[N.B.O.L.]

I know I am getting a bit ahead of myself, but I just actually paid attention to the ITT course for the final day. There are several long drags to allow the big diesel specialist to make up time, but there are all kinds of places to allow the non-bikehandlers to lose chunks of time as well. It looks like there are three hairpin turns (one of which it looks like they put in just because they could), several other corners that are more than 90 degrees, a few roundabouts. I hope it is dry on Sunday.

[Burkni]

Good work NBOL. Half of cycling fandom is poring over course details beforehand

[VdB]

The final TT will be even more interesting because of the lack of real TT specialists in the top 10. Hesjedal is really good, but other than him? Basso is mediocre, Rodriguez, Pozzovivo and Scarponi just plain bad, Uran decent. Not sure about Intauxsti and Henoa but given their physique I don't really expect too much of them either. De Gendt got a very nice 4th place in the final TT last Tour, so if he's on similar form he should be able to do well here.

So basically, Hesjedal and De Gendt possibly making up a minute or two on some of the other top 10 members. They're gonna need to work hard to get rid of Hesjedal anymore...

[Leafcake]

Pulled some selected results from dewielersite

Hesjedal at the end of 3 weeks
2008 Giro st.21 38.5 km : 45th at 2'01” to Pinotti
2008 TdF st.20 53 km : 13th at 2'36” to (the later disqualified) Schumacher
2009 TdF st.18 40.5 km : 43rd at 2'50” to Contador
2010 TdF st.19 52 km : 52nd at 6'40” to Cancellara. Basso at 9'51”. Rodriguez at 10'17”
2011 TdF st.20 42.5 km : 62nd at 4'56” to T.Martin

Rodriguez
2009 Vuelta st.20 27.8 km : 35th at 2'02” to Millar
2011 Giro st.21 31.5 km : 40th at 2'14” to Millar

[Burkni]

Never riding for himself?

[Leafcake]

 Burkni, on 25 May 2012 - 07:18 PM, said:

Never riding for himself?

Not really, methinks.
2008 Giro - Not sure if Garmin were targeting GC at all. (They were all happy with the TTT win and after that they started dropping out massively)
2008 TdF Garmin's GC man VDV who gets 5th (4th post Kohl disqualification)
2009 TdF Garmin's GC man (VDV who gets 8th) and Wiggins, who gets 4th
2010 TdF Garmin's GC man VDV, who crashes out early (DNS st.3) and Hesjedal gets his best result - 7th
2011 TdF Garmin's GC man Danielson who gets 9th, 2nd fiddle Hesjedal gets 18th

According to Peiper Hesjedal was to TARGET the Giro this time around, and from day one the team was backing his GC position.(CN)

[N.B.O.L.]

With all the GC implications in the TT, the actual win of the stage might be a little anticlimactic. Who do you think wins the stage?

Does Phinney have enough left in the tank to bookend the whole race? Does one of the other TT specialist step up? Does the GC battle give someone so much motivation that one of them wins the stage?

Only 20 hours or so until we start to get answers.

[crockett]

Attempting to channel Rake. Rasmussen for the win. De Gendt, Ryder, and JRod to finish within 1 minute of each other. Overall winner.......De Gendt!

[Leafcake]

ITT down to 28.2 km.

Dang, this increases the chances of Rodriguez, who I suspect, should also handle the corners better than Hesjedal.

Larsson should set good time checks for De Gendt, while going for the stage win at the same time.

 crockett, on 27 May 2012 - 03:09 AM, said:

De Gendt, Ryder, and JRod to finish within 1 minute of each other.

Agreed that this could get very close.

[VdB]

De Gendt has been downplaying any possibility of winning the Giro, which only makes sense. He said that he didn't have a stage like yesterday's in his legs at the Tour last year and that the last 10kms on the Stelvio were the hardest of his entire career. And that making up 2 minutes on a 30km TT is really hard to begin with.

But I suppose you never know. I think he can take back 2 minutes on Rodriguez if he has good legs, and maybe Hesejdal has a mechanical or something. Don't wish it on anyone, but I'm rooting for a De Gendt victory so...

[Mark]

Pretty awful luck for young Phinney today, being lead off-course by a motorcycle and losing a chunk of time.

Pinotti has put in a fantastic ride. It'll be fun to see if it stands at the top.

[N.B.O.L.]

Apparently studying the course map early did no one any good, including me. The course layout barely resembles the one published. Has anybody heard what the reason for the change was. Some questions answered early. Phinney won't bookend. Went early and is sitting in 9th after going off course doing some stupid, like following the moto that was supposed to be leading him. (In case you couldn't tell that was sarcasm, the moto and marshals should be able to properly direct people).

I do hope that the winner isn't decided by something like that or a mechanical. I would like the winner to be determined by ability and inner fortitude. Ability includes bike handling so if someone overcooks one of the technical corners and causes themselves a problem I will be okay with that.

Obviously I'm rooting for Hesjedal. Like De Gendt, but can't root for him to win the overall. Would love to see him get on the podium for sure.

[VdB]

2 seconds left for Rodriguez first time check! Looks like hesjedal is taking it!!

[VdB]

hesjdal almost crashing twice Stress taking its toll?

[Leafcake]

Oh coolness!
So happy. What a great ride.
Congratulations to Hesjedal and Garmin who worked fantastically.

[VdB]

Hesjedal wins the Giro!!! Congrats Ryder, and all the best to our resident canucks who probably saw this happen!!

Stage result

1) Pinotti
2) Thomas
3) Sergent
4) Rasmussen
5) De Gendt
6) Larsson
7) Hesjedal
8) Bodnar
9) Tuft
10) Vermote

[Patrick B. Penguin]

Timbits and double doubles for everyone!!!!

[VdB]

 Patrick B. Penguin, on 27 May 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

Timbits and double doubles for everyone!!!!

Keep em coming!!

[Patrick B. Penguin]

 VdB, on 27 May 2012 - 03:44 PM, said:

Keep em coming!!

Did anyone notice that Hesjedal's flag was mounted on a hockey stick? This is starting to snowball in Canadian media - really, it's the equivalent of Belgium winning the World Hockey Championships!

[N.B.O.L.]

Great ride Ryder.