Giro Stage 16 - the decisive day

Diarmuid

Today looks like a big one in the Giro

A good preview of the stage

The route on bikemap

And it seems poor old Basso has no friends in the peleton. Should make today an interesting one, Cervelo and Liquigas will be doing a lot of attacking!

Raam

Should be a good one. Pity the tennis has taken over Eurosport again so I won't get to see as much of it.

Diarmuid

Raam wrote: »

Should be a good one. Pity the tennis has taken over Eurosport again so I won't get to see as much of it.

Rai Sport? satellite or live feed

Raam

Diarmuid wrote: »

Rai Sport? satellite or live feed

Cheers Diarmuid. Can't watch in work though I always record the stages and watch them later.

I wonder is Sastre going to give it a big go today. He was lively towards the end yesterday. Pauwels must be well ticked off. He was almost certain for the stage.

Diarmuid

Raam wrote: »

I wonder is Sastre going to give it a big go today. He was lively towards the end yesterday. Pauwels must be well ticked off. He was almost certain for the stage.

Today's going to be a real test for Rabobank.

You'd have to feel sorry for Pauwels, terrible call by the DS.

scottreynolds

Diarmuid wrote: »

You'd have to feel sorry for Pauwels, terrible call by the DS.

THe DS admitted as much but I have a feeling it was also a test by Cervelo--- you know one of those your here to ride for Carlos not for yourself and if you don't you'll not make the TDF.

niceonetom

Vertical climb: ca. 6890 m

woohoo!! .

Menchov will be challenged today by Cervelo, so I really hope to see Deignan doing some damage on the earlier climbs of the day, though he'll probably have faded back by the end if he does. I'll be watching Di Lucca too, to see if he can really stay with the pure climbers, his form seems amazing (quiet now tiny) but is it really that good? Levi will suck wheel all day and be there at the end, but he won't win or anything dramatic like that.

This stage will prove my thesis that flat "sprinters stages" suck, and should be abandoned by race organisers. Three weeks of mountain top finishes please.

AstraMonti

Also here live.

Diarmuid

niceonetom wrote: »

but is it really that good?

Looks like he has prepared well this year. <snicker>

niceonetom wrote: »

This stage will prove my thesis that flat "sprinters stages" suck, and should be abandoned by race organisers. Three weeks of mountain top finishes please.

Not the most interesting to watch but if you are a sprinter, they are your only wins and if you are a climber they are your "rest" days. In other words , you need them.

Raam

There's something about the manic nature of a full on bunch sprint that I love. I usually sit on the edge of the seat holding my head wondering how on earth no one died in the pile ups that can happen and how McEwan manages to squeeze through non-existant gaps. Cav is simply awesome at the moment. It's actually funny watching the other guys fail desperately to stay in his wheel

scottreynolds

Raam wrote: »

Cav is simply awesome at the moment.

Think you meant, Cav is so predictable its completely boring.

niceonetom

Diarmuid wrote: »

Not the most interesting to watch but if you are a sprinter, they are your only wins and if you are a climber they are your "rest" days. In other words , you need them.

Raam wrote: »

There's something about the manic nature of a full on bunch sprint that I love. I usually sit on the edge of the seat holding my head wondering how on earth no one died in the pile ups that can happen and how McEwan manages to squeeze through non-existant gaps. Cav is simply awesome at the moment. It's actually funny watching the other guys fail desperately to stay in his wheel

I find your arguments unconvincing.

Raam

niceonetom wrote: »

I find your arguments unconvincing.

Come on, what's more thrilling than the risk of death by barrier?

Diarmuid

Raam wrote: »

There's something about the manic nature of a full on bunch sprint that I love. I usually sit on the edge of the seat holding my head wondering how on earth no one died in the pile ups that can happen and how McEwan manages to squeeze through non-existant gaps.

The best bit is when you see the shot from the helicopter and you see all the shouldering going on, at 70kph!! :eek:

exhibit: (ffwd to 2:40)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFDKnEJkJHg

niceonetom

Raam wrote: »

Come on, what's more thrilling than the risk of death by barrier?

Hey, don't get me wrong, I LOVE to see the risk of death by barrier....


...at 110kph on the descent of a mountain col.

Diarmuid

Monster long stage today. All the action was from the top of the second last climb but mostly from the bottom of the last climb.

sy

Over 7 hours in the saddle :eek: what a great stage. Menchov is playing a blinder in reading all his rivals moves.
Nice call on Sastre Raam. I fancied him to attack today. Loved his bluff at the bottom of the last climb when he let Basso Menchov and DiLuca move ahead before he moved up and then counter attacked. The Giro is a much better tour than the TDF especially over the last few years. The mountains are more difficult and the racing is better IMHO. Can't wait for tomorrows 83 km sprint up the Blockhouse :eek:
Blockhouse looks better than Blockhaus

colm ó maonaigh

Yes today was a savage stage. Tomorrow tho is a rest day.

Raam

Looking forward to tomorrow for sure. But bloody Eurosport is showing the poxy tennis all day. Damn British and their love for tennis! I can't see any cycling on ES tomorrow (Wed) apart from some 5 minute thing, Planet Armstrong, I assume.

http://yahoo.eurosport.co.uk/tvschedule_clng2_day1.shtml