Giro d'Italia 2015 - Stage 5: La Spezia - Abetone **unmasked spoilers**

dastardly00

Stage 5, La Spezia to Abetone is just starting now. It's the first summit finish of the race this year, albeit only on a Cat. 2 climb. But if Astana put the hammer down like they did yesterday, then we could see a lot of action.

From Cyclingnews:

At 152km today's stage is relatively short in length but there's few flat sections of tarmac and two climbs, the Foce Carpinelli (third cat) at 57km and then the final 17km ascent to the line.

An in-depth preview can be found here.

Live coverage on Eurosport1 from 1.15pm.
Highlights on Eurosport2 at 8pm.




Current GC:
1 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 11:54:48
2 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:00:10
3 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:17
4 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo
5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:23
6 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team
7 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team 0:00:29
8 Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team 0:00:31
9 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
10 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:00:37

pelevin

Put a couple of euros on Hesjedal at 40/1 - claimed to have good legs despite losing 5 minutes, & with that kind of deficit not a GC threat so might be given some freedom.

death1234567

Could be another good stage today.

Darkglasses

I reckon Aru will be in pink by the end of today.

dastardly00

With 56km to go, and a lead of over 11 minutes, will the breakaway make it?

neris

Ireland V England in ball kicking game after the Giro on Eurosport

neris

22km to go and 9 minutes back to the peleton

dastardly00

Only 6'30" now with 17km to go now.

mirrormatrix

Any big names in the break?

Pudsy33

mirrormatrix wrote: »

Any big names in the break?

Chavanel

REBELSAFC

neris wrote: »

22km to go and 9 minutes back to the peleton

My money is on them being caught

dastardly00

I'm hoping Chavanel wins this.

spock.

Down to just over 4 minutes with 10.5k to go.

MPFG

Chava has second wind

Astana attack (ish)

neris

I like my sunglasses and own a fair few pairs, the styles of some glasses been worn by some of the pro teams lately is atrocious.

neris

this is getting good.

retalivity

damn work firewall stuck watching text updates....

Solobally8

Love the attacking. Wanted Chaves to get the jersey though

neris

looks like contadors going into pink. start of a procession to milan tomorrow

dastardly00

Doesn't seem to be much between Aru-Contador-Porte. Should be some good battles ahead.

dastardly00

neris wrote: »

looks like contadors going into pink. start of a procession to milan tomorrow

Way too early to say that I think.

MPFG

Astana look strong

Contador has Kreuziger (best dom there iMO) even if rest of team only ok

But SKY look knackered ???

Could be the difference

Darkglasses

Darkglasses wrote: »

I reckon Aru will be in pink by the end of today.

Dang it! Only 1 place away from a 9/1 winner.

letape

Whatever about Kreuziger's past and biological passport issues I think he deserves a chance to ride for himself at some stage. Would have podiumed in the Tour a couple of years back if he hadn't been forced into foolish riding for Contador in the Pyrenees and on other stages. Finished 5th overall IIRC when he looked like a guaranteed 3rd - looks like he could do a good ride in this Giro if given the chance.

ednwireland

its only stage 5 ffs great days racing

pelevin

Just caught ES's youtube highlights. Great to see the big 3 trading blows, & thought amidst all that punching & counter-punching it was a class ride by Landa to say enough messing & grab it by the scruff of the neck in terms of driving a hard pace home.

ThisRegard

dastardly00 wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be much between Aru-Contador-Porte. Should be some good battles ahead.

Hopefully ! Great end to the stage, more of this please.