TBH he's one of the GC riders who fares better in the Ardennes and the minor Italian races. I'll give you Gilbert, Cunego and Di Luca, but in terms of GC riders he has more punch than many (Bert, A. Schleck, Menchov, Basso...).

Hes saying Contador has no punch.


You going to just sit there and take it?

 

[El Pistolero]

Forget the mud. THe mud was long gone. They were on proper roads. It was Vino vs Cunego vs Evans. Triple threat, level playing field, every man for himself on a false flat. Evans powered away from Il Principe- who you say is far better than Evans at this.

It wasnt even close, he made it look like Canc riding away from Boonen

But im surprised you havent picked up on this



Hes saying Contador has no punch.


You going to just sit there and take it?

Already did, even defended for Andy(as he has quite the sprint uphill if he peaks, which rarely happens, but hey, it seems to be working for him)

But seriously, in no way are you going to tell me Cuddles is explosive. Didn't watch the Giro(did watch the finish of that stage though and one of the best descenders crashing again ) and they all seem to be covered in mud, so well.

Cuddles compares more to Menchov than a Di Luca anyway.

To be really good in LBL you need to be a Bettini/Valverde/Di Luca type of guy. Not a Cadel Evans.

Vino is just Vino. Can't be explained.