Giro d'Italia 2013

[L19red]

Paolini got away on the descent and took the win and the 20 second bonus. The other GC contenders all finished together with Evans and Hesjedal taking 12 and 8 bonus seconds. Paolini takes the Malia Rose but job done for Wiggins as the descent suited Nibali but he took no time. Tomorrow suits wiggo better, a much longer final climb with only a couple of kms of descending to the finish.

[DooooodekNo5]

Nibali to be sniffing out the stage win and bonus seconds tommorow?

[L19red]

Maybe but the profile of today was a better opportunity for such a good descender. Hesjedal looking very strong too on todays stage, attacked going uphill and again on the descent.

[DooooodekNo5]

Didn't really seem interested in trying today did he, 6k descent to the finish tommorow, you would think he would give it a bit of a go to grab some time if they are all there together at the top, even though its early he shouldn't be turning down opportunities.

[L19red]

Despite finishing second I think we'll see Evans lose time tomorrow, he was gapped on the climb today and only got back on in the long descent.

I expect Vini Fantini and your man Santambrogio to go all out tomorrow, after the weekend TT he'll be nowhere so their big chance of getting the jersey is this stage.

 

Astana and Garmin looked ready to race so this wont be the procession we saw at the tdf last year, and Wiggins looked tranquilo all day. I'm already loving it, three days in and we've had two days when the GC riders attacked each other and there will be another one tomorrow. Chapeau! to Michele Acquarone for a great parcours.

[DooooodekNo5]

Despite finishing second I think we'll see Evans lose time tomorrow, he was gapped on the climb today and only got back on in the long descent.

I expect Vini Fantini and your man Santambrogio to go all out tomorrow, after the weekend TT he'll be nowhere so their big chance of getting the jersey is this stage.

 

Astana and Garmin looked ready to race so this wont be the procession we saw at the tdf last year, and Wiggins looked tranquilo all day. I'm already loving it, three days in and we've had two days when the GC riders attacked each other and there will be another one tomorrow. Chapeau! to Michele Acquarone for a great parcours.

 

It has been a great start, agree with Santambrogio, hes my pick in the fantasy cycling today, Betencur might have something to say also, i can see those 2 winning 3/4 stages between them.

[L19red]

some little splits at the finish. I think Nibali has moved ahead of Wiggins in GC.

[kelster]

Not sure Wiggo is in any sort of form here. Dropped for 15 seconds on a nothing stage.

[L19red]

aye, he'll need a big gain in the ITT if this is his form on long stages. Stelvio and Gavia on the same day will be too much.

[L19red]

Seems that he was caught behind a crash. Makes sense as he went over the final summit with all the other heads of state.

Team Sky have appealed to the race jury as it was in the last 3kms. I wonder if an italian jury will promote wiggins back ahead if Nibali.

[Chocoholic]

Whatever Happened to Vini Fantini?

 

He got the uneasy feeling he wasn't going to win the stage when the crowds started shouting "Fool if you think it's over" He remarked to a reporter after the race with a shrug of the shoulders, saying "Just one of those days'

 

 

 

 

Ok, so bite me!

[L19red]

[DooooodekNo5]

Been way off the predictions last 2 stages so can't see Modolo being anywhere near winning today, especially with a few quid on him.

[alles ist gut]

Total Foinavon moment at that last corner...

[L19red]

Chute! and Degenkolb takes the win but it looks like the end of the race for one of the other Argos Shimano riders.

Cav battled hard to get over the climb but just couldnt get back on. He'll be in the frame for the win tomorrow.

[DooooodekNo5]

What the fuck is going on with Wiggins?

 

1.13 down now on GC.

[DooooodekNo5]

Seems like the organisers are really trying to screw him.

[DooooodekNo5]

Now they have Wiggins at 1.46 down, what the fuck is going on?

 

Why is Brad cruising at the back of the peleton in the closing stages today after what happened yesterday?

[DooooodekNo5]

Ok now hes back to where he was by the looks of it, 34 seconds.

 

He needs to pull his finger out though.

[L19red]

Big crash in the last 3km so they initially give the time across the line and then do the adjustments. Tactics were right today, Degekolb and the other sprint trains were at the front, Brad would have been wasting energy trying to get to the front.

[DooooodekNo5]

He should of been up there with his GC rivals protected by his teammates instead of going walkabouts near the back again, would of thought he would of learned his lesson from yesterday.

 

Henao was 4th in the stage and is Wiggins last man so he was obviously nowhere near him towards the end of the stage, just seems strange the total lack of organisation from Sky with regards to finishing these stages.

[L19red]

He should of been up there with his GC rivals protected by his teammates instead of going walkabouts near the back again, would of thought he would of learned his lesson from yesterday.

 

Henao was 4th in the stage and is Wiggins last man so he was obviously nowhere near him towards the end of the stage, just seems strange the total lack of organisation from Sky with regards to finishing these stages.

 

Not sure about today with henao, possibly just chancing his arm because of the crash but Uran yesterday was a deliberate attempt to mop up bonus seconds while Wiggins saves energy.

He has every right to be pissed off about yesterday as they gave the guys who crashed the same time as the winner but not those caught behind the crash. Dodgy as hell.

[L19red]

Massive chute! half the peloton stuck behind it including wiggins. 30k to go and he could be in trouble here.

Edit: looks like they are soft pedaling until it comes back together.

[L19red]

OPQS get their act together, a brilliant lead out and Cav takes the win.

 

ST for all the GC riders

[DooooodekNo5]

That was perfect for Cav, the lead-out is finally clicking.