Giro stage 13 *spoiler*

frenchfighter

So please for Riis and Saxo.

Going to be some superb photos in the rain.

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

To all you saying this is a farce, this is boring etc etc. Dont watch it.

If you can't appreciate dominance in any sport you have a problem.

Don't count your chickens yet Frenchie, old boy. Many stages yet to go. Some of us remember Basso in the 2005 Giro.

BTW - Did you catch the picture yesterday of Bertie flashing his pink organ at everyone:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog/blaz ... icle/1860/

moray_gub

as far as actual racing goes this has been dreadful so far with only one or two stages of any real interest. To think all we heard for the last few months was how good the Giro route was compared to the Tour and so on , two weeks into the race we have a juiced up rider pissing all over the race and the rest content to let him do it...........a yawnfest if ever there was one.

Doobz

I don't think Bertie has shown his true climbing strength yet. I cant wait till he really lights it up..

P_Tucker

keef_zip wrote:

KillerMetre wrote:

We are clearly witnessing the most doped grand tour rider ever in action.

Again, fixed that for you.

That's not even kind of true. I believe that title goes to Bjarne Riis.

Doobz

frenchfighter wrote:

So please for Riis and Saxo.

Going to be some superb photos in the rain.

did you see this one for weird?

Look at the eyes of the podium girl on the left and the black-eye of the podium girl on the right

iainf72

The giro and AToC are tied for one good stage each so far.

Let's hope it improves

cogidubnus

Doobz wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

So please for Riis and Saxo.

Going to be some superb photos in the rain.

did you see this one for weird?

Look at the eyes of the podium girl on the left and the black-eye of the podium girl on the right

Whats Rujano doing wearing pink on the podium for?

moray_gub

iainf72 wrote:

The giro and AToC are tied for one good stage each so far.

Let's hope it improves

Yea i hope so but the AToC wasn't getting bigged up all over the place about how good it was gonna be be blah blah blah and how it blew the TDF out of the water etc etc,just goes to show you can never really predict how a race is gonna turn out well maybe the Eneco Tour but you get my drift.

afx237vi

The Tour de Pologne's going to a corker this year, mark my words.

moray_gub

afx237vi wrote:

The Tour de Pologne's going to a corker this year, mark my words.

It wasn't too bad last year iirc.

iainf72

Moray Gub wrote:

Yea i hope so but the AToC wasn't getting bigged up all over the place about how good it was gonna be be blah blah blah and how it blew the TDF out of the water etc etc,just goes to show you can never really predict how a race is gonna turn out well maybe the Eneco Tour but you get my drift.

This is true. I was excited for the Giro but then when I looked at it properly before hand it seemed too brutal to allow the racing to open up.

Contador is also reminding me of Armstrong when he was dominating the Tour. Very impressive but often not very thrilling to watch.

That said, a Paris-Nice style jour-sans wouldn't go amiss.

blazing_saddles

iainf72 wrote:

The giro and AToC are tied for one good stage each so far.

Let's hope it improves

I make it Italy 3 - USA 1, but this Giro was never going to match last years.

Unless Mt Baldy is impressive, AToC 2011 is shaping up to be even less impressive than 2010.
(Rider Ryder and Mr Baldy aside)

Pologne 2010 was a good 'un.

frenchfighter

So I guess you would like them to all arrive together with 1km to go then for a few to sprint....that will keep the times together more or less....very exciting stuff....

What is thrilling for you?!

Sometimes you can never win...

Anyway, take a look at who is leading the points and climbers standings.

frenchfighter

Getty

frenchfighter

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... u54XWzcsTw
From 8.5km:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIiAHGZl ... r_embedded

frenchfighter

”What a master piece," said Saxo Bank-SunGard commander-in-chief Bjarne Riis. "We were in control throughout the whole stage and according to the original plan, Alberto only had to keep up with his opponents, but as they showed weaknesses I asked him to launch two attacks without going too deep and in the second punch, only Rujano was able to compete and we're very content with that.

"The lead to Nibali is increased significantly and we got more from the stage than we had expected beforehand. That doesn't mean that the race is won. There are several high mountain stages to come and we all know how you can lose minutes on a bad day in the mountains, so we need to stay focused on the job."

andyp

Moray Gub wrote:

as far as actual racing goes this has been dreadful so far with only one or two stages of any real interest. To think all we heard for the last few months was how good the Giro route was compared to the Tour and so on , two weeks into the race we have a juiced up rider pissing all over the race and the rest content to let him do it...........a yawnfest if ever there was one.

I tend to agree, but remove Contador from the equation (something Zomegnan should've done before the race started, but which CAS will do a week after) and you've 7 riders within a minute of the race lead.

iainf72

frenchfighter wrote:

What is thrilling for you?!

Sometimes you can never win...

If you're enjoying how this race is panning out, I can recommend the 2001 TdF.

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

To all you saying this is a farce, this is boring etc etc. Dont watch it.

If you can't appreciate dominance in any sport you have a problem.

Don't count your chickens yet Frenchie, old boy. Many stages yet to go. Some of us remember Basso in the 2005 Giro.

BTW - Did you catch the picture yesterday of Bertie flashing his pink organ at everyone:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog/blaz ... icle/1860/

Haha, no I missed that. Pretty crazy piece.

iainf72

frenchfighter wrote:

Is that Alberto's foot?

Don't the rules say you need to wear socks?

frenchfighter

Reuters



"Today was an important day to make a difference in the overall and although I suffered a lot, it was well worth the pain," Contador said.

gattocattivo

While I think Nibali, Scarponi, et al would have gone with Contador if they were actually able to, it is kind of grimly funny that they seem to be racing as if he wasn't there (on the assumption that his win will be airbrushed out of history before too long) and just marking each other for the second place that will become first.

luckao

Doobz wrote:

Is that Rujano holding his cuddly toy for him?

cornoyemade

pink, green, red . . . awesome.

hats off to rujano for the win.

cornoyemade

[/quote]

Whats Rujano doing wearing pink on the podium for?[/quote]

Actually, I think that is Cavy after a shave. I thought he left yesterday?

rick_chasey

andyp wrote:

This race is so reminiscent of the 2006 Giro. At least we'll know the true winner within a week of it ending. :roll:

If it wasn't for PTP I'd stop paying it any attention, it's a farce.

S'more like '99 than '06...

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

The giro and AToC are tied for one good stage each so far.

Let's hope it improves

The cycling God's have given us one of the best spring classics seasons for a while.

It's got to give somewhere...

knedlicky

iainf72 wrote:

Contador is also reminding me of Armstrong when he was dominating the Tour. Very impressive but often not very thrilling to watch.

Contador looks far more easier and relaxed than LA ever did, but as he's known to sometimes have a semi-bad day, who knows what will happen.

I think many rode the last kms today too fast in view of what the weekend will bring, so might fare worse tomorrow, but I don't think Contador will.

The latest Italian bookmaker betting odds are interesting, in that Rujano has moved up to next favourite after Contador, then come Scarponi, Gadret and Anton, before initial other main contender, Nibali.