[The Rake]

Proud of Hesjedal today and I hope he is okay tomorrow. Clearly riding the furthest of any of the contenders from his comfort zone his ride today inspired me to break the hour for my evening training ride. Finally did it - coming in at 58'53". Thanks Ryder, you were an inspiration!

[Strategy]

I was already beginning to wonder on the stage when Hesjedal put in his attack on the climbs - very atypical for a rider of his type. Now I'm sure this will be Hesjedal's GT. What a great ride.

To be honest, I would have liked to see JR win this one, but once again we are likely to see the demonstration of the "fact" that winning a Grand Tour (even this most climber-friendly one) requires at least respectable TT ability. Something the Schleck's should take not and learn... though so far it doesn't appear to be the case. Will be interesting to see whether Bruyneel has managed to do any "magic" with Andy come Tour time.

[Leafcake]

 Burkni, on 25 May 2012 - 04:22 PM, said:

Tomorrow will be a question of who has the most left in the tank and the least fatigue (to a lesser extent who can handle the altitude) and judging by today's performances, that would be Hesjedal by a country mile.

Ho, calm, collected and methodological as the Ryder.

Trying to keep some suspense...
Last week when Hesjedal pulled his stunt on Chervinia, he gained 26”, but then had to give back 39” the next day to Lecco.
So by your calculation even if he loses over a minute on the Stelvio he could pull that back in the ITT?

[Burkni]

 Leafcake, on 25 May 2012 - 06:30 PM, said:

So by your calculation even if he loses over a minute on the Stelvio he could pull that back in the ITT?

With ease.

But do keep trying.

[The Rake]

 Burkni, on 25 May 2012 - 07:06 PM, said:

With ease.

But do keep trying.

Rake thinks Rodriguez will do the TT of his life

[Burkni]

 The Rake, on 25 May 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Rake thinks Rodriguez will do the TT of his life

Rake seems to have the wrong thread and the wrong impression of J-Rod

[N.B.O.L.]

Burkni, I wish I had your confidence in Hesjedal. I want him to do well, but tomorrow scares the hell out of me.

I do think if he can lose no more tomorrow than he gained today, that he has it, but I agree with Rake that Rodriguez is TTing better these days. I would really like to see Hesjedal start the TT in pink, and then I would think it was in the bag for sure.

I do think one of the things that Ryder did today was get into the heads of the others even more than he has been. I think that will play in his favor tomorrow.

[Leafcake]

 N.B.O.L., on 26 May 2012 - 02:01 AM, said:

Burkni, I wish I had your confidence in Hesjedal. I want him to do well, but tomorrow scares the hell out of me.

I do think if he can lose no more tomorrow than he gained today, that he has it, but I agree with Rake that Rodriguez is TTing better these days. I would really like to see Hesjedal start the TT in pink, and then I would think it was in the bag for sure.

I do think one of the things that Ryder did today was get into the heads of the others even more than he has been. I think that will play in his favor tomorrow.

Indeed. He gave them a mental blow. I thought that initially they were portraying him as a favourite to put the pressure on him, yet after the Pampeago they seemed almost resolved to let him have it.

Am with you on the first point as well.