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Another summit finish, a few dirt roads thrown in "just for fun" and a lot of KM for some very weary legs. What else will the penultimate stage hold for us? Will Scarponi make good on his promise to attack? Will Contador figure out how to tow another friend/former teammate to the line for a victory? Will NBOL get out of bed in time for the start of the web coverage?
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Stage 20 Verbania - Sestriere 242km
#6
Burkni 
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 01:54 PM
Will Kreuziger be made a GT leader any time soon?
In Vino veritas, 1998-2011.
#7
N.B.O.L.
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 02:09 PM
Burkni, on 28 May 2011 - 01:54 PM, said:
Will Kreuziger be made a GT leader any time soon?
Good morning Burkni, I felt like I was talking to myself for a while. Kreuzinger has those moments of brilliance where he looks like he could be a contender, but then has a bad day and loses bunches of time. Maybe some consistency will come as he continues to age.
New Bike, Old Legs
#8
bodomaniac
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 02:13 PM
Burkni, on 28 May 2011 - 01:54 PM, said:
Will Kreuziger be made a GT leader any time soon?
Not if he can't be depended upon to hang with the leaders group day in and day out in the mountains, which he got shelled out of today on the climb of the Finestre. Heck, he may just lose the best young rider's jersey to Kruijswijk, although I have no idea how well he's doing on today's stage. That said, I LOVE the Finestre and think it's been one of the best additions to this GT.
edited to add: Kruijswijk is with the Maglia Rosa group and riding well, so Kreuziger's hold on the Young Rider's jersey looks tenuous at best.
This post has been edited by bodomaniac: 28 May 2011 - 02:16 PM
#10
bodomaniac
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 02:23 PM
N.B.O.L., on 28 May 2011 - 02:20 PM, said:
Can Nibali catch back up on the decent????
For sure! He wasn't that far back at the top of the climb, so no worries. That said, he looks to be pretty much toast. I question what he'll have left to give on the climb of Sestriere. Fortunately, the gradient isn't steep, so he'll likely be fine unless Scarponi decides to go on the offensive and try to put him in the hurt locker.
#12
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 02:31 PM
I've been surprised at how consistent Kiryienka's lead has held. He is going to have just about as much of a lead starting the last climb as he did starting the first, and is looking very smooth. He doesn't look at all like the typical "been in the break all day, and about to die" rider.
New Bike, Old Legs
#13
bodomaniac
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 02:39 PM
WOW!! Kreuziger made up an incredible amount of time on the descent and was able to tack back on to the Maglia Rosa group, which was lead by Nibali on the descent of the Finestre, which is an even more impressive feat to me.
#15
Burkni
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 02:42 PM
N.B.O.L., on 28 May 2011 - 02:39 PM, said:
Well apparently Kreuziger can descend pretty well too. Caught back up to the GC group, and tries to ride right on through.
I think he and Nibali smoked some descents in the 2009 Tdf. Even pi**ed Armstrong off.
In Vino veritas, 1998-2011.
#17
bodomaniac
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 03:12 PM
Great stage today and classy win by Kiryienka!Dude was smooth as silk on the pedals and showed no signs of cracking. Good to see the gaps amongst the finishers as well, especially Scarponi taking an additional 20 or so seconds out on Nibali and virtually securing second place in the overall. Tough day today for Nibali and Kreuziger, who seemed cooked after three weeks of racing and all the mountain stages stacked the past two weeks. I'm sure they'll be looking forward for a much needed rest after tomorrow.
#18
bodomaniac
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 03:14 PM
N.B.O.L., on 28 May 2011 - 03:09 PM, said:
The best young rider jersey may be the only one with any drama left for tomorrows time-trial.
I don't see it, as Kreuziger has slightly over a two minute advantage over Kruijswijk and he's a solid TT'ist, but I suppose anything is possible.
#19
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 03:17 PM
I admit that I didn't look at the actual times. From the Universal commentary I thought it was closer than that.
I guess that decent pretty well saved his bacon.
I guess that decent pretty well saved his bacon.
This post has been edited by N.B.O.L.: 28 May 2011 - 03:18 PM
New Bike, Old Legs
#20
bodomaniac
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Posted 28 May 2011 - 03:28 PM
Tell you what, Joaquim Rodriguez has atoned himself well the past two weeks and has made up ground on the leaders. Were he to arrive at the Vuelta in this type of form I'd rate his chances of winning the GC very high. Although he had nothing to gain today in terms of winning the stage, it was good to see him lay it all out on the line and nearly overtake Rujano for second the stage.
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