Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 7: San Benedetto del Tronto (ITT) 9.3km

[Moondance]

Wow... these commentators from the Gazetta stream are being real dicks talking over the Australian anthem

No respect.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Well, I am glad that Evans won that Rainbow jersey, as he has certainly reinvented his attitude to racing ever since. Glad to see it didn't stop once the jersey passed to new shoulders. Great win, fully deserved. Have a ball there in Oz, ACF!

And Gesink. Where on earth did that come from? Just when I had decided that the Dutchies were getting a wee bit too excited about this year's TdF. To be honest, this year, I still see Cadel taking it before Gesink would (but I see Gesink podium ahead of Cadel if it isn't about top spot).

But I will tune in and be very very curious if he's gonna make me eat my hat and then some. The last two time trials have made me wonder. I had not expected that at all, given the last few years. I thought "we" had an almost-star in the making. Finally someone close to the front, without what it really takes to nail GTs. Now I am not sure what to think.

I just hope he isn't going all Sastre on me, on the climbs, from now on. Dropping at the base of climbs and then motoring up, to get close, but just not close enough.

 

[theyoungest]

yeah last year Gesink really wasn't great here either, struggled initially at every final hill.
Not to mention he likes high altitude.

He said yesterday that he'd liked to have won the overall after that performance in the TTT, but the Tirreno was never one of his season goals in the first place. Still got second, so not a bad performance altogether

 

[boomcie]

Gesink, dammit, had I seen the TTT and ITT result before this race no way I thought you could screw this up

Gesink really screwed it up. He tends to do that.
+He blew it on the hills, who would have thought that.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Lol at cadel kinda chucking the trophy into the crowd!

 

[Stingray34]

Evans is pretty happy; good on him. He makes to lob the trident!

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink really screwed it up. He tends to do that.
+He blew it on the hills, who would have thought that.

Another lesson for the future: even if you feel like ****, start those climbs in the front.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Great to hear the aussie anthem!

Not one of cadel's goals and it was his first race so all in all a very good start to the season. His tt should come good with some more work at it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Another lesson for the future: even if you feel like ****, start those climbs in the front.

evans started level with gesink at chieti

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He said yesterday that he'd liked to have won the overall after that performance in the TTT, but the Tirreno was never one of his season goals in the first place. Still got second, so not a bad performance altogether

yeah.
1st @ Oman + 2 stages
2nd @ TA.

Not too shabby

Another lesson for the future: even if you feel like ****, start those climbs in the front.

this.

 

[ansimi]

Another lesson for the future: even if you feel like ****, start those climbs in the front.

I think he's shown that he's actually good at learning such lessons. I'm very optimistic for him.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

evans started level with gesink at chieti

Evans beating Gesink here didn't surprise me ( I even said he would in the TTT, after rabo won). These hills suit Evans. Higher mountains, it may be a different story

 

[auscyclefan94]

gesink has clearly done a lot of work in the tt. Kudos to him. He is better than I originally thought. Gesink has had some strong early season form. He should do well in whatever he aims for.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Biggest win of his career?

Maybe biggest stage race win. I'd say T-A tops Romandie on a win list. But I'd say the World Championship RR win and possibly La Fleche Wallone may rank higher as wins on a palmares... perhaps T-A vs LFW is a toss up.

So...

Evans now has about the same honour list as Thomas Dekker at age 22 as far as GC's go... (Tirreno & Romandie)

 

[Spine Concept]

evans started level with gesink at chieti

Tha difference being that Gesink wasn't feeling well all day. Furthermore, these climbs suit Cadel far more than they do Gesink. I think you know that as well.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink really screwed it up. He tends to do that.
+He blew it on the hills, who would have thought that.

It wasn't his goal anyway. And if you're not good enough and still end up 2nd, mainly because of an error in the 5th stage...well... that bodes well

More positives than negatives from this race

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans beating Gesink here didn't surprise me ( I even said he would in the TTT, after rabo won). These hills suit Evans. Higher mountains, it may be a different story

His form was decent but still not quite there yet so hopefully he will come along nicely.

Just remember it may be a different story in the mtns.

 

[Moondance]

So...

Evans now has about the same honour list as Thomas Dekker at age 22 as far as GC's go... (Tirreno & Romandie)

Well, that Tour de France thingy probably counts for something, no

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

As for long mountains and especially high mountains I think Evans doesn't stand a chance in hell against a top Gesink.

But Evans is definately a much better one for short and medium hills. It's also typical for mountainbikers to handle such things far better

 

[auscyclefan94]

Tha difference being that Gesink wasn't feeling well all day. Furthermore, these climbs suit Cadel far more than they do Gesink. I think you know that as well.

SO is Gesink making excuses? I guess he must be the new Cadel!

 

[El Pistolero]

Gesinks time trial position looked a lot better.

Look at that average speed by Cancellara. Only Contador has matched such an average speed in the time trial of Murcia this year.

 

[theyoungest]

Poor Liquigas... they brought both their GC aces to this race, but they've won nothing and finish 4th and 5th.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Poor Liquigas... they brought both their GC aces to this race, but they've won nothing and finish 4th and 5th.

More to my liking Nibali once again lost a TT meeting with Gesink, that makes it 6-2...

 

[boomcie]

Gesinks time trial position looked a lot better.

Look at that average speed by Cancellara. Only Contador has matched such an average speed in the time trial of Murcia this year.

Slipping in a quick remark about his idol

 

[Barrus]

Great TT by Gesink, although I don't know whether he would have retained in front of Evans if the TT would have been longer. It became quite exciting for the GC in the end, a lot closer than I would have expected. Also a great ride by Scarponi. And if Poels want to be a GC rider he really needs to work on his flat TT, even though it was not bad by any means, but certainly nowhere near good enough