This TT could be a classic !

moray_gub

I know thats possibly a contracdiction in terms given TTs can be somewhat dull but ive got a feeling about tommorows chrono

http://www.steephill.tv/2009/giro-d-ita ... /stage-12/

Not being one to get too excited about TTs this parcours of this one has the makings of a great stage with difficult climbs technical descents and spectacular scenery Got a feeling The Killer may just do enough to hang on to the Maglia Rosa as well.

dave_1

Absolutely MG, I think when Levi L gets tucked in behind the tri bars he will smoke Di Luca..I predict Levi in Pink by 20-30 seconds tomorrow

moray_gub

Dave_1 wrote:

Absolutely MG, I think when Levi L gets tucked in behind the tri bars he will smoke Di Luca..I predict Levi in Pink by 20-30 seconds tomorrow

Mmm i dunno Dave i didnt think Levi looked too impressive the other day (granted a TT is a different beast altogether ) and DDL is a great decsender and a real fighter so he may just limit his losses to 1.20 or so and that may just keep him pink.

NicFrance

Could be a classic

may be you're right, MorayGub. i'm following cycling for more than 30 years now, and i don't remember any similar TT parcours. it's more like a 60k prologue. i picked Basso for PTP, but have to admit, i have no idea who's gonna make it.

donrhummy

I agree Levi will be in Pink but I'm nto sure it'll be by enough time. He really needs 1.5 minutes or he's going to lose too much time in the coming mountain stages.

Noodley

I reckon it's shaping up nicely for a Menchov victory. Maybe not in the TT but overall.

redddraggon

Noodley wrote:

I reckon it's shaping up nicely for a Menchov victory. Maybe not in the TT but overall.

I definitely think it's between Di Luca and Menchov, I'm sure Levi will put a couple of minutes into Di Luca on the TT, but I reckon Di Luca is bound to get some bonus time at the end of at least one stage to go above Levi. Menchov is definitely the dark horse..

RichN95.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that Sastre will do a really good ride tomorrow (not win, but top 8 ) and eventually win this Giro.

blazing_saddles

Agree on all points. Thankfully, another belter of a day, weather wise. Heaven knows what would happen were it wet.
Stunning area, know it well. The roads are narrow, the bends tight, as they hug the coastline. Hardly a flat level anywhere.

I frankly haven't a clue how it will pan out, so that is a huge plus point. I don't even think it will look much like a trial, so little time will be spent tucked in behind those tri bars, Dave mentioned.

Shocks aplenty, I reckon, even if LL pulls off the win.

iainf72

I have a feeling Wiggins will get close if not win.

Levi will probably go well but his advantage won't be as massive because it's so technical and the aero advantage won't be as great. There can always be odd surprises when it's hilly and technical.

Remember this from last year?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/ju ... elibere083

Kléber

It should be a race-defining stage. Often the TT stage can be a boring procession with the dominant favourites pulling out time on the more exciting riders but this time a lot of the contenders have a chance thanks to the hilly nature. It is long and recovery over the next 3-4 days will play a part, you can win the TT on one day but pay for it in the stages to come.

DavMartinR

Intresting what Sean Kelly said today on commentary about the TT.
That Levi mite not ride for the leaders jersey but leave Di Luca stay in the lead with about 20 seconds. That way keeping the pressure on Di Luca into the third week, plus Di luca hasn't had his normal bad day yet?
Which could well be tomorrow, so please disregard what Mr Kelly said??

Are they starting tomorrow in reverse GC? This could also play a part with such a long course, with the riders being able to keep time checks on not just the riders in front but also riders that follow them.

Bhima

Not too sure how the GC will look after tomorrow but I reckon Levi could take the win, especially as he can put out good power on hills. I'm a big Cancellara fan, but his chances could be affected tomorrow because of his lack of climbing ability.

Actually, Lance has looked very good on TTs this year, I really would not be suprised if he was in the top 5 tomorrow, although I very much doubt that even a 1st place will be enough for him to drag himself back up into the GC as a serious contender. Not a big Lance fan, although he's interesting to watch in the TTs.

Noodley

Bhima wrote:

I'm a big Cancellara fan, but his chances could be affected tomorrow because of his lack of climbing ability.

Cancellara has pulled out....

redddraggon

Bhima wrote:

I'm a big Cancellara fan, but his chances could be affected tomorrow because of his lack of climbing ability.

His climbing isn't that bad - he did win Gold in the Beijing TT remember and that wasn't exactly flat.

Anonymous

Wiggins could be interesting, his climbing has come on leaps and bounds...

Le Commentateur

Must say that I'm really curious to see how Mr A does (which is not normally the case) now that he seems to be getting a bit of form back. Hopefully the GC pack will be shuffled about somewhat with a few new faces moving into a more challenging position ready for the final week. But even if the racing is crap the stunning scenery of the Cinque Terre will make up for it.

Tom Butcher

DavMartinR wrote:

Intresting what Sean Kelly said today on commentary about the TT.
That Levi mite not ride for the leaders jersey but leave Di Luca stay in the lead with about 20 seconds. That way keeping the pressure on Di Luca into the third week, plus Di luca hasn't had his normal bad day yet?
Which could well be tomorrow, so please disregard what Mr Kelly said??

Are they starting tomorrow in reverse GC? This could also play a part with such a long course, with the riders being able to keep time checks on not just the riders in front but also riders that follow them.

I can't see that being the case - there are too many others in contention for him to start basing his tactics on a 2 way fight between him and DiLuca. I can see DiLuca having a bad day - but less likely DiLuca, Menchov, Sastre will all have bad days and any of them could possibly drop Leipheimer on a mountain stage.

