[Burkni]

There really should be nowhere to hide tomorrow:


The combined vertical gain, the three-col tandem at the end and of course the terrible Passo Giau at the very end should hopefully mean that finally there will be nowhere to hide. A lot of guys should be plummeting down the standings ...

[buddy]

Will the big boys come out to play? Or are they going to save it for the last two days in the Dolomites?

I hope they turn up to put the pressure on JRod. Yay .... we in Oz get to watch this stage live tonight.

Thanks,

Buddy

[Burkni]

Is it just me, or does this bear quite the resemblance to the profile of stage 17 in the 2009 Tour? (Frandy - Contador)

[Burkni]

Brave move fro Nieve at 62kms out. Who does he think he is, Tom Boonen?

[The Rake]

Think he might have hoped for a bit more from Txurruka.

Just seeing Kreuziger dropping back now. JRod looking relaxed. Liquigas seem to be hiding Szmyd today

[shag]

Goodness, I'm beginning to think Hesjedal could win this Giro.

[The Rake]

Just looks like none of them want to lose it

[Burkni]

The Rake, on 23 May 2012 - 02:10 PM, said:

Think he might have hoped for a bit more from Txurruka.

Just seeing Kreuziger dropping back now. JRod looking relaxed. Liquigas seem to be hiding Szmyd today

Mechanical right after they hit the final climb.

shag, on 23 May 2012 - 02:47 PM, said:

Goodness, I'm beginning to think Hesjedal could win this Giro.

It'll take a disaster to prevent it. No one even really tried to drop him.

The Rake, on 23 May 2012 - 02:53 PM, said:

Just looks like none of them want to lose it

Pozzovivo should have made his move earlier.

Man of the day is probably Scarponi for coming back to sprint for the win (lead out the sprint, even) after losing up to 30secs on the final descent with a cramp

[The Rake]

Burkni, on 23 May 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

Mechanical right after they hit the final climb.

I saw that. I meant before the final climb - he was sat quite a way back. Looks like the aim was for him to drive like hell on the final climb. Sadly the mechanical put an end to this.

[crockett]

Interesting day. A disaster for Astana, and a lost opportunity for Basso (without Szmyd to drive the pace) and for Pozzovivo (perhaps could have left Scarponi and Uran for dead if he had made that move earlier on the climb). It looks like Szmyd soft-pedaled his way to the line. That, plus tomorrow's flat stage, should mean he will be in top form for Friday's stage.

Don't know if JRod was on the limit or not, but he shouldn't be happy with a 30sec lead.

[Burkni]

Have they abolished time bonuses for mountain stages? I am quite sure they had them a few years ago, without them DiLuca would hardly have won?

My disappointment for the stage (beside Szmyd obviously) is Nieve - he clearly had excellent legs but got a little bit ahead of himself (in so many ways) with that monster attack.

[Leafcake]

The Rake, on 23 May 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

I saw that. I meant before the final climb - he was sat quite a way back. Looks like the aim was for him to drive like hell on the final climb. Sadly the mechanical put an end to this.

That appears to have been a cramp rather than a mechanical. Could Szmyd have been used too much by Liquigas during this Giro to the point where he fails to deliver on the stages where Basso could potentially make a bigger profit?

[Burkni]

Leafcake, on 25 May 2012 - 12:56 PM, said:

That appears to have been a cramp rather than a mechanical. Could Szmyd have been used too much by Liquigas during this Giro to the point where he fails to deliver on the stages where Basso could potentially make a bigger profit?

Failing to deliver doesn't cause a rider to pull off to the side of the road and signal for the team car.
I think Szmyd has been semi-protected, don't think he had to take a single pull.

[Leafcake]

Burkni, on 25 May 2012 - 01:05 PM, said:

Failing to deliver doesn't cause a rider to pull off to the side of the road and signal for the team car.
I think Szmyd has been semi-protected, don't think he had to take a single pull.

Yes, during THIS stage. But I agree with the Rake and think that the plan was for him to pull up the Giau. That did not materialize as Szmyd appears not to have been good that day (and hence 'protected' early on in the day) and later cramping.

[Burkni]

Leafcake, on 25 May 2012 - 01:18 PM, said:

Yes, during THIS stage. But I agree with the Rake and think that the plan was for him to pull up the Giau. That did not materialize as Szmyd appears not to have been good that day (and hence 'protected' early on in the day) and later cramping.

Today's happenings would support that.