Giro Stage 9, Messina - Etna^2 (169km)

Inquitus

First proper climbs of the Giro today with ascents from both sides of Etna including a mountain top finish after ascending the more difficult side. Hopefully we'll see some movers and shakers for the GC attack today.

Hermy

Break away at 15km includes Di Luca.

Hermy

But not for long. Peloton reels them in quick enough
Hope this is on TV soon - first ascent of Etna in less than 15km.

TinyExplosions

2.45 on Eurosport, or 1.30 if you've got the eurosport player

Hermy

Plague on all their houses - race will be all but over by then.:(

icom

Live coverage now in Italian: http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml

Morrisseeee

Contador in the big ring with 6km to go, Scarponi following, but Nibali not following......yet!!

buffalo

Scarponi realising what it is to be mortal?

ednwireland

finger bang !

bcmf

Contador looks like a man with a point to prove.

cosman9373

bcmf wrote: »

Contador looks like a man with a point to prove.

What? clenbuterol and blood doping is better!!

ednwireland

cosman9373 wrote: »

What? clenbuterol and blood doping is better!!

theres a rest day tomorrow as well

cosman9373

ednwireland wrote: »

theres a rest day tomorrow as well

wonder will they be bringing him over some spanish meat!!

buffalo

ednwireland wrote: »

finger bang !

It's a hell of a lead in the GC.

cosman9373

buffalo wrote: »

It's a hell of a lead in the GC.

especially when it didn't even look like he was trying.

Morrisseeee

Finger (bang) to Nibali in his own back-garden!!

Here's the top 10:
POSN. NAME COUNTRY TEAM TIME D
1 CONTADOR Alberto ESP SBS 33:03:51 0:00
2 SIVTSOV Kanstantsin BLR THR 33:04:50 0:59
3 LE MEVEL Christophe FRA GRM 33:05:10 1:19
4 NIBALI Vincenzo ITA LIQ 33:05:12 1:21
5 SCARPONI Michele ITA LAM 33:05:19 1:28
6 ARROYO DURAN David ESP MOV 33:05:28 1:37
7 KREUZIGER Roman CZE AST 33:05:32 1:41
8 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo COL AND 33:05:38 1:47
9 CATALDO Dario ITA QST 33:06:12 2:21
10 CARRARA Matteo ITA VCD 33:06:12 2:21

ednwireland

cosman9373 wrote: »

wonder will they be bringing him over some spanish meat!!

yep it'll be in that big fridge ......................................

Hail 2 Da Thief

Say what you like about him but he's one incredible athlete!

TinyExplosions

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

Say what you like about him but he's one incredible athlete!

The dodgy substances found in his blood may give an indication of why he appears to be

Morrisseeee

I can only presume he's 'clean' this year !! and if so, he's putting on one hell of a performance. Nibali said today that when he attacked it was like a pistol shot !! Scarponi tried (in vain) to respond but blew up (on Etna!!) whereas Nibali waited and attacked later. It's hard to see the pink jersey being off his back till the end now (however unfortunate that is).

Hail 2 Da Thief

TinyExplosions wrote: »

The dodgy substances found in his blood may give an indication of why he appears to be

The peleton is littered with convicted dopers. He's just the best of them.

Hermy

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

He's just the best of them.

Best doper?;)

TinyExplosions

Hail 2 Da Thief wrote: »

The peleton is littered with convicted dopers. He's just the best of them.

Yes, which kind of flies in the face of your "incredible athlete" comment....

AstraMonti

Hermy wrote: »

Best doper?;)

No that's the uniball.

Hermy

Well, now that the uniball is currently in retirement...

antogz1979

Great to see Contador in full flight yesterday. A legend in the making.:)

Hail 2 Da Thief

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Yes, which kind of flies in the face of your "incredible athlete" comment....

So it's not possible that he's both an incredible athlete & a doper?
Do you also dismiss the accomplishments of other successful cyclists who've tested positive like merckx, Kelly etc?

happytramp

What? I thought the Giro was over...................:D

hinault

When you see grimpeurs like Rojano struggling to stay with Contador, it beggars belief.