Pokerface

DavMartinR wrote:

Are they starting tomorrow in reverse GC?

Yes.

Bhima

Yeah, I can't see Leipheimer going slow on purpose, that would just be silly and he could regret it if he loses the giro by a second. He's probably going to give it 100%, even if he's hoping to come behind DDL.

Noodley wrote:

Bhima wrote:

I'm a big Cancellara fan, but his chances could be affected tomorrow because of his lack of climbing ability.

Cancellara has pulled out....

What? Why? What's the problem?

I've just seen him on Eurosport now! 1st/2nd at the bottom of today's final descent, pulling everyone along!

And yes, he is a great climber, I just meant to say that he's obviously not as good as Levi from what i've seen.

Lots of talk about people using standard road bikes with clip-ons tomorrow, but I don't think many GC contenders will do it to be honest, especially when it's 60.5km where big chunks of time could be lost.

RichN95.

My general predictions for the TT

Overperforming: Sastre, DiLuca, Pellezotti

About what you'd expect: Basso, Menchov

Underperforming: Leipheimer, Rogers

That's the GC top 7, and only potential winners now, covered

Bakunin

Kléber wrote:

It should be a race-defining stage. Often the TT stage can be a boring procession with the dominant favourites pulling out time on the more exciting riders but this time a lot of the contenders have a chance thanks to the hilly nature. It is long and recovery over the next 3-4 days will play a part, you can win the TT on one day but pay for it in the stages to come.

Not if your name is Stefan Schumacher.

Schuy kicked butt in last year's TdF TTs and then was in every single break on every single day. It was amazing -- what a talent.

I would expect The Killer to do well tomorrow -- he probably knows the course very well. Look what he did on Tuesday -- he knew when to dig.

teagar

Really difficult to judge, especially since we havn't seen a big TT or super selective big mountains to sort them all out.

I have no idea how this is gonig to pan out, though, given that it's a TT, and a long one at that, I still can't see it being a thriller. Interesting to see what bike they will ride.

I heard that Basso might be getting a custom rig just for the stage!

I've heard the decents are really technical which might rule out Leipheimer, Armstrong, Basso, and Menchov for the win.

Given Sastre's Tour TT last year, maybe he'd be a good bet! He got downhill fast enough yesterday...

SpaceJunk

Will be fascinating.

Alot of pundits are referring to the two technical descents on the course. DDL showed how good he is at them the other day; I think he will be able to limit his loses and if he does lose the pink jersey, I don't think it will be by much.

I think Menchov has a better chance than Levi of being in pink. I'm starting to have reservations about Levi now.

I reckon Rogers will fall by the wayside, and I think Sastre might also lose a bit of time - not much - just because of ther technical descents.

Funny how originally I thought there could be massive time gaps on the stage, but riders like Levi are saying there wont be huge time splits.

Can't wait to find out.

richard wants a baum

Hope your wrong about Rogers, his my PTP pick to try and jump some spots no-one rates him, not that his given much reason to. Going to be a very intresting stage if DLL doesnt lose some serious time then the rest are going to have to rely on him having a really bad day.

SpaceJunk

richard wants a baum wrote:

Hope your wrong about Rogers, his my PTP pick to try and jump some spots no-one rates him, not that his given much reason to. Going to be a very intresting stage if DLL doesnt lose some serious time then the rest are going to have to rely on him having a really bad day.

I hope I am wrong too Richard. I think as we currently stand Mick has a better chance of winning the Giro then what Cadel has come July. Would be nice to have a GT winner.

redddraggon

Bhima wrote:

Noodley wrote:

Cancellara has pulled out....

What? Why? What's the problem?

Not everyone who starts a GT intends to finish.

Bhima wrote:

Lots of talk about people using standard road bikes with clip-ons tomorrow, but I don't think many GC contenders will do it to be honest, especially when it's 60.5km where big chunks of time could be lost.

Why won't they do it? Most of it is climbing or technical descending, very little flat, makes sense to use a normal Road bike.

alanmcn1

As i said on another thread I rode this course last year while on holiday in Monterosso. It will not be an excellent stage, rather yet another ridiculously difficult Giro test which is so tough it ends up having little to no effect on the GC (plan de corones).

I wouldn't expect huge differences between main men today, unless DDL has had his special wheetabix again this morning

cswebbo

RichN95 wrote:

My general predictions for the TT

Overperforming: Sastre, DiLuca, Pellezotti

About what you'd expect: Basso, Menchov

Underperforming: Leipheimer, Rogers

That's the GC top 7, and only potential winners now, covered

I think that's the way i'm seeing it too. Leipheimer crashed yesterday- Bad cut on forearm is going to affect his position on tribars. Also his extreme position, which is very aero, only works in straight lines. There is not much of that today.
Armstrong has done a lot of work over last two days (Sestriere and Turchino pass) so he may be a timecheck for Levi to ride to.

One things for sure, this is going to be a great tt to watch!
No one can be sure what the outcome will be. I just hope weather is good otherwise it will be a lottery in the wet.

Tom Butcher

I think Armstrong might give it a good ride today - probably not in the form to win it but he's a good bike handler, can climb, one of the best time triallists ever. I know he's looked a bit twitchy in the bunch but I don't think that necessarily equates to being nervous cornering in the dry - didn't his group come back to Leipheimer's group on the descent a couple of days ago ?

le_patron

iainf72 wrote:

I have a feeling Wiggins will get close if not win.

I'd like to think he'll do well, he can TT for sure and can now climb......what's missing ?