Tirreno-Adriatico

[Jamsque]

He certainly looks in good shape.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Even though we have lot's of talents, they never seem to get any luck at all

By luck you mean not getting chased by your own teammates?


Gesink seems to be doing fine so far. He would have been a contender or even winner here had he started the final climb in the first group. But hey, rather here then in Hoei or 10km before the ventoux in july.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Glad to see there's some interest in the other BIG stage race.
Hardly gets a mention.....anywhere, but the really amazing thing to me is that the Cofidis breakaway GC leader:-
Stage 4 today....coming in @21secs in 6th: Julien El Fares, still holding second place.

I was surprised Gesink ended up in Tirreno. Not really his terrain and a race that is notorious for crashes in the past few editions.

Andy Schleck had a "mechanical", at the foot of the final climb.

Of no interest to those over in the Paceline section.
Well, until these pair turn up in July!

 

[Cosette]

By luck you mean not getting chased by your own teammates?

It would be a start. XD

I do agree with Ingsve that Lövkvist has been showing some good form. He just might stand a chance with the TT coming up...

 

[skidmark]

Don't rule out Kloden, 15 seconds back of Lovkvist... or even Basso, a few seconds behind that. And remember that Gerdemann was even beating Cancellara in the TT last year before he broke his leg, so a minute back isn't so much for him either if he's on similar form (which his performance today suggests that he's not, but we'll see).

Should be a good fight tomorrow.

 

[ingsve]

Yes, Klöden is for sure one of the contenders to Lövkvist tomorrow. I'm not to worried about Gerdeman and it's hard to know about Basso.

 

[lookkg386]

Don't rule out Kloden, 15 seconds back of Lovkvist... or even Basso, a few seconds behind that. And remember that Gerdemann was even beating Cancellara in the TT last year before he broke his leg, so a minute back isn't so much for him either if he's on similar form (which his performance today suggests that he's not, but we'll see).

Should be a good fight tomorrow.

30KM Time trial, going to be a ripper!, 2 slight rises including an uphill finish. Throw in the fact that you have 1 minute seperating top 20 or so riders (plenty with TT pedigree) and anything could happen.

 

[VeloGirl]

Sunday's stage (Monday's for you Aussies ) is going to be great!

I hope the video feed I watched today will be better tomorrow. It was a bit choppy, and I was only able to watch about 20 minutes of today's stage.

Kloden has a chance for the overall - no doubt about that. But, I am hoping to see strong rides from Rebellin, Hesjedal, Lövkvist, and Basso (just to see if he can pull it off).

 

[VeloGirl]

Devolder's time standing strong, barely.

Basso +54
Klodi and Di Luca on the course now. Klodi looks a little shakey.

 

[VeloGirl]

And Klodi comes in at 41:32! -20!

 

[ingsve]

Lövkvist is in 21 seconds after Klöden so Klöden is ahead of him by 6 seconds on GC.

 

[VeloGirl]

Rebellin won't beat Klodi's time, either.

 

[Jamsque]

I haven't been watching, anyone know how Ryder Hesjdal did?

 

[ingsve]

He was around 25th place I believe and is no 9 on GC.

 

[davestoller]

Exciting race.
Good to see Kloden back.

Trying to see where George ended up, but after all his work maybe he was told to rest up in case he has to work hard for Lokvist tomorrow.

Cancellara!?!? waaaayyy down.

 

[ingsve]

Most exciting for me almost was seeing former MTB rider Fredrik Kessiakoff finishing 12th on the TT in his first real high level TT on the road. Since his switch to the road for this year he's shown both that he can climb really well and now it seems he can defend himself nicely in time trials too. Unfortunately he had problems with a crash before the climbs yesterday so he wasn't in the front group when the final climb started else he would have had a great spot on GC as well.

It's going to be interesting to see what he can develope into on the road. It's unfortunate for him that he is in Fuji-Servetto who are having trouble getting invitations to the biggest races but hopefully he'll show enough talent to get the chance to really test himself with the best even more in the future.

 

[VeloGirl]

Tyler Farrar gets PEZ'd..
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=6860&status=True&catname=Latest News

 

[skidmark]

I wonder if anyone has ever finished a stage race first one year and last the next. Cancellara's certainly on track. Good on him for riding for the sake of riding, if I won as much as he does my ego would probably urge me to quit at this point.

 

[lookkg386]

forget Lance, Contador and Levi, lets make Klodi Astana leader for the tour!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And Gesink finished 6th, amazing, he climbed to 12th in GC. If he didn't fell in the Montelupone stage, he'd be top 3 now... damn

Hope he attacks tomorrow, he is still furious about the fall.

 

[schism]

It certainly a stage for gesink o give it a go today, but watch Rebellin, today all will be decided

 

[Mellow Velo]

Lovkvist has to give it a go. Eroica, last week. Third on the Queen stage climb.
I thought he might have got a bit closer to Kloden in the ITT.
Besides....I picked him to take the GC, just after the MPE.

 

[ingsve]

It doesn't look good for Klöden and Lövkvist at the moment. Looks like Scarponi is the favourite to take the GC.

 

[Bluebeard]

Looks like Scarponi is the favourite to take the GC.

That and the stage!

Caught the last 20 km streaming from RAI Tre, with the eurosport commentary at a 30 second delay. Looked like the most exciting bit of racing in the race, with the big gap opening with Basso, Nibali, Garzelli and Scarponi making a break somewhere before the 50 km remaining point.

A 25 second advantage over Garzelli, and a well oiled team, Scarponi *should* take it tomorrow. Might be interesting.

 

[oronet commander]

Another great fiasco for Astana, after Paris-Nice...