Giro d'Italia: Stage 19 (stage specific no spoilers req'd)

dastardly00

I can't see any sign of a stage specific thread for today's very important stage .... ednwireland you are slipping :pac:

Today is Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, 195km from Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago and the second stage in the Dolomites. There are five categorized climbs today: the Manghen, Pampeago (twice) and Pampeago. Less than 1:40 separate the top four.



Today should be an interesting day of cycling. With another high mountain stage tomorrow, I wonder if any of the main GC contenders will go all out attack today? It might be a bit too risky, in case they have nothing left in the tank for tomorrow. This should suit Basso though. With the help of Sylwester Szmyd (who had little to do during Wednesday's stage because of a mechanical problem), they should be able to keep their diesel engines ticking over at a high tempo and might manage to drop some of the other GC boys. You would except Astana to go on the attack today as Kreuziger has had a poor Giro, and Tiralongo is a fair bit back but not completely out of the reckoning.

dastardly00

Just under 95km left, and there are 17 riders in a breakaway with a 6 min 40 sec lead including Sandy Casar and Juan Antonio Flecha.

Darkglasses

Somebody's going to come off the road on this decent, Sean Kelly says no but not everyone can descend like him!

Pablo_

Darkglasses wrote: »

Somebody's going to come off the road on this decent, Sean Kelly says no but not everyone can descend like him!

Only one off the road! But a great descent to look at (on a couch) , good camera/motorbike

Darkglasses

I've lost track, do they have to do that descent again?

AG2R

This must be hell, and they've to do it again

Darkglasses

Epic finish coming up now, would love if Pirazzi finishes it off. Kreuziger could come up though

dastardly00

No more domestiques left in the main group!

colm_gti

Jaysus they look spent coming through the finish barrier!

Darkglasses

Wow, what a finish by Kreuziger and Hesjedal. Some seriously tired riders out there, really tough stage. Hesjedal looks too comfortable. Scarponi looks too tired to even clip himself out.

dastardly00

General classification after stage 19:

1. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 84:06:12
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda 0:00:17
3. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:01:39
4. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:45
5. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:03:21
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 0:03:30
7. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:05:36
8. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:05:40
9. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 0:05:47
10. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:06:09

happytramp

Okay, so apparently setting a high tempo and waiting for the last 3 kilometers on every stage is not enough to put a rider like Hesjedal under real pressure. Anyone with GC hopes is going to have to try something a bit different tomorrow.

ednwireland

sorry thought i had started a thread, bit of a meh day great ride from hejsdal though (and kreuzinger looked like he might get caught but hung on)